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

Martha Stewart Does a Mean Iris Apfel Impersonation

“If you don't expand your waistline, you can expand your closet," Iris Apfel How fabulous is it when one legend impersonates another?! Ok, Iris Apfel may have iconic style to those in the fashion industry but when Martha Stewart dons a pair of Apfel's signature bug-eyed specs for an interview, it's fashion TV kismet and makes us just love Martha even more! Apfel along with designer Ralph Rucci and fashion model, Tatiana Sorokko were guests on today's ‘Consignment Show' edition of THE MARTHA STEWART SHOW (Hallmark Channel, 10 AM ET/9 AM CT), which was entirely dedicated to consignment boutiques and vintage collections. Iris Apfel, the self proclaimed “revolutionary of costume jewelry,” showed off some of the most notable pieces from

Edition by Georges Chakra NY Fashion Week- Spring 2011

Runway Review: What to wear when life is your red carpet I don't know about you, but I have certainly gotten tired of looking at overdone "Princess" fantasy dresses worn by celebrities on the red carpet. They are ostentatious dresses that often wear the wearer rather than spotlight her total beauty. I'm all for a bit of eccentricity and quirkiness, but when everyone wears the same quirky big number, it all looks the the same. For me, those over-the-top dresses look like a young girl's small town dream of what a "fancy" dress should be rather than an elegant ideal of what a real grown-up woman should wear when she has the opportunity to glam it up. >> Fashion Shows

Back to Old School- Backpacks, Rucksacks, Knapsacks, call it what you want, but they are super stylish now

Back at YOU-- no longer reserved for students & tourists, the backpack is making it's fashion statement again. Not since we all became stylishly exhausted from the ubiquitous 90's nylon Prada backpack, have they made such a strong fashion statement- not to mention, impossible to keep again in stock these days. Alexander Wang - Sydney Velvet Backpack at ShopBop Maybe it's the return of 90's minimalism that's trending now. Maybe it's that a backpack makes absolute sense when navigating the urban jungle on a bike. But from Euro street style to hot off the runways (see the Alexander Wang knapsack that we love, right), the backback is looking so right these days. Erogonomics aside, the right backpack needs to look

What Courtney Wore Today, Yes As In LOVE

Rock Queen, Underrated Actor, Tabloid Fodder, and Personal Style Blogger... Yes, THAT Courtney Love! Personal Confession: I find myself flummoxed by many personal style blogs... I have an old school brain where my fashion focus is more about YOU than ME... most of my career spent behind the scenes to create a gorgeous end-product rather than being front and center in a model posing way. Without naming names in the gargantuan genre of personal style blogs, for me, some are absolutely over-rated, others embarrassing, most are mundane, many are sweet, and few simply stand out on their own merit. The personal style blogs that do it well, do very well. I'm also fascinated with this celebrity-obsessed culture where the swag

Cheap Monday is Really Cheap Chic- An Affordable Designer Brand To Wear

Affordable fashion Alert: Love the Spring 2011 collection at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Stockholm & I'm wearing it now- so should you! Forget cheesy fast fashion, get designer style at an affordable price... Ironic, but true, as I'm reviewing runway photos from the Cheap Monday Spring 2011 collection that just showed at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Stockholm, I'm wearing a Cheap Monday T-shirt. Yes, I'm attempting to be on vacation and more casual, but even some of my more urban everyday outfits involve some Cheap Monday. I probably buy a handful of their things every season and they inadvertently become go-to pieces that I mix with much higher end designer pieces from Jil Sander, Maison Martin Margiela, Rick Owens (oh, I want

Agyness Deyn Works East Village Punk Mash-Up Style

Sneak Peak: The September "New York" issue of V Magazine features the supermodel looking very downtown I'm a downtown girl through and through... Self-expression rather than cloned perfection is more my thing. That's what I love most about living in New York's East Village. The neighborhood maintains its sense of edgy self-made style and uniqueness. Sure, punk stores on Saint Mark's Place have been replaced by yogurt shops and dissident rockers gave way to hip Japanese and NYU students, but there's no doubt that there will be something interesting, insane, or inspiring once you set foot onto the street. There remains a certain grit and vibe left over from the neighborhood's hardcore rock days of yore. The super-cool John Varvatos

Cool Cat Award… Call me crazy, but this cat looks a lot like Rod Blagojevich If there were to be a line drawn in the sand, I'm a dog person. More specifically, a poodle person. I do get a kick out of a pet in a good costume, but usually four-legged get-ups involve dogs. Thank the good editors at Gothamist for covering one of the more festive cat fashion shows-- one so over-the-top that I may put allergies aside and get on the kitty catwalk. Hairstory repeats itself My favorite kitty couture is the cat who I cannot help but notice that it resembles Rod Blagojevich in this Washington Post photo. Come on, tell me you don't see it? >>

How to Wear A Leopard Print Dress to Transition Into Fall

I'll Have What She's Having: Lilly Cole in a leopard dress at Gatwick Fashion Week in England Sure, our minds are heading to obsess about fall fashion. But it's not quite crisp enough to start to wear fall clothes-- let alone most of pre-fall -- but I'm craving something new. Lilly Cole, nailed the best transition wardrobe pick right on its very chic head with her leopard print dress and open-toe boots. >> SHOP: Animal Prints Shopping Guide Leopard is one of the strongest trends and adding the more autumn print to a lighter weight dress is the perfect solution to get you through August and all the way into early winter. Sure, leopard can be tricky to wear, you

FORGET the Injectibles With These 2 Beauty Products for Dark Circles and Smile Lines

Cle de Peau Concealer & Givenchy Mister Light are almost like a trip to the derm WITHOUT the needles to cover dark circles and minimize smile lines Raccoon eyes and marionette lines GONE with the right makeup! It's no secret that my undereye dark circles could scare children. It's a hereditary blessing that there is not much to do about other than find the perfect concealer or get a shot of filler from the dermatologist. Cle De Peau Concealer For the time being, I'd like to SKIP the injectibles and rely on effective beauty products that do the trick. Since my go-to concealer was discontinued, I have accumulated a drawer full of replacements that are either too pink, too dry,

Chelsea Clinton’s Vera Wang Wedding Gown Was Beautiful and Elegant

Former President Bill Clinton walks Chelsea down the aisle This is what a grown-up bride should look like! I'm really not a fan of MOST big weddings. Even as a little girl, not once did I ever dream of seeing myself in a Cinderella fantasy wedding gown. My wedding could not have been any smaller and that was perfect for me. Marc Mezvinsky and Chelsea Clinton I have been invited to some very elegant mega affairs and that's great if it's something that works for the bride and groom. I've also been to some rather ridiculous affairs; particularly the one where the bridezilla changed into white flip-flops once the ceremony was over... yeech. When it comes to covering bridal, for

Hillary Clinton Glams It Up With a Fab Dress at Chelsea’s Pre-Wedding Party

The Today Show reports, Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrive for an after-party for their daughter Chelsea Clinton's pre-wedding dinner in Rhinebeck, NY.

Crystal Head Vodka, THE Gift for The Hostess With The Mostess

Levitation Optional: Impossibly cool vodka created by Dan Aykroyd, with a collectible skull bottle designed by artist John Alexander The gift for someone who has everything, including a helluva lot of style... perhaps, that could even be you? Honey, you want cool? We've got you cool? Do you want a conversation piece? It's that too. Looks great. Tastes amazing. And you know they don't already have it. Brad and I were talking about some off-beat hostess gifts... something unusual without breaking the bank. And, then, just like magic a little pr whisked into my inbox with the perfect solution. Crystal Head Vodka Inspired by his interest in the supernatural, comedic genius, actor, musician, ufologist (that's the scientific study of UFO's)

Rachel Zoe Fashion Tips – What She Hates, What You Want

We snagged a call with the celebrity stylist for her fall fashion tips and sexy style advice On the phone with Rachel Zoe... Rachel Zoe, the celebrity stylist turned multi-media mogulina, got on the phone to promote Season 3 of her Bravo reality show, “The Rachel Zoe Project” that premieres on Tuesday, August 3rd at 10pm ET/PT. BTW: She did not die nor go bananas on the conference call. We love the allure of the red carpet-- but come on-- having great style is not only about the fantasy but having a wardrobe that works for you in your life. So we asked Rachel what she thinks YOU should have in your everyday wardrobe this fall. SHOP: Rachel Zoe's Picks

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Sharon Haver