Shoe Specs:

Versace

Metallic Leather Platform Sandal

Price: $785

• Self-covered heel, about 4″

• Ankle strap

• Leather lining and sole

• Padded insole

• Made in Italy

• Available on Saks.com

Shoe Specs:

Christian Louboutin

Peniche 120 Patent Loafer Pumps

Price: $835

• 5″ heel, stacked platform 1 1/2″

• Pinking edge on vamp

• Stitch detailing

• Leather lining

• Signature red leather sole

• Made in Italy

• Available on Saks.com

Current shoe finds to fancy…

Shoe Specs:

Michael Kors (KORS)

Lasso Ankle Wrap Sandal

Price: $295

• Lagoon Blue Suede with platino-tone hardware

• Also comes in Black with silver hardware

• Crisscross upper, d-ring buckle ankle strap

• Covered stiletto heel

• Available at michaelkors.com

Shoe Specs:

Karen Millen England

Zebra Platform Peep-Toes

Price: 150 euros

• Leather pony print

• Available at karenmillen.com

I tend to be partial to bold patterned tops paired with plain white pants (no matter how crazy the print of the top is, the white pants balance out the busyness, creating a sleek look, full of personality), but I’m especially loving the solid bright colored, 3/4-length sleeve, light-weight cardigans that are everywhere in stores right now. They are such a basic item that have so many possibilities. They can be worn casual with a tank and shorts, or they can look a little dressier with jeans, a nice top, and heels, or an appropriate dress.

Another place bold colors are standing out? Shoes and bags! A bright colored heel or sandal worn with an outfit that is basically neutral can make the outfit pop! Shoes aren’t a particularly large surface-area item, so don’t worry about the brightness.  It’s a subtle statement if you will… as long as you don’t wear a bunch of different colors with a bright bag and a bright headband or scarf, etc. The current color trend also calls for a little mismatching, such as a cobalt blue top with coral sandals. Mismatching can be dangerous, so keep it simple and as always, classy! Metallics are always a great option because they match everything, but you’ve probably been doing that since at least last season, and these colors offer something new to try.

With most things, use in moderation. Playing and experimenting with the current fashion color palette is exciting, but you can quickly and easily overdo it. Too many colors in one outfit (unless they are all contained in one print on one clothing item in the outfit), can be intense and borderline… well… think clowns. (Scary I know). If you let your outfit get out of control with the current trends, you can risk looking 80s. So, remember that these colors already bring an element of surprise and a certain level of intensity (especially the highlighter colors) – use them to “pop” the final statement, not to overwhelm. A good word to keep in mind: accent. 

-StyleSophisticate

(Valentino Runway)

(J-Crew)

I’m not talking about shirts that say “Go Green” or “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” although we all know they’re out there… But, what really impresses me, are the designers that are taking it to another level by actually using organic fabric to produce their clothing, usually organic cotton or bamboo. Recently, Banana Republic and Nordstrom have advertised organic designed clothing lines. So, why are organically made fabrics better for the environment? Below is an explanation, courtesy of eartheasy.com: 

Popular demand for cotton textiles, and competition among producers, has seen a big change in the last two generations – the increased use of pesticide. Cotton is the most pesticide-dependent crop in the world, accounting for 25% of all pesticide use. These chemicals are taking a toll on our environment and human health as a whole. Every T-shirt made of conventional cotton requires 1/4 pound of harmful chemicals. According to the USDA, in one year alone over 50 million pounds of pesticides were used on U.S. cotton fields. These pesticides deplete the soil and pollute watersheds. 

Organically raised cotton is gradually winning over new ground both on the farm and in the marketplace. No toxins or synthetic fertilizers are used. Organic cotton is produced without the use of harsh chemical bleaches or dyes, and is allergy free. Natural fertilizers, compost and soil amendments are used, and advances in natural pest control, such as ladybugs which destroy harmful insects, have helped make raising organic cotton a viable enterprise. Organic cotton clothing, unheard of a few years ago, is now available in many stores and online businesses. A wide variety of products made from organically grown cotton is now available: shirts and pants, socks, underwear, skirts and blouses, sheets and pillowcases, towels and bathrobes. 

I recently bought an organic t-shirt from Nordstrom by Stem, and it is so comfortable – I highly recommend it!  Being aware of the different things you can do to help the cause is important! I mean, who knew you could help the environment just by shopping? Now that’s not too hard, is it?

-Style Sophisticate 

Stem Ribbed Henley Camisole

Nordstrom.com

Serves 4 

INGREDIENTS:


Canola oil cooking spray

1 cup fresh blackberries

1 cup pitted and sliced fresh peaches

4 tsp fresh orange juice

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

3 tbsp whole-wheat flour

3 tbsp rolled oats

2 tbsp brown sugar

4 tsp canola oil

2 tsp honey

1 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp nutmeg

PREPARATIONS:
 Heat oven to 375. Coat 4-oz ramekins with cooking spray. Combine berries, peaches, juice, and vanilla in a bowl and mix well. In a separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients with hands until moist and crumbly. Spoon fruit mixture into ramekins; scatter crumb mixture evenly over the top of each. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until fruit bubbles and top is golden brown.

THE SKINNY

159 calories per serving

5.4 g fat (0.4 g saturated)

27.2 g carbs

4.7 g fiber

2.8 g protein 

shape.com

We’ve all done it… most jeans – especially designer – are made for people who are practically 6 feet tall… and since most of us are not 6 feet tall, we do the simple and instinctual act of flipping up and cuffing to make them the perfect length. Now, of course we all know this does not look polished, and probably borders on tacky and lazy. However, we do this because we are caught in a dilemma! We want to wear the fabulous jeans with flats AND boots or heels. All those shoes are different heights and if we hem the jeans so they are the perfect length for flats, then they are way too short to wear with any type of heeled shoe! What to do?

This never happens with dress pants because you usually have a specific shoe in mind that you want to wear them with, and you normally always go to your favorite Tailor and get them hemmed to be the right length with those shoes. (Not to mention the fact that you really can’t cuff dress pants… I mean, I really shouldn’t have to explain that…) But jeans are more casual, and therefore we feel like we can take special liberties to adjust them to our needs. However, the bottom line is: you must make a choice. Sadly, I must stress that the same rules that apply to dress pants, apply to jeans. Cuffing jeans is convenient, but not so much stylish. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve done it on many occasions, but I’m going to get my extra-long jeans hemmed to a wearable length, because well, it’s just starting to bother me, because I know it just doesn’t cut it.

The extra-long / ridiculously long jeans are okay when they are folded and stuck into snow boots, the additional fabric to remain unseen inside the boot. But come spring and summer, when snow boots are no longer necessary or appropriate, and you still love those jeans, but you pull out the sandals… you’ve got a problem. I promise you can get over the fear of taking jeans to a tailor. Just make sure the tailor is a good one, who can keep the style of the original hemstitch. Once jeans are the right length, you don’t have to worry about looking awkward in giant cuffs or ruining the bottoms because they are dragging on the ground, getting torn and stained and whatever else!

So, if you like to wear flats and heels, just designate certain jeans to wear with one and certain jeans to wear with the other. You’ll feel much better about your outfits, and you won’t be worrying about ruining the pants you spent your money on every time you wear them. A perfectly hemmed pair of pants adds that final touch to your entire outfit and can make people wonder why you look so put-together and great. Just a little tip!

-Style Sophisticate

 Serves 4 

INGREDIENTS:


Marinade:


2 cloves garlic, smashed


1 tbsp olive oil


2 tsp fresh lime juice


1 tsp Worcestershire sauce


1 tsp dried oregano


1/2 tsp salt


1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper



Shrimp:


8 bamboo skewers, 10 inches long, soaked in water 30 minutes


24 large shrimp (about 1 lb), peeled and deveined


1 small red onion


16 serrano chiles


24 cherry tomatoes

PREPARATIONS:
 In a blender or mini food processor, process all marinade ingredients until smooth. Toss shrimp with marinade in a bowl to coat well. Set aside at least 10 minutes, or up to 2 hours. Cut onion into 8 wedges, then cut each wedge lengthwise into thirds. Thread 1 chile onto each skewer. (If you prefer metal skewers, be sure to spray them first with a vegetable-oil cooking spray so shrimp and vegetables don’t stick.) Add 1 shrimp, a chunk of onion and a cherry tomato to each skewer; repeat twice. Finish each skewer with a second chile. Season skewers with salt. Heat a cast-iron grill pan or an electric or gas grill over high heat. Cook skewers, covered, turning once, until shrimp are cooked through and onions are charred and just tender, about 5 minutes per side. (You can use a charcoal grill, but shrimp will cook faster.) Serve with Pico de Gallo.

THE SKINNY

76 calories per 2 skewers

3.5 g fat (0.8 g saturated)

7 g carbs

1.4 g fiber

23.9 g protein 

shape.com 

        For the past couple months I’ve been doing Yoga. The first time I tried this exercise, I immediately fell in love with it. I didn’t know much about Yoga, and I must say I had some preconceived notions about it… It appeared slow, not very difficult, and almost questionable as a work out. However, I quickly learned I was very, very wrong. The “slow” moves, or held positions, focus on certain muscle groups, so you can feel the exercise working. I would definitely not call Yoga easy. Initially, there were certain things I completely couldn’t even do. After a few weeks though, I began noticeably improving, which was really rewarding. You may be wondering why I’m talking about Yoga instead of trench coats or espadrilles, but remember, sophisticated style isn’t just about the clothes, but how you feel in them.    

Yoga is unique, and it’s different than any exercise I’ve done before because it is relaxing and challenging at the same time. You definitely feel like you’re getting a work out (and you will be sore the next day the first time you do it!), but the concentration on deep breathing, stretching, balancing, and centering, makes the exercise calming and fulfilling. It’s actually hard for me to explain how Yoga makes you feel because I have nothing to compare it to. No other exercise achieves such a level of mental or spiritual and physical satisfaction. It is energizing and fun, and you’ll start feeling and noticing a change, not only physically, but also in the way you feel, pretty fast. After just a couple weeks, I felt stronger and healthier. Yoga makes you aware of muscles you may have never realized you had! After noticing how wonderful Yoga made me feel, I decided to research the actual benefits it provides. I had often heard how healthy Yoga was supposed to be, but I never realized to what extent. Below are the main points as outlined by healthandyoga.com:

-Increasing Flexibility – Yoga has positions that act upon the various joints of the body including those joints that are never really on the ‘radar screen’ let alone exercised.     

-Increasing lubrication of the joints, ligaments and tendons – likewise, the well-researched Yoga positions exercise the different tendons and ligaments of the body. Surprisingly it has been found that the body which may have been quite rigid starts experiencing a remarkable flexibility in even those parts which have not been consciously worked upon. Why? It is here that the remarkable research behind Yoga positions proves its mettle. Seemingly unrelated “non strenuous” Yoga positions act upon certain parts of the body in an interrelated manner. When done together, they work in harmony to create a situation where flexibility is attained relatively easily.

-Massaging of ALL Organs of the Body – Yoga is perhaps the only form of activity which massages all the internal glands and organs of the body in a thorough manner, including those that hardly get externally stimulated during our entire lifetime. Yoga acts in a wholesome manner on the various body parts. This stimulation and massage of the organs in turn benefits us by keeping away disease and providing a forewarning at the first possible instance of a likely onset of disease or disorder. 

-Awareness – One of the far-reaching benefits of Yoga is the uncanny sense of awareness that it develops in the practitioner of an impending health disorder or infection. This in turn enables the person to take pre-emptive corrective action.

-Complete Detoxification – By gently stretching muscles and joints as well as massaging the various organs, Yoga ensures the optimum blood supply to various parts of the body. This helps in the flushing out of toxins from every nook and cranny as well as providing nourishment up to the last point. This leads to benefits such as delayed ageing, energy, and a remarkable zest for life.

-Excellent toning of the muscles – Muscles that have become flaccid, weak or slothy are stimulated repeatedly to shed excess flab and flaccidity.

-Meditation – The meditative practices through Yoga help in achieving an emotional balance through detachment. What it means is that meditation creates conditions, where you are not affected by the happenings around you. This in turn creates a remarkable calmness and a positive outlook, which also has tremendous benefits on the physical health of the body.

            I’m so glad I decided to try Yoga. I’ve always enjoyed keeping a consistent work out schedule, and I seem to have always known, subconsciously, how important stretching is, but Yoga brings something new and refreshing to my schedule. Since I’ve always worked out and stretched, I was able to begin at a slightly intermediate level, however, I would recommend Yoga to anyone. There are beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels to Yoga, and no matter where you start, I’m sure you’ll notice the effects soon after. If you can’t join a class, or don’t want to start in a class setting, I would suggest trying an exercise DVD, such as Denise Austin’s. So, if you’re interested in beginning a new work out, try discovering Yoga. I bet you’ll be glad you did!

-Style Sophisticate

(Each can be found on Saks.com)

 
Shoe Specs:

Dior Suede/Leather Slingbacks

Price: $660

• Golden nappa leather straps make this gathered suede sandal shine.

• 3 3/4″ heel.

• Adjustable ankle strap with goldtone buckle. 

• Self-covered heel with logo charm.

• Leather lining and sole, padded insole. 

• Made in Italy. 

Shoe Specs: 

Pedro Garcia Truffle Peep-Toe Pumps

Price: $340

• Luxurious frayed satin crisscrosses atop high, slender heels.

• Satin upper, leather lining.

• Padded insole, rubber sole. 

• 4″ self-covered heel.

• Made in Spain.