Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Favorite Things For Great Day Houston
1. Need a vacation? JetBlue is such a fun airline. They fly out of Hobby airport and have DirectTV in each seat. And your first checked bag is FREE! You’ll see WiiFii on flights in 2010. www.JetBlue.com
2. Speaking of wiifii, HP Mini Netbook computers are the latest thing! They are perfect for staying connected when you’re away from home – check email, update facebook, watch YouTube videos, share pictures, or browse online. They weigh about 3 pounds and start at $299. There’s one to match your personality and style - a beautiful eco design by Tord Boontje (tort BONE-cheh), Sparkly Diva pink, or all biz black swirl. Check them out at www.HP.com.
3. The Flip digital video cameras - While you’re on vacation, here’s a great way to make the fun last. Make digital videos with The Flip in regular or HD. They hold up to 2 hours of video and come with their own editing software built right in. When you get home, just flip out the USB connector, down load your videos and software, edit it and upload it to facebook or YouTube to share with family and friends. From $149. Check them out at www.TheFlip.com.
4. IPEVO Kaliedo R7 Digital Frame – This is the most stylish digital frame! The IPEVO Kaliedo R7 switches from landscape to portrait and takes all kinds of input – flash drive, standard sizes of digital memory cards, USB connection from your computer. The coolest feature is that it’s also wireless, so you can stream images from your rss feeds, flickr, or your friends facebook pages wirelessly to your frame. $149 at www.IPEVO.com
5. ViewSonic Widescreen LCD HD TV – The Viewsonic VT2645 is ideal for fast action in movies, sports and games. It has multiple connectivity ports for all your multimedia connections and game consoles. $479. All viewers can save $130 on this tv and get it for $349! Go to www.ViewSonic.com/greatday for details.
What's Sarah Wearing - I.N.Studio sweater dress (style 0383D34, color Teal, $59, www.Dillards.com) and Frye Harness boots (color chocolate, $238, www.dillards.com)
Monday, September 14, 2009
Fashion First Aid
This TV segment begins airing on Mirror/Mirror on the LivewellHD network on September 14, 2009 in 10 cities (NY, LA, Philadelphia, Chicago, Houston, San Francisco, Fresno, Raleigh/Durham, Flint, and Toledo. To watch the story, click on the video below or this link http://livewellhd.com/video?id=7012180.
Gaping Waist-Bands - It’s rare to find a pair of pants that fits our hips and waist at the same time. Buy pants to fit your hips and use the isABelt transparent invisible belt ($16.95 – $19.95, http://www.isabelt.com/) to make the waist of your pants fit perfectly. The belt is adjustable and invisible so you get the fit you need at your waist without adding bulk to your tummy. This belt is also great to keep your pants looking great when you're loosing weight.
Heel- Wedgies – Do your pants get stuck under your heels when you wear sling-back shoes or mules? Attach Kix by Katie pant’s stays ($12.95, http://www.kixbykatie.com/) to the inside back seam of your pant’s leg. It works just like a "collar stay" to keep the pants straight and away from your heel.
Popping Buttons - Have you ever popped a button off your jeans? That’s a problem if you’re wearing tight jeans! Those specialized buttons are hard to find and replace. The Instant Button ($15, http://www.instantbuttonforjeans.com/) is a replacement button you can keep in your purse. You can also use the button to tighten/loosen the waistband of your jeans for a perfect fit.
Panty Lines – How do you avoid panty lines? Thongs and boy shorts are great for reducing panty lines. "Stick on" panties like Commando cotton patches ($10-$18, GoCommandos.com) are another option. It’s a cotton panel you can stick on to the inside of your jeans or pants so you have all the protection you need without any panty line at all.
Revealing Necklines - It's difficult to keep underwear underwraps with all the unusual necklines this season. Many tops and dresses don’t come with a built-in bra, so it can be hard to keep your bra straps hidden. Lingerie or Body tape such as isAStrips invisible fashion tape ($6.95, http://www.isabelt.com/) will keep your necklines in place. You can also use it to repair torn hems or keep button-down tops from pulling across the bustline.
Visible Bra Straps – Ask your tailor add tiny straps to revealing tops to hold bra straps in place. Or use a tiny clips like Strap Tamers clips ($9, http://www.straptamers.com/) to keep bra straps hidden inside the shirt. Another way to keep bra straps covered is to wear a bra like the Infinite Options convertible bra ($30, http://www.fashionforms.com/) with straps that can be adjusted to accommodate a variety of necklines.
Slipping Spaghetti Straps – Spaghetti straps on evening gowns and camis can slip and drive you nuts. Use a or hair barrette pretty clip like the Bra Barette (from $3.99, http://www.brabarrette.com/) to keep straps up.
Visible Tags – Tags can be annoying, itchy and pop-up unexpectedly.You don’t want to cut tags out of clothing because they they have care instructions or designer labels. Use tag covers such as Tag Tamers adhesive tag covers ($8.99, http://www.hollywoodfashiontape.com/) to keep tags in place and protect your skin from itchy seams.
Underarm Stains – Arm-pit stains are never flattering! If you sweat excessively, you can use hyperhydrosis control wipessuch as Med-E-Tate hyperhydrosis control wipes ($48, http://www.dermadoctor.com/) on your underarm area or attach protective adhesive sheets such as Behind The Seams Apparel Sheilds ($10.99, http://www.hollywoodfashiontape.com/) the underarms of your clothing.
Slipping Mules – Mules are comfy and easy to wear. And it’s easy to loose them when walking on uneven surfaces or up stairs. Use an invisible clear strap like HeelStraps clear strap ($11.99, http://www.heelstraps.com/) to keep them in place.
Sponsors
What's Sarah Wearing?
Massimo tank and Merona shrug from Target (these looked great in person but didn't translate in HD very well!), Isabel trouser jeans from Dillard's, Coach platform peep-toes from Macy's.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Weight-Loss Wardrobe Essentials
These pieces will look great at each size you travel through on your journey to your goal and flatter your new body as it appears.
This TV segment aired in two parts on KTRK, Channel 13 News at 4:00 & 6:00 on July 28, 2009. Here are links to watch Part 1 and Part 2.
1. Wrap Dress – The wrap dress is versatile and can work for work, evening, or casual occasions depending on how you accessorize it. Buy the dress slightly on the small side and wear it with a cami underneath. As you shrink, the dress will adjust to accommodate your body. The reversible wrap dress shown in the story is super practical because it’s 2 dresses in one.
Cibeline reversible wrap dress (http://www.cibeline.com/ $488)
2. Camisole – A camisole will stretch your wardrobe by giving you coverage under tops, jackets, and sweaters. It's an inexpensive versatile layering piece. Camis come in lots of different colors and styles, so choose your favorite colors in a style that flatters your figure.
3. "Shrinky Dink" Blouse – Blouses with pleats, rouching, or ruffles can stretch to fit your figure and shrink as you do. Because it expands and contracts, it will look good at your largest state and shrink with you so it never looks too big and is always flattering. Most Shrinky Dink blouses should be dry-cleaned to retain the "bounce." The examples used in the story were made by Alberto Makali (stye #266218), Peter Nygard, and IQ Paris and can be found at Dillard's department stores (http://www.dillards.com/).
4. Wrap Sweater – This cardigan can be wrapped to flatter your figure, no matter what size you are. You can weap it more than 20 different ways, so it can be worn all week and never look the same. The sweater works for day, evening, casual, and formal ocassions. Wear it as a top over the wrap dress to make the dress look like a skirt, as a sweater over the skrinky dink blouse, or over the cami for day or a sexy look for evening.
For even more ways to wrap it, check out http://www.dkny.com/womens/cozy_video.html. The cashmere wrap sweaters used in the story are from Victoria’s Secret (http://www.victoriassecret.com/, $50).
5. Trousers – This style of pants gives you lots of room in the hips and thighs so the pants always look stylish no matter your size. The waiste of these pants is really easy to tailor, so you can make them fit as you shrink. You can also use the isABelt transparent belt to discretely cinch in the waist as your waist gets smaller. The trousers in the TV story can be found at Dillard's department stores (http://www.dillards.com/). The isABelt is available at http://www.isabelt.com/ ($16 - $20)
6. Smocked Strapless Dress - The smocked dress can be worn as a strapless dress or as a maxi skirt. It has elastic stitching in the top so it will adjust to fit your figure. If you are uncomfortable wearing a strapless dress, wear it over a cami or t-shirt to give you more coverage and security. The dresses in the TV story can be found at Dillard's department stores (http://www.dillards.com/).
You can wear these pieces transitionally as you change your size, or you could even create your entire wardrobe from just these six pieces – 1 wrap dress (actually two dresses in one), 4 camis in different colors, 3 shrinky dink blouses, 2 draped cardigan, 3 pairs of trousers, and 1 smocked dress. Add a couple pairs of shoes, a belt, and a few pieces of jewelry and you’ve got the perfect mix and match wardrobe!
What's Sarah Wearing?
Alberto Makali embellished top style #141580 (http://www.albertomakali.com/) from Dillard's, Isabel trouser jeans from Dillard's, Coach platform peep-toes from Macy's.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Meaningful & Memorable Family Time
This TV segment airs on Great Day Houston network on July 2 and 10, 2009. Here's a link to watch it http://www.khou.com/greatday/video/?nvid=376736&shu=1.
Plant A Tree
Planting a tree together every year is a great way to spend a day together. Plant them in your yard or plant them for a neighbor or friend, local parks, or tree planting charities. To make the memory last, keep a journal and map of the trees. Each year you can take a tour of all your trees together. Take videos during the planting and every year as you and the trees grow, and make notes about how the trees changes, the kinds you planted, the people you helped, etc.
Display Sources - Avocado, Kumquat, Olive, and flowering trees from http://www.joshuasnativeplants.com/, The Flip video cameras in conventional and HD from http://www.theflip.com/, Journal from http://www.brushdance.com/, stickers and scrapbook supplies from Texas Art Supply (http://www.texasart.com/ for locations).
Family Trip
Take a trip together for an afternoon/day/weekend/week to do something special together you all enjoy - movies, fishing, volunteering for charities, visiting stadiums around the country, visiting all the national parks, etc. To make the trip last all year long, document the trip with photos and personal captions.
Display Sources - 8-inch GiiNii SLOPE digital picture frame, $70 from Wal-Mart or http://www.giinii.com/, photo album colorful pens, photo caption stickers and photo album from Texas Art Supply (http://www.texasart.com/ for locations).
Family Dinner
Make dinner even more special by plannning the menu, shop for ingredients, cooking, eating and cleaning up together as a family. Take pictures of all the action and make a scrap book of the recipes, pictures of the cooking/eating, comments from the family about how good/bad the meal was and the fun you had together.
Display Sources – Cannon Digital Elph Powershot & Nikon ColorPix digital cameras from Houston Camera Exchange at http://www.hcehouston.com/ (Houston Camera Exchange has new and used cameras - great for families on a budget). Scrapbooks, scrapping papers, and supplies from Texas Art Supply (http://www.texasart.com/ for locations).
Get To Know You Journals
Send out "get to know you more" questions or "A Few Things I’ve Been Meaning To Ask" Journals before the party and ask eveyone to bring their answers to share. You’ll be surprised by the new topics of conversation and what you learn about each other. What’s your favorite childhood memory? Who did you look up to growing up? What was your first job? What were your proudest moments as a parent?
Display Sources – "A Few Things I’ve Been Meaning To Ask" Journals from http://www.sanddunepublishing.com/ ($15) in English and Spanish.
You Make A Difference Party Favors
Make little home-made booklets or journals with the qualities, character traits, or wisdom you appreciate from your family members. Create a booklet for each family member and have everyone at the party write a line or two. Or you can put each comment on a small piece of paper and present them in a tiny keep sake box. It’s a nice way to say the things we feel but never get around to saying. And each person will have a daily reminder that they are loved and appreciated.
Display Sources – "12 Ways You’ve made A difference Journals from, http://www.someonespoilme.com/ ($28), BE Boxes keepsake boxes from http://www.bluedogzdesign.com/ ($12) and Scrapbooks, scrapping papers, and supplies from Texas Art Supply (http://www.texasart.com/ for locations).
What's Sarah Wearing?
Alberto Makali embellished top style #141580 (http://www.albertomakali.com/) from Dillard's, Isabel trouser jeans from Dillard's, Coach platform peep-toes from Macy's.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Rainy Day Fashion
There’s no need to wear ugly rain wear. Today’s rain gear is stylish, colorful, and practical so choose pieces that express your personal style and protect you from the weather. You’ll arrive at your destination looking put together and beautiful in spite of the weather.
This TV segment begins airing on Mirror/Mirror on the LivewellHD network on June 29, 2009 in 10 cities (NY, LA, Philadelphia, Chicago, Houston, San Francisco, Fresno, Raleigh/Durham, Flint, and Toledo. Check the website for local listings(http://www.livewellhd.com/). Here's a link to watch it (http://livewellhd.com/video?id=6884713)
Tips For Looking Great In The Rain And When You Arrive At Your Destination
Clothing designed for sporting activities are made from water-resistant, breathable materials that are perfect for wet weather. These pieces repel water in a storm, dry quickly, and look fresh when you arrive at your destination. Keep a couple fashionable pieces on hand to work double duty as "regular clothes" for rainy days. Examples: golf skirt (Sarah, www.zappos.com/clothing), nylon hiking pants (Jaclyn, www.athleta.com/).
Choose footwear made of water-proof materials – plastic & rubber rain boots, garden clogs, plastic sandals, and Crocs are great choices.
Choose handbags made from water-proof materials – patent leather, rubber, micro-fiber all work well. Or pop your handbag into a waterproof reuseable shopping bag (www.rumebags.com/).
Pony tails and "up-dos" are the best hair styles for the rain because they stay neat and smooth even when wet.
Water-proof hats and umbrellas keep makeup lasting longer in the rain. Water proof eye-makeup and lip/cheek stains stay fresh in the rain.
The Looks
Urban/Sporty – These looks are sporty with an urban style. They are practical for walking or traveling by public transportation and have an eclectic, funky style.
Estella – pink swing jacket ($100, Hillary Radley), Ed Hardy Hounds Tooth rain boots ($100, www.zappos.com/clothing)
Nathalie – LolĂ« Cheerful jacket ($80), Tretorn Rigg Rain boots ($70), (outfit from www.zappos.com/clothing) and red San Diego Hat Co. rain hat (http://www.sandiegohat.com/)
Jaclyn – LTB Lerita Raincoat ($72, www.artfulwears.com/), Walleroo's York hat, red & white rubber sandals ($7, Old Navy)
Classis/Elegant – These looks are updated versions of classic trenches with stylish details, unexpected colors, and new materials. They are perfect for professional occasions.
Sarah – Liz Golf Seasonal Essentials Skort, Cole Haan Transitional Belted Short Rain Jacket, La Canadienne Pulley Rain Boots (all from http://www.zappos.com/clothing)
Estella – orange trench (Hillary Radley), San Diego Hat Co. green rain hat (http://www.sandiegohat.com/), leopard Malindi flats (http://www.crocs.com/)
Nathalie – Liz Claiborne Bonded Cotton Inside Print Mac coat with floral lining (http://www.zappos.com/clothing), blue Nomad rubber shoes (http://www.shoebuy.com)/, blue "I’m rain delayed" umbrella ($44, http://www.cheekyumbrella.com/)
Jaclyn – Blue patagonia jacket, Hunter RHS floral garden clogs, (all from http://www.zappos.com/clothing) hounds tooth umbrella
Whimsical/Fun – These looks are bright and fun and bring a bit of happiness to a dreary day.
Estella – hot pink slicker, Marc Jacobs red boots with hearts ($150, http://www.zappos.com/), pink & orange "I sizzle in the drizzle" umbrella ($44, www.cheekyunbrella.com/)
Nathalie – blue patagonia jacket ($200, www.zappos.com/clothing), red/white/blue beach umbrella ($10,old navy), blue Kamik Mayzlo boots ($50, www.zappos.com/)
Jaclyn – pink/white floral jacket ($8, old navy), aubergine Hunter Original rubber boots ($115, www.zappos.com/), green umbrella ($14, Target)
What's Sarah Wearing?
Liz Golf Seasonal Essentials Skort, Cole Haan Transitional Belted Short Rain Jacket, La Canadienne Pulley Rain Boots (all from www.zappos.com/clothing)
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Looking Good While Exercising
The nightmare is over! The latest generation of work-out wear is flattering, fashionable and practical. This TV story shows you the latest trends in workout wear and how to choose the trends that are most flattering for you.
Here is the segment. It begins airing on Mirror/Mirror on the LivewellHD network on June 1, 2009 in 10 cities (NY, LA, Philadelphia, Chicago, Houston, San Francisco, Fresno, Raleigh/Durham, Flint, and Toledo. Check the website for local listings(http://www.livewellhd.com/).
The Models - Jaime, Lori, Nissa, Estella, Megan, Rebecca (Host of Mirror Mirror)
The Trends
Athletic Skirt – Skirts aren’t just for tennis anymore. SkirtSports (http://www.skkirtsports.com/) revolutionized the fitness wear industry when they created the first athletic skirt in 2004. Athletic skirts are feminine, flirty, and super flattering and now you can find one for every sport. (models: Nissa & Megan)
Gym To Real-Life – Athletic wear isn’t just for the gym anymore. Athletic wear is so stylish, it can be worn casually for "real life." You’ll find sporty dresses, comfy capri pants, pretty prints, and sexy shorts (models: Lori, Nissa, & Estella)
Practical built-in features – Workout wear is made for how you live with hidden pockets to make it easy to carrying ipods, keys, and cell phones; built-in underwear (bras and cotton crotch panels) so there aren’t any visible straps or panty lines.
Comfortable performance fabrics – look for perforated fabrics that breath and keep you cool, flat seams that won’t rub or chafe, compression fabrics and tummy panels that smooth figure imperfections, and bamboo/dri-fit fabrics that are anti-bacterial and wick away sweat. (models: Megan, Sarah, Lori, Jaime)
Fashionable athletic shoes – All the fashion trends are reflected in athletic footwear so it’s easy to express your personal styles with bright colors, metallics, patent leather, and high-tech details.
Flattery Here’s what to look for when you choose your work out clothes to flatter your figure.
Skirts are flattering for hips, thighs, thick torsos. Look for under-shorts or built in leggings for more coverage. The skirts in this story are from SkirtSports (models: Nissa & Megan)
V-neck/scoop necklines make you look taller and leaner look and distract attention from flawed areas. (models: Estella & Rebecca)
Empire Waistline slims the waist and tummy by showing off tiniest part of woman’s body.
Compression Fabrics are great for smoothing rolls and jiggles in the waist, tummy, hips, and thighs.
Flat Waist Bands smooth and flatten the tummy. Avoid drawstrings or gathered waistbands because these add bulk to the tummy area and make it look bigger than it really is.
Personalized Lengths. Athletic pants now come in longer and shorter lengths so you can get the perfect fit. Pants that are too long or short make us look shorter and heavier than we really are. Tops are available in longer lengths to accommodate long torsos and keep the tummy area covered even when you stretch your arms over your head.
Prints are great camouflage. Prints keep the eye moving so they never settle on the dimple, lump, or bump.
What are the models wearing?
Sarah - Nike Premium Basic Hoodie, Printed Mesh Tank Top (built-in bra), Dri-Fit Be Strong polyester training pant (compression fabric, moisture-wicking, tall/petite lengths), Nike Zoom Sister One Running Shoe. (http://www.store.nike.com/)
Jaime – Nike Dri Fit soft hand running base layer (moisture-wicking, mesh inserts), Dri-Fit Be Strong polyester training pant (compression fabric, moisture-wicking, tall/petite lengths), Nike Free 5.0 Running Shoe. (http://www.store.nike.com/)
Lori – Lucy Karma Jacket, Cami Bra, Chi Tank, and Chi Capris (all bamboo fabric) http://www.lucy.com/, Nike Zoom Sister One Running Shoe. (http://www.store.nike.com/)
Nissa – SkirtSports WonderGirl Running Dress, SkirtSports short sleeve mesh hoodie (http://www.skirtsports.com/), Nike Zoom Sister One Running Shoe. (http://www.store.nike.com/)
Estella – Lucy Hot Yoga Halter, Cami Bra, EveryDay Pant (http://www.lucy.com/) Nike Zoom Sister One Running Shoe. (http://www.store.nike.com/)
Megan – SkirtSports WonderGirl Tank, SkirtSports Sweetest Thing Skirt (http://www.skirtsports.com/) Nike Free 5.0 Running Shoe. (http://www.store.nike.com/)
Rebecca (Host) – Move Tank, Groove Pants (http://www.lululemon.com/), Ana+Ava floral sweatband (http://www.anaava.com/), Nike Zoom Sister One Running Shoe. (http://www.store.nike.com/)
Thursday, May 21, 2009
7 Days Of Style In A Carry-On Bag
Who says a Diva can’t travel light? You don't have to take a ton of luggage to look great on your next vacation. Everything you need can fit in ONE carry-on bag! This segment shows you how to make a week's worth of outfits with just 8 pieces of clothing, 2 pairs of shoes, and 6 accessories.
Here is the segment. It begins airing on Mirror/Mirror on the LivewellHD network on May 19, 2009 in 10 cities (NY, LA, Philadelphia, Chicago, Houston, San Francisco, Fresno, Raleigh/Durham, Flint, and Toledo). Check the website for local listings (http://www.livewellhd.com/).
You can have just the right outfit for a 7-day vacation and fit EVERYTHING in a carry on bag. The key to traveling light is choosing versatile pieces that can mix and match and do "double duty." There are two ways to do it: either choose neutral clothing and colorful accessories, or colorful clothing and neutral accessories.
The Clothing
In this segment, I chose colorful tops, neutral bottoms, and neutral accessories so everything goes together no matter how you combine them. Every top works with every bottom on our list.
Tiered Skirt/Dress - This tiered skirt can also be worn as a strapless dress. It's perfect on its own as a beach coverup, paired with the wrap cardigan as a comfy air travel outfit, or dressed up with the halter top for an evening out ($88, Michael Stars).
Wrap Cardigan - This coverup can be worn loose as a sweater, tied "cross-over" style in the front as a top, or tied at the back to make an open-back party top ($69, David Cline).
Ruffle Shirt Jacket - This pink shirt can be worn buttoned up as a pretty blouse or unbottoned as a jacket ($44, Ya).
Halter Top - The green top can be dressed up with a skirt for dinner or worn casually with shorts to the beach or with pants for shopping ($66, Michael Stars).
Tank - The turquoise tank can be worn on it's own with shorts or a skirt, or layered under the shirt/jacket ($41, Michael Stars).
Pants - Khakis (or dressy jeans) can be dressed up or down and work with every top on our list ($159 Billy Blues).
Walking Shorts - These animal print walking shorts can be worn casually or dressed up with a jacket or blouse ($119, Randy Kemper).
Print Dress With Embellished Neckline - This dress doesn't need any jewelry because the embellishment at the neckline is jewelry. Wear it on its own to a dressy dinner or party. Turn the dress into a skirt by wearing it with a coordinating blouse and its perfect for lunch or shopping ($349, Laundry).
Accessories
All the accessories are neutral (gold, pewter, silver, white, brown), so they go with any and every piece of clothing on our list.
Shoes - These sandals are comfortable so they can be worn all day. They are very versitale because they are made from dressy material in casual styles, so they can be dressed up or down. Gold strappy sandals ($85, Michael Stars) and metallic stone sandals ($132, Steve Madden).
Hat - This hat has a wide brim for sun protection, is crushable so it can be packed and then popped back into shape, and stylish so it can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. San Diego Packable Hat ($45, http://www.sandiegohat.com/)
Bracelet – The bracelet adds a little texture and interest to outfits created from solid colors ($24, ethnic bracelet)
Modern Pearl Drop Earrings and Squiggle Gold Earrings - These earrings are the perfect balance between casual and dressy - the pearls/gold dress them up and the styling keeps them fun. These earrings will dress up a casual outfit without making the look too formal. ($163, Alexis Bitar; $139, Bobby Boase)
Gold Squiggle Link Necklace - This necklace also balances between casual and dressy. The gold material makes it dressy, while the asymetrical styling keeps it fresh ($286, Bobby Boase).
Convertible White Bag - The bag can be big or small. Unbutton the clasps and the bag becomes a full size totabag, perfect for shopping of the beach. Button-up the clasps and the bag becomes a handbag that's small enough for dinner or a party ($399, Kooba).
Personal Items
Carry-On Bag – When choosing your bag, look for one that's roomy, with wheels, pockets for organization, and is within the FAA size requirements. Siamod Wheeled Duffle Bag ($290, http://www.careerbags.com/) and Zuca Pro ($285, http://www.zuca.com/).
To save space, look for travel-size versions of the items you use every day.
Chi Mini Travel Iron & Dryer and haircare ($150, http://www.farouk.com/)
Goddess Clutch from POP beauty ($32, http://www.drugstore.com/)
Michael Marcus Sable Travel Brush Kit ($98, http://www.MichaelMarcus.com/)
Ole Hendriksen Travel skincare kit ($70, http://www.sephora.com/)
Hanky Panky stretch lace thongs and boy shorts ($18 - $38 http://www.hankypanky.com/)
Thank you Dimensions (http://www.dimensions6100.com/) for providing the clothing and accessories for the segment!
What's Sarah Wearing? Alberto Makali purple print dress (http://www.dillards.com/ $178), Enzo brown suede platform boots ($150), gold tone necklace (JS Collections, Harwin St. Houston, $5)
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Diva's Travel Survival Kit
Air travel used to be a glamorous and indulgent experience. And it can be again! This segment shows you 10 things to pop in your carryon bag to make your coach seat into a first class experience.
Here is more information about the items included in the segment.
Keep It Together
Choose a stylish carry-on tote bag with padded straps and outside pockets to organize small items. Add a pretty luggage tag for some personality and to make it easy to return the bag if it's mispaced. The examples in the segment:
- Leather Clava Luggage Tote ($170, http://careerbags.com/catalog/clava-luggage-tote-p-508.html)
- Causari Weekender ($95, http://www.casauri.com/carry_on_luggage/carry_all_weekender.shtml )
Bonjour Fleurette luggage tag ($12, http://www.flowerslippers.com/)
Cooty Control
You never know what the last person did with that airline pillow or blanket. Here are some items to make your seat more comfortable:
- A cashmere wrap dresses up comfy travel clothing and doubles as a beautiful personal travel blanket. White & Warren First Class Travel Wrap ($275, http://www.whiteandwarren.com/product.php?productid=1395&cat=102&page=1)
- A personal silk and down travel pillow can make that airplane seat so much more comfortable. Silk is cool and comfortable on delicate skin. The Silk ‘N Dreams Travel Pillow is easy to pack and comes with a washable silk pillowcase. ($45, http://www.silkndreams.com/product/neck-pillow.htm)
-Bring along your own earphones for inflight movies and music. Chicbuds are embellished with swarovski crystals and is retractable to keep the cords from getting tangled. ChicBuds ($49, http://www.chicbuds.com/)
Looking Good
Here are some items to keep you looking fresh and fabulous at 30,000 feet:
- Use a spritzer mist to hydrate and energize skin. The Body Deli Fresh Cell Liquid Vitamins can be used under or over makeup ($55, http://www.thebodydeli.com/)
-A baby aspirin and a cooling gel can keep legs from swelling. Cures Anti-Fluid Gel relieves swelling and increases circulation ($43 for body kit, https://www.curesbyavance.com/avance-products/products-curestogo.html?id3=323&--eqskudatarq=27&cart=12396647541812656)
- streamline your travel makeup with a mini makeup compact that holds everything you need for eyes, cheeks, and lips. Goddess Clutch from POP beauty ($32, http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=216665&catid=35839)
Smelling Good
- A solid perfume will keep you smelling sweet without leaking all over your handbag. Lush solid perfume ($10.95, http://www.lushusa.com/)
For fresh breath on the go, pop some breathmints or disposable toothbrushes in your bag.
- Colgate Wisp disposable toothbrushes ($2.39 for pack of 4, http://www.drugstore.com/user/promo.asp?code=1F742C55&aid=336064&aparam=colgate%20wisp&scinit1=colgate%20wisp)
- Eat Whatever 2-Step Breath Freshening with parsley & peppermint oil gel caps to keep your tummy fresh and a sugar-free mint to keep your mouth fresh (http://www.eat-whatever.com/)
Feeling Good
Here are some items to take the stress and pain out of your travel experience
- EarPlanes normalize air pressure in your ear canal during landing and take-off slowly to reduce the pain of pressure changes ($12, http://www.earplanes.com/)
- Psi Bands are fashionable acupressure wristbands to combat motion sickness ($15, http://www.psibands.com/)
- Balance Water is infused with 6 flower essences to combat jetlag, dehydration, motion sickness, the stresses of traveling, fatigue, poor sleep, and anger. Drink at least 2 hours before traveling. ($1.60, www.drink balance.com)
Thank you Southwest Air for letting us shoot in your gate area at Hobby Airport!
What's Sarah wearing? Alberto Makali purple print dress (http://www.dillards.com/ $178), Enzo brown suede platform boots ($150), gold tone necklace (JS Collections, Harwin St. Houston, $5)
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Dos & Don'ts of Gladiator Sandals
This segment will appear on Mirror Mirror on the LivewellHD network in May 2009. Here is a link to the segment http://livewellhd.com/mirrormirror/story?id=6772753 It airs in 10 cities (NY, LA, Philadelphia, Chicago, Houston, San Francisco, Fresno, Raleigh/Durham, Flint, and Toledo). Check the website for local listings (http://www.livewellhd.com/).
The Dos Of Gladiator Sandals
- Let them show – wear low gladiator sandals with longer dresses, jeans, shorts, and capri pants, wear tall gladiator sandals with above the knee skirts and shorts.
- Choose metallics for a slim look (dark brown and black sandals with lots of straps can make legs and ankles look bigger.
- Choose styles with a heel and thinner straps for a slimmer look.
- Wear them with drapey, bohemian, feminine style clothing.
- A pedicure is a must, these sandals will attract lots of attention to your pretty feet.
The Don’ts
- Don’t wear them if you have wide/big feet, thick ankles and calves, or short legs. The horizontal straps will make you look even bigger.
- Don’t wear styles with lots of thick horizontal straps, they will make your legs look bigger than they are.
- Don’t wear them with socks or pantyhose.
- Don’t wear them to formal affairs, this is a casual shoe.
- Don’t splurge on them, This trend is in it’s third year and won’t last much longer.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Video Chatting – Easy & Economical Way To Stay Connected
Video phones (aka video chatting) are finally here! Now you can have face-to-face conversations in real-time from anywhere in the world (with internet access). Video-chatting uses your computer screen and feels like you’re talking to someone across a desk or table. Familiar uses include chats between business associates, grandparents and grandkids, parents and college kids, and family and a parent who’s away on business.
There are even more ways to use video chatting, such as
-Have family dinners together even when the whole family is spread across the country. Just set the computer on one end of the table and everyone can eat together.
-Share romantic dinners when your spouse is out of town. Just set out the candles, wine, and dinner on either side of the computer and stay connected.
-Birthday parties - put the computer in the middle of the action and everyone can enjoy the party together.
The more you do it, the more ideas you’ll come up with for your family and business.
All it takes is a program (free) and some inexpensive equipment - speakers, microphone, webcam and lighting.
The Programs
Many video-chat programs are free. Choose the program you want, download it to your computer, choose your id name, and follow some simple instructions to set it up. Some common programs you might have heard of…Skype (http://www.skype.com/, seen it used on Oprah?), ooVoo (http://www.oovoo.com/, has cool visual effects), and iChat (a fav of MAC users). Some programs even let you conference with up to 6 people at the same time.The Sound
Most new computers come with built-in speakers and microphone. These don’t work for video-chatting because the conversation from the speakers feeds-back into the microphone so the other caller hears themselves instead of you. You need a microphone that can’t "hear" your speakers.
Basic –A headset is an inexpensive way to solve this problem. The draw backs to a headset - you’re tied to the computer by wires, it can be uncomfortable for long calls, it messes up your hair, and only one person can participate in the call at a time. The headset used in the tv story is an analogue stereo headset from Plantronics ($25).
Better - The better option is a speaker phone. I’ve really liked the IPEVO TR10 Speakerphone ($79) because it has echo cancellation for natural conversation; is hands-free so you have freedom to move around, works as speaker phone or handset so you can also have private conversations, and you don’t have to wear it so your hair stays perfect.
The Camera
Basic - Some computers come with a built-in webcam. They are convenient and provide basic functionality. The problem - you never get real eye contact with these cameras because of the position of the camera. All the camera sees is the tops of your eyelids. And the camera is limited to showing your face, so you can’t really show the other caller anything else in the room.
Better - The better option is a separate web camera mounted to the side of your computer screen. Mount the camera at eye-level, right next to your screen so you can quickly look back and forth between the camera and screen. This simulates natural eye movements that occur in normal natural conversation. My favorite webcam is the IPEVO Pointer Cam (http://www.ipevo.com/, $40). This camera is unique – you can pick it up so you can show the viewer things other than your face - close-ups of objects and text, your entire outfit or hair style, a room you just reorganized etc. This camera allows you to share your life instead of just your face. This might seem insignificant, and after you chat a few times, you’ll really appreciate this feature.
Lighting
Basic – Chat programs are designed to use regular room lighting. The problem with most room lighting is that if comes from the ceiling. Down lighting literally creates a "horror show." When the light comes from above, it creates shadows under our eyes, nose, and chin like a Freddy Kruger movie. Not the best look for date night or business calls.
Better - The best lighting for video calls is soft filtered light coming straight into your face. Position yourself in front of a window with indirect light. Or use two clamp-on work lights from a home improvement store with frosted low wattage day-light bulbs. Aim the light straight into your face (the low wattage/filtered light keeps you from getting blinded).
For Sarah’s tips on setting up the video-chatting equipment, go to http://www.sarahshah.com/
What's Sarah Wearing?
On Great Day Houston - Boston Proper Turquoise Baubles Tunic (http://www.bostonproper.com/, $149.00), Boston Proper Stone Hoop Earrings ($69)Lee bootcut dark wash jeans (Wal-mart, $17), and gold platform peep-toe pumps (Via Spiga, $200)
On San Antonio Living - Paisley-print knit top (http://www.bostonproper.com/, $79.00), Levi Signature dark wash jeans (Wal-mart, $18), gold platform peep-toe pumps (Via Spiga, $200), and gold metal pendant (Harwin St. Houston, $5)
What Is Twitter?
Twitter is the next generation of interactive media.
How is it different from other networks?
Twitter is a business network for sharing information and getting things done. There is also a social side. Conversations are quick and limited to 140 characters (equivalent to a text message)
Facebook is primarily a social network where some people try to do business.
This is what twitter looks like – ( http://twitter.com/sarahshah)
Following – these are people you interested in
Followers – these are people who are interested in you (many of them are people you follow)
Bio – say something interesting about yourself
Twitter stream – this is what the people you follow are saying right now
Why to join twitter
First and foremost, Twitter is for connecting and contributing
Connect with interesting and like-minded people you wouldn’t meet in real-life. What are you interested in? For me it’s people in tv, fashion designers, boutique owners, shoppers (http://twitter.com/KoriEllis/status/1380395072 ).
Connect with businesses– businesses & celebrities are on twitter to monitor their buzz, connect with their customers/fans, and share news. On Twitter we can connect with high-level people we ordinarily don’t have access to. We can be heard, make suggestions, bring issues to their attention, provide feedback, and ask for assistance. Twitter is used for constructive conversations and solutions, not for complaining. ( http://twitter.com/comcastcares/status/1378916358 ) @comcastcares sorted out problems with my service in hours when local customer service couldn’t figure it out for 6 weeks. @southwestair announced that they are testing wifi on 4 flights – soon you’ll be able to use your email and internet on their flights.
Build an audience for causes and topics that are important to you – I’m part of a fundraiser for the YMCA on Friday. Some of Houston’s finest coaches (business, image, relationship) are donating our services for a day at the 2009 Coath-A-thon. Here’s my tweet (http://twitter.com/sarahshah/status/1380470005) and here’s the link included in the tweet (http://2009coachathon.wordpress.com/ )
Be first to know – news and events hit twitter first. The first report and pictures of US Airways flight 1549 that landed in the Hudson river were on Twitter. Passengers on the plane and people on the ferry that rescued the passengers tweeted the events in real time.
Connect with your politicians – congressional reps tweeted from President Obama’s address and got instant feedback from their constituents. That’s power to the people!
Ask for help – twitter can be even more effective than google.
10 tips for getting started
1. use your real name and make an interesting profile (so people want to follow you)
2. don’t protect updates (otherwise no one can ready what you have to say)
3. follow first and follow back
4. contribute to conversations and add value anywhere possible (answer questions, provide info, educate, inform, support)
5. be yourself and be nice
6. ask for help when you need it
7. retweet interesting info (pass interesting info on)
8. do not tweet anything you don’t want the whole world to see, because they will (http://twitter.com/rveturis/status/1380510086 )
9. your reach is only as big as your followers, the more followers you have the bigger your audience
10. use tinyurl.com to shorten links to fit into a tweet
Here are some interesting people in Houston to follow:
@SarahShah
@Mattigrey
@greatdayhouston
@Freshart (info about art & cultural events)
@southwestair
@tweethouston (retweets any message that includes the word Houston)
check out www.Wefollow.com for a listing of people by category – i.e. fashion, tv, politics, etc.
Watch the segment:
http://www.khou.com/greatday/video/?nvid=345436&shu=1
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Shopping Secrets
What's Sarah wearing?
smocked blouse from Boston Proper
Lee Rider bootcut jeans from Walmart (altered by Rolando at http://www.nicklopeztailoring.com/)
stone hoop earrings from Boston Proper
Corey pumps by Coach
What's the upside of a down economy? There are LOTS of great deals, even in department stores!
Here are some tips for getting great deals in department stores:
- Shop the sale racks: 20 – 75+% off
- Know the store's price guarantees (some stores will refund the price difference if an item you purchased goes on sale within a few days)
- Look for coupons online, on blogs, and in the newspaper
- Use your debt cards with miles/points (the Chase debt card gives you Continental miles for each dollar you charge)
- Sign up for weekly store emails for insider coupons and specials
- Use store credit cards for extra savings (pay them off immediately to avoid undoing the savings with interest charges)
- Don't be afraid to buy something that doesn't fit perfectly, most garments can be altered.
The Deals
I found some great deals this weekend on the sale racks at Dillard’s on Post Oak and Macy’s on Sage.
Outfit 1 – (Macy’s on Sage at the Galleria)
Tahari Suit (dress and cropped jacket)
Original price - $188
75% off - $47
15% off for using Macy’s card - $39.95
Best part is that it’s more than 1 outfit; it's a suit for work, a Little Black Dress for evening, and a cropped jacket that works with t-shirt and jeans.
Accessory Option 1
Carlos Santana Platform pumps- Original price $89, with all the discounts - $44.77
Earrings $16/$3.47, Bracelets $10/$3.90 abd 20/$6.10
Accessory Option 2
Tahari T-strap pumps - Original price $98, with all the discounts - $20.93
Earrings $110/$23.84, and Ring $25/$18.06
Outfit 1 Original Price $323 -$421, Discount Price $92-$97 – SAVED $324 - $231
Outfit 2 – (Dillard’s Post Oak at the Galleria)
Antonio Melani Dress
Original Price - $169
70% off - $50.70
$20 off for opening a Dillard’s account - $30.70
Accessory Option 1
Delman Sandals $375/$112.20, Fossil necklace $32/$19.20, Fossil bracelet $48/$28.80
Accessory Option 2
Gianni Bini sandals $79/$23.70, Earrings $38/$22.80
Outfit 2 Original Price $286 -$624, Discount Price $77.20-$190, SAVED $208 - $434
Outfit 3 – (Dillard’s Post Oak at the Galleria)
BCBG Top
Original Price - $88
70% off - $26.40
$20 off for opening a Dillard’s account - $6.40
Gianni Bini Pants
Original Price - $98
70% off - $29.40
Accessories
Naturalizer Mary Jane Shoes $75/$22.50, Earrings $24/$14.40, Bracelet $28/$16.80
Outfit 3 Original Price $313, Discount Price $89.50 – SAVED $223
Tailor Tricks
A tailor can help make the most of a great deal.
My Favorite tailor is Nick Lopez Tailoring on Sage, across from the Galleria
A tailor can make a garment that’s too big fit you perfectly.
Producer Sarah Greir got a free pair of pants for free. They were way too big, so she had them tailored and now they fit her like a glove.
Sarah Shah got her jeans for $17 at Walmart and had them tailored for $30. It’s okay if the tailoring costs more than the garment. Look at the total cost (price you spent on the garment and the cost of tailoring)to see if it's worth the money to get the garment.
Easy fixes by a tailor – size of waistband, length of sleeves/pants/skirts
More expendive alterations – jacket shoulders, bias cut fabrics, intricate beadwork/embroidery/stitching
Click here to watch the segment http://www.khou.com/greatday/fashion/?nvid=340252&shu=1
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Dress Yourself Skinny (TM)
This TV segment will appear on San Anonio Living (WOAI, Channel 4) on February 27, 2009. To watch it, click on the link at the bottom of this post.
No matter how attractive a woman is, more often than not, she doesn’t like what she sees in the mirror. We spend lots of energy trying fad diets, starting exercise programs, or just beating ourselves up about the way our bodies look. There is another way! You can make yourself look thinner just by changing your clothing.
Many women just choose the wrong clothing. Either we wear clothes that are too loose to cover up imperfections. Or we insist on wearing a certain size and look like we’re bursting out of our too tight clothes. We think we’re hiding our flaws but we are really making ourselves look 10 to 30 pounds heavier than we really are.
Today I brought along 3 women who would like to change their bodies. We’re going to make them look thinner just by changing their clothing. We aren’t even going to use Spanks!
Model 1 – Hips & Thighs
Michelle just had a baby. She used to be a size 2 and is now a size 8. She’d like to reduce her hips and thighs. Here’s what we did to create the illusion of smaller hips and thighs:
- Shrank her hips with wider leg pants and by expanding her shoulders (puffy sleeves)
- Showed off her small waist by emphasizing her ribcage (tailored vest)
- Divert attention away from her hips by bringing the focus to her upper body and feet (bright color and detail)
- Made her thinner over all by making her look taller - upper body lengthened with V-neckline and vertical lines, legs lengthened with really long pants and platform heels
Melissa's outfit is from Macy's: INC knit shirt ($24), XOXO Vest ($44), Kenneth Cole Jeans ($99), Rocket Dog Platforms ($59)
Model 2 – Tummy
Beverly is the business manager for sculptor Pablo Solomon. She is a size 8 and would like to minimize her tummy. Here’s what we did to create the illusion of a smaller tummy:
- Camouflaged the tummy (with flat pleats, or rouching)
- Showed off her small waist by emphasizing her ribcage
- Divert attention away from tummy by bringing the focus to her upper body (jewelry) & legs
- Made her thinner over all by making her look taller (Upper body lengthened by V-neckline and pendant necklace. Legs lengthened with high heels)
Beverly's outfit is from Macy's: Adrianna Pappel dress ($160) and Kenneth Cole shoes ($99)
Model 3 – Thick Torso (no waist)
Sarah (me) is a size 12-14 and would like to create a waist to make torso look thinner.
Here’s what we did to create the illusion of a smaller waist
- Broaden shoulders (reveal skin at shoulders)
- Boaden hips (A-line skirt)
- Emphasize ribcage (this is the smallest part of a woman’s body)
- Camouflaged the tummy (with flat gathers)
- Divert attention away from torso by bringing the focus to her upper body (jewelry) and legs
- Made her thinner over all by making her look taller (upper body lengthened by V-neckline and legs lengthened with shoes with heels)
Sarah's dress is by Alberto Makali (Dillard's, $178)
The tricks to Dressing Yourself Skinny (TM):
- Avoid horizontal lines (makes us look wider) & create lots of V’s (makes us look taller)
- Divert attention to your assets so you don’t look at your flaws
- Make yourself taller with long pants and heels (even ½" heel makes a difference)
- Balance your proportions so your hips and shoulders appear to be the same width and waist looks smaller
Click on the link to watch the segment
Monday, February 16, 2009
Spring 2009 Fashion Trends
Spring 2009 looks are classic and wearable. The trends are a continuation of everything we loved from Spring 2008. I brought along some outfits from Dillard's to show you some examples of the hottest trends.
Trend 1 – Luxe Lady – Hollywood inspired glamour from the 1940s features very tailored pieces, dainty gloves, daring shoes, pearls, floppy hats and round sunglasses.
- Look 1 – Ralph Lauren brown and cream dress ($199), Carolee pearl jewelry ($48-$150), Preston York Hat ($58), J.Vincent shoes ($138) and Calvin Klein clutch bag ($178)
- Look 2 – Jones New York classic tailored black uit jacket ($199) and flat front slacks ($99), no iron white blouse ($69), Gianni Bini patent pumps ($89), and Carolee jewelry ($48-$150)
- Look 3 - New Arrival - Peter Nygard navy and white geometric cropped jacket ($138), clacks ($88), pink knit top ($68) Donald Pliner handbag ($280), and BCBG bright pink pumps ($99)
- Look 4 - Peter Nygard (exclusive to Dillard’s) cropped yellow jacket ($395), sleveless paint brush silk dress ($148), black clutch ($99), Gianni Bini black strappy stilettos ($99)
- Look 5 – Amalphi paint brush top ($99), Michael Kors pima welesly capris ($89), Marchan sunglasses ($90), AK silver jewelry, Donald Pliner yellow handbag ($425)
- Look 5 – Lilly Pulitzer Newbury floral tunic ($225), white denim capris ($148), sandals ($138), go with the flo straw bag ($248) and vittadini earrings ($59).
- Look 6 – Ralph Lauren ruffle floral dress ($199), Makowsky green handbag ($298), Rachel Reinhardt bangles ($45 each), Melani Sandals ($99)
- Look 8 – DKNY black ikat jersey dress ($295), J.Vincent shoes ($150), kate landry zebra flap clutch ($45), ABS gelometric necklace ($125).
- Look 9 – Nuchael Kors knit flutter sleeves top ($89), Ikat jacket ($179), natural denim pants and belt ($129), barse tumble necklace ($250) and earrings ($100), and Gianni Bini slides ($99).
- Look 10 – Reba leather jacket ($348), Studded kint top ($58), dark denim ($78), Barse turquoise necklace ($210), Gianni Bini brown strappy sandals ($99)
Trend 2 - Future Fashion – Flashback to the 1980s. Think updated Cindy Lauper with geometric designs, banding and bright colors.
Trend 3 - Garden Glamour - This trend features feminine ruffled pieces and garden-inspired prints with butterflies and flowers in pinks and greens.
What's Sarah wearing? Alberto Makali purple print dress (http://www.dillards.com/ $178), Enzo brown suede platform boots ($150), gold tone necklace (JS Collections, Harwin St. Houston, $5)