evergreen

Timeless evergreen style and fashion posts

How to Look Ageless OR 9 Geezer Magnets That Read Old and Why to Avoid Them

My parents visting a cousin's house back when they were still engaged.
It's my birthday again (better to have them then not too), and I still feel the same way. Although, I conveniently can't remember which birthday it is. Shhh, don't tell me, sometimes ignorance is bliss. Enjoy this reprise of some solid advice to keep that youthful spirit! --S.H. It's my birthday today, woot, woot for me!  You think how to look ageless doesn't cross my mind? I've gotta admit that when I think of the numeric add up for my age I feel a little, ah, "removed" from it. Of course, I remember the year that I was born but I try not to dwell on the actual age "number" as it becomes more of a burden to live up

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How to Wear It Week! How to style a white T-shirt

This week’s summer spotlight is How to Wear It Week. Let's look at different ways to wear everybody's wardrobe stable. 3 ways to dress up or dress down your favorite piece of clothing I don't know about you but I spend a good amount of time wearing classic T-shirts. They are easy, timeless, and I love the utilitarian edge that holds everything else together. If there's one workhorse item in your closet, it should be a white T-shirt. Be it designer or the kind that comes out of a pack. One of the ladies in a marketing group that I'm in asked me how to style T-shirts. Nicely, maybe for work and casual. So here goes it, in this installment of how to wear it,

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What Color Shoe to Wear With What: The (Non) Definitive Guide to mixing and matching shoes to your outfit

If I could only count how many times I have been asked, "what color shoe to wear with...?" I'd probably run out of digits. Here's the thing, there really is no, that's right zippo, answer on what shoe color you should wear with what color outfit. In style, there's no blanket cookie-cutter answer, but a combination of elements that work in harmony to look great or not so great together. Think about shades, textures, hues, pattern, cut, balance, shoe style, design, mood, and how it all comes to together on you as a whole to determine what the "right" color should be. There are more or less guides that you can observe, but there is no right answer until you

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Style Motivation Week! When you are out of your comfort zone…

This week’s Spotlight is all about Style Motivation... 'cause if you can't get motivation, you can't get it together... regardless of what IT is. Sometimes, you need a little kick to get out of your comfort zone and that's what this post is about. So kiss that style rut bye-bye.- S.H. The other night I was sick. Really sick. A case of food poisoning to rival that scene in The Exorcist times seven. The following day had me feeling like I was bitten by a swarm of Tsetse flies (ok, I don't know what that really feels like, but it could be close to this) coupled with a case of cabin fever that I desperately needed a quick respite from. Vroom, vroom, it was

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Really, what do fashion people wear? It’s more normal than you think

Gray classics from Zara
Do you think it involves six-inch platforms and three mixed prints everyday? Eh, think again on what fashion people wear in their real lives. You might discover that it's a lot like you. I often hear that someone has shied away from fashion because they think it's too complicated.  Well, it is if you follow the photos in magazine editorials or fashion bloggers who pose their day away (where do they get the time?). Everyone has a different approach to fashion. There is no one modus operandi to style other than being authentic to yourself. And, that's not necessarily being trendy. Particularly, when you take a close look at what 'fashion people' REALLY wear. Don't get me wrong, everyone can

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The Dress Your Age Question: How do you know if your personal stylist is right for you?

I was just on the most interesting phone conversation. One of my ladies, I'll call her Allegra, was talking to me about the C'est Chic Crash Course and if we were the right fit. She said, "I'm confident to know that you won't tell me to wear ridiculous pink glitter shoes. I know you'll get me and you're not 12." You see, Allegra is in her late 40s and was in personal stylist situation where the person she turned to for style guidance was more interested in styling others to be little clones of herself. And that youngish stylist happens to have a penchant for glitter and polkadots. Both swell on their own. When worn the right way. On the

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How to get an effortless sense of style

 Dear Sharon:  I really want to know how to have an effortless sense of style. What are the tips to achieve a look that is elegant, sophisticated, but understated and doesn't look like I tried too hard, in other words, effortless style. I'm always afraid of looking high-maintenance and a little too preoccupied with my appearance rather than looking at ease in my appearance. I guess what I want is the opposite of the overstyled looked you see on reality TV. I'm in my mid 40's and would have thought that I could have nailed down my look by now but that's far from the case.  (G.S. via Fashion Advice)   >>RELATED READING: Abundant Style Mantras- 10 Ways to Make the MOST of What You’ve

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Mommy Chic: Easy style stay at home mom clothes- YES, you can wear yoga pants!

Stay at home mom
Ok, not too old  for one of our 15th anniversary online posts, but rather important in honor of Mother's  Day. Yes, ladies you can look pulled together when you have a super casual lifestyle. have read with this week's Mommy Chic post. -S.H. What to wear when all the moms are fashion plates. Let's discover stay at home mom clothes for a mom who is is changing schools and feels the need to compete with the new moms in town. I hope you don't judge me on this but I feel like I'm being judged and need wardrobe help on my stay at home mom clothes. I'm a stay at home mom and really love that. We've relocated and my daughter

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Stylist Advice- Sheer or Opaque, what type of pantyhose to wear with what?

SPANX Tights - Uptown Tight-End-Tights Blackout at Bloomingdales
There are so many different types of pantyhose- sheer, demi sheer, nude, opaque, tights, lace, and the list goes on and on. Let's help this reader, and you, figure out what type of pantyhose to wear with what.  I have a draw full of black pantyhose- sheer, opaque, very opaque, and a few textured (hate them as I think they make my legs look fat). The thing, is that I never know what kind of pantyhose to wear with what kind of outfit.Is there any guide as to understand when it is better to wear sheer opaque over heavy tights? (via Fashion Advice)>> MORE: Pantyhose tipsThere's no doubt that all black hosiery is created equal. There are ton's of weights and textures to

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I hope you didn’t, but if you did: 5 ways to not fall off the New Year’s style resolutions wagon

Let's reflect to timeless advice on starting the New Year in YOUR best style. Liar, liar… my big, empty promise to myself and why New Year's style resolutions hardly ever work… It's the start of the new year, and where are you? In my over 20 years in the style business, I have never once thought that truly being stylish came from a check list at the start of the year. I don't bother with resolutions of any kind anymore. If I was really going to commit to a resolution, and meant to do it, I would without having the stress of "the" list. Simple as that. I've gotten a bunch of reader emails asking about making New Year's style resolutions to amp up your look. I say phooey

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Stylist Advice: Your Classic Uniform, My Way!

Classic chic uniform
Wardrobe Reprise- I don't know about you but this sudden cold snap has me relying more and more on my favorite classic pieces before I even think about turning my closet over (yes, I'm layering).  Take take a look back at some of my favorite tips to make getting dressed easier. And chic. --S.H. No-brainer fall into winter dressing starts with a great coat...  Dear Sharon: I get confused at what to wear when I have appointments all over town and getting ready for work gets complicated. I wish for the days of a classic uniform, like school but a stylish one of course! Do you have any ideas on how streamline my wardrobe to a few good, solid pieces to

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What to wear when you work from home AND a peek at my office. Here’s some stylist advice

This week's look back post to celebrate the 15th anniversary of FocusOnStyle online, tackles the conundrum I face every day and you may too if you are an entrepreneur... what to wear when you work from home. Ya know, how to pull yourself together when no on really sees you and you still need to feel both great about yourself and comfy. Besides, get it together in a flash for when you need to look professional on a Skype or a fast meeting. I've been deep with my team working on the bountiful (I over delivered 10x) assets for the C'est Chic Crash Course (you've signed up to join me, right?) and have to admit that I've been spending a lot of

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How to Clean Out Your Closet and the Top 20 Clothes to Let Go Of

Dearest readers: As we wrap up our week of Style Motivation to help you look your best at ALL times and look through our archives to bring you smart ideas as we continue to celebrate our 15th anniversary comes a timeless lesson on what to keep, store and let go of. The end of the season is near, get ready to clear out your closet! With a new season ahead comes the perfect time to reorganize, reconsider and purge your wardrobe to avoid the pitfalls of inappropriate age dressing and all that can go wrong when one tends to hold on to too much from the past. That's not to say one must start fresh each season as its near

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