Fashion styles are forever changing. What do this year’s changes bring forth? Fashion is up and down and all around this year. Accessories are going to sizzle this summer, hemlines are going down a bit, pants waistlines are going up, necklaces are going down, scarves are fluid, earrings are dangling, handbags get soft, and belts are back. Feminine, sexy and sultry styles will keep those heads turning. Sheers, crocheted lace, silky satin and flowing gauze will be everywhere. Comfy cool and sexy, sounds like a great year for women!

Accessories are fabulous this year and are leaning in the arts & craft direction. We will start with necklaces. They are beady, long and plentiful. Where a single large beaded strand with artful beads or pair them up with several. Long is where they are at as well as big and with interesting beads. Plastic, glass, wood, handmade, crocheted, and metal beads in all variations have invaded the necklace world. Find them beaded alone or with lace, sheer or ribbon. Artisans beware; fabulous finds are in high demand! While you are at it, dangling earrings to match will complete the ensemble. Hoops and beads are dangling in the earring category. Out with the chandeliers and in come the dangling beads.

Belts are back big-time accentuating the waistlines. In the gym lately? You’ll need it this year! Belts run the gamut this year in all styles. Wide big belts are back as well as plenty of other styles. Crocheted lace belts, pom pom end belts, leather, and fabric belts are all a hot ticket. Sheer or lace belts are big that can be used two fold. You can where them as a belt or as a scarf. Get creative and find those great finds at art fairs in fabric belts or crocheted belts.

Gold is big this season. Find it in handbags, jewelry, clothing and shoes. Don’t go overboard with gold; remember a little goes a long way. Don’t cover yourself in gold from head to toe; you’ll look like a left over Christmas ornament! Gold shoes and a great gold handbag will look great with any outfit and you will not be overdoing it.

Handbags are always a favorite; you can never have enough of them. Soft leathers, straw and fabrics are very in. Larger size handbags are big. Look for lots of gathered ends on the top and visible pockets on the outside. Straw is hot in all colors and new styles, crochet and appliques are abundant. You will see simple designs to more artistic designs. Stick with simple if your outfit is strikingly fabulous. When going for a more conservative or simple style, then go with a more artistic handbag to set it off.

The ups and downs have it this year. Necklaces are going down as well as hemlines. Not too much though, just mini’s are out. Look for knee length and long flowing skirts and dresses. Lacey, satin, sheers and gauze is it for skirts and dresses. Yes, I did say dresses; they are making a comeback big-time. Comfy and sexy at the same time! Skirts styles are very full along with A-lines are very in. Pants waistlines are starting to go up which is what is bringing belts back in. It may take a while but at least they are not going down any farther. Was there any room left to go?

Let your accessories sizzle and your femininity and sex-appeal reign in this year’s styles.

Mary Bailis is a designer and owner of http://www.AlexiHandbags.com an online custom handbag and accessory boutique. She enjoys fashion, reading, being creative, exercising, nature and spending as much time with her three beautiful children.

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Out with the old, in with the new. Sounds great but in actuality, this is a hard concept for most of us. Unfortunately, New Year’s resolutions are starting to die out by now. It is actually a great time to reorganize the home and clear out. A good place to start is with your wardrobe and accessories.

We all have skeletons in our closet. I’m talking about those old clothes that we are holding onto. One of the biggest reasons for holding onto our clothes? “I am going to loose weight and get into that outfit again.” Time to ditch it! I am sure it is outdated by now and when and if you get into it, it will not look that great anyway. If you loose those extra pounds, reward yourself instead with something new, you deserve it.

Are you the sentimental type that holds on to clothes? The outfit you wore to a special occasion, date or the one that cost you a small fortune. I know it is hard to let go but it is time to do it. How about that little black dress that we are all suppose to have in our closet. It has been there for while, hasn’t it? Have you avoided wearing it because it is so outdated? It is time to move on and get a new one.

Here is some good advice, if you have not worn it in two years or more, you need to get rid of it. Not wearable because it needs to be repaired, put them in a pile to bring to a Taylor or just get rid of it. Face it, if you have not fixed it yet, it will not happen. Are you waiting for the style to come back again? Style’s do come and go and come back again, but always in a different way. The style changes in some way as well as the “in” color. Bell bottoms were once in but never came back fully in style again. They came back a little different as boot leg cut and not as wide as the bell bottom. So do not save it for another time, it will not work. Don’t forget the clothes that were bought and just didn’t cut it. I am talking about the one’s you never got around to returning.

Even the clothes that looked great in the dressing room but when you actually wore it, it didn’t really look that great on you. These are great for the consignment store. It took me a while to realize that brown just is not my color. Each time when brown is the “new black” in style I just didn’t feel right in a brown outfit. It dawned on me that it is just not my color. I held on to those great brown clothes for a while. Finally I let go and accepted those great brown clothes were not great on me. They were taking up much needed closet space.

Next, are the accessories filling the shelves and drawers? Handbags are a big save item. Spending a fortune on a designer handbag is a good reason to hold on to it. If it is worn out and does not look good any more, then there is no reason to keep it. Zipper broke, button off, bad looking scratch in the leather? If it is not useable, then do not save it. I had an off white suede leather Coach bag that I loved and spent a lot of money on. It became dirty looking way too fast. Being suede, it did not clean well. I kept it for three years before I broke down and threw it out. Never bought that color again! Handbags are like shoes, once they wear out, they do not look good anymore. Pull out of your closet all the handbags and shoe’s. Try on the shoe’s, see if they fit, are too worn out or are out of style and put them in the get rid of pile. Do the same for belts.

Anything in good shape and the style is current; bring them to a consignment store. The rest can go to the thrift store or if too worn out or damaged, throw it out. Thrift stores are usually run by volunteers, they don’t need to be throwing out your not so good items in the trash. You will feel good with “out with the old,” now it is time and space for “in with the new.” Have fun shopping for those new great clothes!

Mary Bailis is a designer and owner of http://www.AlexiHandbags.com an online custom handbag and accessory boutique. She enjoys fashion, reading, being creative, exercising, nature and spending as much time with her three beautiful children.

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It is amazing how fast the stores liquidate the winter clothing lines. It is a great time of year to shop and get some great deals. The sad part is, if you really need some new winter clothes, you don’t have much time to get them. Hitting all the stores are all the spring lines. You will see plenty of a feminine touch to very artful accessories. I love looking feminine, remember the grunge look or clothes that looked like men’s clothes. Yuk! Lace is very big, applique accents are plentiful, lots of straw handbags are everywhere and last but not least, a big pom pom craze have attached themselves to all accessories. What a mix!

This season is all about lace. I am talking about crocheted cotton lace, the kind your great grandmother wore. Think of the old doilies she used to make. Lace is on everything these days from clothing, handbags and the rest of the accessories. You will see handbags made out of it or adorned with it. It is made into lightweight flowy scarves. Bangles are big and covered in lace with matching necklaces and earrings. The necklaces have lace beaded into it, beaded with lacey disk beads or lacey beads themselves. It will not be hard to find a great shirt with lace on the top and accessorize it with matching earrings, necklaces, scarves or handbags. Use them tastefully together but don’t go overboard. A little of each goes a long way. Handmade is big in this category so don’t go looking only at stores; keep those art shows in mind for that unique great find.

Accessories are very 3D with applique accents. Artfully done handbags are covered with them. Shear scarves are hot and they will have the applique accents on them as a new twist. It is amazing how jewelry can jump in to any fashion item that is hot and incorporate it into a fabulous piece. I have seen many necklaces where flower appique’s are beaded into them. You will see a crossover with lace here and the two will go so well together. They are very vintage looking and very in.

Handbags, a favorite of mine, are hitting the shelves big time in straw. Straw is always a favorite for the spring and summer but this time you will see some new twists to the old standby. There are many colors and weaves. Some fabulous styles are out there. Look for not only straw, but leather and vinyl weaved into a straw look will be big. Leather and vinal weaves look like straw but are more durable. They are coming in many shapes, sizes and colors. Contrasting handles, trims and applique’s make these a fabulous must have this season. Again, you will see a crossover in this category with the applique’s. Applique’s are covering straw handbags.

Along with the lace this season, you will see crochet accessories with crocheted or fuzzy pom poms. They are all the rage for the season. You will find crocheted or knit handbags covered in pom poms. Handbags will also be accessorized in them. Artful necklaces and scarves are made out of pom poms. Fabric or crocheted belts have pom pom tassels on the ends of them. It is endless pom poms frenzy everywhere! I wouldn’t doubt that there will be plenty of tops with pom poms.

The weather may not be warm enough or the flower’s and tree’s are not budding yet. One thing is for certain, the store’s are just blooming with the great spring lines. Have fun shopping and get your lace, applique’s, straw handbags and pom poms while they are hot!

Mary Bailis is a designer and owner of http://www.AlexiHandbags.com an online custom handbag and accessory boutique. She enjoys fashion, reading, being creative, exercising, nature and spending as much time with her three beautiful children.

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