I have been desperately looking for some attractive spring/summer shoes, and all I can find, no matter where I look, are 4-6 inch wedges and stilletos.  One would think that somewhere in the shoe universe, someone would have thought to take one of those cute new styles and attach a 2-3 inch wedge or heel.  After all, who is wearing those shoes?  If you’ve been anywhere near a popular bar or club on the weekend and the hour is late, you’ll be sure to see 20-somethings teetering on the brink of collapse as they emerge from these dark, noisy establishments.  Believe me, it’s not a pretty sight.  Most women, no matter the age, realize that these shoes are dangerous and really damaging to your back, ankles and feet.  And they are so very uncomfortable.  I tried on a pair of 4-inch heels, just to see how it felt and I had all I could do to keep myself from falling on my face.

In my effort to jazz up a spring dress, I was looking at some Ivanka Trump shoes, a pair of fuschia-colored pumps that were labeled as a “mid-heel” shoe.  The heel was 3 1/2 inches!  That’s mid-heel?  Another Trump wedge had a 1 1/4″ platform and a 4 1/4″ platform.  That’s a whopping 5 1/2″ inches off the ground!

Yes, there are plenty of flats to be seen, but sometimes a little lift is what you need.  Don’t shoe designers get that?

The one shoe I swear by for summer is a great sandal made by NAOT.  It’s called Kayla.  It’s got a cork sole which molds to your foot thereby creating a natural orthotic.  They are the most comfortable sandals around.  Unfortunately, they aren’t cheap, but they last for several years and they baby your feet all summer long.   I buy them in two colors and practically live in them.  They aren’t for dressy occasions, so my search and frustration will continue as I search for an acceptable wedge or heel.  But for most days of the summer, they suit me just fine.  Check them out.  They come in about a dozen colors so you have lots of options.

If any of you have had better luck with shoes this spring, please share with the rest of us.  The acceptable pickings are slim, so we have to rely on one another for guidance.

Fortunately, some of the trends for this spring are reruns of popular items from last spring/summer.  So if you still have any safari-look or what they call ethnic/tribal pieces (African, Asian, Indian prints), you’re in good shape.  Similarly, if you have any bright floral dresses, skirts or pants, you’ll look fashion forward without having to spend a dime.

It’s hard to summarize one or two overall fashion themes for the season.  It looks like there’s a bit of this and a bit of that.  Maybe that means the fashion industry is trying to cater to a wide variety of tastes and shapes.  One can hope! 

But if you’re eager to adapt some of the season’s trends, or (for those of you who are fashion contrarians) stay as far away from them as possible, here’s what to look out for. 

• As I mentioned in an earlier post, look for the BIG BRIGHT colors.  Tangerine is the hot/”cool”color for this season with cobalt following in a close second.  But really any bright, tending-toward-neon colors will convey that you’re in step with the season. 
• Colorblocking (aka color mixing) - absolutely at the top of the spring fashion trend list.  This one cycles back every couple of decades or so.  The keys to color blocking are to combine no more than three colors in one outfit and balance the brights with some neutral pieces (blouse, shoes, bag) in the ensemble. 

• Colored denim is big this season.  It’s a nice way to change up the jean look and to use as a base for colorblocking.  Something else to look for in casual pants is prints.  Artistic and abstract prints can be matched with tops and accessories that pick up the color in your pants.  You can also go for a little colorblocking with the rest of the look.  Best to stick with a nude or light color shoe so that you keep the look balanced. 
• Bold prints.  Along with hot colors this season, we have bold prints.  Word of caution – Be careful of the head-to-toe print look.  Not every one can wear it, and probably most of us over 50, should be extra careful.  But you can still have fun with prints by pairing a skirt, slacks or blouse with subtle extras.  Think of a cool white top to go with the print and accessorize with colors that match or compliment the print.  Bold printed dresses are also very prominent this season. 

Other less dominant things to look for (or avoid) include pleats – pleated skirts are cute and flirty but forgiving – perfect for the mature woman who still likes to kick up her heels (or give the appearance that she does); peplum skirts, shirts, dresses – cinched in and gathered at the waist with a short flounce around the hips – can cover a minor hip issue or create the appearance of hips where none exists; the ’50s (Mad Men) dress, cinched waist with a little cardigan, looks fresh and young, but not too young; big gold jewelry with a emphasis on the chandelier earring - truth be told, I’ve been wearing my chandeliers all along.

I’ll talk more about shoes and accessories in my next posting.  But one statement about shoes for now.  Apparently, we are to avoid black shoes at all costs.  The fashion gurus say that with so many color options to choose from, black should be the last thing we put on our feet.  Color is clearly the keyword of this season.  Wear it boldly and beautifully!

Retailers have scrambled to shed their winter wear as quickly as possible, because it just doesn’t sell when the mercury consistently reaches 50. They’ve been bringing in the Spring line as fast as they can, so we’re getting a glimpse of what the season has in store.  I don’t want to rush things for those of you who have been getting a steady dose of winter, or others who are getting a late taste of the season.  So I’ll hold off on the full Spring forecast for another week or two. 

In the meantime, if you can’t wait to start updating your wardrobe for warmer weather, keep two key trends in mind – colored denim and colorblocking.  You may have noticed already that denim is showing up in every color of the rainbow from bright greens to bold oranges.  If you’re looking for new denim, pick up some of these colorful options and you will fit right in this season.  Colored denim also works well with colorblocking the seasons’s other big trend.  Playing with various combinations of solids gives you lots of looks from just a few pieces.  From dresses to blouses to suits and accessories, you’ll find lots of opportunities to colorblock.  Think a blend of the 60′s with a dash of the 80′s and you’ll have a look that will definitely spice up your wardrobe.

Michelle Obama has done a great job of defining her style and making it work for her while at the same time incorporating updated elements into her wardrobe.  And she does it without relying solely on high-end fashion designers.  She pulls things off the rack at Ann Taylor, J. Crew, even Target from time to time.  Again, it’s about style, not price tag.  She also reminds us that it’s not just what’s on our backs that counts but also, and quite importantly, our attitude.  If you know how to carry it off, you can even make a paper bag look good - well that may be stretching things just a bit.  

But, do check out this book.  It casts an important perspective on fashion and style based on someone who is considered a fashion icon.

I happened to be in a mall recently, and could not believe the beautiful faux fur coats (with dramatically reduced “on sale” price tags) that were available at Macy’s and Lord & Taylor.  Unlike the earlier generations of faux, these were impossible to distinguish from their real fur counterparts. 

 Another good source for faux fur items is Fabulous Furs, a catalogue and online purveyor that carries beautiful faux fur pieces.  And these aren’t just your mother’s furs either.  They carry many items that are fun and colorful in addition to the more traditional and dramatic pieces.  

And of course, since you aren’t buying the “real thing”, the prices are delightfully affordable. 

Many of you will say No to fur of any origin, but for those of you who have decided faux is the way to go, the industry has finally figured out how to combine beauty, quality, variety and price into a winning combination.

Some things worth repeating:

• A coat is a statement piece.  It’s the first thing people will see so make it special.
• A belt always flatters a woman with a larger waist or hips because it creates the illusion of a defined waist.
• Slender women should go for ruffles and other flourishes that add interest and round out the silhouette.
• If you’re wearing something full or bulky on top, go for a slimmer bottom to create balance.
• And yes, cobalt is a very trendy, not to mention beautiful, shade this season. 

Finally, if you get just one thing to update your wardrobe this season, get yourself a beautiful cape – very fashionable and fun to wear.  And there are endless styles to choose from.

Keep warm in style this winter and you’ll feel like a million dollars no matter how gray or blustery the weather may be.

First of all, if you value your back, feet, ankles and knees, you will avoid these ridiculous shoes and boots.  You can still find some lower heels – a nice 3 inch style still dresses up an outfit and is walkable (if you aren’t walking too far).  Or look for a cute flat in an animal print.  These will always satisfy your desire to “step out”  in fashion. 

If it’s boots you’re after, you’ll still have to wade through rows and rows of very high heels.  But if you persevere, you will also discover some low to medium wedges which are stylish and comfortable.  And if you find one similar to the style shown here, you can combine two fashion elements of the season – wedge and riding boot.  Some say that if you buy only one boot this year, make sure it’s a riding boot!  Who am I to argue?

In case you think you can just hold your breath, and wait for this awful season of stilletto to be over, the early buzz for spring suggests that the stilletto will be back bigger, badder and bolder for spring and summer.  The chiropractors are in for a good run!

And if you’re still in doubt about whether these shoes are meant for your lovely feet, check out what can happen to women who walk for a living.  Not a pretty sight.

Best of Beauty – has all the best products as determined by their editor-tested and expert-approved panel.  Everything from eye shadow, to mascara, to lipsticks, cleansers, eye creams, anti-wrinkle treatments, nail polish, shampoo, perfume…You get the picture.

Cheap Thrills – Best of Beauty winners that don’t break the bank.  Look for tried and true Maybelline mascara, Neutrogena conceler, Dove Beauty Bar, etc.  No need to spend a fortune to look good.

Hall of Fame – one of my favorites.  This features products that have been around for a while and still stand the test of time.  They are repeatedly chosen as top picks by editors and readers of the magazine.  Chanel No. 5 tops the list – talk about staying power.  Thank you, Coco!  It’s joined by Cetaphil Gentle Skin Clenser, Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream, and 7 other products that have won the hearts of women across the country for a long while.

The Big Breakthroughs – This is absolutely my personal favorite.  What’s been going on in the laboratories of skin care and beauty researchers will blow your mind!  Check out the word on injectable fillers that are made from your own skin, semi-permanent mascara, do-it-yourself in home laser treatments that stimulate collagen production.  I don’t know if I was more fascinated with the science or the actual benefits of these products.  But these new offerings may give some plastic surgeons a run for their money.  Imagine do-it-yourself laser treatments at home! 

Go grab a copy and see for yourself.  Even if you don’t go for a lot of make-up, you’re bound to find helpful information on products you do use – like shampoo, moisturizers, skin care products.  I think this is a great resource for us.  No need to waste your time and money when allure has done the work for you!

• For starters, several trends that we’ve been seeing for a while are still hanging in, which means if you’ve made an investment in animal prints, faux fur or bright shiny embellished pieces, sequins and the like, you’ll be glad you did.  You can wear them proudly this season and look quite au courant!
• Something else to like – really like – is that hemlines are falling.  Though they call this the “maxi” trend, for this season all it really means is that skirts will go to the knee.  But, hey, we’ll take it.  Most of us are wearing our skirts that long anyway – unless we wear a short skirt with black tights – but it’s good to know that we will be right in step when we roll out that slightly longer knee-length hemline.
• Boots this season feature stacked heels, which most of us can probably find lurking somewhere in the back of our closets.  Another opportunity to recycle what we already may have.  However, on a recent shopping trip, I found myself wandering through aisles of boots that featured a lot of very high and dangerous looking stilleto heels.  So keep an eye on this one.  More on boots and shoes later…

Other trends that you’ll be seeing this season:

• Bold colors.  Replace your whites, neutrals and pastels for the “spicey” colors of fall but don’t be afraid to throw in some fuschia, cobalt and teal, and red – red will be BIG this fall.  You’ll also be seeing color blocking – swaths of color all in one piece – reminiscent of the 60s.  Think Courreges and Yves St. Laurent.
• Coats will be intereting and dramatic this season.  Lots of color, texture, patterns.  Capes are also an interesting alternative for chilly weather.  They’re showing up in a lot of places, and they look great! 
• Lots of prints, and for those of us that are bold (?), mixing them up raises the stakes even higher.  (Just remember to stay in the same color family, and you can make it work.)
• Finally, though there is some talk that things are moving back to flesh tone and sheer black stockings, you’ll also find plenty of patterns and colors on legs this season.  Something to have fun with that won’t break the bank.

While you contemplate these trends and consider how they might fit into your wardrobe this fall, I’ll be digging around for more details and thoughts about how you can make them work for you.