Your personal style has been developing whether you realized it or not. If sweat pants and stained shirts have become your daily uniform, it’s time to step it up and incorporate some new pieces in your wardrobe that will help you look effortlessly stylish.

The first step to developing personal style is to know who you are. Consider your age, occupation, and lifestyle. What kind of an image do you want to project and what do you want to accomplish by sprucing up your wardrobe?

Looking youthful is probably one of your goals but it doesn’t have to mean that you squeeze into clothes from your children or grandchildren! Find age appropriate items that will help you get that promotion you have been going for at work!

Now that you know who you are, let’s explore a few key aspects of personal style.

1. Look for Inspiration- Your favorite celebrity, best friend, or grandma may be just the inspiration you need to develop style of your own. While you shouldn’t copy everything about that person’s look, use it as a base for what you want to develop. Look at modern and classic stars for inspiration and combine elements to create your unique style.

As you evaluate style, pay attention to the fabrics and textures that your style icons wear. To look slimmer, consider cashmere, jersey, or other smooth, matte surfaces. On the contract, shiny, bulky, and stiff textures can make you look bigger than you are.

2. Accentuate Your Assets, Limit Your Liabilities- This might sound like financial advice or something but it is definitely applicable to fashion! If you love your killer legs, show them off! Incorporate short shorts or a mini skirt in your wardrobe so your legs are front and center. On the other hand, if your thighs are bigger than you would like, an A-line skirt is perfect camouflage.

Essentially you want to dress for your body shape. Accentuate the thinnest part of your waist and draw the eye upward if you have something you want to hide!

3. Assess Your Current Wardrobe- The first step here is to get rid of all the clothes that are stained, ripped, worn out, old, or out of style. If something doesn’t fit or isn’t worn, get rid of it to make room for you new clothes! This will also help you to know the style you currently embody and can help you realize what you want to change about it.

4. Start Small- You don’t need to overhaul your wardrobe all at once. That would be expensive! So choose a few pieces that can update your style. Experiment with trendy pieces, earrings, new shoes, or a scarf.

5. Stock Up On Essentials- A few basic pieces can be versatile and be incorporated in a variety of ways. With the trendy pieces you purchased after reading the previous step you can take the following basics from season to season!

• Black Pants: look for a versatile fabric will take you through the seasons and can be dressed up or down
• Black Tank Top: looks classy alone during the day or under a cute jacket and can be dressed up for nighttime
• Black Turtleneck: used alone or for layering the black turtleneck is the winter equivalent of the black tank top
• White Button-up Blouse: easily incorporated in nearly any style
• Jeans: a few pairs of comfortable, every day jeans are essential! Adding a pair of black jeans for going out and skinny jeans that fit you well are all you need
• Little Black Dress: every woman needs a little black dress that is slimming, sexy, and versatile
• Pencil Skirt: for most women, the best length is two inches above the knee and can be worn to work, elegant dinners, and even to “meet the parents”
• Cardigan Sweater: to take an outfit between seasons, throw on a light-weight cardigan
• Black Pumps: look for well-made heels that are comfortable and make your legs look sexy

6. Stay In Your Comfort Zone- If you know that you won’t be comfortable with a certain style or trend, don’t buy it! That item of clothing will end up sitting in the back of your closet until you finally get rid of it a few years down the road.

One thing that can be helpful when you are developing personal style is working with a personal shopper. Many stores offer this service for free and it can be a great help to find someone you trust to help you find clothes that fit right.

On that note, don’t let a salesman push you into buying something that you’re not totally in love with. It won’t do you any good if it stays on the hanger!

Developing personal style doesn’t have to be such a daunting task. With a little help from your style icons you can be flaunting your curves and feeling sexy in styles you love!

Sequins

Maybe more appropriate for a get together with friends or a down-town New Year’s Eve party than dinner with your boss but these sequined beauties are sure to draw an eye or two. Pair with nude heels and bare legs or black heels and sheer black tights for the most put-together looks.

Available at forever21.

Chic

These next three are all gorgeous and may may you look like you’ve won a seat at the grammny’s but when else do you get to dress up in satin and silk? All three of these would be perfect for any event you may be attending whether it be a company part or New Year’s Eve Bash.

Available at TresChic.

Elegant

And still more! These come from a variety of retailers the but tone and style are still similar. This collection would be great for a holiday party but can be worn to events throughout the year because they’re not overly flashy.

Available at: [left to right: 1. Bird By Juicy Couture Anya Sequined Dress $500; 2. See by Chloe Printed Silk Taffeta Dress $395; 3. Topshop Nude Silk Cowl Back Dress $135; 6. Thread Social Molly Silk-Gazar Dress $374 (orig. $935)]

Set out to dazzle this holiday season. It’s not every day you get to wear sequins and glitter.

1. Dear ‘ol Dad

The best things for dads is to come from work, slip out of the loafers and into something more comfy. These Lodge Moccasins from J. Crew are the perfect gift for dad because they’re lined and soled. Now Dad won’t have to worry about changing out of his slippers when he has to take out the trash or run to the store for a late night ice cream run.

Get them here for under $50!

2. Moms

Moms can be the easiest and the most difficult on your list. Because they’re your mom they like everything you give them but Christmas is a great time to get them something that means a lot. Why not men’s styled pajamas? These are perfect for the mom that loves to get up and do the breakfast routine for her family in comfort. They’re even appropriate enough to make a run to the school and back without having to get ready for the day.

Again, we’ve found them for a great price here at our friends J. Crew.

3. Sistahs

These triangle necklaces are the best and can be found by local artists on Etsy. We’re also big fans of the bar necklace and these simple, yet fancy additions look fantastic when paired with a ponytail and red lipstick.

We found these online for $27.00 so they won’t break the bank!

4. Brothers

You can get brothers anything from a captain underpants book to a cutout of Ronald Mcdonald and they’ll proudly display them in their rooms. However, why not try something a bit different this year and dress them in something classy so you’re not embarrassed to be seen with them and their shrunken t-shirts and ripped levis. This wool sweater sports elbow patches and you can even borrow it and pair it with leggings and boots for a comfy day at the office or a snuggle with a book in front of the fire. This is really the gift that keeps on giving.

We found this one online at J. Crew again.

Hopefully this cuts down your shopping time a bit so you can spend more time in front of the fire instead of waiting in line at the department store. Happy holidays from AJPNation

Never fear however, the solution has been found! Shellac nails are the hottest nail trend for 2011 and will continue on long into the future of nail-polish wearers across the globe.

What is Shellac?

Shellac is a special kind of gel-like nail polish that is applied in several coats and then your fingers are placed under an ultra-violet light to dry and for the polish to harden. Shellac is applied directly to your existing nail, doesn’t involve fake tips or acrylic. Shellac is also sometimes referred to as “natural gel” polish.

Why get Shellac?

If you like the length of your natural nails and want to go for a more natural look than acrylic tips but want the paint to last longer than a regular manicure, shellac is for you! Shellac polish comes in 100 different colors and lasts until it grows out (they typically look good for about 3 weeks). Another benefit to shellac over acrylic is that is is relatively cost efficient. Shellac typically costs $20.00 to do and then if you keep going back they take the old polish off and apply brand new instead of filling and dealing with cracks, bubbles, or imperfections.

The other pluses to shellac are that your nails dry while you’re at the salon under the light and you can open your wallet, put on gloves, put on your seat belt etc. immediately after leaving the salon. Additionally, Shellac won’t ruin your nails like acrylic nails tend to do.

It Gets Better

Because “shellac-ing” your nails is just like applying nail polish, you can shellac your nails at home. All you have to do is purchase the special gel polish in your choice of color, the finishing polish, and the UV light. It’s great to get shellac done at the salon but if you feel like you’re going to be a life-long shallac-er (like I’ll probably be) then it would probably be worth your time to purchase your own shellac polish and equipment.

You can find everything you need to get started, here!

Do not fear however, because in this post we’re going to talk about some ways you can jazz up your winter look without having to sacrifice your toes to the Gods of all things cold.

The Rainboot

Whether your area of the country gets snow or not, everyone can benefit from a trendy pair of rain boots. Now, you can save your pennies and splurge on a good pair of Hunters (the rubber is thicker, the tread is nicer, and the insides are lined with flannel) or more every-day retailers (like Target and Shoe Carnival) carry slightly thriftier versions as well. As rain boots rise on the popularity scale, they’re being manufactured in colors and patterns galore.

The Look: We have two favorite ways to sport these rubber-rubies, either with skinny jeans and knee-high “boot socks” or with a good pair of leggins. Okay, we lied, we actually have a third way we like to wear them, with skirts or dresses. If it’s freezing outside, wear a thick pair of tights, a dress or knee-length skirt, a pea-coat and your rainboots. Happy puddle hopping!

All-Weather Sorel Boots

These babies are the best because you can wear them starting in the Fall and all through the snowy Winter so you’ll be sure to get your wear and tear out of them. These boots are also great for those trying to avoid ice patches because they’ve been engineered to be worn well and to grip the slippery ground.

The Look:
You can either go bundled up with these furry friends and again, sport them with skinny jeans, a fur coat and scarf. Or for a more hipster-femme look, pair them with tights and a floral-print dress (don’t forget your coat).

The “Baker” Boot

These are our personal favorites of the season and can be found everywhere online from Nordstrom to Zappos. The reason we love these boots so much is because they’re lined with fleece on the inside (which you can cutely fold over), they’re made of water-proof leather, and they give you the sexy, feminine look of heels without sacrificing functionality (good tread, medium heel, laces to be tightened).

The Look: Pair these booties with skinny jeans or stirrup pants then pair with a bomber or leather jacket or a fitted grey pea coat (the possibilities are truly endless with these though).

Bring on the Snow!

Ok, I hope we’re all feeling better about facing the upcoming winter without having to sacrifice style!

The melted style or “ombre” look can be done on any hair color, length, or type (can be done subtly or dramatically) and will definitely stick you with the “in-crowd” through this coming Fall and Winter.

How is it Done?

The first step to getting your hair melted correctly is to understand the different techniques behind the color process so you can ask your stylist about the one that works best for you.

1. Teasing Method-The first technique involves teasing your hair at the root and then applying color so that you don’t get a line of color separation directly across your head. Teasing the hair helps the color go on in a more natural way and this method is probably one of the more common melting techniques, especially if you’re using your original color at the root and then fading lighter.

2. Hand-Painted Method-The hand-painted method is a great one but needs to be done by a seasoned cosmetologist. This method involves literally “painting” the hair with color but it’s all done free-hand and with no real method to the madness. Usually, ends are wrapped in a foil and then as the hair closer and closer to the root is colored, it is just laid with foil in between the layers to avoid color bleeding.

3. All-Over Color Method-The all-over color method is what people have to go for who want their root color darker than their natural color. This technique involves putting an all-over darker color at the root and onto the crown of your head and then teasing the hair in the middle to add a slightly lighter shade and the adding even lighter foils to the ends. This method is best for those looking for a more dramatic color change and can be gorgeous but keep in mind, using this much color is going to cost between $160 and $200+ dollars if done correctly and darkening your roots is going to allow your regrowth to show.

4. D-I-Y MethodThe do-it-yourself method. This is probably the most risky melting method but can be done at home by yourself or by a friend. This method works best for those with naturally brown roots who want to melt to blonde at their ends. Simply stop by your local beauty boutique and pick up a container of bleaching cream. This cream can be worked through the ends of your hair, left on for 20-30 minutes, and then rinsed out. This method is probably the cheapest but you might not get the exact results you’re looking for.

More than Fashionable

One of the reasons that this new hair style has gained so much popularity, especially with college-age girls is because it takes little-to-no maintenance, especially if you’re using your natural color at the root and melting lighter at the ends. Instead of coloring your hair every 8 weeks, you can still maintain the look of “colored” and styled hair, but your regrowth won’t be “regrowth” but rather your natural color coming through and you can let your hair go as long as you want until your next cut!

However, for those of us who need some slight coaxing to catch on to a fad that’s seemed to appear out of nowhere, faux fur is not only taking over the runway but can be seen on models on the cover of Look Books from many mainstream retailers as well.

How They’re Wearing it

Last season the big thing was the faux fur vest. Fashionistas who were on top of the trend tended to sport light brown vests (faux rabbit) that could be belted and worn over fitted long sleeve tees. This season however is breaking from the mold and making a bit more “wild” statement.

Yes, vests are still in (I’m actually on the prowl for one myself right now), but faux fur is now spreading to cover entire crop jackets, fill panels on sweaters, be worn “poncho” style, line hoods, and be worn as wraps. One of my favorite looks is the cheetah print crop jacket. Some of the longer jackets covered entirely in fur can appear a bit overwhelming (not to mention bulky) and the crop jacket is definitely a statement piece that will still show off your waist and make you look like you’re heading to the runway, not the North Pole.

Let’s Talk about Practicality

Not all of us have the luxury of living in the Southern states where Winters rarely drop below 50 degrees, but for those of us who face small blizzards and trapse between classes, to and from work, and through outdoor malls, we’re tired of wearing the same “winter” coat every day. Faux fur is not only stylish, but super warm (sorry Californias), and sporting a faux fur vest over a fitted thermal , or grabbing a sweater with faux fur panels could be all you need to stay warm without compromising your style. Instead of having to sacrifice your “look” every day it snows, faux fur is a fantastic option.

Where to Find Good Prices on Faux Fur

I’ve found some of my favorite faux fur pieces at Nordstrom (but they run a bit pricey, like $140 for the crop cheetah jacket I mentioned earlier) and you can take a peek at the faux fur options here.. Other places to look are The Gap, Macy’s (who often has great sales), and even trendier locations like Forever 21 and Wet Seal; overstock sites like Zappos have high-quality brands for low prices. I’m excited to wear my new faux fur pieces when the weather cools down next month, let me know what pieces you’re excited about!

Must-Haves

1. Faux Fur- Whether you’re an animal activist or not, faux fur is coming back. We saw a sneak peak of this repeat 60′s trend in Fall and Winter of 2010, but this Fall make room in your closets for vests, boots, scarves, bags and jackets that look like they’d keep you warm and toasty in Antarctica.

Our Suggestion:Pair these oversized items with dark skinny jeans and fitted high-heel boots, pair them over boho dresses with tights, or dress them down with leggings and leather flats. We’re personal fans of the vests and can’t wait to start sporting ours this Fall.

2. Polka Dots- This feminine and flirty print is all over blouses, scarves, midi skirts, and dresses this Fall. A popular concept we’ve found is pairing a sheer polka dot fabric over a complimentary colored tank or long-sleeve.

Our Suggestion: Dresses can be worn with bare legs through September and perhaps into October, then when the weather comes, try pairing these fabrics with dark, opaque tights. Similar to our model on the right, polka dots also do well as accents for more plain pieces and solid colors.

3. The Tuxedo- We saw a bit of the androgenous look last Fall as well when fitted blazers over collared shirts peeked its heat around the fashion corner. This Fall however, the tuxedo look for women is in full swing. Again, fitted blazers will be in as well as white collared shirts tucked into jeans or dress pants. A lot of black and whites will be in as well as women make their debut in the work place more prominent than ever. Whether you’re dressing for the office, for class, or for a class field trip, you’re not going to go wrong with the sophisticated tuxedo look.

Our Suggestion: To keep your look fresh and feminine, we’d recommend pair a fitted blazer, tapered dress pants, or tuxedo shirt with heels and bright lipstick. This way, you’ll still get the feel of androgeny without completely losing your gender in the process.

Keeping these Fall 2011 fashion trends in mind as you shop this September is going to keep a step ahead of the competition who’s barely rolling out last years Fall fashions.

What Are Collage Studies?

Remember the magazine collage and tile mosaics you made in the 2nd grade? Their colors mixed and matched but somehow the chaos led to a sense of cohesion? This is exactly the idea behind collage studies and the concept of mixing prints, fabrics, and textures within your wardrobe.

No longer are we in the days of denim on denim, this Fall, the more your prints and patterns clash, the better you’ll fit in on the big city streets. There is a method to all the madness however.

1. You can mix florals- Just be sure their colors are different enough not to make you look like you’re wearing a jumper out of the garden.

2. Don’t be afraid of shine or glitter-Gold, sequins, and rhinestones are not only for going out anymore. Pair a gold sequened tank with a navy tweed blazer, dark wash skinny crops, and green suede clogs and you just might find yourself on the runway.

3. MORE is MORE-Tis the season of the bold and the beautiful. The funkier your patterns the better they’ll mix and bring out the uniqueness of the pieces you’re wearing around it.

Keep in Mind

It’s always a good idea, especially if you’re new to the idea of Collage Studies, to keep a running color through your differently patterned pieces. If you pair black and white stripes with leapard, you’re in business. This concept applies to Jewelry as well. Pairing golds and silvers when it comes to accessories can make you look like you rolled

It’s fairly simple to combine elements into your fashion to make it easy to go from work to the gym, or from gym out on the town. Using tight-fitting yoga pants as leggings, and vise-versa.

Yoga clothes often come in bright, fun colors that are fashionable and say a lot about the wearer. In unique fabric like bamboo and hemp, these clothes generally last a long time and retain their brightness. They are made for comfort, as yoga takes a lot of patience to learn–you don’t want your clothes to be a distraction. When activity is emphasized in a culture–the clothing reflects that.

Options for clothing in exercise are so versatile these days, and we love the idea that you can be wearing your gym clothes beneath your classy-work wardrobe.