Archives for category: Fashion

Happy Birthday to me!!

April 19, 2013 //

As our mothers get older they take up activities to stay busy. Some take up golf or photography, others knit or do needlepoint. My incredibly talented mother takes her vintage Chanel handbags and “Bedazzles” them with the finest Swarovski Crystals. While this process of hand-glueing each one looks like a painstakingly process, my fabulous mother says it’s a labor of love for “my baby on her birthday”. So as I approach my birthday this weekend I have already received the best gift of all. A bag with a history that my mom wore for 25 years and is now made incredibly new, fresh and fabulous for me to make my own history with. I love you my mommy…

Before

After

: Back

Tags chanel, fashion, vintage

Categories chanel, Fashion, Fitness, Seasonal, vintage

I’m baaack!!!

April 3, 2013 //

So I’m really not sure why I haven’t blogged in a while…I haven’t had ‘blogger’s block’ as I have so many things to say and share throughout the day. It’s just the act of sitting down to the computer and actually doing it. It’s like a mental block for me (like how most of you feel about going through your closet and just ‘editing’ it and getting rid of the old). But I’m putting it out there in the universe to blog more often.

So here a few of my fav things that have been in my head to share with you…

Yur Buds (www.yurbuds.com). I have always been a runner but thanks to these earphones I’m going to do a half marathon in a few weeks because I can listen to Pandora (Today’s Hits, Rhianna Radio and Rap Strength Training are my stations) nonstop without my earphones coming out. The most annoying thing in the world is when your headphones keep coming out and you stop running. These don’t move at all. Finally! Amazeballs.

Then there are the running compression sock sleeve things. (www.cepcompression.com) I can honestly say when I wear these I’m not sore. When I forget to wear them, my shins are sore and so are my calves. Who would have thought these things would actually work? They totally work. Totes.

Everyone who knows me knows I’m a very healthy eater…Although I still manage to eat gross things like those disgusting Cadbury eggs (not the minis..the minis in the purple bag are ridic good) I’m talking the big egg with the gross middle that I say how gross it is every year while I’m eating it and manage to finish it and feel so gross afterwards. Regardless of my slip ups I am healthy eater. So my new obsession for the last few months has been kale. I know it’s everywhere and is so last year’s ‘it’ vegetable. But I’m still totally obsessed and am finding new ways to eat it everyday. I put it in my protein shake every morning (raw and takes on the flavor of my protein powder or banana). I sauté it with a little lemon oil and red pepper flakes. I make kale chips sprinkled with parmesan cheese (my 3 year old is obsessed..literally take kale and sprinkle with cheese (or nutritional yeast if I’m in a no dairy mood) and then spray with olive oil…bake for like 10 min and then broil for about 2). Brad’s raw kale chips, or even the cocoa flavored kale. Anything kale!!

So now that we’ve exercised and we are eating well it’s time to get out of winter hibernation and get our gorgeous butts out there and show the world how fabulous we are. Go exfoliate get a spray tan. Get a coral colored pedi. Get a new fabulous leather jacket that screams Spring. Go edit your closet by donating 10 items (especially to make room for new spring/summer items). No more excuses to not look and feel our best.

And I promise to blog.

Categories Fashion, Fitness, Seasonal

Check out my first TV Style Segment! Look and Feel Great with Monica!

April 1, 2012 //

http://www.13wham.com/search/videosearch.aspx?search=feel+great

Categories Fashion, Seasonal

Fashion Science Experiment

September 12, 2011 //

I am conducting a fashion science experiment. I will wear every item in my closet. If I don’t, I will donate it or move it to the “just want to be seen but not worn section”.

My closet is my sanctuary where I can admire all of the incredible purchases over the years from different countries I’ve been or the fab finds I’ve found from places like the Off 5th Outlet or Loehman’s. But as fabulous as it may be, it gets cluttered and I can’t stand the chaos if I don’t have enough hangers for my newest fall buys. And if I feel like I need to buy more hangers than I’m not getting rid of enough. I am totally guilty of wearing the same jeans every single day even though I have 23 other pairs staring at me. So starting tomorrow I will officially wear every item in my closet. I have organized it according to time and place. For instance, tops and sweaters are separated according to function. Tops to wear during the day with jeans. Tops to wear to meeting with a client. Tops for dinner with friends. Tops for dinner with kids. Tops to wear with pants to a cocktail party when I’m not in the mood for a dress. You get the picture.

Beginning from left to right I will wear everything. If I’m not in the mood to wear it when I’m holding it then it’s time to put it in the “I’m not in the mood to wear this today” pile. I will collect enough data to see if the next week I will be in the “mood’. I will allow a 7 day grace period with myself and try the experiment again. If I am still not in the mood on day 7 then I will put it in the donate or consignment pile. That’s it. Simple. Move on.

There are of course exceptions to this experiment. Vintage. I couldn’t part with Grandma Belle’s vintage Pucci blouse or Missoni outfit that totally doesn’t fit me but has original Bergdorf Goodman tags from the 40s! How can you? You can’t. So the items that have history must be showcased in the “I am gorgeous but will never be worn again” section. And very few items should end up here. Yes, every item of clothing has a sentimental value and “oh I bought that when I was 22 at this store, etc. etc.” But it’s time to move on. Like scientists, we must embrace the future and move forward. If that skirt you had fit perfectly 7 years ago and you wonder why it doesn’t fit like it used to it’s not that the skirt shrunk on the hanger, it’s that your body changed and it’s time to deal with it and move on. Just like science is ever-evolving, so should you and your closet.

Categories Fashion, Seasonal

Style on the inside…

July 28, 2011 //

Style is not only how you are perceived on the outside but how you feel on the inside. Think about it. When you haven’t exercised or are a few pounds heavier, are you really going to want to wear that chic, tailored dress? No…you’re more opt to wear the bohemian dress that is looser around the belly and not as constricting. You probably don’t walk with the confidence as you would in a slimmer fitted dress. And when you eat badly you certainly don’t feel as powerful or sexy as you would on a day when you exercise, eat well and drink water.

Summer is the time to drink Rose´and eat ice cream at night yet be in a bikini the next day. It’s not fair. So make a conscious effort to feel and look hot for the rest of the summer. Indulge in the ice cream (or the fro yo) but don’t feel guilty (wasted emotion). And do a little more the next day. So if that means switching to almond milk (my latest obsession), drinking more water or running an extra mile to feel great then do it! Style really does come from the inside out…

Categories Fashion, Fitness, Seasonal

Glamour at the finish line…

June 5, 2011 //

So I ran in a 5k today and I ran fast. I’m not tooting my own horn (okay maybe a little) but I even placed! And I’m convinced it was all because of my fabulous running outfit.

I ran like the wind in my gun-metal gray Lululemon capris (with bows on the bottom) and sexy black Lululemon top (with built-in bra and skin bearing back). My flashy black and flourescent green Nikes could be seen for miles. My gold mirrored Mykita sunglasses reflected anyone’s image if they looked at me. Intimidation!

Yes, I did just use the words sexy and flashy to describe my running gear. Why not feel confident, sexy and flashy as you huff and puff across the finish line? Who says you have to wear crappy workout wear and look like a schlep? If you look like a schlep won’t you schlep your attitude across that finish line? Go ahead and try a little harder when deciding on what to wear to the gym or on the treadmill. I can assure you that you’ll have burned more calories looking and feeling good rather than in those old school grey sweatpants and oversized man’s t-shirt. I’ll bet you a donut.

They say you are what you eat. I’m convinced you are what you wear….

Categories Fashion, Fitness

Hello Summer!

May 31, 2011 //

So summer has finally reached Rochester, NY and we have hit 90 degree mark! Firstly, you gorgeous ladies…stop and think before you put on a pair of shorts. Unless you have long towering legs that mimic Giselle, or teeny shapely legs that look like Britney, you shouldn’t be wearing shorts. Think dresses and skirts for these upcoming summer days. I have seen way too many khaki mid-thigh shorts on women that make them look masculine and unattractive. As women, we must accentuate the curves and show them off. But show them off with flowing short skirts or simple summer dresses. So unless you’ve got legs like Tina, Giselle or Britney then keep the shorts to the golf course only.
Secondly, don’t be afraid to wear a bikini! I have seen so many young gorgeous women that cover themselves up with daudy one pieces and tankinis that make them look 20 years older than they are! So you’ve had a baby (or more)…or you’ve eaten too much ice cream. So what!? Show it off…(in the right way of course) Let’s take a clue from Brazilian women. They have a reputation for being the most stunning women in the world because they wear itty bitty bikini bottoms. Try on a bottom that is slightly smaller than your butt cheeks. But of course, covering most of the butt. But let’s keep our swimwear youthful and sexy. (Images via net-a-porter.com)