How To Know When To Wear What? Part 2

My son-in-law Damien and my daughter Elise just came from a Europe Book signing Tour, and she was telling me how much they admire our blog there. She said every church she went she was surprised to have met people talking and asking questions about my blog, hers and Elsie's. 


Well ladies, 
I wanna take an opportunity to thank you all for your kindness. -:)))*
I also wanna give you all the freedom to tell me your input or ask me anything you please. 
I would like to know what's the Summer Style in Europe. 
I would like to see your Style in general. I know you're reading. -:)
Please don't be Cyber shy! Share with us, everyone has something to give, right?    


Now let's talk fashion, shall we? 


Your character and personality should be the core of your fashion/Style. 
Your dress code should always represent your personality and principles and  not fashion world stereotype.


Your clothes should be an X-ray of your character and personality.
That's why it should be yours and yours alone. You should strive to learn and create your owe. The Style that says "me".
When you're copying someone else's style, you're denying your self a chance of growing and learning who you are. It's a facade, because people will never know who you really are.

Our Personality is how we portrait ourselves to others by our Style.
It's who we are, its our asset. Why deny your selves the chance of discovering and knowing who you really are. You don't have to be masterminds to be a Fashionista, all you need to do is allow your personality to self-direct your Style.
Allow your self to explore colors and styles that suits you best and act and create your own personal style without any fears or concerns of what this or that one may think or say.


We should always leave room for new ideas and constructive criticism.
 The right way to dress, is to dress appropriate for the activity or event.         


What's Dressy Casual Attire? Clothing suited for everyday.
After six o'clock it goes from dressy casual to formal casual 


Be well coordinated with your colors, fabrics and jewelry.




This is a great Dressy Casual dress, love it!






Here are some of my Dressy Casual.
I wear them on weekdays to church, to movies with my husband, to the restaurants etc.

Wear, pant suits, cotton and linen dresses, skirts and dressy blouses, dress pants and kakis.   

When and where to dress dressy casual attire?   
Church, business casual, after-work gathering, dinner cruise, restaurant, casual-events, etc
The best way to decode dressy-casual is to consider the place and time of the event.




I like my Dressy Casual statement jewelry to be bold beautiful and fun

When my clothes are solid colors, I go bold on the jewelry.

Big cocktail statement rings and bracelets are great, I love them. But I always pick one or the other. I think both at the same time is a bit too much, unless it's clear. 

 When my clothes are prints, floral and patterns I go none, soft or smaller or the jewelry.

You have to pick one as your statement. Is it your clothes or your jewelry?

 It cannot be both.

    

How beautiful is this necklace? I just love it!

The afternoon and evening are the most dressy.

Shoes should be mid-heels, wedges or sandals

The long pearls are nice to layer it and create a fashionable look with your jeans.

These earrings will look great with all your dressy casual look.

If you gonna do jeans, make sure you dress it up with some really nice jewelry such as long pearls, a beautiful flat, or some nice size heels and a nice dress blouse or sporty vest or jacket.

How cute is this flat? 
How beautiful is this green for summer?
Just gorgeous!

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 14:11

Some of My Formal and Semi-formal Look

I love all kind of clothes and colors.

I like dark colors and pants in the Winter, and bright fun colors dresses and skirts for Summer. It's more fun, more girly and definitely cooler, especially with this heat wave of 103F this week.    

This is what I consider my Spring/Summer DressySunday morning outfit.

This is my Formal to Semi-formal Little Black dress.

For a Formal look I wear it with a palette pantyhose and a dressy pumps or a dressy high heels sandal. Here I'm wearing it with a dressy high heel knee length boots for a Sunday morning Semi-formal look. For my Sunday morning looks, I can wear pearls or even shiny jewelry, but I don't like shiny clothes for Sunday morning.

Here is my beautiful Red Dress paired with my fancy gold custom designed jewelry.

Gold is the best jewelry for pretty Red Dress. Don't wear it with red or colorful jewelry. Red jewelry will make your dress dull, and colorful ones will steal the attention from your dress. Gold enhances the color perfectly without taking anything away.    

This is my Summer Sunday morning Semi-formal look.

Here I'm wearing a crispy white linen dress with my soft gold sandals and my shinny custom design jewelry.  Linen is my most favorite fabric for summer. It's pretty, its cool, and the more it wrinkles the more I love it. Just love it!

This is my beautiful polka dot Wrap. Wrap dresses are great. They look amazing on every body-shape, and its a great disguise for when you go up few pounds and don't want anyone to know about it. :-)))*

I think rhinestones, sequins and shinny fabrics are for nights, ball room parties/dances, prom and weddings. 

Not for work or Sunday morning. It's too dressy for day time. 

Now this is what I call my Dressy Semi-formal Look because it was a knee length, if it was a floor length, it would be a Formal look. It was very pretty with a shinny look of gold and silver, and self-embelishment jewelry so I didn't need any necklace.

So I matched my earrings with the clear stones on the Dress, add some beautiful shinny bracelets, a soft gold small purse and a soft gold high heels sandals with these three big beautiful clear stones. Diamonds, who doesn't want Diamonds on their shoes? huhhh, who? Yeah right, they're not real, but are they beautiful or what?

  

    

    

When you buy your dressy Gold shoes, don't get them to gold.

These soft gold will give you more miles for your money.

They go with anything and its soft enough to be worn day or night.

Well there it is. I just wanted to give you all a glance of some of my Formal and Semi-formal look.

How about you guys email me a pictures of your favorite Formal and Semi-formal look so I can post it.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes". Luke 12:22 

       

How To Accessorize Your Formal Evening Look

 Accessories reflects a person's personality and it's what brings your outfit to life.

It's time consuming and it demands good taste and effort to try and put it all together.People who does not want the headache and confusion of what goes with what, just grabs a dress and ignores the accessories. They prefer to stay in their daily routine, another words their comfort zone. People who lives in their Comfort Zone will never learn what else life has to offer them.


I think Comfort Zone means ~ Pride, Fear and Laziness.
Pride, because you think you know it all, and there's no more room to learn, and not willing to accept any one else's idea.
Fear of failure, fear of being a laughingstock to your friends, and fear of trying and not succeed.
Laziness, having the headache and self-challenge of going out of your comfort zone to learn new things.  

I think we should always make room for learning. Learning never occupies any space in our mind or life. The more the better.
Life it self is a learning experience. We live as we learn ~ and ~ we learn as we live.
No matter how high you get, there's always someone higher than you, no matter how much you know, there's  always someone who knows something you don't.

So why not get out of your Comfort Zone this Summer and challenge your self to something different, try adding something to your wardrobe So not you.

Now lets talk about Formal Accessories, shall we?
Accessories can embellish any outfit, but when it comes to a formal evening event the less the better. Accessorize your neck, wrist and shoulders, one or all depending on how busy is your dress.

Necklace:
The #1 jewelry every woman should have is "pearls", you can wear them any where. Don't overwear your outfit with other jewelry, a simple string pearl necklace with your little black dress is the classic elegant look for every formal event.

Earring:
An elegant pearl or diamond studs earring, or a dangling one can work also.

Ring:
Your statement ring should compliment your jewelry.

Purse:
You should cary an evening purse or beaded bag big enough to cary your cash, phone and a lipstick, that's all.

Hair:
Your hair should be on a nice up-dos, or away from your face, adorn it with sparkling clips, tortoiseshells barrettes etc.





Lace Bolero:
Cary a 3/4 sleeves classic vintage crochet knot lace bolero, or a lace bolero jacket for when it gets chilly. Lace is classic elegant and goes well with any color outfit.

Shawl:
If you're wearing a shawl, make sure its the same texture as your dress.

Shoes:
Your shoes should be fancy and elegant, but make sure it's not ridiculously, and its comfortable enough to stand for hours. No matter how cute or expensive your shoes are,  if your feet hurts, you're not having fun! Want to know a little secret on how to wear these sandals on the left without having your feet slip erring and sliding frontward and side ways as you walk? Just spray a little bit of hair holding spray under your feet right before putting them on, and Voila`, your feet is nice and firm right where you want it to be!

You should go bear legs or choose a neutral palette stockings.


To be continued........

"The good man brings good things out of the good stored in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks". Luke 6:45

How To Know When To Wear What - ?!?

Do you know when, where and what to wear?
 Clothes are not just clothes, there are such-a-thing as Dress code.

There are rules for everything in life, why not your appearance? Learn your Dress Code!

A dress code is a set of rules governing what garments may be worn together and in what setting. Every wardrobe should have a semi-formal dress.

It is said by the experts that woman should always wear a Dress to a semi-formal events; it represents feminism etiquette.

Some people have no idea on what type of clothes to wear at all.
They dresses just to fulfill an obligation to the society as if they were doing you a favor by not walking around naked. They think as long as they're obeying the law by covering their body, they're all set.

Others dresses to impress others, to showcase their assets inappropriately, or just because the other girls are wearing it, no matter how cheap or ridiculous they look.

You don't have to follow the trends or spend a lot of money to look Stylish,

All you need to do is:
a)- learn your body type and what looks good on you

b)-know the colors  and the new style of the season,  purchase one or two pieces so you can mix and match with what you already have in your closet so you can stay updated

c)-learn what's a dress code:
formal attire
semi-formal attire
cocktail attire
business attire
semi-formal casual attire
casual

Usually the invite reads the dress code, if it doesn't, than ask! It's better to ask than to appear under or over dress.

The new trend Semi-formal Colors for this Summer are: 

#1 color is still the classic little black dress, red, white, coral, orange, yellow, gold, and silver

Best Fabrics:

taffeta, chiffon, satin, sateen, gossamer, and silk. 

(avoid cotton, it's not dressy enough )

 
Formal Attire or Black Tie: Ball Gowns and Toxedos

Formal attire is what you wear for a wedding, a fancy Dinner or a Formal Dance 

Although I love this green, Red is the second most popular color after Black for weddings and Formal parties.  

Semi-Formal Attire or White Tie: 
A knee length beautiful but yet conservative dresses.
Is what a woman should wear to Church on Sunday morning. 



Dresses should be beautiful and conservative, a little above the knee, below the knee or at the ankle.
No low cuts, not too short and definitely not see-through.  
Semi-formal attire is a step down from formal attire.
A classic never outdated semi-formal favorite is a little Black Dress.


Cocktail Attire: Short elegant Dresses 
The little Black dress is the ultimate dress and appropriate for most special occasions.
Second one is a little red dress.
Your Dress should be relatively conservative, not skimpy.

Avoid showing too much skin or cleavage.

Dress should be 1inch above the knee.   

That's why I say every woman should have a little black dress and a pretty red dress in her closet.

These two dresses are an investment that can take you any where day or night.

When buying your dress choose the best quality fabric for beauty, durability and style.  


Semi-Formal Business Attire: Pants and Skirt Suits
There is an old saying "Dress for the position you want, and not the one you have".

Skirt suits are the most preferred, and the color choice of many executive professionals are Blue, Black, Gray and Brown. You should always look conservative and professional. Wear an appropriate length skirt, avoid tight skirts, mini-skirts and colorful clothes.
Blouses - a long sleeve cotton or silk blouse in neutral color with a simple colar, minimun to no details is just fine. Most conservative offices do not accept sleeveless blouses, so make sure to know your code. Make sure your blouse fits comfortable, not tight, not see-through, not wrinkle or loud colors.
Scarves- A classic 34-inch square silk scarf that compliments your suit, in a pretty classic color or pattern.
Shoes- A nice flat or a 1-1/2 -inch heel are a professional standard and the colors for your shoes and handbags, should be - black, brown, burgundy or navy.

To be continued ........

"Produce fruit in keeping with repentance" Luke 3:8

To Gel Polish or Not To Gel Polish Your Nails?

Is Gel polish a great invention or harmful to you?  

                              How often should one use it?
                              To use it or not to use it? That's the question?
                             
                              But decisions always lies on One's hands.

Gel nail polish is an enhancement to your nail just like acrylic.

It's a little gentler and less harmful to your nail then acrylic.

Gel polish is a great option for a once in a while use, an ideal for when traveling or going on vacation. But definitely not for an everyday use.

Use it in moderation. We all know that too much of anything is not good for us! Right?

I like it, but I'll be using it in moderation. Once-in-a-while. 

 

This brand is suppose to be the safest Gel polish

                                                     

Although our nails do not need to breathe as Dr Debra explains here, but there are other harmful hazardous to your health do to the embedded chemicals on your nails.

We all know that chemicals of any shape or form is hazardous to our health

   "Dr. Debra Jaliman  since nails are made of keratin (a protein, just like your hair!), they don't require oxygen and do not need to "breathe" the way your skin does. 

However, there are other good reasons why you should take a break from nail polish even if they can't breathe"! 

 Your nails can get a yellowish stain from the nail polish, so it's good to let the nails grow out to get their healthy natural color back.

But, its still not a regular nail polish, it's a chemical bonded to your nail plate and if you peel it off it'll remove layers of your natural nail that could cause serious health problem.

A malpractice or an excessive use of the Gel polish could be a potential risk for:

 nerve pain, cancer and fungal infections

Don'ts

 Do not pick or peel the Gel off

Do not use an electrical filer  

Never file your nail before applying the Gel

Best to go back and let it be removed by a professional

Do's

              1-Regular nail will not remove it, use a hand file, black buffer and pure acetone instead

2- Use the black buffer coarsely to remove the top layer first and then

     3- Put some acetone on a cup and soak your fingers for about 10 - 15 mim

           4- Soak 10 cotton balls on acetone, place them on each nail, wrap them tightly with aluminum foil for about 15mim

           5- Your body heat trapped in the foil will break down the chemical process and when you take off the foil the Gel polish should slide right off

"According to Consumer Report and lemondrop.com

 A post on the Consumer Reports blog in April may further deter would-be gel adoptees. Neurologist Orly Avitzur, a medical advisor for Consumer Reports who practices in New York, scared the bejeezus out of salon-goers with the story of one of her patients. After visiting several physicians who could find no explanation for the electric shock-like pain the patient felt along her forearm every time she put any pressure on her thumb, the patient turned up in Avitzur's clinic. After taking a patient history, Avitzur concluded that the patient's gel manicure had caused nerve damage. 

"This is likely a rare occurrence," says Avitzur, "Still, I doubt the number of these cases is being tracked." 

According to Avitzur, there are several points in the gel process that could be associated with health risks. Improper use or overuse of a nail file to prepare the nail for layers of gel can expose sensitive skin to chemicals or infection. Also, some salons may be mixing acrylic products with gel products or purchasing cheap gel products from manufacturers with little quality control. One particularly dangerous ingredient, a chemical called methyl methacrylate, can cause shortness of breath and irritate the eyes and skin.

This spring, a company called CND announced the first 'hybrid' gel manicure. Called "Shellac," the hybrid is a marriage between gel and traditional nail polish that may be more nail-friendly.

Still, Draelos recommends using UV nail lamps in as limited a fashion as possible.

Another option may be to look for a salon that uses LED (light emitting diode) instead of UV dryers. 

"Do not be afraid.I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people". Luke 2:10 

Summer Must Have Nail Polish

Color comes from flowers. Is there anything as beautiful as flowers?
What is summer without beautiful colorful flowers?
And what's the best way to enjoy them in our daily lives but to incorporate them in fun color trend/styles?

Summer to me is all about fun pretty lively colors.

These are my favorite color nail polish for summer
So here we go, enjoy them because I will!

Can you believe as use to do all this nail color arts and trick on my nails back in the 80's
Well guess what theiiiiir-back!!!
Fun colors, two-tones and and the whole nine-yards!

        

                                

CHANEL Holiday Orange

                                                          $26.00

                                                CHANEL Pearly White
                                                             $26.00

                                              Dior Cosmo Hot Pink
                                                         $23.00

                                                         
                                                            CAVIAR 
                                                              $15.00

L'OREAL Tiffany blue

$5.99

Essie Corn Flower Blue
$8.00

NARS Trouville  Pedal Pink

$18.00

 
                                              Butter London Lillibet’s Jubilee
        This color was dedicated for Queen Elizabeth's 60th anniversary reign.
                                                            $14.00


"What has been will be again, what has done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun"Ecclesiastes 1:9