Take It Down a Notch or Three: Flats
Yes, heels are great. They make us feel tall and our calves look fabulous. Every once in a while our feet beg us for a pair of cute flats. Luckily for feet, flats are popular right now and add casual chic to summer work and play outfits. Choose a pair of flats with texture or a soft metallic hue for a more dressy look than canvas flats provide.

Bohemian Touches, Not All-Out Woodstock
Grab a bag with a touch of fringe or a sandal with a tiny bit of bead work, to wear the Bohemian trend. A loose ponytail, flowing skirt and comfortable cropped t-shirt complete the comfortable look.

Clutch This!
After years of carrying our lives around with us, ladies, it’s time to take back our back health. Re-embrace the clutch. Use your cell phone or PDA and forgo any extra electronics. Pare down on-the-go make up to the essentials, and go lightly, like Holly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Vintage Glasses vs. Designer Glasses
Save some money on designer glasses and opt instead for a pair of big, round vintage sunglasses. You’ll probably have enough money left over for a new pair of shoes!

Mix and Match Shoes and Bags
Cleverly coordinated shoes and bags are back. We’re not talking about matching solids or identical twin matches. The pairings are more subtle and work off texture, accent colors and embellishments. A bag with straw-colored patches will match with an espadrille in beige or a cork-heeled shoe. A white bag with bold, black graphics will tie in nicely with a strappy black shoe . Think subtle and the results will be big.

Follow the Yellowish Brick Road
Move over Burnt Ochre, muted mustard hues are coming into vogue, and can be found on clutches made with natural-looking materials.

Before Molly Ringwald was Pretty in Pink, there was Doris Day in Pillow Talk. Doris Day was pretty and pretty chic in pink pajamas, dresses with matching coats and gloves and high heels. In a modern world where super hero characters are known for wearing the same costume for an entire flick, in the days of Doris, an actress’ revolving door wardrobe was her greatest sidekick.

Miss Match
While Doris Day’s wardrobe was a little too happy matching for today’s runway of mis-matched patterns, there is no denying that she was the epitome of swanky femininity, with a wardrobe fitting for an interior designer. Her hats matched her coats and gloves, which matched her dresses. Her coats had inner linings that were meant to be seen, not hidden away under a row of wide buttons.

Cozy Pink
Even in bed or lounging about at home, Doris Day was a picture of femininity. Her pink pajamas , both girly and modest, were also chic. A girl needs a good pair of pajamas, particularly if she expects to be taken out of bed and carried down the streets of New York City, by a burly Rock Hudson, or her own leading man, as Doris Day was in Pillow Talk.

Bottoms Up
The foundation of every chic Doris Day outfit is a stellar pair of pumps . A pair of ivory pumps, with a high heel and silver buckle will dress up any outfit, adding instant femininity a la Doris Day. For a modern approach, the shiny blue option will match perfectly with the blueberry blue of the upcoming fashion season.

Down With Love Fashion Tribute
The 2003 movie Down With Love paid tribute to Doris Day, Pillow Talk and the romping romantic comedies of the 1960s. Despite some plot and dialogue pitfalls, Rene Zellwegger pulled off the Doris Day guide to the feminine and chic, complete with matching outfits and lots of pastel hues. In her plaid white and pink skirt, she joined the ranks of Doris and Molly and was pretty in pink.

One of the most magnificent and enchanting hotels in all of Egypt is the Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh. The Oberoi is located right on the Red Sea in the city of Hurghada, Egypt. The hotel offers an euphoric atmosphere on the white sands of the Red Sea, with access to the beach as well as surrounding tourist destinations.

The Oberoi is a perfect destination for tourists that are looking for a good mix of beach bumming and pyramid hopping. The hotel is situated on a private beach that stretches 48 acres long. The Spa and Fitness Center on site are world renowned. The many treatments offered at the Spa use techniques from around the world, including both the East and the West.

The rooms at the Oberoi are some of the most luxurious that you will ever encounter. The suites have large dining rooms for entertaining, living rooms, large bathrooms that overlook private gardens, outdoor dining pavilions, and private heated swimming pools, and beach access.

The Oberoi hosts several restaurants that serve different cuisines, including Italian, Indian, Chinese, and local dishes. The different restaurants are located around the hotel and are decorated impeccably.

The hotel is located about 25 miles from the town center of Hurghada, which presents a perfect balance for guests wanting to stay away from the city but also have easy access to it. The Oberoi has excellent concierge services and can assist guests in scheduling various tourist adventures, including desert safaris, 4th century monasteries, and island tours which are all nearby. Additionally, the hotel can arrange tours and excursions to the pyramids throughout the country.

With all the time guests plan on spending outside in the sun on the beautiful beaches of the Red Sea as well as the hours spent oohing and awing over the ancient pyramids, a sun hat is definitely a must.

Attention all animal lovers! Kenya is calling…

Kenya has some of the most spectacular wild animal reserves in the world. A trip to Kenya must include at least one animal safari—visitors on safari are expected to see around 30-40 different species of animals. Expect to see such a range of animals, including wildebeest, zebra, wild dogs, hyena, cheetah, leopard, lion, jackal, crocodile, elephant, rhino…the list goes on. For these expeditions, come prepared with a good pair of binoculars .

In order to tackle all of this animal sight-seeing, you will need a luxuriously comfortable bed…and some pampering wouldn’t hurt.

The Fairmont Hotel has locations all around the world, but the one that has climbed the charts in terms of luxury and decadence is the Fairmont Mari Safari Club in Masai Mara, Kenya. The Safari Club is ranked # 48 of best hotels in the world. The hotel is located right on the Mara river, which serves as the home to many wild animals, such as crocodiles and hippos. The Masai Mara park reserve borders the Fairmont Mari Safari Club. This park reserve is one of the most famous in the world, and is noted for the annual migration of the zebra and wildebeest which takes place from July to October each year (“The Great Migration”).

The Fairmont Mari Safari Club contains 50 luxurious tents where guests are housed. These tents are extremely unlike the type of tents used by campers—they are beautifully decorated and extremely comfortable. Each tent has its own extremely modern three-piece bathroom, and many tents have extended decks for private dining and outdoor showers. The restaurant at the Safari Club serves traditional African fare and provides live music every night.

The best reason to stay at the Safari Club, however, is the offering of superb safari packages to the Masai Mara park reserve. The Safari Club offers different accommodations and tour packages. My favorite contains a full-day drive through the park and a hot-air balloon ride! Have fun!

http://www.fairmont.com/marasafariclub

Here’s a peak at tomorrow’s fashion trends, today.

Cropping the Shirt
The long-waisted shirt may be seeing its end as cropped shirts make their way back onto the fashion scene. The waist will be emphasized again, with cute cropped tops and waist-emphasizing wraps and shrugs .

Meet the Browns
Move over gray, the brown family is here. Earth hues continue to dominate all aspects of color in our lives, from couches Coaches (yes, Coach bags), from carpeting to peep toe boots. Brown is also the color of the day for make up. Neutral eye shadows, natural to nude lips, with un-fussy eyebrows and center parts add to the natural look for Fall 2009. Non-chalance, carefree hair will soften the more harder-edge look of biker chic clothing.

1920s to 1950s
The Depression-era and 1920s vintage touches recently found in clothing will give way to more 1950s, Hitchcockian styles. The 1920s are still being used by some designers, in a modern way, including Alberta Ferretti, the more optimistic yet restrained clothing of the 1950s, are also making the scene.

On the Fringe
Fringe will continue to shake its way around women’s fashion. Fringe is reminiscent of the 1920s and the 1960s.

Sweet Petite
There’s no reason to be swimming in his jeans or to wear jeans that are not the right length. Expect to see more petite jeans made for women under 5’4” that fit a petite woman’s figure.

Hats off to Hats, Not Scarves
Those long layers of scarves we’ve been wearing, even in the heat and humidity may have to go. Fun and bright hats are preferable, and add a sense of whimsy to an otherwise serious world.

Warming up to Red
The must-have fashion accessory right now is warm red. Warm red is cropping up in designer handbags, shoes and women’s ready-to-wear clothing. The red is empowering enough for women, yet subtle enough for the boardroom.

If you are expecting a baby or if you are trying to get pregnant then you need to think about building a maternity wardrobe. This wardrobe will need to take you through the physical changes that your body will undergo during your pregnancy, as well as provide you with clothes to wear while you regain your figure after you deliver your baby. The clothing items that you select for your maternity wardrobe will also need to help you deal with some of the comfort issues that pregnant women have.

Footwear
While footwear may seem like a strange place to start when building a maternity wardrobe it is actually one of the first wardrobe items that will need to be updated when you get pregnant. When you are pregnant your feet swell and spread. It is because of this that you will want to buy footwear that will stretch and breathe as your feet expand.

Clogs, flipflops and slip on shoes all work well as pregnancy shoes, however, you will also want a good pair of walking shoes as well. In addition to selecting comfortable and expandable shoes you will also want to pick up high quality socks. Thick running socks will help keep your feet dry and cushioned, protecting them from pain that some pregnant women experience as their weight increases.

Bottoms
The wardrobe items for the bottom half of your body need to be stretchy and they need to include an extra-stretchy front panel to accommodate your expanding belly. When selecting bottoms for your maternity wardrobe you will want to look for natural fibers, material that has a solid color and cuts that will fit your height. You will most likely need to buy several sizes to accommodate you at the various stages of your pregnancy. Select neutral colors for your bottoms.

Tops
Maternity tops will be where you can have fun with colors and patterns. Remember to select tops that fit you at your shoulders and that then flare outward. During the early part of your pregnancy you will be able to wear normal tops, however, as your pregnancy enters the second trimester you will most likely need to buy maternity tops. Try to select tops that are not too trendy, so that you can use the tops during future pregnancies.

When you are building a wardrobe you need to think about adding items that have specific purposes. For example, you will have collections of clothing that are for work, clothing collections that are for going out and having fun and clothing collections that are for going on vacation. When you are building your vacation wardrobe you will want to look for functional clothing items that are also fashionable.

Activity Specific Clothing Items
The clothing items that you purchase for your vacation wardrobe will reflect what you will be doing on your vacation and where you will be going. You will have several different types of vacation clothing, with items selected for the most common activities you participate in while on vacation. For example, if you are a camper you will want to select clothing items that are breathable, that are durable and that will protect your body from insect bites, scratches from vegetation and that will stretch and move with you. You will also want to select footwear that has a good tread and that are supportive of your feet.

On the other hand, if you are planning a luxury vacation, such as going on a cruise, your clothing choices are going to be different from those selected for going camping. First of all you will need a formal outfit for dining and night time activities aboard the cruise ship. You will also need casual wear for touring ports and lounging around on the ship. Finally, you will need great swimwear that is flattering to your figure.

If you will be traveling abroad then you will need to select clothing items for your vacation wardrobe that are culturally acceptable for the country that you will be visiting. For example, if you are going to a country that is more conservative than the United States, then you will want to select clothing items that cover your arms and legs and that also have a more conservative neckline. When selecting clothing items you will want to look for clothing options that are comfortable, that resist wrinkling and that flatter your shape and body type. You will also want to select clothing items that are appropriate for the climate and weather conditions that you will be encountering in the foreign country.

This summer there are trends galore. One new fashion trend that has recently emerged amidst the jumpers and neon pieces of the Spring 2009 runway is beaded tops and dresses. Drew Barrymore, Mischa Barton and Iman all wore gowns with beading to recent red carpet events. Beading can provide a wonderful and personalized look for formal or casual occasions. Beading can be of any color, heavily or lightly interwoven into many types of fabric, in one place or in several different spots. In many cases, it also saves you the need to overload on accessories since the beading of the piece is an accessory in itself!

If you’re looking to wear this trend in a more casual way, paired with denim capris or white summer pants, try a beautifully beaded top. A wide variety of beading styles can be found in beaded tops. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, designers will combine trends. For instance, a bright coral shade is combined perfectly with defined “choker” style beading on the Ella Moss Caribbean Top in Flamingo ($183). Choker-style beading on a top or gown draws attention to the face and diminishes the need for other jewelry (although, in some cases, it may still be appropriate). A beaded halter with similar styling is the Type Z Kate’s Halter in Mustard ($71.10). This top has smaller beads followed by larger wooden beads at the base of the neckline, creating the illusion that the top and accessory are fused.

Beaded gowns can also range from casual to formal, and everywhere in between. Dresses like the Roxy Famous Dress in White with beading at the straps and waist, can be worn to a barbeque, a beach party or even to the mall. A formal but exquisitely beautiful dress that combines the beaded and brilliantly colored trends is the Robert Rodriguez Twist Neck Embroidered Dress . Bright pink in color, this dress has flowing floral beading down the front.

Beading has always been popular, but it has become more mainstream with its recent resurgence as a trend, allowing more and more women to enjoy its beauty and fashion benefits.