The New Shoe Look for Fall 2010

Fall 2010 is bringing a new, fresh look to high heel shoes. Over the past decade we have been watching as shoes have gone to inconceivable heights. At times, it appeared as if models on the runway were walking on boxes rather than actual shoes. The soles of shoes became large canvasses for artwork. Platforms boasted multiple colors and patches of fabric or leather. Embellishments have been a mainstay on both the platform portion of the shoe as well as the upper portion adorning our feet. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area fashionistas have embraced the more conservative versions of the platforms seen on the Paris, Milan and New York runways over the past few years. Christian Louboutin has had the most popular platform shoes in the bay area with his soles that raise the toes roughly one inch above the ground and the heel about four inches from the floor. Louboutin’s open toe and closed toe pump styles have been spotted on fashionable feet throughout the bay area in fabrications such as leather, satin and glitter.

The Fall 2001 runways showed much flatter soles than in previous seasons. Chanel showed fur boots with flat soles and clear heels. Prada gave us dazzling patent mary janes with flat soles and four inch heels. Although flat soles may be making a comeback, it does not mean fashionistas will have to move all of their platforms to the back of the closet. Designers such as Balenciaga showed platforms with sky high heels for Fall 2010. This means fashionistas in the bay area will have a choice between platforms or flat soled high heels. How perfect is that! It is always a great fashion season when we do not have to worry about what we wear on our feet. Transitionary periods in fashion allow us to wear the type of shoe we feel like wearing without the worry of seeming outdated.

In this recession, it is always nice to know that fashionistas in the bay area can bring back their beloved Manolo Blahniks from the back of the closet and relive those fabulous high heel days when the pump was a delicate work of art, rather than a five pound weight on our feet. Of course, there will still be days when fashionistas will feel like being taller and funky. Those will be the days we pull out our platforms and make our outfit all about our shoes! Enjoy the Fall 2010 shoe season and stay fabulous!

Is your Hair Ready for Earth Day?

Earth Day is fast approaching and it seems to get more exciting every year. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, we have been aware of the environment and its’ fragility for several decades. Children in the late 1970’s began taking field trips through school to the local recycling plant. Students were so proud to be handed a recycling bucket to take home to their parents. There was pure excitement at the thought of teaching one’s parents how to recycle cans, bottles and newspapers. Bay Area parents were very proud of their children who made an effort to recycle at home as well as spread the word to extended friends and family. The recycling mentality has expanded throughout the country and world over the past two decades. Bay Area natives cannot help but feel slightly responsible for getting the word out about the importance of recycling and saving our planet. Although recycling dates back to Plato in 400 BC and it was first required in the United States by Woodbury, NJ, the San Francisco Bay Area took the idea by storm and is responsible for much of the marketing that made it hip.

Earth Day was instated by US Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin on April 22, 1970. It is celebrated in roughly 175 countries each year. As Earth Day has become more popular over the years, many cities and towns celebrate the entire week and have dubbed it “Earth Week.”

Every year consumer companies launch so-called “Green” products in the weeks preceding Earth Day in the hope that consumers will purchase these products in an effort to be more Earth friendly. Unfortunately, many so-called “Green” products are not really green. True Green products are made with environmentally friendly ingredients, in environmentally friendly factories and packaged in recycled materials.

Tigi Hair Care is well known for their “Bed Head” line of hair care products. These products are recommended by stylists around the world and found in fine salons as well beauty supply shops. Target, which normally carries more moderately priced products, has also begun to carry Tigi Products in their “Salon Hair Care” isle which boasts the same products found at your local salon with slightly softer price points.

In an effort to go “Green,” Tigi has launched a wonderful line of earth friendly products named “Love, Peace and the Planet.” These fabulous hair care products are not tested on animals and they do not use artificial colors or fragrances. They treat your hair using only organic ingredients that are free from parabens, laurel and laureth sulfates. To top it all off, Tigi packaged the line in 50% post consumer waste containers and all printed materials are printed on recycled paper or FSC paper using soy or water based ink. This makes the packaging 100% recyclable! Love, Peace, Planet also offers two choices for shampoo and conditioner. They offer a moisturizing shampoo named “Eco Awesome” as well as a daily shine shampoo named “Walking on Sunshine.” The line also offers texture, hairspray and a leave-in conditioner.

It is so refreshing to find a hair care line that lives up to the modern label “Green.” What a fabulous way to celebrate Earth Day and care for your hair! Happy Earth Day! Go green and stay fabulous.

Fabulous Sunglasses for Summer 2010!

The sun is finally shining here in the San Francisco Bay Area and the temperature has finally hit the level we expect in the Spring. This means the sun is getting brighter and it is time to pull out our fabulous new sunglasses for Summer 2010! Fashionistas in the Bay Area have been spotted wearing two distinct styles of sunglasses, everywhere from the coastline, into the city and east of the bay. The aviator frame has been mildly popular over the past decade and still holds cult status among the stylish set here in the Bay Area. These sporty frames have been spotted in style-savvy pockets of San Francisco such as the Marina, Union Square, SOMA and even along the piers. Designers such as Tom Ford, Gucci, Tory Burch and Chrome Hearts have Aviator Frames front and center for Summer 2010. Unfortunately, Bay Area Fashionistasinterested in getting prescription lenses in an aviator frame might find themselves out of luck. In general, most aviator frame sunglasses are not flat enough for prescription lenses.

Suburban Bay Area Fashionistas have been spotted wearing the other fabulous frame that is hot off the runways for Summer 2010; the oversize resin frame. This playful shape has also been taking center stage over the past few years, but with 2010 the oversize resin frame has steered clear of black and gone into softer neutral shades as well as chambray blue. Miu Miu, Roberto Cavalli, Chanel and Fendi have all shown tortoiseshell and soft browns on their oversized shades. Prada, Barton Perreira and Pucci have shown colors such as blue, chambray blue and pink resin. The gradient lense has also made a comeback,harkening us back to the early 2000’s when gradient lenses were all the rage. Fashionistas in need of prescription sunglasses are in luck with this style. The oversize frame can easily have prescription lenses put in and they can also be done in gradient color.

Although dark black resin frames were not at the forefront this season, black enthusiasts need not worry. Designers such as Chanel and Oliver Peoples have softer black frames that are transparent or not as harsh as traditional dark black. These frames look especially pretty with dark grey gradient lenses or, for the more daring fashionista, purple gradient lenses!

Never let the original lenses on a pair of sunglasses hold back your inner fashion-savvy vision. Even if you are not putting prescription lenses in the frames of your sunglasses, you can still have them changed to suit your mood. This is also a great way to update an older pair of oversized frames. If you have a pair of oversized resin shades from a few years ago, update your look by changing the lenses to a gradient lens. This can be done at many upscale full-service eyewear shops such as Optical Illusions in San Jose onSantana Row. What a great way to save money in this economy! Lenses are less expensive than designer frames in general, so this is one purchase you can feel good about.

Enjoy the sunshine, protect your eyes and Stay Fabulous!

sunglasses