TAKE THE PLEDGE OF FASHION ALLEGIANCE for FALL

I do solemnly swear to:

Wear the seasons fabulous shoes, handbags and jewelry

Wear only boots and booties with my narrow pants and leggings

Step out in style in a wedge heel

Make a splash in the boldest reds I can find

Never underestimate the power of black

Find and invest in the perfect handbag and keep it for years

Wear the biggest, boldest ring on my well manicured fingers

Never wear anything but a thong under leggings.

I will NEVER leave the house without a piece of big, bold gold jewelry

TOP TEN for FALL

1. BLACK and GOLD HANDBAG
2. BOOTS and BOOTIES
3. BLACK LEGGINGS
4. BOLD GOLD NECKLACES
5. NARROW PANTS
6. WHITE SHIRTS
7. TUNICS
8. BELTS
9. RED SHOES
10. A FABULOUS SKINNY DRESS

LEGGINGS 101

Leggings are so versatile because they cover the body yet are very sexy

Here is the skinny on how to wear the new, updated version of leggings.

- Matte black leggings go with everything from a long tunic to under a black cocktail dress.

- Ribbed leggings elongate the leg but make sure you don't OD on pattern. If you are doing a ribbed leg keep the top a simple texture and avoid thick rib knits and corduroy.

- Grey ones can be worn with dark, muted colors like deep maroon, navy and purple.

- Stay away and avoid sheers. The best are opaque. I know you have seen some celebrities in the magazines wearing white leggings but dark colors are the best. The white ones remind me of the long johns the cowboys wore in those old westerns.

- Don't forget proportion; whatever you wear over leggings should hit between the bottom of your tush (your bottom) and above your knees.

Keep your look from being dated. In the 70's and 80's we wore leggings as pants (remember the stirrup pants) Today's are accent pieces and worn in conjunction with something. In other words, they are not stand alone garments.

AVOID a thick legging. It can literally change the shape of your leg. Consider your figure when wearing them, as they can add bulk to the lower half of your body.

AND NOW THE SHOES - (my favorite subject)

Here is the nice thing about leggings- they work with almost every type of shoe- heels, flats, ankle boots.
Ankle boots, especially the rounder toed ones, look tough and sexy with leggings for either day or night.
Wear slim black leggings with heels. This not only looks FABULOUS but creates an illusion of a longer leg.
Flats and Mary Janes also work with leggings as do Ballet slippers.

Now raise your hand and take the pledge to make fashion for Fall all about having fun!

If you want to learn more about beauty, fashion and style, click here

JEANS HAVE BECOME THE GREAT AMERICAN CLASSIC . . .

Every fashion stylist and designer will tell you that jeans have become a wardrobe staple for women of all ages.

What were called "dungarees" or "Blue jeans" when I was growing up have now evolved into an American fashion classic.  No wardrobe is complete without at least two pair of jeans, one for casual and the other for dressy.

My " over 50 "  clients  ask me if they are too old to wear them . The answer is absolutely not, but, as with all fashion, not every look is for everyone.

Here are some guidelines that will help you wearing  jeans.

Remember! Jeans Rule! and here are some definite ones.

1- Wear the right cut and style for your age. Even if you are a size 2  and have a buff body, if you are over 40, forget those low riders with the rear exposure.  Not only will you look like you are trying too hard but your look will be so dated. The super low waists are history, They left in 2005.

2- If you are buying a very expensive pair of jeans remember - the simpler the better- don't spend  a ton of money on jeans with beading, or appliques or designs. These investment pieces should be clean and simple. This way, they will never go out of style and you can wear them with everything. If you MUST have a pair with cowgirl details like rhinestones or skull and bones, go to someplace like TARGET or WAL MART  and buy a funky pair that if they go out of style next week who cares. You didn't tap into your 401K  to pay for them.

3- Leave  your belt loops clean. Belted jeans are for cowboys. Update your look by wearing the belt over your shirt or top.

4- Remember this rule- Slim fitting or "skinny" jeans look best with a blousy top. Keep the line straight but not severe. One of the best ways to balance the look of a skinny leg is to tuck the jeans into boots. I like a short jacket with slim jeans. On the other hand, if you wear a wider leg pant, the top should be narrow. The big peasant top with flowing legs went out with Janis Joplin.

5- When you find the perfect jeans  (proportion, line, fit ) buy 2 PAIR- Hem one short for flats or sandals and leave the other pair longer for heels. I do this all the time when I find perfect black pants. If the fit is  right, I buy two pair right away.

Fall Makeup Has Stunning New Trends

There is a wider variety of colors, from the palest pink to muted purple and deep rich cranberry to the richest chocolate brown.

Textures will be in a wide range from luminous, sheer, to creamy matte.

For me, the highlights of the new collection is a new neutral eye-shadow color called, Silver Fawn. This will be the new bone or beige but will add some candescence to your eyes that the old neutrals never did.

Warning: If you use an eyelash curler use it on your lashes before you use mascara. If you do it after you run the risk of ripping them out.

Lipstick trick: When picking out new lipstick shade, test the color on your fingertip, not the back of your hand, as most women do. The reason is that your fingertip skin has the same blue tone as your lips.

She finds the best deals on designer clothing every time

Georgia doesn’t know I’m writing this but I just had to do it.

You see, the people who read my own Jim’s Jems newsletter would not relate to this story but I know you will.

I tell people my wife is a shopper with a capital “S” and sometimes they think I’m exaggerating. You telll me if I am.

We were in the mall a couple of weeks ago and Georgia saw a pair of very cool boots. These were not your ordinary boots. They were DKNY furry winter boots, as seen in Vogue Magazine, and carried a hefty price tag of $600 (US).

Georgia said they were nice but she did not love them enough to pay the price. Neiman Marcus sold them out in a heartbeat. Her not buying them did not hurt the economy.

About a week later, she came walking in the house with the boots. She bought them at Marshall’s for $147! That’s about 75% off the initial price.

Now, I know, a lot of people do this in stores like Marshalls, but Georgia does it EVERYWHERE.

Last weekend we were in the Short HIlls, NJ mall.

We like it there. There’s an Apple store and some other places to distract me:-) and a Legal Seafood restaurant. My deal is we eat after she shops:-)

I met up with Georgia near the restaurant and she was all excited. I said, “OK, what did you buy?”

She proceeded to show me four tops. No, not the singing group.

She had two Donna Karen, a Dana Buchman and a Christopher, totaling $800.

I inquired as to what she paid. “I got all this for only $239 she beamed AND I had a $100 credit so I only spent $139.

I realize this is not something I’m wired to understand. To me, she spent $139. But thought you might enjoy the story.

If you want to learn her insider secrets to what how to find the best designer fashion deals and much more, take a look at her program


Be well,
Jim Donovan
The guy with no closet space.

PS. Don’t tell her I told you this. It’ll be our secret. But do take a look here