The new summer edition of ColoradoView magazine in out now. Style Matters has a column on crazy beauty products we tested:  The InStyler, Sketchers fitness footware and the “Bumpit.”  Check which ones are thumbs up or down.  We also did a fabulous fashion layout on denim using three-up-and-coming professional couples as our models.  We think the spread rocks.  Thanks to the Garment District for all their help in assembling clothing and accessories.

www.coloradoviewmagazine.com

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Pantene shampoo (The “don’t hate me because I am beautiful” product.), recently conducted a study to uncover how women are affected by bad hair days.  The study found that “bad hair negatively influences self-esteen, brings out social insecurities and causes people to concentrate on the negative aspects of themselves.”  So true.  I feel bummed out every time I have a bad hair day.  Here are some other findings that shouldn’t surprise you:

 1.  Only about a third of hair-care users say they are loyal to one brand; half say they alternate between two brands and the rest change constantly. 

2. Women said they feel less hostile depending on the hair products they use.

3.  A quarter of the women say they don’t want to leave the house on a bad hair day.

4.  Bad hair days are blamed on a bad haircut, weather or a bad night’s sleep.  But damaged unhealthy hair is a big factor.

Getting a professional blow dry always mean a good hair day and a better day than if I do it myself.  How about you?

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Just got back from two weeks in Italy. Loved observing the street fashions in Rome.  Here’s what’s hot:

1. Cotton harem pants.  Not a big fan. 

Hope they don’t catch on here. 

2.  Gladiator sandals — Natch.  It is Rome. Seen worn with skinny jeans, skirts, dresses and shorts.

3. Long hair worn curvy and wavy.

Styles are not much different than what we see in the USA.  Fashion has become universal.  I have mixed feelings about this.  On the one hand, it’s not such a packing challenge any more.  American styles now look current on any European street.  On the other, in decades past, it was such fun to see different styles, looks and accessories.

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 Actress Carey Mulligan with her messenger bag.

 Messenger bags are beginning to show up on the shoulders of celebrities and in department stores.  Trade in your big ol’ bag for something easier and lighter to carry.  Not to mention, less expensive.  However, using a small messenger bag may mean you have to get very strategic on what to put in it.  For Style Matters it means leaving more stuff in our cars. Have you got any suggestions?

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  Debralee Lorenzana is filing suit against Citibank for firing her.  Grounds:  She’s too good looking.

A 33-year old woman with a good looking figure: 5′6, 125 pounds and 32DD, got fired from her job at a Citibank branch in NY City for looking too alluring in the office.  Maureen Dowd’s column in the NY Times gives the deets.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/opinion/06dowd.html?src=me&ref=general

The woman appears to have an ironclad case, but that doesn’t dismiss the fact that many women show too much skin, read cleavage, in the workplace.  Style Matters gives seminars on building a business casual wardrobe on a budget, and we are often called in to consult with women on how to dress more professionally.  Tight slacks, low-cut tops, and exposed “muffin tops” have no place in the workplace and can adversely affect salary raises and promotions.

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Just got some orders in for our second edition of “A Fashion-Lover’s Guide to the Best Shopping in Denver and Beyond” from several brides.  They are adding our popular shopping guide to their bride’s maid’s goody bags.  Great idea!  The book reveals Style Matters top choices for jeans, handbags, shoes and more plus a review of more than 200 boutiques on the front range.

Go to http://stylematters.us/the-book/ and order your books today.

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Marc Jacobs kitten-heels 

Shoe heel styles and heights are all over the place.  Designers are schizoid.  Christian Louboutin (the shoe designer that Jennifer Lopez sings about and who makes the shoes with the red soles) is pushing 6-inch and 7- inch high heels. We have heard them called “Limousine shoes” — only good for getting into and out of Limos.  But — good news — designers like Missoni, Marc Jacobs and Chanel are showing kitten heels — cute 1.5 inch curved heels.  YES!!! This trend is being called “ladylike chic.”  Whatever.  We know it mean shoes you can actually walk in for more than one block. 

Gorgeous but treacherous Louboutin pumps.

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Rihanna in her ”Houlihans.” 

 Love the shooties — shoe booties.  Good views of how Houlihans fit.

Olive colored tight fitting cargo-style jeans are the hottest new trend in jean fashions. The most desired style is made by J Brand.  (Disclosure:  I own a pair of J Brand jeggings and love, love the fit.) Department stores and boutiques can’t keep the J Brand cargos in stock.  The nickname for these pants:  the “Houlihan” after “Hot Lips”Houlihan from the hit TV series “M*A*S*H.”  The Houlihan has smooth pockets and zippers on the bottom of the legs.  The J Brand goes for a pricy $230.  Style Matters is eagerly awaying the knock-off styles.

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Handbags are a crucial accessory for women.  Most of us spend more time with our handbags than we do with our significant other; we should give our handbag selection at least as much time as we dedicate to selecting a partner.  Here are some Style Matter tips on landing the perfect purse.

1. Weight — This is the number one key requirement:  HANDBAGS SHOULD BE LIGHT.  We carry around so much junk in our purses, who wants them to weigh too much before we move our stuff in. Lightness is everything.  Pick up the bag and if it is too heavy, move on.  There are no particular brands that specialize in light-weight bags, it’s hit or miss.  But do try the Big Buddah line — many are lightweight and always priced well.  Google for stores in your area.

2.  Pockets — A bag must have a least three pockets for cell phone, keys and miscellaneous stuff like pens, business card holders, etc.  If the bag you are considering doesn’t have pockets, move on.  You will never find your keys in a capacious bag with no pockets and your cell phone will go unanswered.

3. Zipper compartments — Many bags come with zipper compartments in the middle of the bag interior.  These are the worst.   The zipper section gets all squished down with stuff on top of it.   You can never get to the bottom to open the damn zipper.  No matter how tempted, move on.

4.  Strap/handles — Make sure the bag can be worn on the arm and on the shoulder. On days when you are carrying the purse for a long time, you can alternate carrying positions to relieve muscle strain.  Avoid chain handles; they add extra weight  (see#1).

5.  One-sided detailing — Typically handbags are decorative on only one side.  Invariably with a bag like that, the owner forgets to carry the bag on the right side. The “wrong” side is plain and makes an onlooker wonder why the bag was selected in the first place.  Always buy a purse with the detailing on both sides.

Follow these tips and you will find a bag that you will love almost, __ the same___ more __  than your partner.  You fill in the blank!

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Many years ago, when charity luncheons included gift bags with really good samples,  I got a sample size compact of foundation from Shiseido.  I had never heard of this Japanese brand, but fell in love with it.   The Shiseido foundation was one of the first to be formulated to go on wet or dry.  Either way, the coverage is perfect and never looks pasty or dry on the skin.  Shiseido is  now the #4 prestige cosmetic brand in the USA.  But other Japanese cosmetic companies — Shu Uemura, and Kanebo — are pulling out of the US market.  Their skincare products are not attracting the American woman.  Japanese women spend much more on skincare products than American women.  We are looking for the quick fix — remove my wrinkles now!!!  Japanese women are willing to invest in long term care products like the ones Shu Uemura sells.   What do you think of the Japanese daily skincare regimen:

1.  makeup remover

2.  cleanser

3. toner

4. serum

5.  lightweight cream

6.  facial massaging to prevent sagging and wrinkling

Who has the time for this?

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