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

Clean Out Your Closet…

and Help Dress For Success Help other women who want to enter the workforce by donating your slightly worn business clothing. Ok, so you bought that fab navy blue suit last year for a job interview and now the company you work for is sooo casual that a T-shirt almost seems formal. Look it, a girl has got to have room for what she needs. But that suit is too good to trash and it's just taking up space in your closet. What to do? Be altruistic! There are plenty of smart, determined women less fortunate who want to re-enter the workforce yet don't have the resources to buy an interview suit. And, you have one that just hangs in

Oscar Perks…

New Meaning to Being Queen For A Day Those lovely goodies that land at your door when you are rich and famous, read about Oscar Perks... New Meaning To Being Queen For A Day.... it's all about the craft, right??? Wrong!!! The gift of getting gorgeous just gets bigger. The Oscars are the mama of all marketing bonanzas. The day of Cher's individuality and zaniness are gone. Now for a week before the Academy Awards, the most luxurious hotels in LaLaLand have been transformed into a flea market par excellence to show, tell, borrow, beg, and have anything that can be strutted on the red carpet. Stylists, sycophants, and an occasional star scurry about to work the biggest deals for

The Big Catch…

Chris 47 Fishnet Tights The hosiery look of the moment, Christian Dior Hosiery Chris 47 Fishnet Tights --those mega-sized nets that even a Land Shark couldn't get a hold of says. It's insane. A waiting list for pantyhose!?!?!?! We know it's true, because our name is on "the list" at the Christian Dior store, but you don't have to sign on. The gotta-have-it hosiery look of the moment, Chris 47 Fishnet Tights --those mega-sized nets that even a Land Shark couldn't get hold of-- are available online at eLUXURY.com . Get them now before they go totally down stream. The mondo fishies are best when peeking over a hiphugger skirt. It's a style thing!

Wrinkle Repair, the smooth way to look great! Push that iron to the back of the closet. Forget about the clothing steamer leaking all over everything. Looking crispy just got easier. Spritz and tug wrinkles away with Downy Wrinkle Releaser! It's genius in a pump bottle… now, if it would only do the same for the furrows between our brows. Available at mass merchandisers, drug and food chains.

Matching Leathers

How to match leathers for a polished chic look I have chocolate brown leather pants that I would like to wear out in the evening. Is a light brown suede, outdoorsy jacket tacky to wear with these pants? (Kettering, OH) The most important thing about coordinating leather and suede is that the color, weight, and finish blend. For a fairly regular casual night out, you can probably fake them together by pulling in another soft texture, like a cashmere turtleneck . If the occasion is more formal, you may want to add a dressier wool jacket. Ruff hewn leather is very modern, don't match a well-worn finish with something totally done like pearlized, glazed, or patent leather… keep finishes like

Red Belt, But What Shoes And A Purse

Help needed! I found a great red belt to wear with my jeans. My dilemma though is this...what shoes do I wear? I always thought your belt and should match your shoes and purse...does this mean I have to buy some red shoes???? If so, besides a boot, what type of shoe would work? (San Diego, CA) Yaaaaaawn! Sweetness, there is nothing more boring than fashion gone overly literal. Jeans are casual, don't get so serious with them. Red, or any other vivid color, should be used as an accent. Excessively matching a bold color looks ridiculous. Scratch the matchy-matchy by starting to think out of the fashion box. Build personal style that's more spontaneous and ultimately more interesting.

Lose Weight to Get a Boyfriend

Lose Weight to Get a Boyfriend I want to look pretty but I'm kind of fat. Can you help me go on a diet and look very pretty and get a boyfriend? Please help me. (Los Angeles, CA) I'm sorry to tell you that one's weight should not have any effect on whether or not you have a boyfriend. A kind, loving, and caring man (as opposed to a pinhead playboy) is going to fall for your total being and not your dress size. There are plenty of pretty plus size women who lead vital and fulfilling lives, like the large size supermodel, Emme (pictured right) who has her own clothing line. If you feel you want to lose weight,

Accessorizing a Corset Top

Accessorizing a Corset Top I recently bought a black silk shantung corset top, and I have no idea what to wear with it on bottom? (Chicago, IL) Bravo to you, the corset top is one of the strongest silhouettes this season. The super sexiness of it gets a modern fashion bolt when paired with more classic offerings, like a superbly tailored menswear black tuxedo or well-worn flare-leg jeans and high heels. What you don't want to do is wear it with something skimpy or slinky… that look is way too tarty! Before you buy anything (no matter how in love with it that you think you are) it's always best to have something at home that you can wear it

Correct Season to Wear White… Is it ok to wear white after Labor Day?

Correct Season to Wear White... Hi! I need some help. I have a co-worker who showed up to work yesterday in an off-white linen outfit. I told her to send it to the dry cleaners and put it away until next spring. I realize that we are in Southern California and the temperature is in the 80's today, but some fashion rules still apply, right??? (I already told her about the white shoe thing). She asked me to write them down for her so that she will know what to wear and what not to wear (from season to season). Do you have any of that written down somewhere?? Would appreciate any help you can provide. (Pasadena, CA) Rules, my

Boots With Bare Legs

Boots With Bare Legs Is it tacky to wear a skirt with boots and no nylons in the Fall? There is about an 1" to an 1 1/2" between the top of the boot and the start of the skirt. The skirt falls just above the knee. Thanks. (Bothell, WA) Boots worn without pantyhose has been enjoying a run as a very hot look, providing you have great legs to bare. Although trendy, I would freeze my petunias off running around with bare legs in the cold. If you must eschew pantyhose, a little bit of a kneesock peeking out above your boot is totally hip right now. But, what's a bit more modern these days is fishnet hose (particularly

Latest Fashions On A Small Budget

Latest Fashions On A Small Budget How can I stay up with the latest fashions on a small budget? (Joplin, MO) It's easy if you stay lean and mean! Keep your core wardrobe to simple shapes in coordinating styles that should last a few seasons. Then, add a couple of trendier, inexpensive pieces to keep your look modern. Think of the scope of your basic wardrobe as to what you can pack in a carry-on bag, accessorize to stretch the look for 5 days of wear. Whenever you see a real bargain that you love- and it works with what you already own- go for it! This way you'll never feel deprived.

Resort Fashion, Palm Beach Style

Resort Fashion, Palm Beach Style I am going to Palm Beach in November. What seasonal rules apply in warm weather resort areas like Palm Beach? Is it okay to wear linen and cotton pastels even though it is November? What would be the appropriate attire for a dinner out? I do not want to look like a tourist? (Baytown, TX) Wherever you travel, it's safe to say, dress in a fabric weight appropriate for the temperature and a color palette appropriate for the season. Even in this time when appears to have come out of a global mall of style, every city around the world still has its own unique little dress code. There are certain mini-trends that just pick-up

Sock Etiquette-How To Coordinate Socks

Sock Etiquette-How To Coordinate Socks for men or women, do your socks match your pants/slacks color or do they match your shoe color? -(New Hope, MN) The socks should always match or complement the trouser and the belt always matches the shoe. " says Vivek Nagrani, president and CEO, Ovadafut Hosiery Company, adding, "An easy way to remember the rule of matching is cloth to cloth, and leather to leather." Sometimes, the classic rule of thumb can be broken be wearing a vivid sock that makes a style impact all to its own. Be bold, be brave, and in the words of Goldie Hawn, "Sock it to me!"

PERSONALITY BRAND KICKSTART: Become An Authentic Superstar...

Sharon Haver