Sharon Haver- style expert, online business success strategist for women entrepreneurs, fashion stylist, founder & editor in chief of FocusOnStyle.com

Flowers Power Up…

Spring Hair Accessories Blossom Let's face it, good, bad, or indifferent your choice of car says plenty about your style. Then what happens when top fashion designers get inspired by the classic American dream car? You get some pretty nifty "Thunderbird-inspired" trend-setting sportswear and accessory designs from John Bartlett, Carolina Herrera, Marc Jacobs, Gene Meyer, William Reid, Diane von Furstenberg, Lambertson Truex, Jack Spade and, Oliver Peoples. If it's hot right now, it's a Stylething from Focus on Style by Sharon Haver. The best buds right now nestle in a little bobby pin placed ever so casually in your unabashedly messy hair. If you are thinking one gigunda silk flower—a la Sex and the City—or, a headband full of ruffled

I'm not sure what to wear on the airplane to visit an old boyfriend out of state. When I walk off the plane, the first impression that I want him to have of me needs to be a GOOD one! I want to wear the right outfit that's casual and fun without looking too contrived or like I tried too hard. Movie stars and supermodels always look just right when you see them in airports and that's the look that I want! I'm thirty-years-old and like simple things with not a lot of frou-frou! Please, please help me with my "airplane chic" look so I can appear stylish, put together, and elegant. Thank you so much! (Nashville, TN) First

Fashion and Thunderbird team up for charity Let's face it, good, bad, or indifferent your choice of car says plenty about your style. Then what happens when top fashion designers get inspired by the classic American dream car? You get some pretty nifty "Thunderbird-inspired" trend-setting sportswear and accessory designs from John Bartlett, Carolina Herrera, Marc Jacobs, Gene Meyer, William Reid, Diane von Furstenberg, Lambertson Truex, Jack Spade and, Oliver Peoples. If it's hot right now, it's a Stylething from Focus on Style by Sharon Haver. Wood-paneled station wagon soccer grandmum Monster truck guy with a helluva lot of testosterone Antiquated jalopy Beverly Hillbillies "I see a car as a little home that can move and take you

The Decisive Shoe Buying Guide

What Shoe to Wear With What Outfit and When-- Shoe Shopping Tips Star Jones from ABC television's The View shares tips about how to select the right pair of shoes Dear Sharon: Help! I want some basic rules for shoe shopping. I'm afraid that when it comes to shoes my fashion IQ is zero. There doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason to the shoes, sandals, boots, and flip-flops I see people wearing. The only thing I learned from my mother about shoes is: no open toe or white shoes before Easter or after Labor Day. Is this an old school myth, or is this still true? Can you wear open toe shoes in the winter? If so, should

Look Who’s Faking It Now…

Faux Fur Makes An Impact On The Runway Look Who's Faking It Now, Faux Fur Makes An Impact On The Runway! Fashion designer Marc Bouwer proved what's got to be real is fake when he sent out one red-carpet worthy faux fur coat after another down his fall 2002 runway collection, aptly named, "A Love Affair with Faux". "Women might be able to fake orgasms," says Sharon Stone "but men can fake whole relationships." Well, here's something else a man can fake…a great "fur" coat! Fashion designer Marc Bouwer proved what's got to be real is fake when he sent out one red-carpet worthy faux fur coat after another down his fall 2002 runway collection, aptly named, "A Love Affair

Fashion Gets Romantic

Fashion Gets Romanticů Clothing Shows A Softer, More Feminine Side Clothing Shows A Softer, More Feminine Side clothing shows a softer, more feminine side Dear Sharon: I usually prefer suits and a tailored, crisp kind of style of clothing, but suddenly I can't bear to buy another blazer or wear another black turtleneck. Any advice to update my wardrobe without trashing everything I already own? -- Classically Clean (Boston, MA) Dear Classically Clean: Sweet sister of stagnant style, you have picked the right season to summon up your softer side. One of the bigger trends for this spring has more romantic inspiration than Andrea Bocelli has arias. Fashion may be having a more lyrical moment, but please promise not to

What To Wear With A Long, Basic Black Dress

What To Wear With A Long, Basic Black Dress I recently purchased a casual, long, basic black dress. It's a really cute cotton dress, but by itself something is missing. Besides a scarf, what else could I wear to pep it up a little? (Woodinville, WA) Get out of the fashion box…. scratch the boring scarf around your neck and start looking chic! The beauty of a well-cut, basic black dress is it's simplicity-- it allows the wearer to shine. That means you need to get the rest of you together. Hair needs to be impeccably cut or slicked back in a neat, of-the moment low ponytail or chignon. Makeup needs to be simple, yet polished. All black is the

A Girl's Best Friend Has a Birth Certificate The Rand Diamond comes with it's very own birth certificate- Provenance Report to be techy correct- that chronicles each individual diamond's "chain of custody" from mine to retail jeweler. Where did you two meet? How long are you together? What does he do? And, what's her story? Questions, questions, questions. Well, let those snoopers go totally crackers when they decide to ask, "where did that diamond come from?" The Rand Diamond comes with it's very own birth certificate- Provenance Report to be techy correct- that chronicles each individual diamond's "chain of custody" from mine to retail jeweler. For those who want to witness everything, the report also provides a photographic record of

Better Yet, Just Glow! If The Shoe Fits, Glow With It… Better Yet, Just Glow! Our kind of high maintenance. Not for nothing, but… Place: Bergdorf Goodman's The Finals shoe clearance. Atmosphere: Frenzied, panic-stricken shoppers, desperate to find their size. Scene: Woman admiring her high-heeled splendor in the mirror while contemplating how many pairs of stilettos to buy. She Thinks Aloud: "Don't Manolo Blahnik's just light up a room?" Peanut Gallery: "Yes, they have that reflective quality!" Whatever. Our opinion: Reserve high maintenance ditties to be dribbled with something delicious like Star High Maintenance luxury hand and body lotion. Of course, while still maintaining our feet firmly planted in a good pair of slingbacks. Je ne sais quois? --January

Envy This!

The Return of Green Eye Shadow Get your face out of that scrunch! Yes, it's the return of green eyeshadow and you will love it. Get your face out of that scrunch! Yes, it's the return of green eyeshadow and you will love it. Why? Because it's not the polly wanna cracker green that makeover experts have been dissing for years - even though we recently saw Björk strolling through SoHo with a big streak of parrot shadow under her eyes and it looked sooo cool. But that's because it's Björk and she's exceptionally the exception to most things classic. The green of-the-moment is slightly glimmery and more a gentle wash of sage than a sharp hit of astro turf…

Pantyhose and Sandals, Oh My

Pantyhose and Sandals, Oh My Urgent, I need to know if you can wear open toed shoes with nylons for a nice evening out in the city. -Nutty Over Nylons (San Francisco, CA) If I had a coin for every time someone asked me some version of the same "pantyhose with sandals" conundrum I would have enough money for a lifetime supply of different Manolo's for every day of the week! Sheer nude hose worn with very open toe shoes or sandals looks weird. A small peek-a-boo open toe shoe looks fine when worn with hosiery. Bare feet and a perfect pedicure are best with sandals. Tip: if you need the support of pantyhose and you're wearing pants, hack the

Screwed the Bet, Forced to Cross Dress

Screwed the Bet, Forced to Cross Dress Hi, um... I have a small problem. My name is Tom. I'm 18 and I, um, made a bet that the Michigan Wolverines were going to beat the Tennessee Volunteers in football. Well, it got out of hand and I either pay $250 all around or live like a woman for a week- panties, bra, makeup… the whole thing. I don't have $500 so I'll go with the woman thing. I need advice. I'm not asking friends because I want to keep it between us three guys. Please help me. -Dragged to Drag (Franklin, TN) Sweetness, there are two things you must keep in mind: 1) The only sure thing is that most

Tricks to Look Trim. Hide the Winter 5!

Tricks to Dress to Look Trim. Look Slim Now with tips to hide winter weight gain. Dear Sharon: Okay, I admit it, I have put on my winter layer of flubbery fat. It's not as if I'm a whole size bigger, it's just that my clothes suddenly pull and cling in a rather unflattering way. My question is, how can I hide these five pounds with clothing (without expanding my wardrobe, so to speak) when I know the weight will come off by spring? - Pants Runneth Over (West Bloomfield, MI) Dear Pants Runneth Over: Did you say stash the wide whale? Corduroy that is! Most of us do put on a bit of pudge in the winter and it

PERSONALITY BRAND KICKSTART: Become An Authentic Superstar...

Sharon Haver

Flowers Power Up…

What to Wear on an Airplane

Wheels of Inspiration…