Give 'Em the Slip

Wrap dresses can be a wonderful thing, flattering your curves while camouflaging your trouble spots. Yet, if there's a breeze in the air or children running around, you can end up showing off more than you'd like (no one needs to know your undies read "foxy lady" except you and your man).

Next time you step out in a wrap dress, protect your assets with a Full Slip from Commando ($88). Not only will it keep you under wraps, but it'll help give you a smooth and sleek look under your clingy dress.

The New Neutrals

Have you heard the news? Grays, purples and blues are the new black! We all know (and love) our ever-popular black that goes with anything and everything. But why not incorporate some of the season's hottest colors into your wardrobe as neutral, core pieces rather than just as accents?

This really is a simple way to integrate color into your wardrobe. Take a versatile item such as a trench coat, a sweater or a simple wrap dress and instead of buying it in black, get one in a deep shade of indigo, a modern shade of gray or a vibrant eggplant. Then look at all your options. You'll find that there is very little that will go with these colors. You can wear them with brights, prints or yes, even black (if you must). But the goal here is to find new ways to add color to your life, and this is certainly an easy way to go! And when you see how a simple act such as donning a purple trench coat, rather than a black one, sets you apart, you'll love feeling like you're in on a little secret. If only all those who drape themselves in a sea of black knew, too!

Color, Color Everywhere

Envision yourself standing in front of your closet in the morning. What do you see? An array of colorful and neutral separates that mix and match well to create vibrant, flattering outfits - or a sea of black, peppered with white or gray and little or no color? If your answer was the latter, then do yourself a favor - step away from the black and take a few minutes to find out why.

We all want to get dressed quickly and easily in the morning, with little fuss about what we wear. You want to make getting dressed a breeze, and you figure that wearing black is an easy way to do that. Well, sure. It can be if you don't really care about your appearance. Black may go with everything in your closet - but it may not go with YOU!

Did you know that wearing black can:

• Make you look older than you are
• Enhance dark circles and skin blemishes
• Make you look tired and washed out
• Make lines and wrinkles appear deeper and more prominent

Wearing the right color can:

• Make you look younger and more vibrant
• Make your skin look healthy and clear
• Diminish lines and wrinkles
• Make your eyes sparkle and give more color to your lips and cheeks.

Yet finding your best colors can be tricky. The best way is to have an image professional do a personalized color analysis for you. After matching up hair, skin and eye colors, you'll receive a palette containing your best colors that you can use when shopping, cleaning out your closet, even decorating your home to surround yourself in your best colors!

When having a color analysis done, there are literally millions of combinations of colors, based on your personal shades, but most can be divided in cool tones and warm tones. A warm skin tone has a yellow undertone and a cool skin tone has a pink undertone.

Someone who looks best in cool colors can be described as:
If your skin tone can be described as light or medium to dark with olive, ivory or pink undertones
Your hair color is black, dark brown, grey or white, blonde, light brown , silver grey or burgundy brown.
Your eye color is brown, grey-green, hazel,cool blue, soft grey.

Someone who looks best in warm colors can be described as:
If yourskin tone is light with peach, pink or golden undertones.
Your hair color is strawberry blonde, ash blonde, auburn, light golden brown, dark red copper, brown with red highlights, honey blonde.
Your eye color is brown, green, olive, teal blue, blue-grey.

So next time you go to your closet, don't just reach for black - reach for a color that will help bring out the best in you!

Little Purple Dress

If the LBD is that staple that you pull out at a moment's notice, why not find the same kind of wardrobe staple - but in one of the season's hottest hues?

This fitted sheath dress ($49) puts a new twist on your once relied-upon LBD. A sleek fit, tempered by a touch of spandex, creates a contemporary look in a lovely shade of purple. Pair this sheath dress with another trend this season - metallics - for a chic look. Silver, gold or bronze in a soft shade would enhance this look in a modern yet simple way, without being the least bit boring. Dress it up, dress it down. Add your signature color - what color does purple NOT go with? You'll look stunning as you step out with confidence wearing a classic silhouette in a shade that's anything but expected!

Drink It - Don't Wear It

You've gotta love a wine called Little Black Dress! Sounds like a wine that's made for having fun.

So I propose a toast -

May you drink your Little Black Dress and infuse your wardrobe with color!

Cheers!

Enhance Your Skintone

I just love this Faux Wrap Dress ($130) from Donna Morgan. First of all, this color is just beautiful. Shades of green and teal are skin enhancers and will make you look like you are glowing! Opt for clear, vibrant tones if you have a cool skintone and dark or gray hair, and more muted shades if you have a ruddy complexion, freckles and a warmer tone to your hair and skin. This color is subtle, yet sexy and is a great start for moving beyond black. Oh, and if this is your eye-color - look out! You will be unstoppable!

Another thing I love about this dress is the style. Flattering a range of figures, it gives definition at the waistline and slightly flares out at the hemline to balance a full hip. The website, MyShape.com does much of the work for you in helping to find styles that will fit well and are flattering to your shape. With their breakdowns of seven different body types, you get some assistance in matching clothing to your measurements, your body's shape and your preferences.

Just add shoes, a simple necklace or earrings, a great bracelet and some strappy shoes or boots, and - ooh la la! You'll be hooked on wearing color and will come back begging for more!

One Size Does Not Fit All

In 1926, Coco Chanel was ahead of her time when she published a picture of what was become to be known as "the little black dress" in an issue of Vogue. Vogue referred to it as "Chanel's Ford", like the Model T - a simple and accessible style for women of all social classes, it was “a sort of uniform for all women of taste.”

Well, as we all know, uniforms don't look great on everyone who wears them. The color only flatters a small percentage, and the cut has to be just right to make a woman's body look as great as possible.

So I'm here to pose a challenge to you dear readers: find your own alternative to the little black dress. I'm here to hold your hand and offer up suggestions. My goal is to empower you to wear color with confidence, and to help you find the best style (whether it's a dress or a two-piece outfit) for your shape. Black is chic, cool and sexy. But it can also be draining, boring and make us look older than we are. Get out there and find your best color so you can look amazing!

Chanel was right on the money when she said

"simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance."

Black can be simple, but so can blue. Or red. Or fuschia. So go. I urge you. Find something else to wear. Everyone wears black - find your true colors so you can shine. There is life beyond the little black dress!