Guest Bloggers

Arianne Cohen, 6’3” author of The Tall Book: A Celebration of Life from on High, has struggled with finding clothes that fit properly for most of her teenage and adult life. Here, Cohen offers the five top tips for tall women when it comes to shopping.

1. If it doesn’t fit perfectly, skip it.
On tall bodies, fitting errors are obvious – and the truth is that how your clothes fit is often more important than what you wear. If a tailor visit can’t make it perfect, leave it on the rack.

2. Avoid cute.
Walk right by frills, ruffles, and anything that could be described as puffy or girlish – these are not for tall women. Tall women can do elegant, sexy, well-dressed, and jaw-droppingly hot. Not girlish. Every year, 20-30% of the clothes that come down the catwalks are cute. Avoid.

3. Do a “Waist Check.”
All outfits should clearly define where your waist falls. Without definition, tall abdomens can look like a wall of body. This means buying t-shirts, blouses, jackets and dresses that come in at your waist (and not where a 5’4″ woman’s waist would be); even loose dresses and tops should give a sense of your natural curves. This is the number one mistake of tall women everywhere.

4. When in doubt, err dark. Tall women often look best in solid, darker colors, simply because bright colors sometimes make bodies look bigger than they are, as can busy prints. Splashes of color can come from your bag or accessories; lean toward subdued, tonal or black-and-white prints.

5. If you don’t feel amazing, tall and beautiful in it, don’t buy it. Really. Even if your shopping buddy tells you that you look amazing. Feel good, look good, do good.

By Arianne Cohen

Spring is in full swing and fashionable ladies everywhere are donning the latest warm-weather trends. Though we all covet SoHo style and Upper East Side budgets, not everyone can afford designer duds to showcase their spring spirit. Thankfully, there are many ways to embrace the latest trends without emptying your purse. Strut your frugal stuff with the following tips.

1. Bright Denim
Nothing beats a fashion trend that transcends seasons. Fall’s bright denim trend is still hot this spring with pastel and neon options. If you already have a pair or two in your closet, you’re set. If not, consider shopping inexpensive retailers like Kohl’s or Target for your first pair, as this fad will likely disappear within a few seasons.

2. Pastels
Just in time for Easter, pastels are hot this season in their typical subtle, subdued manner. A statement piece — like a blazer or sheath — will go a long way without overwhelming your wardrobe or your budget. H&M offers several great styles for less, or you can grab a Nordstrom coupon before investing in a high-quality alternative. The luxury retailer offers free shipping both ways, so you can order multiple sizes and send back what doesn’t fit.

3. Metallic
Fall saw its share of sparkly, shimmery fashion, and spring continues the trend with emphasis on metallic style. It’s easy to incorporate this look on the cheap with shiny accessories, including bangles, statement necklaces and even shoes. If this look really speaks to you, go ahead and invest in a shimmery tank or statement pants to enjoy the trend while it lasts.

4. Sporty
Runway models looked mighty fit on spring runways with pieces inspired by workout attire. This doesn’t give you permission to live in hoodies and sneakers all season, however. Look for sport-inspired pieces like this racerback dress from Athleta, or find a mesh, off-the-shoulder sweater to pair with skinny jeans.

5.  Floral
The fashion world is so happy to see spring again that designers are incorporating its signature icon into their art. If your style tends toward the bold, look for a bright spring dress or floral capris. If you want the more subtle approach, wear a flowery graphic tee under a blazer or opt for floral shoes.

6. Tangerine Tango
The official color of 2012 offers a bold and altogether crisp accent to any outfit. Again, head-to-toe tangerine is a great option for those with bright style (think maxi dress). You can also find inexpensive accessories in this versatile color at such places as Charming Charlie.

7. Peplum Skirts
Nothing says feminine like a flirty skirt, and the resurgence of the 20s-era peplum skirt this season is no exception. Opt for a classic color like black or navy to extend its trendiness into subsequent seasons. Embrace the look fully with classic pumps, a fitted blouse and cat-eye liner. Add a pop of this season’s “it” lip colors – red or hot pink – and strut your stylish stuff during a glamorous night out on the town.

By Kendal Perez

Coming from a girl who spent her afternoons shopping at Barneys and tanning on her terrace, even I realized there was time for change. I wanted to become a person I could be proud of, not just make my parents proud, but myself. After 10 years of running my first line of jewelry, and after a tragedy too painful to discuss, I felt as if my life was slipping away from me. I decided it was time to change grow up, and take a new outlook on life.

After dabbling with marketing jobs, I returned to my true passion of design.  Launching a line of bracelets with my friend was what motivated me.  Its not about being selfish in life, but about putting yourself first sometimes, and making YOURSELF a priority again.  When did it become ok we should ask to let others needs always come before ours.  Whether it be a boyfriend, a best friend even family.  Letting go of ones hopes and dreams is a sad reality many people face as they get older.

I joined the gym, workouts begin at 6:00 am, sometimes earlier.  I closed the door to the terrace and opened the door to my future.  A truly motivated person at heart, dragging myself out of bed came easily. Setting goals isn’t always easy and dreams can be hard to follow. Giving yourself a daily routine can be rigid at times, but you to begin to create a balance in your life. A true sense of self comes through hard work and determination.  The gym was a good start, that leads to a road of happiness.

As the weight came off, my tune of life changed.  I felt confident again.  Newly single a sense of worth began to wash over me, and I was ready to reemerge myself into the jungle we all know as dating.  Not easy to say the least, (where did the time go)?  It was all so much easier just a few years ago!  But with the support of friends and time I began to set the goals for myself I had always wanted.  It takes a lot of time and work, but dreams can still be followed.

Forming a support team of friends who want the best for you is key.  The ones that tell you that black dress is too tight and that maybe you could try accessorizing just a tiny bit more.  The ones who tell you to wipe off the red lipstick, and hit the gym.  If there not telling you how it really is, they should probably hit the road. Everyone makes mistakes in life, but learning and growing from them is all we humans can do.

Picking up that great book again, and letting go of the drama.  Reducing stress and enjoy being a woman again.  The power of change comes from within.  Hard work never goes un noticed.

By Andrea Barna

You’ve paid for that warehouse club membership but find yourself lost in an overwhelming assemblage of sale items. It’s hard to believe everything is really on sale. The truth is, sometimes those warehouse deals aren’t all there cracked up to be, even if you buy in bulk. Take it from an experienced warehouse shopper; there are a few do’s and don’ts that might help you make the most of that membership.

1. Don’t Buy Too Much
Sure you can stock up on toothpaste until it’s piled to the rafters, but you might want to keep your acquisitive nature under control when purchasing perishable items. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Americans toss about 34 million tons of food every year and the average family throws out 880 pounds a year. That’s roughly the weight of an adult cow!

2. Do Resist That Impulse
Just like traditional stores, warehouses create displays designed to entice you into making impulse purchases. Make a list before you leave home and stick to it, with the exception of truly special deals.

3. Don’t Assume
We tend to make the assumption that paper products, diapers and the like are cheaper at warehouse stores. The fact is you can actually find reasonable or better prices at your local supermarket by using coupons. It helps to keep a notebook comparing prices on the major products you usually buy. Even for online warehouse purchases, compare deals with other e-Retailers using sites like PriceGrabber and review discounts applied with online coupons to Sears or other retailers to see if there are any other better deals available.

4. Do Identify the Final Markdown Location
Most warehouses shove all final-markdown items into one shelving unit or area of the store. Before you start shopping, head over there to scope out any exceptional deals. The same is true for meat, poultry and fish.

5. Don’t Assume They Don’t Take Coupons
Many of these warehouse club distribute store-wide coupons like BJs and Costoc. In fact, BJs accepts manufacturers coupons along with store-issued vouchers for deeper discounts. Look for coupon policies online before heading to the store.

6. Do Weigh Bulk Produce
Federal law requires each bag of oranges, potatoes and other produce must contain at least the advertised weight. What most people don’t know is that, to avoid underweight errors, grocers sometimes toss in extra food, making bulk purchases an even better deal. Weigh the bags and pick the heaviest.

By Andrea Woroch