Walking Disco Balls

Stop it please. I can hardly stop staring at this collection with all it's kaleidoscope colors and disco ball prints and textures. I say, who cares how wearable this is for the everyday woman, it's gorgeous. My plump silhouette would just stare at these pieces in my closet making me happy just to own them. The metallic organzas, bold paillettes (big round sequins if you will), hand painted squares of python make this by far my favorite collection for Spring 2012. Manish Arora for Paco Rabanne has inspired me to throw a disco party (ABBA playing in the background).

C of Wonder

Simon Fashion Now at Roosevelt Field showed us several new retailers at fabulous price points. My favorite: C Wonder. Think J Crew meets Kate Spade meets Anthropolgie with a price tag similar to H&M. This store has everything [clothes, accessories, jewelry, shoes, housewares in adorable prints and colors] all nestled into a super creative and aesthetically pleasing space.

Check out the girls backstage in some of my favorite pieces from the show!

Breath Of Fresh Air

Calling all New Yorkers!!!! Joe Fresh is making it's way to the US. Not familiar? You will be soon, since their price points are comparable to H&M and styles similar with Anthropologie and J.Crew, who would want to miss that? The three pieces below, available at joefresh.com, are all under $80.

Mission: Transition

At the request of a very talented Fashion Show Producer, and in honor of the 73 degree weather in Boston, Consider this your inside scoop on transitional dressing.
The Three Key Items According to Ali: the silk blouse, the leather vest and the suede boot[ie] (in my efforts to pack one suitcase for two months, these are all nestled in)

Silk blouses look fab with the sleeves rolled up, and in a winter shade like navy or deep red it's the perfect layering piece. They breathe well and fall so nicely on the body.

The leather vest is perfect over a sleeveless or short sleeved t shirt. While still maintaining the Fall look, its a hip way to layer and stay cool (adjective and temperature).

The suede boot[ie] can be thrown on with a short skirt, wool shorts, denim cut offs....the world is your oyster with the boots, just wear Fall colors and no Spring fabrics.

More options: wool pants with t shirts, short skirts with long sleeves, and sleeveless dresses that you can add tights to when the weather chills.
The key is try to mix a very Fall item, in relevant Fall colors (suede shoes, leather, wool) with a piece that keeps you cool.

This blog dedicated to those who live in two season weather. Fear not sweet Texans, Floridians, and Cajuns, you can be in style AND be cool.

Treats for the Tootsies

Spring may be a plethora of splurges on shoes! These two will be living in my closet come warm weather!

Fur A Rainy Day

Want a colored fur coat? Try dying it at home!

Supplies needed:

Spritz bottle
Hot water
RIT liquid dye
Cream or white fur jacket

Spray jacket to your satisfaction and let it dry over night. The next morning use a damp rag to wipe away excess assuring it won't bleed onto clothes! If needed, feel free to comb it out. Viola! Instant coolness and approved by Ali, but remember this is not complete saturation of color just tinted!

Please only do this cool process on fur jackets that need sprucing and have been purchased at a thrift or resale store [which happens to be the ONLY place I purchase fur].

Red Hot Fall

Do it ladies: mix your reds, deep reds, burgundy 's and burnt oranges. Save those neutrals for your tootsies and your thinking cap (hats). Don't mix more than 3 shades to avoid looking like that hat lady. Elie Tahari is showing it best in Vogue's Fashion Night Out at the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace.