If you've been shopping recently you've probably noticed the colors on the racks getting darker and the lengths getting longer. Fall is in the air! Well, maybe not outside, but in the stores. August is the pre-fall delivery in stores and as much as I would like to put it off, the arrival of cooler temperatures is on the horizon. The forecast for this Friday is 77° during the day (awesome) and 55° at night (not awesome). That being said, it is not yet time to pack away the summer clothes and bring out the heavy sweaters. So the question is, what among all those new items in the stores should you buy? Hint: layers are great, not only on cake. Here are a couple of ideas to start you off. The Blazer The supreme layering piece: looks good as a suit, with a skirt, over dresses, with jeans... shall I go on? A great fitting blazer is a piece worth spending more on. Look for cottons, lightweight wools, poly/rayon/spandex or other medium weight fabrics to start the season.

The Cardigan

Less serious than the blazer, the cardigan has become a major staple in every woman's wardrobe. It's the perfect piece to layer over your sleevless tops and take them from summer to early fall. Like the blazer, no need to bulk up yet, look for lightweight cardigans, made from super fine-gauge cashmere, silk, cotton and blends thereof. Since they're lightweight, later in the season you can even layer these under jackets.

Got some style questions? You've come the right place, I'm just the person to answer them.

By the way, if you haven't become a fan on my Facebook Fan Page yet (shame on you! click the Facebook link to the right immediately!) you might have missed the link to the recent article in the Flint Journal and mlive.com all about shorts. You might know one of the stylists quoted in the article.

Have a wonderful week! Jodi

At a recent kiddie birthday party I suddenly found myself surrounded by my girlfriends, all wanting to know which shorts they should be wearing. Since a bunch of screaming 3 year olds makes it kinda tough to hold a conversation, I promised to devote this week's blog to the topic. I'll start by saying that, with the exception of bootie shorts (i.e. shorts so short you can see one's tushie), it's my personal belief that the length of your shorts should be dictated more by your height and shape of your legs than by your age.

Short-shorts, 4" - 6" Inseam

Really over the age of 25 you should not wear shorts with an inseam shorter than 4". Any shorter and you'll be dangerously close to the aforementioned "bootie shorts". That being said, if you have short legs then a 4" inseam is your best friend. By showing more of your leg, they will appear longer. Add a wedge sandal with some heel height to it and you'll look downright tall!

Walking Shorts, 8" - 10" Inseam

If your upper thigh is not among your favorite parts of your body, then a longer inseam is the way to go. An 8" - 10" inseam is great because it hits a few inches of the knee and still shows the curve of your leg above your knee. This length of short is definitely appropriate for all ages and sizes, it's just about finding the right cut for you.

Bermuda Shorts, 11" - 12" Inseam

If you would be happy if the area above your knee never saw the light of day then these are the shorts for you. Two things to beware of when wearing Bermuda shorts:

1. the longer length means that the leg will appear shorter. When possible, wear these shorts with a wedge heel.

2. The cut of a Bermuda short often tapers in, meaning that it gets narrower from the hip to the knee. This can make hips appear larger. If you are, shall we say, "blessed" in the hip department, then look for shorts that fall straight from the hip or a slight A-line.

A few of other points to consider: 1. Like trousers, if your shoulders are wider than your hips then shorts with a slight a-line cut opening will be more flattering to your figure.

2. If you have narrow hips but athletic thighs then look for a straight cut. Banana Republic shorts are especially good.

3. If you find a pair of shorts you like but the pockets are slash pockets that pop out when you wear them, then take them to an alterations shop to have the pockets sewn shut and the pocket bags cut out.

Girls, I hope I answered your questions.

If you live in Southeast Michigan and are looking for a wardrobe stylist to help you find the styles best for you, then Style Success is for you! http://www.stylesuccess.net

Have a great week!

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