Organizing Theory & Artistry
In the last post, I covered in general the math behind retirement planning and investing. But theory only gets us so far. Today, I wanted to share the reality of retirement planning and investing by telling you the story of my own 401(k) plan. I …
If you want any hope of retiring comfortably, you need to have at least a basic understanding of advanced math. Most of the soundbites today on retirement planning speak to people with limited knowledge of math. The basic message is “Put some aside today and …
To give you a brief respite from the seriousness of this month’s theme on retirement planning, we bring in Ruly Ruth to the rescue.
It was so much fun last fall discussing fall fashion trends with Ruly Ruth that I thought we would do it again for Spring/Summer 2011 Fashion. As usual, our inspiration comes from Vogue’s style guides. Based on Vogue’s guidance, we then take a look at affordable versions of the major trends available at amazon.com.
So what’s in style for spring/summer 2011?
White
White, a classic spring and summer color, is back. Vogue emphasizes that the new whites are simple with modern, clean lines. They are worn with almost no accessories except for a nude-toned belt and shoes.
A white shirtdress with simple belt, great for the office or at-home.
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A classic white jacket, great for the office or for Sunday brunch.
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A classic white sheath-style dress with modern lines.
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Simple, flat-front, boot cut trousers. Again, would work for the office or for casual wear.
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Nude
It’s hot so you might as well look naked if you can’t be naked! Nude is coming back as another classic summer color. It’s a great color because it is universally flattering. Just choose a shade close to your own skin tone. Vogue says head-to-toe nude outfits, complete with nude shoes are in.
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A very simple cotton tank at a great price!
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A long, cotton skirt in an easy-to-wear color.
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Simple, strappy, heeled sandal, looks almost invisible on.
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A sexy pump with small toe cut-out that you can probably still get away with at the office.
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Bright Colorblock Colors
Vogue says this season’s big trend is lots of bright color, especially jewel tones of blue, purple, orange and red worn together in colorblocked patterns.
A simple dress with bold hues of blue accented by black.
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Tangerine
We saw last fall that orange makeup was in and this spring/summer the trend continues into the clothes. Vogue says spicy orange dresses, blouses and skirts are hot this summer.
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An easy-to-wear strapless dress. Great for a hot summer night or even a cover-up at the pool.
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Lace
Ultra-feminine lace accents are in but with a modern twist. The lace is not frilly and has a cleaner line to it. It is worth looking at the Vogue photos here for inspiration. Hard to find a budget equivalent but the two below were as close as I could come.
Elegant, flowing, romantic off-white lace dress. Beautiful for a spring/summer wedding or date night.
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A great lace accent piece without going overboard. Could be worn alone or under a jacket.
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Modern Craft
This season, accents of homespun crafts like macrame, weaving and crochet are in. As a knitter, I am completely in love with this trend. If I were to invest in one fashion piece this season, it would be one of these. The designer pieces are stunning and you need to see Vogue’s pictures. There isn’t a budget equivalent but the following pieces evoke the trend.
A touch of crochet on a timeless summer sandal style.
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Macrame accents on a gauzy white summer top.
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Gorgeous maxi gown in beautiful neutrals with crochet detail on the back and shoulders.
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Fun, heeled sandal with crochet accents and tassels.
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Animal Motifs
Leopard prints, a trend in fall, are still around but Vogue says this time it is not just animal skin prints but whimsical pictures of animals like parrots, monkeys, giraffes and butterflies.
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A figure-flattering boyshorts swimsuit with zebra print accent. Spice up the community pool.
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Combining both the jewel tone and animal-print trends, this bright blue gown with butterfly print hem adds a surprising twist.
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Adding a Greek twist to the animal print trend, a comfortable yet elegant dress with leopards in a bright color.
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A touch of butterfly for your summer sandals.
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Now we know that Vogue Recommends but what are people actually wearing?
Ballet Flats
Here in Fredericksburg, the only trend I am consistently seeing is a lot of black ballet flats, usually with pleating or some other detailing.
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Works well with pants in particular. You need great legs to wear these with shorts or skirts.
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What trends are you seeing where you are in California?
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Readers, what do you think of Vogue’s spring/summer fashion picks? What trends are hot where you are? Please share in the comments.
All money management discussions inevitably start with the basics of budgeting. Income should be greater than expenses. Just like dieting, we all know this simple formula but in practice, there are a lot of things that sabotage our decision making. We aren’t completely rational when …
This month’s theme is likely to make you uncomfortable. As with last year, I am devoting one month to the difficult yet essential issue of organizing your finances. Last month we talked about change and this month, we address one of the most difficult changes …
