In today’s economy, it may seem difficult to dress as fashionably as we might like.  While limited resources might hinder our ability to buy anything we want, it can serve as a challenge to our creativity where fashion is concerned.  Fashion is available to anyone, regardless of economic circumstances!

I have been guilty of cleaning out my closet at the end of a season with no regard for how some garments might be reworked in the next season.  My attitude toward clothing could have been summarized like this:  “Oh, it’s just a shirt.  I can always get a newer, more stylish one!”  I know that my attitude was wasteful and uncreative.  As I have talked with older, more seasoned women about the role of fashion and clothing in our culture, I have learned that there is another approach to moving from season to season in the world of fashion that involves the creative use of clothing resources.

Most of us know what looks good on our own bodies.  Regardless of the current fashion trends, we should trust our instincts where clothing is concerned.  Just because pastels might be in vogue this summer does not mean they will work for every person.  For that reason, we all need to identify our personal style and use what we already have to develop our wardrobe for a new season.  With the addition of a few carefully selected accessories and some minor alterations, we can turn something old into something new and fashionable without breaking the bank.

Another side of this creative fashion thinking involves sharing clothing with friends and family.  We might look at last summer’s maxi dress with disdain, but our next door neighbor will look adorable in it with the simple addition of a belt or necklace.  This summer, examine your resources and get creative with fashion!

Designers have reworked our beloved denim into shoes, dresses and rompers for the season. In fact, they have reworked it into just about everything.  What has always been a fashion “don’t”, head to toe denim, is now an edgy and brazen look.  You can add, add, add to the look or go for a more reserved and simple look like a tunic with leggings. Try wearing your denim in new ways (as a jacket, a dress, a romper or a shirt instead of just jeans) to show off a new fresh look for spring/summer.  Mix it up too! Put your denim with whites, brights or neutrals. Look for big bold jewelry and belts of nature, inspired wood or turquoise, to accompany your outfit.  By all means, find a great pair of denim shoes, they will go with everything.

Yes, camo is still around, but the freshest add-in to your wardrobe is khakis and olives.  The military trend is dominating, and including an army jacket or sharp cut military jacket is a great way to update what you already have.  Keep these military looks feminine by choosing fitted shirts and jackets that give it more of a boy-meets-girl look rather than a sloppy army surplus look.  Add one of these jackets to your boyfriend jeans and a striped tee or with a real girlie dress and you will be a runway girl.

You can work with a shade that is best with your skin, but plan on soft oranges, especially coral.  These colors should be in your closet for the season.  Shades in coral to peach usually work well on most women and the hues mix beautifully with this season’s popular khakis and white. You will even find many gold and silver metallics that work really well.

Another fashion tip that you can simply make happen is fringe. Fringe and tassels will add interest to handbags this season, and you will be able to incorporate it into your wardrobe quick and easy.  These bags will bring a bit of western/boho feel to just about anything you wear, but the look is natural with the denim that is rocketing the fashion funways.  Buy a little or buy a lot, these few add-ins will bloom your wardrobe!

The mother of the bride is an important role, so your dress and outfit should reflect that for the special day.  While the bride is the main attraction on her wedding day, the mother of the bride should also have special attention. Once decisions are made such as budget for your ensemble, length of dress, and wedding colors, you can start your search.  It is best to shop for a dress six months before the event, if you have that much time, which allows you to casually shop without feeling rushed.

Only the bride should be in white or off white. You may have seen other mothers of the bride wear white to a wedding, but this is generally considered a major faux pas.  Although gaining acceptance for wedding attire, it is still viewed inappropriate for the mother of the bride to wear black, no matter how good it looks or how slimming it is. Even dark shades of brown can be detrimental to the ambiance of the occasion. Your dress color should complement the wedding colors, but not exactly match the bridesmaid’s dress. Tones lighter or darker than their dresses are a good start. You may even consider silver, gold, or pastel, and choose solid colors over busy prints.

This is a great time to begin conversing with the new extended family.  Many bride mothers coordinate with the groom’s mother to assure their dresses are color pleasing and have no style clashes. The next step is finding the right shoes.  You will want something that matches or is the same tone as the dress and they are comfortable enough to stand in for several hours.  Many times strappy heels look nicer with a formal dress than closed toe flats.  Additionally, plan to treat yourself to a pedicure and manicure for the special day, especially if you select an open toe strappy shoe. Last but not least, plan the jewelry you will be wearing, particularly earrings, necklace, watch, and bracelets. The key to success is getting your entire outfit selected and purchased early, so you can handle other wedding matters.  When the time arrives you will be ready to focus on the bride and her special day.

From bimbo style icons to middle-aged women dressing like teenagers, the ‘00s were filled with fashion trends gone wrong.  Admitting that we all bought into some of these trends seems to be a first step in the healing.

First the “It bags” (still lingering), were such a rage. The designer bag craze started out harmless enough; it was a way to spice up an otherwise boring outfit and show your status all at the same time. Then it spun out of control with an influx of crazy-expensive must-have bags that were so pricey regular girls had to rent them instead of buy them.

Then there was the headband worn over the forehead! Originally this look started with the traditional headband fad last year, which was adorable, but now has become overdone. Although, if done right this look can be boho chic but at the same time it still leaves a line across your forehead, impedes facial expressions, and messes up your hair. Overall it’s a look best left alone.

Another trend for 2009 that just has to stop is the stockings darker than the shoes.  Stockings, leggings, and hosiery have been a great fashion accessories but when you’re shoes are lighter than the leg it can look just plain silly.

While Uggs are still holding on to the fashion trend list due to the fact that they are fun and comfortable, all of the wild knock off-variations have taken it just a little too far.

Even though Sex and the City’s Sarah Jessica Parker sported backless and halter top dresses with visible bra straps on purpose for a few seasons, many fashion experts now say you shouldn’t do the same. Bras are undergarments, so keep your straps properly adjusted and don’t let them peek out on purpose or on accident.

And finally a trend that shouldn’t be worn on men or women, harem pants.  Call them what you want, they’re MC Hammer pants. A horrible fashion statement at the time and now just a sad look that even makes the stick proportions of a runway model seem a bit too curvy in all the wrong places. And speaking of curves, the bubble dress has got them all backwards.  This fad gave girls an egg shaped Humpty-Dumpty figure rather than enhancing a woman’s natural hourglass shape.

Whether it was overpriced handbags or off the wall leggings, we all had a few fashion mishaps along the way.  Hopefully 2010 will bring only a few crazy trends for us to inadvertently fall for.

The Holidays are quickly coming upon us, and with sugar and spice just around the corner, now is the perfect time to give a quick update to that wardrobe of yours.

This time of festivities is full of sparkle and is all about the details.  With weekly gatherings of family and friends you’ll surely want to show off your fashion forward style; but don’t worry about spending hundreds of dollars on a complete new wardrobe, because this season’s looks can be updated with a dash of a few glitzy accessories.

Feel free this winter to up your glam appeal by taking your look retro.  Part your hair to the side and compliment it with loosely falling curls.  Add just a touch of red lipstick and you’ve instantly created that beloved retro look with a modern twist.  Afraid to be bold with a daring red pout?  Try a jeweled brooch in your hair.  Stick it at the base of a pony tail or use it to pull back a small section of hair from your face to give a festive feeling to your ensemble.

Pearls are back and these classics have never felt so decorative before.  Layer up to three strands of necklaces for a chunkier look or keep your look simple with a plain pearl ring and earrings.  Adding bold metallic colors to your outfit will make a sensual dramatic effect.  Choose a beaded and sequin dress or a pair of satrapy metallic heels.  Throw on some shine and luster with a satin blouse or just add a chunky jeweled belt to some dark jeans or a dress.  Whatever the occasion this Holiday

Season, pay attention to your accessories; they’ll make you look as good as the wrapped presents under the Christmas Tree!

One of my favorite factories visited in China was PanYu Denim Washing Mill, a factory that specializes in the washing and treatment of jeans. I watched as workers worked on jeans to stitch together folds, scrunched folds, steamed, and taped to create the whisker lines that we seldom take a second to think about. Next distressing was done using sand and sand paper. They used several methods for this; hand rubbing, putting the jeans on inflatable poles and using a hand sander (like you would on a piece of furniture), or to actually lay them out and blast them with fine particles of sand. The rubbing and sanding creates a softer finish while the sand blasting creates more of contrast look. Chemicals were sometimes added to the surface of the fabric to change the color of the jean. Fold, scrunch, and zip tying the jeans for a wash and dry cycle created still another effect. Ever hear the term “stone washed?” They are actually washed with stones that look similar to volcanic rock. Familiar brands being treated at this particular plant included Arizona, Miss Sixty, Les Halles, Mudd, and R. Marks.

The owner of the factory demonstrated these techniques and while it was all impressive, it was the look on the man’s face that caught my attention. His pride was evident and his beaming face was touching.

Employees work in 8-10 hour shifts and earn approximately U.S. $200-$300 per month with overtime, room and board, and food. Their work mentality is different than that of most US workers. Eight hour day limitations are resisted; these employees want to work as much as they can so they send money back home to their villages as well as trying to gain a financial edge for their future possibilities. At this first factory visited in China my preconceived ideas were shattered. There was a tremendous sense of pride throughout the factory, from the workers to the managers it was obvious they were excited to show us around and elated that we would come to see what they do and what they create, making my visit inspiring and humbling at the same time.

As you look through this summer’s cutest collections, focus on finding a swimsuit style that compliments your body shape. To create a waist, try a belted one-piece or a monokini with side cut-outs. Triangle tops with ruffles or embellishments are fabulous for enhancing a small bust, and a shirred one-piece or a tankini with rouching is perfect for hiding a tummy. Just remember: We are all built differently, so try on lots of styles — a style that looks great on your friend might not be the same style that looks great on you!

When it comes to colors, about almost anything goes. Whether you decide on a solid color or a multi-colored print is up to you; just remember that colors that are similar to your own skin tone will make you appear paler, so choose a swimsuit with a flattering color and show off that tan!

Top off your look by adding a few fun details and accessories. A little print wrap, cotton tunic, or a jersey dress can make a complementary cover-up. Then add some shoes. Whether you delight in metallic roman sandals, lace up wedges or jeweled thongs, one thing is for sure: Strappy sandals are a must! And bold jewelry is back again, so keep your look updated with a colorful set of bangles. Now you’re ready to make a splash with an oversized tote or a straw bag. Don’t forget to throw in your suntan lotion, and I’ll see you at the beach!

Focusing on delicate fabrics, trendy colors, and soft silhouettes, this summer’s translucent pieces are a great way to beat the heat. These celestial fashions come in a variety of fabrics. From solid colors, to floral prints, to ethnic patterns, you’re bound to find something to spice up your wardrobe. And if fear of color is something that keeps you from participating in the latest trend, don’t worry. With colors ranging from white to black there is sure to be a color out there for you. However, one thing is a must when venturing into this season’s trend: Good taste and modesty are always fashion “do’s,” so keep the look modest and delicate by layering these gossamer garments over other pieces, such as colored cami’s or nude slips.

If the sheer look is not for you, go for a chic, one-shoulder garment. Thanks to First Lady Michelle Obama, one-shoulder garments have stepped into the limelight, and they can be found on tops, cocktail dresses, and even bathing suits. Show a bit of skin with a one-shoulder top and create a delicate, mysterious mood that you can’t get in an everyday blouse. Or try a Grecian style dress, and experience the femininity that comes from the softly draped fabric that will make you feel like a goddess no matter what the occasion.

Whether you prefer a little see-through number or a flowing Grecian dress, one thing is for sure: This season’s focus is on feminine fabrics and delicate details that will leave you looking ethereal and beautiful, like a summer goddess.