Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Weight-Loss Wardrobe Essentials

As you loose weight, there’s a transition period when the clothes in your closet get too big, but you’re not ready to invest in a whole new wardrobe. What do you do? Image Coach Sarah Shah shows you 6 pieces to add to your wardrobe to bridge the gap until you reach your goal.

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

July is National Family Reunion Month! Lately, we've become less concerned with material things and more interested in strengthening our connections with family and friends. Here are some ideas for activities to do with your loved-ones to make your time together more meaningful and memorable. Do them once or make them annual traditions.

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

Stormy weather doesn’t have to be a fashion liability. Pretty rain boots, slickers, and umbrellas can bring everyday style to even the wettest days.

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)