Ladies, I know that some of you live in heels! Now, don't get me wrong. There's nothing wrong with it, if that's your preference. But I just want to talk briefly, though, about the versatility of flats!

The re-introduction of the "ballet flat" a few years ago, made the flat shoe a wardrobe staple once again. Cute flats can instantly add polish to an outfit (especially if you're not a "sneakers" gal!) for running errands around town, going to the mall (who wants achy feet?), with the kids, or even at the office.

You can also find them in a variety of styles, colors, patterns, and textures - to match your style personality and budget. And here's a practical style tip: Build an outfit around a colorful pair of flats as the focal point. Pair them with a coordinating neutral top and bottom (or jeans) and let your shoes take the spotlight!

But please remember- a good flat shoe should still have adequate arch support for maximum COMFORT.. After all, that's the whole point right?

As you probably know, this is the very exciting time of year when Fashion Capitals and cities around the world host their Fashion Week. Designers are now showcasing new duds and hot trends- some that we will see"trickle down" to stores in the months ahead.  We also see designs that have made a comeback or is now being worn in new and fresh ways.   While it is part of my job to observe and take note of all of this, (which I love to do for my clients by the way), I was just wondering - why should the designers have all the fun? Here's how to have a "Personal Fashion Week" of your own.

Want to try it? One weekend, pre-plan like this for the next 7 days (Monday- Sunday):   Pull out 7 different items that you really like, and looks good on you , but for some reason you haven't worn in a while.  Try to pull at least one item from each of the following categories:  shoes, tops, pants, skirts, and eye-catching accessories.  Now,  the challenge is to pair it with something from your closet that you have never worn it with before.   You are basically "shopping"  your closet for fresh combinations.  Not only will you see the versatility (or lack thereof) of your wardrobe, you will also see how to avoid falling into a style rut!   Remember, the purpose of this challenge is to have fun experimenting with new looks and hidden gems in your wardrobe.  Then, proudly  show off your Personal Fashion Week to the world!

Mixing prints can sometimes be a challenge! Here are a few tips for mixing prints (for the look shown here), without creating a mess! By the way, this picture also showcases the popular menswear look, which is really on trend for Fall this year.

These basic tips can also be used to coordinate prints in your home.

Consider two things: Color and Scale. For color, look for one that the prints have in common. In this case, it is the grey. In addition to grey, the pants also have an aqua color, which can serve as the ACCENT.

Next, look at the scale and type of prints that you want to match. One should be more dominant (to create a focal point), while the other(s) should be more subdued. That way things don't appear too busy! In the picture, the print on the blouse definitely takes the forefront, while still balancing nicely with the slacks. Lastly, an over jacket in the accent color pulls it all together! Voila!