The Little Black Dress, Reinterpreted

With the economy in the toilet and the holiday party season in full swing, your little black dress is more important than ever. Oh, the many places I’ve gone with my little black dress. This dress is the perfect date for weddings and can help you look put together at work. But the little black dress also can be penciled in for fun lunches with friends and casual dinner dates with style and ease. It’s simply the most versatile piece you can own, and probably already do, and is worth the extra splurge for a good one.

I once did a week long test where I wore the same basic black dress all week and just mixed up the secondary players. I wore the black dress one day with knee-high boots, another day with colorful tights, one day with a contrasting cardigan, by adding loads of chunky goldtone necklaces and teamed with a motorcycle jacket. Of course, no one noticed.

With a few fun accessories and your imagination, you can instantly transform you LBD into a chic wonder without breaking the bank. Dress up your LBD with jewelry, a metallic shoe, a colorful clutch, interesting tights or a dramatic wrap.

To begin, you can channel the classic style of Audrey Hepburn with a single strand of pearl at the neck and a matching pair of studs in your ears. For added flourish, add heap loads of pearl necklaces at varying lengths. You can also add a colorful or neutral shoe. Of course, my favorite holiday accessory is a red lip. It’s always classic and happens to be in style again the year.

Why not add a little sparkle to the dress with rhinestone chandelier earrings or armloads of bracelets. Wear your hair pulled back into a playful ponytail to get maximum exposure. I love these chandelier earrings from Henri Bendel. They are party perfect and can really brighten up your look.

For a shiny look, wear your little black dress with metallic shoes or a chic clutch. Just remember, keep the metallics in the same family. So wear gold with gold and silver with silver. These metallic leather open-toe booties can add the perfect touch of glamour to your little black dress. Plus the signature red sole adds a pop of color.

Create a little leg interest when you're tired of your basic black dress. Just add textured and patterned hose in various colors. They bring great flair to the little black dress as well as mini skirts, winter shorts and pencil skirts. These crochet wool tights from Top Shop adds a sexy finish to the little black dress.

Partner your little black dress with a sequined belt. It’s totally unexpected and flatters your waistline. This adorable elastic belt from DKNY is a great one and I just love the flirty bow to polish it off.

Dress it up. The little black dress may be a staple for just about every occasion, but take it a step further with a great topper. I found this St. John Knit Marabou feather shawl on Ebay. It would make a great addition to my army of black dresses.

The ideas are endless, but you get the picture. Not only do accessories help to accentuate your figure, but accessories also allow you to express your creative side and let your personality shine through. Just think of the little black dress as your blank canvas and you can add colors and textures to create your master piece. There is a treasure to be found in consignment shops, Ebay, departments stores and even your Mom’s jewelry boxes.

Tonight I'm going to Michael's office holiday party. I'll post a picture later of how he and I accessorized. But let me know in the comments what you do to add a touch of pizazz to your classic LBD.

Wishing You A Very Stress-less Holiday Season

I made a slight dent on my holiday shopping. Of course, I'm kicking myself for not starting earlier. The holidays are supposed to be the most wonderful time of year. Yeah, right! The thought of buying all these gifts stresses me out. But dealing with the hoards of people in midtown Manhattan is downright frightful. Hello!!!! This isn’t the mall. There is no reason to walk five across. It’s a working sidewalk and I have things to do. I was body slammed countless times this afternoon. Isn’t this the season of joy and peace? Where’s the spirit?

Here are some common sense tips for giving you a little relief from the holiday stress and hopefully even give you a lift this season:

Shop online: Shopping with a cup of coffee in your comfy pajamas right from home is always a plus. In addition to the convenience, you can sometimes get better deals online and you get to avoid the lines and crowds.

Make a list, check it twice: Make a list of everyone you need a gift for and jot down a few gift ideas. Of course family and friends are on it, but don’t forget smaller gifts for people like your babysitter and hairdresser.

Buy yourself something: Yeah, I know the holidays are about giving gifts, but you deserve something special. Go ahead, reward yourself. I bought this plaid shirt from Urban Outfitters to keep my comfort level in check.

Add something sweet smelling : When I was at Saks Fifth Avenue, I applied a dab of Laura Mercier’s ultra-rich Soufflé Body Cream in Creme Bruleée to my hands. As the afternoon wore on, I would take a whiff and instantly felt calmed. I also have dabbed some Buddha Nose to the back of my ear lobes to instantly melt away any stress.

Take some time out for yourself: It may be only 15 minutes, but make sure there is some time in your day for you. I’m talking about reading a great book, taking a bath by candlelight, getting a massage, doing some knitting. The holidays aren’t only about pleasing others, make sure you have enough TLC.

Exercise: The holiday season really throws your whole routine out the window, but make sure you save time for a little bit of exercise. On top of the added energy exercise gives you, it also reduces stress and helps to avoid weight gain.

Meet friends for a night of laughter: It’s simply the best medicine.

Share your feelings: And if all else fails, blogging wonder and jewelry designer Wendy Brandes has something that will really make a statement, the exclusive Wendy Brandes for Francis Swear Rings. Now, if you are experiencing some really rude person, you can really express yourself.

Now relax and enjoy the season. I accept all presents!

My Plan For A Healthy Holiday Eating and Drinking Season

Are you ready for the holiday party season? Do you have a healthy eating plan in place? Sadly for me, I can no longer overindulge in whatever delicious treats or fancy cocktails are passed my way since I don’t want to look like Santa Claus. I know this time of year is jam-packed with eating and drinking festivities and fun - from holiday cocktail parties, carmel popcorn deliveries to the office, freshly baked cookies from neighbors and family dinners. But you don't have to leave the party feeling like a stuffed turkey. With my simple tips, you can still spread good cheer and without whopping it up with extra calories and undoing all your hard work at keeping fit.

Don’t show up hungry. Just like you shouldn’t go to the grocery store on an empty stomach, you shouldn’t go to your holiday party with one either. It’s never a good idea to skip a meal because you’re planning to indulge later with holiday goodies. Trust me, it’s much harder to make a smart eating decision when your stomach is growling. Everything looks good and you’re going to end up eating way more than you planned. So eat something satisfying and healthy before the party. You can have a small sandwich, a cup of soup, a handful of nuts or yogurt with fruit.

Don’t go crazy with the sugary and high calorie drinks. Cocktails are poured freely and often, but unfortunately, these drinks are filled of hundreds of empty calories that can cause you to have a little jiggle in your middle. Not only is alcohol high in calories, but it lets your inner inhibitions go to the toilet. If you do drink, why not mix it with soda water or tonic, it’s lower the calories. Or you can have a diet soda or tonic water with a lime. You’ll be glad you did in the morning.

Move away from the food, I repeat, move away from the food. In recent times, I’ve situated myself just outside the door where the waiters would come out with trays piled high with delicious food. The mindless temptations were too close to say no. Now I keep my distance from the food by standing near a friend or colleague. After all, you’re there to mingle.

Fill your plate with fruit and vegetables and enjoy a small sampling of the desserts. Don't feel that because it's the holidays you can't continue to eat healthy. Balance the sugary toppings and the creamy dips with healthy fruits and vegetables.

Just say no to food you simply don’t want to eat. Don’t worry about offending anyone. Your thighs and behind don't care if you are overly sensitive to others. Just because your Aunt Sally made her famous cheese cake doesn't mean you have to eat it. Sweetly say, “No thank you, I'm thirsty" and head over for a liquid refreshment. (See Rule 2 Above).

Enjoy your favorite holiday treats, but do keep track of how much of it you're eating. The holidays are a special time of year and the table is set with your favorite indulgences. Don't deprive yourself. You've worked hard all year. If you look forward to peanut butter pie, then by all means, go enjoy yourself. But remember, everything in moderation. After all, that's why it's special and a treat and not routine. I believe it's perfectly healthy to indulge every once in awhile.

Don’t skip the gym. This time of year is especially busy, with all the traveling and shopping, but it’s especially important to keep up with your workout routines. Make sure you take the time to take care of yourself. It's a real stress release anyway.

Dance the night away! Dancing burns a ton of calories and it’s so much fun.

Drink lots of water. You probably ate a lot of high fat, sugary and salty foods and drinks. Drinking lots of water can keep you hydrated and help you avoid looking puffy the next day. This is especially important right before you go to bed.

By following these simple tips, you can still look fabulous in your skinny jeans after the holiday season is over!

Fabulous Fridays: The New World of Douro Wines

I recently bought a lovely bottle of Douro wine. I selected this because Michael and I really enjoy these red wines. Also, I recently read a review of Douro wines in The New York Times. We discovered Douro wines when we were in Portugal in 2007. Ever since our trip, these wines are pretty much a staple in our home. It's a nice, easy wine. We discovered our friend Douro by way of default. Naturally, or naively as it turned out, we thought we would be drinking Port wine all week. But when we stopped for a glass of Port, we really hated it. As an alternative, someone suggested Douro. Lucky for us, it was amazing.

For our most recent tasting, we tried a mighty red bottle of Evel Grande Reserve 2005. It was really well-balanced and elegant. It had plenty of plum and spicy flavors and did go down rather smoothly.

Douro wines from Portugal are a staple at our house.

A warning when going out to eat or drink in Portugal. It is customary for your waiter to immediately (and by this I mean as you're sitting down) put on your table small plates of bread, cheese, meats, olives and butter. FABULOUS!!! But when the bill came, each small plate was listed. The price for this little pre-appetizer came out to about 30 euros, so could be upwards to $45. Michael and I called this a “covert operation”. Enough said.

Douro wines come from the rugged Douro valley, in northern Portugal, known for its very hot and desert-dry conditions in the summer and cold and wet in the winter. The Douro River originates in Spain and flows west until it reached the ocean in Porto. You can purchase Douro wine from Spain as well, which is also very nice.

We bought four bottles on our trip to smuggle home with us (forgetting the aviation laws that no liquids be allowed) but this didn’t matter. Our local wine shop has lots to choice from and they are pretty much inexpensive.

According to Food and Wine magazine, the rise in popularity of this wine is due to changes in the 1980s to Portuguese wine laws, which forbade bottling wine in the Douro region and an partly due to an influx of young, ambitious, talented winemakers. As a result, wine stores in my area are clearing their shelves for more Douro wine.

Drinking this wine really has me in the mood for an return trip to Europe.

Get A Leg Up With Leggings

During the holidays, all control goes out the window. With all the great food and drinks to be had, coupled with endless traveling, staying comfortably stylish is the key for staying fabulous this season. Leggings are almost always super soft, stretchy and, for me the best part, come with an elastic waistband. Now you are free to stuff yourself even more.

Leggings are the perfect fashion staple for the colder days ahead. Not only do they help you transition effortlessly into winter by keeping your legs warm when wearing your favorite summer dress, they are also super flattering. So my friends, just go ahead and simply add a pair of leggings to that cute dress. You'll have a new, contemporary look with the coverage you want. Just think of them as a thicker, more durable version of opaque tights.

Classic black leggings from Splendid go with just about anything.

I love wearing a long, cozy sweater and tall boots with leggings. For me, that is my daily wardrobe uniform and it just so happens to be what I'm wearing right now. I wear a pair in lieu of jeans. It's less restricting and I guess I'm what you call a creature of comfort.

Just, please don't wear leggings with a short, tight top. If you are anything like me, you're going to want something longer and looser to cover your butt.

Oliva Newton John famously pulled this look off in Grease. You can check out the video here.

This season, the classic 80's Lycra legging has gone through a dramatic transformation and has really turned up the heat. Now we are seeing leggings with shiny zippers and studs as well as sexy, see-through slashes. Leggings this season also come in unusual fabrications, patterns and textures. I'm particularly partial to the liquid leggings to achieve that punk rock sensibility to any simple shirt or sweater. The question is how do I wear these without looking ridiculous? Why not team it with a chic jacket and sky-high heels for an elegant weekend look. The idea is to wear it with a long and simple top to give you a streamlined look.

Liquid leggings like these from Members Only are making a huge comeback this season.

These ripped leggings from DL Collection will give you a little bit of a punk vibe.

These tights from Cynthia Rowley really shine because they're sprinkled with black studs along the front.

I love the look and feel of these ribbed Italian merino wool tights from Stockin Girl.

But I love the bright, colorful ones like the look below. It's an easy way to bring a pop of color to your day or night.

Colorful leggings like the ones above from Nordstrom are ideal.

Cooler temperatures call for warmth, comfort and leggings. So let me know in the comments if you're ready to slip on a pair of some of these glamourous styles.

My Fingerless Glove Plan

I still have fingerless gloves on the brains. While there are so many beautiful styles out there, I'm a knitter and I know I can create a pair that showcases my personality. So with many encouraging words from you and my do-anything sorority sister and gorgeous blogger Jo Anne, who pointed me to a ton of different patters, I've decided to knit a pair. Jo Anne recommended searching for a pattern on the online knitter's community Ravelry.com and suggested this one called Fetching.

Here is a picture of the fingerless gloves I'm going to be making. I hope to wear them this season.

I ended up spending the day at my favorite knitting store in New York City -- Knitty City. The knitting gurus at this lovely knitting shop on the Upper West Side also mentioned the same Fetching pair. I love the lofty feel of the yarn and the cables lend it textural interest. I'm probably going to knit them a bit longer, so they go higher up my wrist. The web site describes knitting these fingerless glove as close to instant gratification, adding they can be finished in just one weekend.

Here's the yarn I'm using to make my fingerless gloves. It's a lovely shade of celery.

I know Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld is a big fan of fingerless gloves. And he recently put aside rumors he's leaving Chanel. So Karl, I'll be more than happy to knit you a pair to wear down the runway.

Karl Lagerfeld busts out the fingerless gloves.

I can't wait to get started on these. I'll post a picture of them when I'm finished.

I’ve Got A Feeling For Fingerless Gloves

One of the hottest trends for cold-weather chic is fingerless gloves.

They come in handy when you’re in a cold office and you need to type, when you drive, get a manicure, apply lipstick or make a phone call. No glove removal necessary.

And thanks to the punk rock trend that dominated the fall scene, retailers from Chanel to Urban Outfitters are offering their version of the glove that covers the palm and the wrist but not the fingers.

Giving a dramatic finish to your look, these gloves are more fashion than function. They can give a glam rocker look when partnered with black skinny jeans and a motorcycle jacket, a long faux fur vest and leggings and give a dramatic finish when teamed with a curve-hugging dress this holiday season. Just don’t go too wild with them.

I’ve revisited my love for fingerless gloves. My first pair was purple and lace and is directly from circa 1983. This winter, I’m going to leave my fingers exposed and put on my fingerless gloves.

I’ve found some hot ones you’ll love.

Keep warm in style with these long cable-knit gloves. Shopbop, $58.

Peace is always in season and you'll love this pair made from a luxe cashmere. Autumn Cashmere, $77.

These stunning gloves from Carolina Amato come in red as well, and with a price tag of $41, they are a read compared to the almost identical Alexander McQueen ones for $470.

Add a dash of splash with some vintage charm with these by Rochas now on sale for $327 from $545.

These full-length fingerless lace gloves can get you in the groove. Forever 21, $4.80.

Your fingerless gloves can get cozy with a simple flip of a mitten with these wool gloves from Ugg Australia for $69.

Toughen up your LBD with these studded fingerless gloves by Nina Peter for $250.