Tag Archives: holidays

Time To Watch That Weather!…

17 Nov

Seasons are changing by the day lately. For example, the week of Halloween gave us showers, sun, 79 degree temps, 65 degree temps, below freezing some nights, the fan on others, tank tops for fashions and fleece jackets the following day. Five days later, we got a frost. With the weather changing every (other?) day, it’s hard to switch out your wardrobe from late summer heat to late fall cold all at once. I try to keep the fall months “optional” with fashion choices just in case the seven-day forecast has eight weather changes. If any of you live in New York, you get what I’m saying.

So what kind of outfits are good to keep out? Let’s try to get some ideas together of items/outfits you may want to have at your fingertips in case the weather changes on a dime. And don’t be surprised when it does, because it will!

  • 70°+ Unusually Warm Fall Day – Perfect thing about days like these is that it can be styled with your left over summer items that haven’t been packed away yet (if at all). Be prepared with layering items in case the day starts cool then heats up fast. An outfit with a perfect pair of ankle jeans, a favorite cami or tee, a cardigan and a comfy pair of flats is exactly what you’ll need on a day like this. Make sure your clothes and shoes are comfortable to wear because you will want to be out on a day like this.
  • Holy Sh*t It Got Cold – It’s inevitable that winter weather will show up around late fall. I remember as a teen my hometown getting a horrible snowfall on Thanksgiving day. It can happen. So what should you have if the temperatures are bone-chilling cold? Find your longest cold-weather tunic that covers your bum-bum and grab a dressy pair of fleece-lined leggings. Add a pair of combat boots with slouch socks and you are set for visiting or shopping for the holidays.
  • Time To Cook & Bake – The kitchen is cranking this season, thanks to holiday gifts and the festive cooking. If you are drawn into the kitchen this year, dress in something cozy but not too loose. You don’t want your sleeves dipping in the fudge. The oven and kitchen may get warm so wear a lightweight, well fitting short (or long) sleeve top that you can tuck in out of the way. A nice pair of cargo pants/leggings or a super stretchy skinny jean makes it easy to move around while hustling over the cookies and green beans. If you want to put on a track suit, go for it. You can always change when you are done or before a big meal.
  • A Trip To Aunt Pauline’s House – Speaking of visiting, you will need at least one—maybe four—outfit changes for the house parties, dinners and gatherings this fall/early winter. If the same people will be at the various parties, make sure you put your chosen outfit to the side after you wear them. The nice thing about visiting or traveling out of town is that black pants can be your savior. Mix and match your tops and accessories to keep you looking stylish while still feeling relaxed. Integrate those black pants, jeans or leggings into an outfit with a matching lightweight sweater (lots of people will make the house warm), a dressy cami & cardigan, or a festive-colored tunic for a fun get-together. Don’t forget the pearls and sparkles to keep in the seasonal mood.
  • The Office Holiday Party – Oh what to do for a fashionable outfit where the coworkers gather around a bowl of booze after hours. The bottom line is this event revolves around your source of income for you and/or your family… so don’t be an ass or a ho. Wear something flattering but not overdone, especially if it is held AT the office. A nice, long, flowy skirt can be the base of a great outfit without paying a ton or looking overly red carpet-ish. I doubt Aunt Pauline will be there so you can wear the outfit you wore to her house again. Remember that black pants are a lifesaver here and totally acceptable. This is an outfit where accessories can be low key yet classy. Definitely rock the pearls.

I have introduced you to the main outfits you will need this fall and into the winter season. Other than black pants/leggings/jeans and dark indigo blue jeans, what other colors are in style this fall? Look for Pantone’s shades of the season: Remember to feel good about yourself; “Walk like you have three men walking behind you.”-Oscar de la Renta”; and smile. 🙂

Oh, and don’t forget……

Drumroll Please….

28 Dec

WinnerFirst, let me appologize to my readers and contest entrants. This holiday season got very hectic and chaotic for me. Earlier in the month, I was thrown into a state of frenzy when I was faced with the news that I had lost my best friend due to cardiac arrest. He meant the world to me. In fact, he was hugely influential on my writing career. Thanks to him, I was exposed to the world of tattooing and learned not just the art of the industry but also how skin care and fashion played into it. He challenged me in my writing skills and loved to read my blog posts. When I was asked to work closely with the Paul Mitchell organization last month, he was beyond happy for me. Then suddenly, my life with my part time tattoo career became dark. Although we are attempting to move forward, a piece of me will always be gone. I am thankful, however, that I had him in my life for the time that I did. He encouraged me to follow my passion to write just as he always expanded on his love of his art. He will be forever missed.
Anthony Lawton & Me

Now, after a long awaited drawing, the results of Sassy’s holiday contest have been chosen. Thanks to all who entered and I appreciate your interest in my blog as well as the fabulous products I use, love and promote. Congratulations to the following winners:

The winner of For Goodness Grape’s Strawberry Gift Set is…. CHRISTINE! — @grandmain2002

The winner of Paul Mitchell’s The Art Of Color Gift Set is…. KRISTA! — @krhach

…And the winner of Paul Mitchell’s The Art of Rejuvenation Gift Set Tea Tree Gift Set is…. TABITHA! — @Tabatha426

Below is a picture of the list and drawing results:
Contest results

 

 

All winners please email me at the “Conact Sassy” link above or here to send me your full name and address so I can mail your prizes out this week!!

 

 

Congratulations again to all our winners! And Happy New Year to all my Sassinista friends!!

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Letter From “The Editor” – Color My World

23 Nov

As I flipped through the fashion magazines that have been sent to me so far this month, one of my magazines really caught my interest. It wasn’t its beautiful fashions, make up looks, hair styles or flashy ads that made me take notice. It was its editor’s letter. Although I know that all magazines have a Letter from the Editor, it made me think about me and my own blog. I realize that each of my blog entries is written from the heart to all of my readers, kind of like a personal letter to each of you. I thought though that it might be nice to do my own version of a magazine’s Editor’s Letter and maybe start a new monthly trend. So here we go…


As I look at the load of laundry on my bedroom floor, I am mentally categorizing which basket I will have to put each piece of clothing in when I bring it to the basement to wash. I see jeans, a black sweater, a black pair of pants, a white t-shirt, a black sweater, a grey cami, a black cami, another black sweater, ANOTHER black sweater, a grey sweater, a grey cardigan, black socks, white socks, a black cardigan, a black pullover. Oh, and a purple tunic. ONE colorful item. You sensing a trend here?  Approximately 20 pieces of clothing, and only one of them had a color that did not appear on a TV show till after 1956. How come I didn’t notice until now that I was about as colorful as a character from one of the first episodes of “The Dick Van Dyke Show”?


When I go clothes shopping with my daughter, she always yells at me saying I seem to leave with tons of colorful bags, but they all seemed to be filled with items from the same color line: black and white. *Sigh* She is right. I must confess… I am afraid of color. I think that is because I have a powerfully pale skin tone and raging auburn red hair, and I feel that wearing color might draw attention to a potentially huge multi-hued faux pas. A horrific clashing of my coloring with my fashion shades. So I stick with blacks, whites, and shades that fall in between. The ultimate in safe. Only last year did I add two new colors to my wardrobe—purple and brown. Not really vibrant, huh? Sure, I have maybe an item or two of some other colors–lime green, gold, turquoise. But there they sit, tucked away in the back of the closet, sad and virtually unworn. Yawn.


Although standing out is something I never wanted to do in high school, I actually embrace it now that I’m older. The problem is I like to stand out with new styles, not new colors. I have a jazzy new pair of platform boots. In black. I just received a stylish ruffled cardigan. In white. And I have an awesome fleece zebra-print belted jacket. Yup, of course, in white and black. I need to change my mindset. Fast. I need to put myself out there. Now that I think about it, I ask myself why haven’t I taken notice of this sooner? I have to say that wearing bright colors in fashion brings about a newer sense of confidence when I wear them. They are a mood lifter, a smile maker. They make me walk taller and encourage me to make eye contact with people that I hope will walk away and wonder, “Hmmm. Who is she?” Why wouldn’t I want that feeling more often???


Tomorrow I am heading out to the mall to take my cousin, who is visiting from Italy, shopping at some of the popular stores here in America. Being so close to the holidays, I most likely won’t be buying a lot of things. But I will make a promise to myself to get one thing—a sweater, a top, a jacket—that stands out and makes me feel good about me. Something bright and totally out of my element! I challenge you to do the same. Step outside of your fashion comfort zone. Go ahead be bold… I dare you!!!