New Years Eve......

6 DAYS AFTER CHRISTMAS:

I guess I should start out with Happy Holidays to All....I have been on a short hiatus but thought I would come out of hibernation and post some wonderful pictures I took during the Holiday.  I love New York during Christmas time because you have the spectacular Tree Lighting at Rockefeller Center to Lord and Taylor's illustrious vintage window revisiting Old New York or SAK's creative window  depicting the story of the Yeti who for over 60 years has been rumored to live on the rooftop of SAK's.  So come on with me as we take a stroll through Rockefeller Center and a peek through SAK's window...

CHRISTMAS TREE @ ROCKEFELLER CENTER

 

 

ROCKEFELLER CENTER

 

 

SAKS 5th AVENUE: YETI HOLIDAY WINDOW

 

 

LORD & TAYLORS: VINTAGE OLD NEW YORK HOLIDAY WINDOW

 

 

 

DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS DEALS -

TOTAL ALITTLE OVER  $50:

 

I got a chance to do alittle shopping the day after Christmas.  I must say that this year, the stores were laying it on thick with sales before and after Christmas.  It was great to be able to participate and I can't wait to tell you about my deals.  I decided to do the outlet stores so we headed to Long Island to do alittle shopping. I got a chance to stroll through Bloomingdales who was having a fantastic sale on shoes.  I must tell you I put a pair of Boutique9 Leopard shoes on hold as I strolled the rest of the mall for good deals.  You know how we do Ladies, we want to make sure we got the best deal before making that final purchase.  I was then off to Off Saks 5th Avenue and they were having a sale that was just too good to be true.  It was buy one clearance item, take an additional 50% off the price, and get two items free.  OK, now I really had to compose myself because I was working on a budget.  After making my purchases there, I headed on over to the Gap Outlet.  I walked in and couldn't get pass the first table because they had such a fantastic sale on sweaters.  I was able to purchase a few sweaters along with a few tanks and I then made a B-line back to Bloomingdales to purchase the shoes I had on hold.   OK,  last but not least we headed to the Lord & Taylor outlet store.  They were having an additional 50% off their discounted clearance items. Whew, these sales were making my head swim.  I
kept my composure and purchased my final item which was a Jones New York top at an unbelievable price.

I took the liberty of taking pictures of a few of my purchases and I thought it would be great to list the Original price along with the Sale price so you can see how much I saved on my shopping excursion. 

Bloomingdales
                                           Sale                  Original Price
Shoes:  Boutique9            $22                     $160

Off Saks 5th Ave

3 Black Label Tanks         $5.50 (total)       $90 each
(Buy one get 2 free)
(Pink, Blue and Green)

Gap Outlet

2 Sweaters                     $6.49 each         $39.00 each
2 Tanks                           $2.50 each        $19.99 each

Lord & Taylor Outlet

Fuschia Jones NY Top      $5.00                  $89.00

So my shopping spree cost me alittle over $50 but I saved $586.50.  I think I did an awesome job in savings.  I hope you too were able to take advantage of some of the great after Christmas sales this year. 

 

 

 

 

  

GETTING READY FOR THE NEW YEARS!!!

 

SAKS: BLACK TIE AFFAIR

 

 

 

Since we are preparing for the New Years, I thought it only fitting to highlight this designer:

 

GIORGIO ARMANI -

An iconic clothing designer who expanded his empire to include cosmetics, restaurants and hotels, Giorgio Armani was born on July 11, 1934, in Italy.  Armani grew up in a small town outside of Milan when it was a difficult time in Italian history. His family was poor and life was pretty tough.  Giorgio and his two siblings—older brother Sergio and younger sister Rosanna—experienced the hardships of World War II firsthand. Some of his friends were killed during Allied bombings.  The cinema in Milan was a refuge to him and the movie stars seemed so glamorous. He fell in love with the idealized beauty of Hollywood stars.  His fascination with the human form led to two years of medical study at the University of Piacenza. While taking a break from school, Armani had to complete his required military service. He had 20 days off from the service so he vacationed in Milan and got a job at a department store assisting the photographer.

After completing his military service, Armani dropped out of university and went to work at La Rinascente, a famous Milan department store starting out as a display assistant and buyer.  He began designing for Nino Cerruti’s Hitman label, where he learned the rigors of men’s tailoring and acquired an eye and feel for fabrics. He first launched his business empire in the mid-1970s, and it has grown substantially over the years. His popularity skyrocketed in America in the 1980s when his men's 'power suits' appeared frequently on the television series Miami Vice and in the 1980 film American Gigolo, which starred Richard Gere in Armani's signature garb.

 

 

Gere played a suave, high-class rent-boy who used his Armani suits as tools of seduction. Overnight, an Armani jacket became the ultimate status symbol for moneyed young men seeking an easy way to telegraph their success.  In 1982, Time put the tanned, grinning designer on its cover along with the banner “Giorgio’s Gorgeous Style.” He had a thing for neutral palettes such as blue, brown, grey, tan and black.  Inspired by his sister Rosanna, who frequently raided his closet, he introduced his first women’s suit jackets in 1975, in the same relaxed fit as his men’s styles made with menswear fabrics.  Another feminine inspiration was his mother— who took what she found interesting from fashion and ignored other trends she disliked. In the 1980s, women around the world adopted this new broad-shouldered, tapered power silhouette as a form of boardroom armor.  His clothes were revolutionary because he introduced a more natural fit while using subtle color palettes.

 

New Year's Eve

 

 

Praying everyone has a safe and prosperous New Years

I can't wait to see the Chapters you write in the New Year.

See you all next year!!!

 

 

Simply,

 

Flo

 

It's time to put on that Leather....

Leather is Hot this Season
I am a spring/summer baby although I was born in the Fall but I am truly loving this New York Fall weather. It's not too cold yet but it is time to put on those jackets! One of the hot styles for this season is Leather and I must tell you that I L-o-v-e Leather.....There are some stylish Jackets, Skirts, Shirts, Pants, and Dresses that are out this season with a touch of Leather or Pleather :)...

I took a quick peek at Lord and Taylors, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdales to see what they had lined up for the fall and this is what I found....I must tell you I am loving it....
Prices start at $23 to $190.  Now if you don't have this in your collection for the Fall as yet, take some time to pick up a piece or two to add to your wardrobe.

Just a suggestion Ladies, when choosing leggings for the fall, here are some of my 
Do's and Don'ts:
Do wear with a Jacket, sweater or top to your waist if you have petite/small hips-thighs
Do wear with a Jacket, sweater or top below your waist if you have medium/large hips-thighs
Do wear with a pair of slim boots
Do wear with the proper undergarments
Don't purchase the thin/see through leggings
Don't wear with little or no undergarments

Jackets /Vests

 

 

Tops

 

 

Skirts/Pants

 

 

Dresses

 

 

 

Designer Corner:

 

Tracy Reese's World 

 

With an innate desire to create beautiful things, Detroit native Tracy Reese headed for Manhattan in 1982 to attend Parsons School of Design where she received an accelerated degree in 1984. Upon graduation, Reese apprenticed under designer Martine Sitbon while working for the small contemporary firm, Arlequin. Reese has also worked at some of the industry’s top fashion houses, including Perry Ellis where she was the design director for Women’s Portfolio. In 1996, Reese launched her collection to rave reviews.  Reese’s design was for the modern women that showcased ultra-feminine, polished pieces layered with nostalgia, charm and glamour; a distinctive look which the designer has since become known for.

The designer’s second line, Plenty by Tracy Reese, was introduced in 1998. Plenty embodies the modern bohemian spirit, offering a distinctive combination of color palettes, one of a kind prints, and playful details. With this collection, Reese creates versatile everyday essentials.

She has been a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) since 2000 and has served as a member of the Board of Directors since 2007. She is also a key player in selecting recipients to receive grants from the CFDA’s AIDS-Fund initiatives. Here are a few of her Fall 2013 designs.  I love her clothes and I'm honored to share her designs with you.

 

Breast Cancer Prevention Checklist

As you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and as I was watching the Queen Latifah Show on Thursday, October 24th, she had as one of her guest, Dr. Kristi Funk, who was very informative.  She is the founder of the Pink Lotus Breast Center in California.

Dr. Funk has been known in the medical field for years, but became famous for being the doctor of Angelina Jolie, who recently revealed to all that she had a preventative double mastectomy.  Dr. Funk graciously revealed some Do's and Don't tips on Breast Cancer Prevention:

THE DO's

 

Do eat a high-fiber, low-fat diet.
Do eat bran cereal, blueberries and strawberries.
Do eat lean meats with tons of fruits and vegetables.
Do get plenty of Vitamin D by eating fish (like salmon and tuna), eggs and soaking in some sunshine – don't forget the sunscreen!
Do eat loads of calcium by eating green leafy vegetables like kale, broccoli and spinach and dairy products including yogurt, milk and cheese.
Do use good saturated fats like olive, walnut, sesame, almond, flaxseed, omega-3 and fish oils.
Do try foods like turmeric and clove oil.
Do exercise a minimum of 30 minutes a day, 5 times a week.

THE DON’Ts

 

Don’t drink more than one alcoholic drink a day. (I say don't drink at all) 
Don’t eat too many burnt, smoked, or grilled meats.

Don’t use too much saturated fats in your food like butter, margarine and lard.
Remember you need a mammogram screening beginning at age 35 and starting at
40-years-old you should get tested every year for the rest of your life. 

Traci Lynn Jewelry:
Special during Breast Cancer Awareness Month
With just a few more days left to support during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, remember to take a moment to purchase Fight for the Cure Jewelry, with 100% of Traci Lynn's proceeds going towards our 25K Fight Breast Cancer Campaign in support  of American Cancer Society.  Help us fight this war against cancer and win!! To place an order, go to www.tracilynnjewelry.com, view the catalog and send your order to my email at flojoe8@gmail.com.

 Remember these items below are selling out fast....
 

Best Buy

Next week, I will be adding the Best Buy corner to my Blog.  This will consist of individuals that had the opportunity to shop, obtain great buys, and topped it off with additional coupon savings.  So if this is you, and you would like to share your fabulous finds, please send your story to flojoe8@gmail.com.
 

Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, Fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, and what is happening.
-Coco Chanel
 

Simply,

Flo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ladies, It's Raining Pink!!!

This month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month so I thought it would be great to cater my blog this week to the cause by posting everything Pink....I will briefly discuss some informative information regarding Breast Cancer so that woman (men can experience this too) can be aware of what to look for.

Symptoms of breast cancer: I'm sure some of you have relatives, friends, coworkers or neighbors who have passed from breast cancer or are now Breast Cancer Survivors.  First, it's important to know that initially, breast cancer may not cause any symptoms. In some cases, however, the first sign of breast cancer is a new lump or a mass in the breast that you or your doctor can feel. So if you have a lump that is painless, hard, and has uneven edges it's more likely to be cancer. But sometimes cancers can be tender, soft, and rounded. So it's important to have anything unusual checked out by your doctor.  According to the American Cancer Society, any of the following unusual changes in the breast can be a symptom of breast cancer:

• swelling of all or part of the breast
• skin irritation or dimpling
• breast pain
• nipple pain or the nipple turning inward
• redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
• a nipple discharge other than breast milk
• a lump in the underarm area

These changes also can be signs of less serious conditions that are not cancerous, such as an infection or a cyst.  So women, it is so important that you get screened and tested regularly. If you feel or have any abnormal breast changes, please take the time to get checked by your doctor. 

Although this may not eliminate the risk, there are a few steps you can take to help the body stay healthy as possible such as, eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, limiting your alcohol intake (I say no alcohol intake:), getting your proper rest and exercising regularly.  Ultimately it is your Faith in God and Trusting him to be your Healer that will sustain
you through this process. 

Iconic Designer: Betsy Johnson
I wanted to give a little space to talk about this eccentric, iconic, quirky, and colorful designer who is a Breast Cancer Survivor:


Betsey Johnson grew up with a passion for dance and art. Her fashion career skyrocketed when her Avant Garde designs became part of the 1960s "Youthquake" movement. In the 70s, however, her career began to slump until the punk rock style inspired her to create fashion for a new generation. She opened a boutique in New York's Soho neighborhood, which were eventually followed by more than 60 stores worldwide.  In 2000, Johnson's fashion career was briefly derailed when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The cancer was detected early; a turn of good luck that resulted from a strange incident when one of her cosmetic breast implants lost its shape. "My doctor said it was an absolute miracle my breast implants deflated," she recalls. "I probably wouldn't have had another mammogram for six months." Johnson underwent radiation therapy, eventually going into remission. Johnson barely lost a step from her ever-youthful ways—after returning to full health, she still managed to complete the trademark cartwheel she performs at the close of her biannual fashion show.  With her company in trouble, Betsy filed for Bankruptcy, laid off 350 workers and closed over 60 stores.  Her friend Steve Madden came to her rescue.  After buying Betsey Johnson's debt and coming up with a plan by which she would pay him back instead of paying some faceless impersonal lender, Steve worked out an arrangement with her company so that he now owns it. Betsy Johnson still designs sportswear for the company and she recently showed here Spring 2014 Ready-to-Wear Fashion at NY Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

 You look Good in Pink:

Yes Ladies, it's raining Pink this Fall.  A lot of Fashion Designers this year decided to throw a dash of bright colors into their Fall line on the runway this Fall.  So in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I wanted to indulge you with some wonderful styles in Pink (or a hint of Pink) like these fabulous Skirts, Tops, Dresses, Bags, and Jewelry in a variety of Pink.  As you can see, there are various shades of Pink for you so step into for the Fall so don't be afraid to add a dab of pink to your wardrobe this year. 

  

 

 

Spa Treatment on a Budget:

For all those that are looking to pamper yourselves on a budget, Spa Week is here!!  It began on Monday, October 14th and ends on Sunday, October 20th.  This is when Spa and Wellness Centers come together to offer various services at a special rate of $50. 
You can go to www.spaweek.com to find a location near you and schedule a treatment that best fits your needs.  So to all you ladies that want to look/feel good on the outside as well as on the inside, take this opportunity to pamper yourselves, enjoy life and don't forget to pick up alittle something in Pink!    

Traci Lynn Jewelry:
Special during Breast Cancer Awareness Month
In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, if you purchase a Fight for the Cure Jewelry and
100% of Traci Lynn's proceeds will go towards our 25K Fight Breast Cancer Campaign in support
of American Cancer Society.  Help us fight this war against cancer and win!! To place an order,
go to www.tracilynnjewelry.com and send your order to my email addy flojoe8@gmail.com.
Just a Note: Items below are selling fast....

Double Pin

Earrings

 

Charm

Fight Pin

Fight the cure Earrings

Fight Keychain

Fight Earrings

Hoop Earrings

Necklace

Ring

Bracelets

So Ladies, don't forget to Laugh, Love and Enjoy Life....You only have One Life to Live!!!

"I think there is beauty in everything. What ‘normal’ people would perceive as ugly, I can usually see something of beauty in it."

— Alexander McQueen

 

Simply,

 

Flo