White After Labor Day - Do or Don't?

To wear white or not to wear white???

That is the question for many ladies after the Labor Day holiday alludes to the conclusion of the summer season, especially for those of us in the Midwest and Northeast. You can find a varied number of opinions across the world wide web, stating rules of strictly no white after Labor Day to no white from the waist down to just no white shoes.

I say "yes!" to white in fall and winter, as I happen to think that white always looks uber chic and classy, and the color can transition wonderfully into the cooler months. Try it in pieces like white jeans, white blazers, chunky white cable knit sweaters and who doesn't love a beautiful white wool coat?!

With just a few hard and fast rules to abide by, you too can rock white:

1. Fabric - Put away your lighter gauzy, flowy and linen fabrics and replace them with heavier, chunkier knits and just weightier materials in general. It keeps the look season appropriate.

2. Balance the bright - Look to warmer shades of gray, aubergine, taupe, brown and black to balance out the brightness of your whites. Or go monochromatic with a white winter coat, gloves and beret.

3. Color scale - Try out creamier "winter whites" and not just your starch bright whites. In cooler temps, put away your light washed denim and pair whites with denim that has a darker rinse for an overall richer, warmer look.

4. Pairing - When wearing whites in chillier months, pull your look together with weather appropriate pieces. Instead of peep toes with those fabulous white jeans, wear a killer pair of boots, a leather jacket and an infinity scarf. Swap out the tanks you use for layering and instead try a white button up shirt or turtleneck.

Eva Marcille

Zoe Saldana

Rachel Bilson

Over the spring/summer months I gushed about my love affair with the white blazer (here and here) and lucky me, I also recently scooped an awesome white blazer in the Macy's juniors department that's a heavier knit that I can wear in the cooler (ok, colder) months. I plan to pair it with dark skinny jeans tucked into boots and medium rinse boyfriend jeans and shoeties.

How about you?

Going Green

The color green doesn't just have to make you feel froggy, take a style note from Sanaa Lathan who looked resplendent in a figure flattering Haute Hippie dress at a recent event. With a few remaining dog days of summer, hit the town in gorgeous green paired with a pair of spicy leopard pumps.

Oasis summer evening dress, £30
Zara leopard print shoes, $20
Wire bracelet, $18
Silver earrings, $18
Bare Escentuals bareMinerals 100% Natural Lipgloss, $15

If the real deal is more your speed and perhaps money is no object, you can get Sanaa's actual dress at Nordstrom for a mere $445.

Revlon Precision Lash Adhesive Review

I've posted before about my love for false lashes (read it here), but what I omitted at the time was my...um...dissatisfaction with the lash glue. I originally chalked my issues up to being a rookie and being an oily skinned girl and determinedly pressed on. I had issues with how long I had to wait before the glue was tacky enough to adhere, so if you attempted to place it too soon, it would slip and slide across your eyelid...which would conveniently wreck your eye makeup. And even if I got them on without application issues, there was always the concern that the glue wouldn't provide enough hold for longer than a couple of hours. I soon realized that neither of those things were really the cause of my problem, it was poor quality glue.

Enter Revlon Precision Precision Lash Adhesive to my rescue!

With it's brush applicator, it gives you great control allowing you to coat the spine of the lash and not the lashes themselves and add just that needed bit of extra adhesive to the ends. The product appears white or clear on the brush, but applies in a pretty sparkly blue shade. And there's no need to wait! It's actually best that you don't, in my opinion. You can immediately begin to apply the lash to your lash line and in the time it takes you to finish the application on your other eye, the glue has dried and adhered the lash securely. And don't worry, it dries clear.

And let me say that I'm super impressed! The hold felt way more secure than it had ever had before. I feel my first test of the product put it through it's paces - I used it to apply my lashes for a wedding I was attending. It was outdoors, ninety degrees and humid beyond belief. The indoor reception was attended by upwards of 400 people, so the air conditioning felt virtually non-existent. And just so you understand, not only am I naturally oily, but I perspire rather easily... So, I tossed the tube in my clutch, just in case I happened to need it for an emergency lash fix.

I never needed it.

I ultimately wore my lashes for 8 hours without issue. As I removed my make up they did peel off, but not without quite a bit of tugging and after a day like I'd had, that's saying a lot!

I found the tube at Walmart for less than five dollars, so I bought two - just in case I really liked it and it was discontinued before I got another one or in case it dried out too soon or something, I'd have a backup.

And if all of that wasn't enough to sell you on it, it's also latex free for any of you divas who have an issue with latex allergies.

DD's Style File - Oranges & Bananas

The outfit I wore to work yesterday was probably a tad unconventional when it came to color pairings, but for some reason, it just kinda worked for me. Before dashing out the door in the morning, I ignored the urge to don a shoe that more closely matched my belt and went totally in the opposite direction.

Beige orange dot top - Zara
Tan skirt - The Limited
Brown and rust earrings - Unknown
Belt - Burlington Coat Factory
Cognac leather handbag - TJ Maxx
Yellow peep toe slingbacks - Macy's
Sunglasses - Dot's

I've mentioned my love of polka dots before, so it's no surprise that I snatched up this beige top with peppy orange dots. The shoes are an item that I can finally cross off my "wardrobe need" list, as I've been hunting for a pair of sophisticated yellow pumps for literally ages. And there they were, in my size, perched on the clearance rack at Macy's waiting for me to find them - and I wasn't even shopping that day, just perusing. And with a color description of 'banana' how could I possibly leave them behind?!

I admit the overall look may have had something about it that was a bit quirky and offbeat, but I liked it!