Dear Friend,

On A Personal Note...

Last week was fashion week in New York and the shows were really incredible. I was honored to be invited to a few and I gathered my info with a keen thrifty diva perspective. Here's what I can report.

There are many current sale items in our stores right now that will continue to be in style for fall 2007. 60's inspired voluminous tops, jackets and Jackie O' dresses will look modern for the next year, as well as anything belted. So keep your eyes peeled for great belt bargains.

Metallics were used by everyone, especially silver, so if you spot great silver shoes on sale, go ahead and snag 'em. Gray took precedence over black at almost every show and was continually paired with sparkling silver, especially at Michael Kors and Tommy Hilfiger. Pops of navy blue and yellow brightened all of the gray, which is a hot trend for spring, so think about choosing spring pieces that will carry you into fall.

Skirts ruled the runways, out showing pants two to one and at some shows three to one; so be sure to shop for skirts in fabrics that you can wear all year long. The addition of modern tights, will keep you in perfect step come October. And red accents continue to be red hot, so if you haven't bought anything red yet, hit the sale rack now!

Speaking of red, I hope you are all aware that February is national GO RED month and a time when we are all reminded that we need to take better care of our heart! Heart disease is the number one killer of American women and we can absolutely change that.

I encourage you to GO RED IN YOUR OWN FASHION and incorporate a little red into your wardrobe each day, as a visual reminder to make better food and fitness choices for your heart. We can all choose a side salad instead of french fries and take a couple of flights of stairs each day to get our heart pumping. The small choices can add up to drastic changes in your heart health and you owe it to yourself and your family to think about your HEART! I know you have a big one, and I want you to be around to help me spread the wonders of being a thrifty diva!

Be happy! Be beautiful! Be thrifty!

Latest Poll

Is the bra you are wearing right now comfortable?

A whopping 43% of you are living your life in uncomfortable, binding bras that won't stay put. Aaauuugggg... how frustrating! Well, there are a few points of fit that you need to check and adjustments that can be made to help relieve your daily "boulder holder" burden! So, put on your bra, give yourself a gander and check out my Ask Andy page for more advice on proper measuring if you need it... Now let's take a look:

• First... open the neck of your blouse... go ahead... right now... look at the center front of your bra. Does it lay flat against your chest? Or is there a space between your body and the front band of your bra? If there is a space, your cup size is too small and I bet the under wire is poking you because it is in the wrong place! The center front of your bra has to lay completely flat against your sternum for comfortable fit... Yes, completely flat!
• Now go to the mirror and lift up your shirt... turn around. Does the back of your bra ride up? If the back band is frowning, then your band size is too big and I bet your straps won't stay up. You have to understand that 70% of your support needs to come from the band... That's right... 70%!
  
  SO, you have to find the correct band size that stays put and is completely balanced and level all the way around your body. If the back rides up, you have lost the cup support and your straps are more likely to fall. The frowning in the back is also what causes BACK FAT!! – A level bra won't pinch and gather the fat as it rides up!
• While I have you turned around in the mirror... if you are a C cup or larger you need to have a WIDER band. If your band is flimsy and thin, it cannot support the weight of your bust and it is probably digging into you. You need to find a band that is thicker and offers more structural foundation!
• Okay, lift your arm and feel for the outside cup seam or under wire track. If the under wire or side seam does not reach for the center of your underarm and fall at the side of your body... your cup size is too small... and these bulging seams are probably rubbing you the wrong way. Shallow cup seams catch your tender underarm and rub you raw all day. You need a bigger cup!
• So now, grab your straps from the top of your shoulders and lift. If you can lift your straps more than an inch or two off your shoulder, they need to be tightened. Loose straps offer NO support and won't stay up. Granted only 30% of your support should come from the straps, but you need that 30% so tighten 'em up.
• Keep in mind, when putting your bra on, bend over and pull all of the breast tissue from your underarm and underneath your breast to fill the cups completely. You want to jiggle the wires into place, if your bra has them, so that they hug the body and cradle right under your breast.

If you follow these guidelines when adjusting the bra you have or selecting a new one, you should be sporting the comfy bra of your dreams in no time!

 

This Month's Cents Of Style™ Accessory Suite

I am sure you have noticed all of the navy blue popping up on the award show red carpets and being sported by celebs on talk shows. If you are tired of wearing drab, cookie-cutter black this season, it's time to turn your focus to spring's noir substitute... navy blue! Blue's the Mood of this month's incredible Cents of Style Accessory Suite, with rich tones that will help you fashionably release the gravitational pull of black. Though we are in the toughest part of winter, spring is just around the corner and this gorgeous collection will bridge you perfectly into next season. Navy blue, greens, browns and yellows are everywhere for spring and this masterful collection (toot toot-that was my own horn... hehe!) will give you a thrifty chic jump start. The luscious bouclé handbag brings things back down to scale, as "average size" and not oversized handbags eek there way back into vogue. The elegant color combination offers implied value and richness that make it look like a much more expensive handbag. I've included a luxurious navy blue 70% cashmere pashmina scarf/wrap that can be used as a scarf with your winter and spring coats or as a beautiful evening wrap this summer with dressed and sexy tops. This scarf/wrap will look fresh and modern when paired with the traditional trench coats of spring, or fabulous yellow rain slickers! You also get a super-cool navy blue leather CARDINI watch, topaz and arora borealis bead necklace and matching earrings. The arora borealis beads pick up all of the blue hues in the bag and reflect the light exquisitely. The whole suite will have you looking like a million bucks for just $49.50 (woohoo!)... All perfectly pulled together by your personal stylist... Me... Andy Paige! JUST $49.50 BUY IT NOW

Have You Tried...

MILANI Eye Shadows?

MILANI has long been knows as the "drug store MAC" among makeup artists, but their new line of 30 individual eye shadow pots has solidified their place in the drugstore cosmetic hall of fame.

These high pigment eye shadows come in beautiful intense colors and the soft, smooth texture makes these eye shadows easy to apply and blend... even the matte ones! The professional, long-wearing, color can be applied wet or dry for a variety of looks and they are practically crease-proof. Just $2.99 each at Walgreens.com... compared with MAC eye shadow pots priced at $14 (WooHoo!!)

wallgreens.com

Tips

Homemade Chocolate Bubble Bath

Talk about a Valentine's Day treat... This is the ultimate chocolate indulgence and it is calorie free!! (Yippee!) Give this easy bubble bath recipe a try when you are ready to explore your decadent side! You are going to LOVE IT! (Wink!)

1 cup of vanilla scented bubble bath
1/3 cup of unsweetened soy milk
3 oz. of dark chocolate

Heat the soy milk in the microwave and add in the chopped chocolate. Stir well until melted, but do not bring to a boil. Mix in the bubble bath and pour into your bath under running water. Enjoy!

Sale Rack

You will find cozy clothes and loungewear on the 50% off rack this month... just in time for the coldest part of winter. Fleece lined, terry cloth, velour and basic cotton warm-up suits are the last to go on sale at the end of the season, but the time is finally here. These comfy two-piece throw-ons are considered winter gear, but the truth is we wear them all year long.

The terry cloth variety serves us well during the summer months, so keep your eyes peeled for those and opt for a bright color. You will always feel more perky and stylish if you are sporting a fabulous unexpected hue during your down time.

Be sure to choose straight leg styles - no tapered pants or worse, elastic at the ankles - and zip front hoodies that hit around your hip bone - nothing to long or droopy!

Flattering lounge wear is a wardrobe necessity and knowing you look great no matter the occasion or circumstance does a lot to affect your mood.

So this is the time to cast off your oversized tee shirts and baggy sweat pants and go for cozy clothes you are excited to put on... you will find them for pennies on the dollar this month. Enjoy your Cents of Style!!