Halle Berry Suit

Trendy designer clothing is fun and exciting but not always practical. Many people have to work in an office that frowns on the latest skin exposing trends and towering needle stilettos so how do you stay stylish in the workplace? There are five pieces that every work wardrobe should have for 2010 to keep you looking on top of fashion trends but appropriate for the workplace.

A Suit 

Suits are not the unflattering work uniform that they used to be. Today’s work suits are well fitted and designed specifically with a woman’s body in mind. Look for quality construction and pieces you can mix and match and suddenly you’ve greatly expanded your wardrobe.

Silk Blouse

For 2010 you’ll want to add a silk button down shirt in a rich color to your work wardrobe. Deep jewel tones are flattering for the winter season and the soft silk give a feminine touch to work clothes.

Pencil Skirt

The pencil skirt is almost always a good choice for the office, the flattering cut and acceptable length looks great and is appropriate for the office. It’s also a versatile piece that can be worn often.

Flowy Blouse

Light and blousy tops that seem to have movement or flow are very trendy this season and can be perfect for the workplace. Look around for a blouse that has a lightness and air about it but one that doesn’t seem too risqué.

Medium Height Pumps

The safe work shoe is a medium height pair of neutral colored pumps and every working girl’s closet should include at least one pair. But if you want to boost your fashion quotient this season the menswear oxford shoe is very popular, select a pair with a medium heel and pair it with your silk blouse and play with the contrasts.

Jennifer Aniston Sweater

Color 
Look for sweaters that are more drab in color. There will be a lot of neutral colored sweaters this season, things that match a lot of outfits. This may be a reflection of the economy in a couple of ways as it makes the sweater versatile enough to wear often and the bland colors reflect the economic depression. But if you want to be in style this season you’ll want to purchase a couple neutral colored sweaters. The only exception is the color purple, it’s so hot you need to have at least one purple sweater in your wardrobe.

Neck Line
The neck line for sweaters has changed dramatically from the standard crew or V-neck, this season the neck line is more elaborate and embellished. Look for deep cowl necks, ruffles, jewel necklines and asymmetrical turtlenecks. The color isn’t the shine through point this season but the cut of the neckline definitely is.

Length
The length of sweaters is just like the length of skirt hems, it’s always changing and can either date you or make you look trendy and cutting edge. This season the long sweater is still in style, the cropped sweater is definitely out. Look for asymmetrical hemmed sweaters with longer fronts so the sweater can double as a wrap on those chilly days.

In summary, the look for sweaters this season is neutral, warm, and full of interesting construction details.

Chastity Bono

Since I was probably one of her biggest fans when we were children I’ve decided to help her in this transition in the only way I can, by suggest a shoe progression that should keep her looking stylish and sexy throughout the entire process.

I’m not sure how far she’s gone in her sex change so I’m just going to start at the beginning with the shoe she should have been wearing when she was 100% female (at least on the outside). I think the Madden Girl Women’s Setra shoe is the perfect girly shoe for Chastity. The stacked heel is easier to walk on than a stiletto, the ankle wrap strap keeps the shoe comfortably in place and the ruffled center T-strap is very feminine without seeming too little girlish.

Transitioning out of this very feminine stage would require a lower heel. The Sam Edelman Black Leather Women’s Giada Shoe  is the perfect shoe for this stage, you’ve still got a feminine touch with the strappy thong and the wooden bead embellishments but you’ve got a certain amount of strength implied in this gladiator style shoe with tribal inspired touches. The heel is also very flat and easier for many people to walk in.

As the transition progresses the NaturalSport Women’s Angela shoe is a great choice as its got a comfortable  unisex look to it. the padded slingback with elastic panels is built for comfort and as her/his body begins to transition further I would assume there are a lot of uncomfortable moments, and everyone knows that you just feel better when you’re wearing comfortable, good-looking shoes.

When she’s rounding the corner and almost into her new role as a male she will probably want a shoe that looks like it could be worn by either a man or a women. The Naturalizer Women’s Nickie is the perfect shoe for this situation as it is a classically styled oxford that is streamlined for a smaller woman’s foot yet carries a distinctively unisex look that works for men and women. The N5 comfort system also make it a great shoe to wear from morning to night.

Finally, as Chastity Bono finally assumes a role as a man in society (I have no idea what her/his name will be – I like Chad) I would suggest a simple men’s athletic shoe like the Skechers Men’s Devered shoe or a dress shoe that is a true classic like the Rockport Men’s Evander which looks great on everyone and has a narrower profile which will still fit Chad’s slender foot.

Ellen’s science guy, Steve Spangler knows how to make a point. Spangler, a regular on the Ellen show demos interesting science toys and experiments, recently one involving Ellen and a bed nails!

On that episode of the Ellen DeGeneres Show, Ellen was placed on a bed of over 4000 nails with the assistance of Steve Spangler.
Ellen performed well under pressure. Believe it or not, the secret is actually the number of nails on the bed and the distributed pressure. The more nails the better since the entire weight of Ellen’s body was spread across the tips of all of those nails.

But we all knew Ellen works well under pressure…

Tired of being wallpaper? Let’s face it, sometimes it sucks blending in. Whether you’re at the club with your buds, celebrating another week of employment with co-workers or just out running around with friends, here are 5 things you can use to start standing out.

The Linen Sportcoat

This season don’t forget to bust this bad boy out. Yea, I know, I remember the whole Don Johnson thing too, and sure it ruined this look for a while…but its back.

They look good and are fairly practical. Besides, who the heck wants to wear a heavy sportcoat in warm weather anyway? If you want to stand out this season a linen sportcoat ought to do the trick. So dig one out of the ‘80s will come back’ section of your closet (come on you know who you are) or pick one up before summer is over and we have to abide by that no white after baseball season rule.

The Fedora

Okay, I see these all over the place now. Everybody from freaky crazy Britney Spears to Brad Pitt seems to be digging on the style.

Why not pop one of these caps on your noggin and head out for night with the boys. It’s a hip look and easy to pull off. Although I prefer the straw fedora, they come in many styles to fit your occasion.

The Stogie

I like cigars. I always have. I know it’s not PC and I have heard all the reasons why I shouldn’t take enjoyment on the rare occasions I light one up. But I still do.

I can think of few things better than gathering with a bunch of buds for a ball game and enjoying a little piece of hand rolled satisfaction. One of my favorites is the Ashton Cigars. What does this have to do with not blending in, well, your freaking smoking a cigar and these days people just don’t do that anymore.

The Shoes

Slip on a great pair of shoes and you get respect. Ok not really, but you sure feel like you should. Every put together guy should have at least 1 good pair of dress shoes he can wear for interviews, business meetings, dates and well anywhere where your standard kicks just won’t do. I’d start with a nice cap-toe brown shoe and branch out from there. This is a perfect shoe for the office and can be paired with some nice jeans for the quick casual transition on a Friday while providing enough pop to really make a statement.

The Shades

I’m not sure why, but shades really can draw attention. Ever notice that every time a celebrity wants to be incognito they wear sunglasses over their peepers?

I’m not saying that you want to hit up a club wearing sunglasses. Oh, you’ll get noticed alright, but I’m guessing for the wrong reasons. Nah, use them for what they were designed for, protecting your eyes from the sun. Nothing beats a good pair of Aviator sunglasses for a classic look that provides everything you’ll need. Still, I’d keep them handy for those times when the flashes are just too much.

Some may argue that the matte jersey fabric doesn’t breathe as well as its lighter cousin, the cotton jersey dress. Sure, but nothing keeps me cooler than the confidence of knowing that the fabric I’m wearing is skimming my curves beautifully instead of sucking up against them. So who’s got the most gorgeous matte jersey dresses for spring? BCBGMAXAZRIA Matte Jersey Dress: Perfect for transition from work to afterhours drinks, this little black dress features pleating along the stand-up collar and down the placket. Best part? BCBG.com has a SALE until May 2!

Ann Taylor Printed Knit Jersey Wrap Dress: Fluttery sleeves, wrap styling and a V-neck take this out the running for my favorite work dresses, but the navy blue pattern could work for work if
you’re known for femininity. It is perfect for romantic weekend getaways – you’ll arrive unrumpled.

Want to dress it up without going overboard? Try Franco Sarto’s Dente slip-on dress sandal. Shiny patent leather with a wide strap and big buckle take the styling up a notch, while the crescent-shape stacked heel keeps it from taking itself too seriously. Too dressy? Try Naturalizer’s Dorey dress sandals for a pretty heeled sandal that does its job sensibly and doesn’t demand attention. Add la regal’s Pleated Metallic Frame Bag and you’re ready to roll.

The First Lady of the U.S.A., Michelle Obama, has already earned a reputation as a stylish dresser. Part of that can be attributed to her stunning Narciso Rodriguez selection for election night, and the rest of that reputation comes from her continued practical and pleasing outfits.

Mrs. Obama’s recent outing with Queen Elizabeth II once again drew attention to her impeccably selected wardrobe. She stuck to the practical layering look which suits her so well and paired an Azzedine Alaia cardigan with an Isabel Toledo black and white dress. The outcome was an outfit that was simple, understated and perfect for a date with the Queen.

If you’re trying to recreate this look for less look to Nordstrom for this Classiques Entier Piquante Denim Dress paired with this Vince Cashmere Cardigan is a great way to start as you’ve got two staple clothing pieces that not only look great together but will be versatile enough to create several other looks.

Don’t forget to add the accessories to really finish off your Michelle Obama look with a classic pair of black pumps like the Stuart Weitzman Chicpump. These shoes are a fashion staple and will match so many outfits that they’re worth the cash.

Finally, Michelle Obama finished the look with a simple double strand of pearls which you can find at Blue Nile if you want to go for an expensive pearl necklace or try this fairly inexpensive Sterling Silver Freshwater Pearl Necklace and Earring Set from Macy’s.

It seems that Michelle Obama knows that mixing and matching a few well-crafted and understated pieces with carefully selected accessories is a winning combination no matter what the occasion.