Ten trends in 2010.

OK so you officially have forty-eight hours until 2010. And while you are still trying to solidify plans as to where you will be counting down the New Year, allow me to give you a little sneak peek to some trends you will fall head over heels with in the year of the Tiger. (And I don't mean Woods, let's hope his year is a little less... public.)

So in case you've forgotten all the post Fashion Week analysis from last February, we'll recap the top ten.

1 Slouchy pants
Not to be confused with the dropped crotch harem pants of two springs ago, these beauties have more fabric in the hips, which means they complement all shapes and sizes. Just be sure to pair it with a slim top to avoid frumpiness.

2 Layers, layers, layers
This is a trend we are seeing stick from season to season, but remember it should be used in moderation. (Seriously, it will save you from constantly doing laundry.)

3 Top colors for spring
Pantone, the official voice on color, awarded turquoise the prize for the color this spring, but other hues to keep in mind are tomato puree (reddish pink), fusion coral (coral) and violet.

4 Abstract prints
If the fashion trends for spring are any indication to when this recession will pass, it looks like we are almost out of the woods. The once black-dominated seasons are gone, and now it’s time to sport some wild styles.

5 Asymmetrical lines
Look for unusual cutouts and one-shoulder styles this spring. You might be exposing some skin that hasn’t seen the light of day in quite a long time.

6 Romance and poetry
Evening wear takes on a softer side this season with mainly neutral colors and styles that move and flow with your night.

7 Sexy hair
Stick straight is out. And curls can take a hike. This season is sexy, tossed waves. And, of course, big hair is still — always — in.

8 Texture
That’s right, friends, no joke. Whether it’s feathers or faux fur, add some 3-D styles to your wardrobe.

9 Leisure dressing
If this spring season boasts anything, it’s to dress with comfort and style.

10 Metallic
If you’ve planned a “girl’s night out,” be sure to pick up a top that’s got some shine and is rather reminiscent of the ’80s. Note: Just one or two pieces like this is advised. Don’t go nuts.

Pick a color. Any color.

Pink. Blue. Yellow. Orange. Lavender. Maroon. Magenta. Pomegranate.

What do all these colors have in common? They are colors that rarely make an appearance in our closet.

If it's a sweater, we chose black. If it's a dress, we choose black. Heck, even if it's underwear, we choose black.

But why? Why is it that adding a little variety to our closet is something we are just not comfortable with? And I guarantee even when we opt to shop outside the shades and pick a pink cardigan or yellow skirt, they are only shoved to the back of our closet and now labeled as that dreaded "impulse buy."

At first I blamed it on our country's ever growing waist line. It's a commonly known fact that black makes us all look slimmer. And when we are working almost 60 hours a week, keeping up with friends or tending to a house and family, the last chore on the list (and commonly skipped) is getting our workout in. So instead, we wear black.

But wearing all black? Everyday? From head to toe? Really? It's seems rather morbid. And sad. So I had another thought...

The Recession.

There's no doubt we are in one. Our nightly news reports, monthly investment statements and watercooler talk with fellow employees confirms that times are tough — no matter who you are. And since times are tough and moral is down, our closets represents our mood. Black.

That's my take on it. Or at least it's the one with the most promise. Because then it means this excessive amount of black in our closet will pass once the recession does.

However, I am posing a challenge to shoppers everywhere starting today. BUY COLOR.

Because one way to kick this recession in the butt is to not let it affect you emotionally.

Instead acknowledge it's here. Acknowledge that a lot of people you know are out of work. And acknowledge that you can't really afford to do the things you have done before and that makes you sad. But you won't let on that it bothers you that much by the way you dress.

So buy that pink sweater. Or red cardigan. Or periwinkle blue blouse. In fact, buy one for yourself AND someone else! Spread the love. Spread the color. Spread your mood.

Sianara trench coat.

The season's first snowflakes arrived in Chicago today. Like all first snows it was quiet and still and rather poetic. It was a classic first snowfall of the season: The flakes are huge and fluffy and the snow showers are sporadic. And most importantly everyone was commenting on how pretty it was.

Even I mentioned how pretty it was as it fell on my trench coat while running errands during lunch. But I am not sure what was more surprising for me today, the snow or the fact that it was snowing and I was still wearing a fall trench coat. If I had any doubts about when it was time to retire that gem for the season Mother Nature certainly cleared that up for me today.

So when I got home my trench coat went straight into the dry cleaning pile, and I opened up my closet to see what the winter coat situation was. After about 26 seconds I realized I needed a new one.

And now this is where I resent the first snowfall of the season because I love my trench coat. It's your standard black, double buttoned, high collared (which you know I pop up all the time), belted and has the button loops on either shoulder. It's very double agent. In fact, I could probably pass for Syndey Bristow any given night.

Side Note: While it's not my dream trench. It's very mysterious and it was in my price range. Unlike my dream trench, the coveted khaki Burberry (See above photo), which I will one day own but certainly not for a long time.

So now I am in the market for a winter coat for the 2009-10 season. Here's what's on my list:

Short classic pea coat
While I haven't had this style for quiet some time (and occasionally wonder which boy's house I left my last one at during winter '06) I know it's not a wise investment because once January rolls around the arctic Chicago wind will be a bitter reminder of why they are cute but not practical.

Long and lean
This could be an easy sell. It means I could continue my love for the trench into the winter and find a stealth-esque wool version. However, the price point on these tends to be high and Christmas is this month. If I start saving now, I should be able to sport one next year.

Do the down
Now I already have a long down coat, but I've had it for about five years. Overall, it's one of my top choices. It's super durable and hella warm, because it basically covers every inch of your body. Sure it's not the sexiest coat, but I am a firm believer that in extreme cases (Ei. Chicago in February) it's OK to sacrifice style for warmth. And I could get one with the fur around the hood to sex it up a bit. But then there's that whole PETA thing...

So what's it gonna be? Maybe it will be a mild winter and the pea coat will work perfectly. Or perhaps I will win the lottery soon and then I can buy myself a Burberry wool trench. (Oh God, I might die of excitement just thinking about it!) Or I can learn to get over the whole murdering cute, furry animals thing just to parade around in style.

OK so my to do list for tomorrow:
1. See what the Farmer's Almanac has to say about this winter.
2. Buy several lotto tickets from various locations around the city.
3. Cancel my PETA membership.

The flip side of retail therapy.

No this post isn't about the inevitable state of depression and anxiety that always follows a glorious afternoon spending your hard-earned money on a plethora of impulse items — you really don't need — all because you had a rough week. We've all been there. Some more than others. So why dwell?

Instead, I will tell you about my first weekend at my new part-time employment in the retail industry. Yes, as a way to gain some extra holiday cash, I have picked up a side job folding clothes, standing on my feet all day and making tons of new friends all under the age of 20. OK, maybe I am being a bit dramatic. It really isn't all that bad. And over the past two shifts, when I have asked myself what the f*&^ I am doing here, I think about that fabulous discount and continue folding the pink cashmere blend sweater that I will buy next week.

So like I was saying, my first weekend basically was a complete wash. On Saturday, I helped a very desperate and indecisive — size extra small — woman. And on Sunday, I pissed of a woman who was her complete opposite.

Here's how it went down.

Saturday: A co-worker pawned off this very friendly, frail (probably slightly hungry) middle-aged woman to me after her patience had run thin. This woman was looking for a top to match a pair of her dark skinny jeans and a sweater. Now this was towards the end of the day and due to the Friends and Family sale our stock was pretty wiped out. But I found a cute frilly tank blouse that would work perfectly. Ya know... actually let me tell you how the convo went exactly.

LRN: Hi there. So what can I help you with?
Customer: I am looking for a shirt to go with my skinny jeans.
LRN: Well what kind of shirt? Something dressy? Or one of our many plaid picks all over the store?
Customer: No. I hate plaid. Something dressy.
LRN: OK well is this for any special occasion?
Customer: Um, well, no. Not really.
LRN: OK, I think I know of something.

So we searched through the tanks only to find we had an X Small in gray and navy blue.

LRN: So what do you think?
Customer: Well I don't look good in gray. At least I don't think.
LRN: OK how about the navy?
Customer: No. What about the pink?
LRN: We don't have that one in your size.
Customer: Oh. Well what do you think I should do?
LRN: Well, you have these really bright blue eyes, how about the navy. It would really make your eyes pop I think.
Customer: OK. But this is a tank. So I need a cardigan now, right?
LRN: Well how about a white long sleeve?
Customer: Um. OK. Where are those?

OK so this went on for about another five minutes trying to pick out the RIGHT long sleeve. Then she wanted a sweater. Just a sweater. Nothing more specific. So I told her to try on the outfit we put together then come back to me about the sweater. Basically I needed a break.

In the end, she loved the long sleeve under the tank blouse. And thought the navy was a great choice as well. Sweet! The Gap Gods were smiling down on my that day.

Sunday: It was the busiest time of the day, and I had just been assigned to the men's side. (PS I have no clue where things are.) But I was confident it couldn't be that hard. AND I thought it would be less stressful because I was dealing with guys. That was my first mistake.

So this woman comes up to me, and she is on a mission.

Customer: Where are your boot cut jeans for men?!?
LRN: Oh, well they are right over here by the Boot Cut signage. Let me show you.

Now on our way over, we dodged a table. I went left. She went right. I should have gone right, because I was then stopped by a couple. The wife starts taking to me about her husband's jeans and how they are from Banana and how she likes them and "oh take a look." Now customer 1 is standing behind them on the other side of a table, and I am trying to find the appropriate spot in this wife's story to tell her I will be with her in one moment. Not to mention while trying to signal to the Customer 1 — who is steaming by this point — that I will be right there.

Well, now Steaming Customer decided to walk to the front of the store.

So now I am in hyper mode, tell the couple where to find what they are looking for and run to the front of the store to find my Steamer.

But she finds me first, and she's got another sales associate at her beck and call.

Steaming customer: Yeah, I am looking for the boot cut men's jeans.
Johnny: OK.
Steaming customer: (Seeing me, she points) Yeah YOU were suppose to be helping me!
LRN: I am really sorry ma'am. I was trying to stop her at an ...
Steaming customer: Yeah well you made me wait! I was first. What you SHOULD have done was told them you were helping ME first!
LRN: I know ma'am, I am really sorry about that.
Steaming customer: YEAH you should be. YOU MESSED UP!

Woah. I did. She was right. But we were just looking for a pair of boot cut jeans, and she's acting like I botched a surgery and killed her child.

So she went away. And now I was steaming. So I allotted myself the 15-minute rule of anger. Then my inner voice called out to me "Hey! Nimms! This is just you PT job. Do not get stressed about it... And when you do, think about that amazing discount."

Ah, that's right inner self. Good call. I will get back to folding that pink cashmere blend sweater that I will buy next week...

So two shifts in. Helped one. Ticked off another. But they both went home with an item. Welcome to retail. People are crazy and it's only the middle of November.

Think discount... think discount... think discount...

Falling over fall fashion

Of all the seasons, fall is my favorite. I can't really put my finger on what makes it so perfect for me, but I have a couple ideas.

1. The lack of humidity. Yes I must admit, I am a fan of frizz-free hair. Being able to wear my hair straight more often in the fall enables me to bust out my alter ego and let "normal" Nimms take a break for a bit.

2. The color scheme. Fall is all about earth tones. And if you hate earth tones, then I have to say you hate Mother Nature. I can't get enough of all the browns, gold and greens. I think no matter what they area always flattering.

3. The boots. Seriously, who doesn't love them. I must admit though that I always reserve them for fall and winter. There were a couple times during the summer I would see one girl in particular walking around in boots (not Cowboy boots, that's an entirely different story, in fact, a completely different blog post!) and I was shocked! Personally, I reserve them for my favorite time of year, when they can be out and about mingling with all their other stylish friends.

4. Layers. Yes, fall is all about layering. And when it is done the right way, it can really add so much character to normally bland outfits. The cashmere sweaters, scarves, hats, blazers, puffy vest... I could go on forever.

So let me start by commending the designers on so many great ideas and styles for fall. I have been pleasantly surprised with what's out on the racks. So allow me to indulge in a few of my favorites this season.

- The Boyfriend Blazer and The Boyfriend Jeans. It's nice to see we have more styles from our guy's closet and made it chic and flattering for our smaller frames. Women everywhere are pulling it off! These styles send the message that we don't mind stepping into the shoes of our male counterparts every once and a while. Betty Friedan would have been proud.

- Jazzy T-shirts. No, I am not talking about bedazzling the heck out of every T-shirt you own. What I'm talking about are the standard Ts, with some jazz at the neckline. Most of the time it looks like a necklace, but it's built into the T. Being a woman who lives her life in jeans and Ts, I find this style a lifesaver. Sure they run a bit more than your traditional Hanes white Ts, but they certainly have helped me distinguish my M-F wardrobe with my Saturday and Sunday usuals.

- Booties. I am smitten over these this season. And I really don't think enough women are taking advantage of how many ways you can wear them. Here are two ways you can't go wrong: A pair wool shorts or a skirt. Or those boyfriend jeans I mentioned earlier. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

- The Turtleneck. Now you would think we would have had enough since it was a staple in our childhood wardrobe. You know we all did it. How many times did you pair it with your favorite Champion sweatshirt or cable knit sweater? I would bet too many to count. But the beloved turtleneck has made wuite the comeback and has rescued your favorite spring dresses and tanks from being packed away for the long cold fall and winter months. Make sure you thank it once the season is over.

So there you have it, my top five favs, at least for this week. But I am sure since I have planned this weekend to do a little people watching I will be flooded with new looks and styles that will certainly peak my interest. And the best part is tomorrow is pay day... which means my curiosity could come at a cost.

Mixed thoughts on the model-less mag.

First order of business today: Apologize to your five faithful followers.

Here it goes. I'm sorry.

Turns out I haven't posted since Labor Day, and while I am not a seasoned blogger, I know that I have dropped the ball. If this blog were a relationship, I made the classic mistake of acting interested for a short period of time then "accidentally" becoming too distracted and busy by other bright and shiny objects to follow up in a timely manner. Woah. Clearly I have digressed...

So what I mean to say is, I messed up.

Now that that's out of the way back to "the thread."

If you happen to be thumbing through the January 2010 issue of Brigitte, a popular German fashion magazine, you might notice there will be a bit of a change. I discovered through the Twitter feeds yesterday morning that the magazine has announced in the coming new year they "will no longer be using fashion models on their covers or any of their inside features."

Hm. Really? So you might be wondering, "well who will they use?"

Folks, hold onto your butts... they will use ordinary people, actually "friends, relatives and staffers."

The news release explains that this is a movement to start promoting "real" women in everyday life instead of the impossibly cigarette-thin supermodels already saturating the magazine stands. At first I commended the editors of Brigitte. Then I get to the part of the release that also talks about cost-cutting measures in these scary times in publishing. Ah, and there it is... the truth.

So now I am torn. My initial reaction was gratitude to the magazine for taking action against an industry who has turned perfectly sane women and girls into body-image obsessed gym bunnies. I won't lie. I too flip through an ELLE or VOGUE, and the instant I see Gisele barely clothed bust out at least 100 crunches.

But the other side of me, the woman in publishing who struggles to maintain a product that advertisers want to invest in, sees this new initiative as temporary. I believe it will be damaging to the product (which might I add is 90 percent advertising) with an editorial piece using a "real" woman as the art element, then to flip through the next five pages and see Gisele-like creatures in the Louis Vuitton, Juicy Couture and Marc Jacobs advertisements. It's an inconsistency that won't fly with readers or advertisers.

Yes, I'll admit it, when I finish with those 100 crunches and realize I still don't look quite like Tom Brady's main squeeze, I go back to that magazine, say "eff it" and read the words inside. I see magazines as a less expensive coffee table book that I can rotate out quarterly with a new stack of youthful, fresh and hot faces. I love that they are full of cigarette-thin models wearing clothes that I will never be able to pull off, but still dare to dream. So in the end, I guess I say "nay" to the model-less magazine. It's my escape into a dream world of beautiful people. I don't live there, but can't I just indulge from time to time?

But we shall see. I could be wrong. This could kick off a huge campaign throughout the magazine publishing community where "real" women take over the slick, and the supermodels now find themselves in line at the unemployment office with the rest of us.

(Disclaimer: This blog post may seem to speak negatively against Gisele Bundchen, but for the record, she was purely the first example that came to mind. I do, in fact, adore her.)

Unable to resist the white.

Thanks for the comments friends and followers — all two of you. And I hear ya on the "need to wear white year long front." But I stand true to the traditional "No White After Labor Day" fashion law. But I understand others disagree, so please feel free to wear your whites, but please, please, please make sure it's in moderation.

It's like taking vacations to tropical, magical warm destination during the cold-weather months. Sure it's fun once or twice, but it can also lead to burn outs. So I encourage you to proceed with caution.

However, maybe I can still convince you to pack away those prized pants with a few alternatives. Check out these five best picks I found while poking around for rebuttals to your comments. Think about it... and remember, summer will come again and so will the white pants.

Slim Sateen Moto Pant. Now if there is any retailer you can trust when it comes to white (and alternatives to white) it's White House | Black Market. Pretty sure these guys wrote the rules when it comes to wearing all things white and black. The reason I like these pants: They are versatile. It's a gray slim pant that can be work with a blouse and cardigan at the office or paired with one of your frilly summer tops for a sexier evening ensemble. And it's worth mentioning it's not just a plain tapered pant. They have motorcycle inspired details as well as exposed zippers in the back.

The White Shirt. I found this idea in a Banana Republic print ad in the September issue of ELLE. And I find it absolutely brilliant. They took the ever-so-bland white office blouse and created a plethora of styles (10 to be exact) to suit any mood you might be in that day.

A perfect poncho. Now when it comes to white and outwear, anything goes. I totally recommend whites when it comes to overcoats, scarves, hats, puffy vests, and yes, even ponchos. I find this powdery piece at Anthropologie perfect with a pair of dark jeans (skinny or relaxed) and some killer boots (tall or short). Check it.

Bright white bling. You can never have too much jewerly to accessorize. And when it comes to picking a variety, don't shy away from the white. I would say this is the perfect time of year to bust out those pearly white pieces that have been sitting in your jewelry chest or plate all summer because you were too busy with those white pants.

It's in the bag. Now a white hangbag can be tricky in general based on how those get abused and thrown around. So I don't recommend this idea for everyone, but nonetheless, I still think it's a great statement to make when toting around your things. And if you are going to go white, maybe error on the more expensive end, so at least you will be less tempted to throw it down anywhere.

So that's my case. At least it should get you started this fall. And please feel free to comment with other great white alternatives you find throughout the season. Happy shopping!

Pack up the white pants.

It's my first post, so bear with me.

This blog has been in the brainstorming stage for quite some time. I am not sure whether there has been so much delay because I haven't had the time to sit down and actually write my thoughts out or because I find starting a blog rather terrifying. Some might disagree, but I feel throwing any of my thoughts out into the world of cyberspace for anyone to read a little scary — especially when when my blog has to do with fashion.

Fashion is very subjective, and everyone has something to say about it. But the one common thread between your fashion and my fashion is it makes us feel good. Putting together a great outfit and heading to work, or out and about, or for date night gives us that extra boost of self-confidence to get through it all.

OK enough mission statement and more blog.

What better day to do my first post then Labor Day weekend. In regards to fashion, it's the most loved and hated long weekend all year. Labor Day mean another white pants season has come to a close.

That's right, after tomorrow (Labor Day) it's time to pack the skinny white jeans, wide-leg linens pants and always-reliable cotton chinos into the summer cloths container. Sure we might still keep out all the flirty, frilly tanks that accompanied those prized bottoms — because as we all know those are still good well into the fall — but the white pants have served their season well.

But what is it about those white pants that cannot be carried over into the fall? Is it that the fall season kicks up more dirt that can ruin our purly whites? Is it because once the summer tans fade the prized pants make one look more ghostly than glamorous?

Here's my take...

White pants are fun. They are for bright sunny days out shopping with your mother, Sunday brunches at outside cafe's with the boyfriend and long weekends lounging at the beach.

Summer is about kicking back. And those white pants allow us to show a side of ourselves that only comes out when the Vitamin D plentiful. And once summer comes to a close, we all know it's time to hunker down and get back to work. The leaves will start to change and inevitable so should your wardrobe.