Beauty & Fashion Tips - Rags & Rouges Style Tips

If you have a favorite color but don’t want to lose the denim look OR feel, you are in luck. Jeans are now available in literally a rainbow of colors and hues.  Like a kid with a paint box, select the shades that tickle your fancy.  You need to treat them like any bright piece in your wardrobe.  If you choose for a brighter shade, you want to go darker and more muted on top. With bright jeans, the spotlight is on the jeans, so don’t go too detailed on top. With brighter shades you want solids on top with simple accessories, or accessories that accent the accents on your denim — a few silver bangles or a long simple necklace — never both — will do the trick.

Red is a great way to make a statement. You can go white or black on top for a really dramatic look. These Sweetheart Skinny Jeans from Old Navy come in a variety of sizes and also in Purple for $34.50.

If you are going for a dramatic bright color like red, and are on the curvier side, you can still pull it off.  These have the classic rise which means they are neither too low or too high for your waist and they are available up to size 20.  Classic rise will take emphasis away from both your hips and your thighs and the front panel flattens your tummy.  Wear these with heels to elongate your look and distract from the curves.

The indigo look is very big this fall, and works right through winter as well. I really like the choices at DKNY Jeans as you can get the right fit for any body type.  DKNY Jeans are going to last you a lifetime as well.  Here you are looking at an Indigo pair from The Gap, another trusted brand that will last forever.  They call their Indigo Atlantic Blue.  This pair works perfectly for curvier women as well.  What I like about The Gap is for every pair of jeans YOU select your inseam and you also select either petite or Tall. So the work is already done for you.  These are called the Curvy Boot Cut and are $69.50.

If you want to have a pair just for glamor purposes or to have something comfy to wear for that night on the town, try these metallic jeans which are very big this fall as well. I have to say, I am not sure how long this trend is going to last, so buy at your own risk.  But they definitely work for a little glitz.  You can go a little overboard on the accessories with these Aramus Metallic Stretch Jeans, but keep your top simple and you want your shoes to be fancy, but unadorned.  These however would work with many figures.  Again, you have a classic rise that is neither too high nor too low, and the boot cut with some pretty shoes will definitely elongate your look and take the eyes away from your curves.

Whatever color you are looking for, you will be able to find it this year.  Don’t be afraid to go all out regardless of your body size.  If you are pairing your jeans with the right top and shoes, your figure will be flattered and enhanced rather than hidden in slouchy jeans that don’t fit properly.

Today we are going to look at denim sizing.  Finding the perfect fit to your jean has to be almost as hard as swimsuit shopping. Every woman has a different figure, and every woman, yes, even the thin girl, has a curve in a place where someone else might not.  Thankfully denim designers have clued in to this and today you have more than a few options when it comes to buying jeans.  No matter what your size, here are a few tips.  We could not possibly cover every body type and every individual situation in one blog post, so if there is something you would like to see here that is missing, leave a comment and I will see what I can come up with for you. In the meantime, here are a few basic DO’s to get you started.

Curvy Girls

You want to go for a mid or low-rise look.  Avoid high waists, or choose a waist that is high in the back and low in the front.  You also want to avoid “peg-legs” and try a more flattering boot cut.  Look for denim that has Lycra enhanced fit, or anything with X-fit Lycra.  Good brands to try are Eddie Bauer’s new line or Blue Bee.  Here you see Eddie Bauer’s Natural Fit Boot Cut Stretch, meaning they have the Lycra component.

You can also try the trouser cut with a sturdy shoe or heel. The flat panel flattens the tummy area and the trouser cut also flatters the hip line and takes attention away from the hips.  Here you are looking at Joe’s Jeans from Revolve.

Thin Girls

If you want to boost a flatter behind, try and create the illusion of a shapelier behind with jeans that have rear yokes that angle downward.  Try the Beverly Rocks from J & Company in stretch denim.

All Sizes

You can also buy your jeans based on your “sculpt”.  Some companies offer what is called sculpt sizing which means certain sizes for specific sized behinds.  Trailblazer brand Notify offers Size A for flatter behinds, Size B for a moderate curve, and Size C for the fuller figured girl.

Height

The inside length of the jean is going to affect the entire fit, so no matter what your curve situation (or lack thereof) is, you need to have the perfect inseam.  The average inseam is 34 inches, but shorter girls want to look for inseams in the 32″ range, whereas leggier girls should not be getting jeans with an inseam less than 36 inches.

Yup. You heard right. We are doing a Denim Extravaganza next week.  Denim all day, every day.  With Fall approaching (YIKES) and school on the horizon (Moms everywhere are counting the days, teachers not so much) denim is a huge staple. In fact, it always has been since its arise on the fashion scene. I’ve got a ton of stuff for you, including:

• What to wear, what not to wear
• How to find jeans that are best for YOUR body (not the perfect body)
• Colors, colors, colors
• How to size your jeans
• Designer denim
• Where to find the cheap ones
• When to pay more
• And more!

Something missing? Got a burning denim question? Looking for something specific?  Let me know, ask here, ask now, or any other day this week and you got it!

In 1993, Kate Spade debuted with seven handbags that were both practical and stylish.  Now they are still chic, and remain as practical as they were 100 years ago.  To date they have been seen in museums, runways, magazine, and are featured on a global level for every woman that wants a bag that will last from one year to the next and through every season.

I am a big BIG fan of Kate Spade. I do have a couple of her bags, and it seems I will be adding to that collection SOON.  She names each of her bags after a place, so unique.  Here are a couple that have just dropped a bomb in price.  You may like them, I know I do.

The first is the Tulum Small Coal.  Tulum is located in Mexico, and is perfect for travelers looking for a relaxed setting.  Reminiscent of the woven bags found in Mexican markets, these bags are made from raffia and cotton. Now going for 50% off at $147.00.

And here we have the Hillsborough Small Carla.  The history on this bag goes like this. She found the inspiration for this bag just south of San Francisco in the residential enclave of Hillsborough, where beautiful mansions date back to the early 20th century, and lush gardens offer a refreshing escape from the city.   This one for $296.00.

I should say if you want these, act now. I went to purchase the Medium Shopper Long Handle, which my sister told me about YESTERDAY (and it was SO there!), and it went going going gone.  Good luck!