Dreams Are No Longer a Wish Your Heart Makes

In the past, people thought of formal wear as long ballgowns, cocktail dresses with a plunging neckline, and diamonds for days. When people would attend an opera performance, or a symphony or ballet, they would wear satin ballgowns with long silky gloves and a collar of diamonds or drops of rubies dangling from their earlobes. Places with chandeliers that seemed to glitter in the same way a stalactite in a beautiful cavern would, were respected and honored by women deciding what exactly they would wear to this event days in advance. Men would wear suits or tuxedos with their best dress shoes and women would don their most elaborate evening wear. This used to be a  reality, and not too long ago either, but this reality has been diminished to a fairytale vision.

Now, in modern day fashion, formal wear means "who can wear the least amount of clothing without looking trashy?" or "who can come in the most creative, non-fancy style?". I have seen people go to one of those symphony halls with the stacked chandeliers and velvet carpets in tank tops and a pair of nice jeans. This utter lack and respect to a place where about five to eight years ago was accessorized by women trying to out-do the others by dressing in layers of satin with straps on the shoulders or gone completely. Or wanting to walk into the magnificent lobby and everyone's eyes on her because she is the most stunning that night. Women donned with jewels and family heirlooms on the arms of men in their best ties so they don't look like slobs next to their partner.

What happened to the desire to be Cinderella for one special night? To dream of walking into the hall and everyone freeze to stare at you, as if time itself had halted in its tracks just for you. To wish your dream would come true. Bring that back. Honor a beautiful event by wearing something beautiful and elegant. Bring back the desire for that Cinderella moment.

Crocs Disaster

Crocs are not fashionable! I understand that some may be comfortable, but they should not occupy a woman's or man's closet space. The only acceptable time, if that, to wear crocs is when lounging about the house with no one around to see the horrendous fashion statement.

I have met a few people who wear crocs, but only one in particular stuck in my mind. Not because he's cute, in fact he's the exact opposite. It's because he wore them to ballroom dancing and they looked so bad, I took to calling him Crocs Boy. He was not a boy, he was late 40s. No one under the age of 80 should be wearing crocs, especially in public.

So if you have a pair of crocs, do yourself a favor and host a bonfire. Call it "Crocs Disaster Bonfire". Then, throw them in the fire and watch them melt with satisfaction.

It's the right thing to do.

Summer Fashion

Summer fashion varies on where you live. Arizona requires less material (i.e. mini shorts, skirts, thin-strapped shirts, etc.). California is a wild card for the most part. While California still has the bikinis, and mini shorts, some cities demand a little more coverage from the wind, such as San Francisco. New York, where some people consider it to be where fashion is strongest, the fashion varies on the month and the "in" clothes. What I'm trying to say is it just depends on the weather and the society you are in.

Some of you may be wondering, "Well what about the people who fly to places with a sunny warmth and a nice breeze?". I would tell them to look up the weather for where they're going and pack accordingly. The Caribbean suggests at least three bikinis and, depending on what island, summer dresses and skirts and shorts. Don't bring heels with you, and if you do, keep it to one pair.

So those of you who live in New York, pick up a Vogue and sift through to find the month's new "in" items. Those who live in California, beach chic. And you Arizonians, skimpy and flirty are the best choices.

Wherever you live, the important thing is dress for yourself and what brings you the ability to do more than one activity and last without getting heat stroke (Arizonians be careful of that) or getting a little chill (San Franciscans and Yanks). Fashion is more than just putting on cute clothes, it requires a confidence, but the right clothes can boost that if the connection between woman and clothes is there.

A State of Mind

Glamour, as some of you know, is more than what clothes you wear with what accessories, shoes, and makeup, it's a way of living.  It's confidence and hard work. Some of you readers may be scoffing at the fact that I think glamour is a difficult process, but it's true. Exercise and hygiene is a big part of glamour. It's taking the time to have style every second from the time you get up to the time you crawl into bed.

Spritz a scent on yourself before bed; get up early and exercise before you shower; dress with style at all times; wear shoes that match and possibly high-heels, even if they are uncomfortable (just use a big purse and stick a pair of cute flats, sandals, or flip-flops in the bag); take time to do your hair and makeup. I know people frown on this process and call the people who do them "high-maintenance". But glamour lifts people up and makes them feel better about the world. It's not too much of a stretch to say that glamour can save a person or change their lives.

I know some would argue that celebrities get into drugs and rehab all the time and they have glamour. I would argue back that those celebrities let themselves be dragged down by thinking of all the bad in their lives and making glamour into an evil by thinking of it as a job instead of their life. Glamour isn't only about the external--that only comes first--but eventually, glamour seeps into the way you think and feel. When you pick up a pair of shoes that you fell in love with and put them on, you feel better and taller and have a higher self-esteem. I know all the ladies out there have this feeling whether it's sneakers or a pair of heels.

It's a sad thing when you go to a symphony in a gorgeous building and you see people in spaghetti strap tops and jeans. I wish for the days when I would see people at the symphony in ballgowns. It was less than a decade ago that this was a reality. But now, people slum it and disgrace the meaning and feeling of going to a nice place (whether it be a restaurant or a symphony hall). The experience used to be practically sacred and now it means next to nothing to the people who go casual.

So bring back the days when beauty used to mean something to people and it lifted their hearts and made them desire and strive to be all that they want to be.

Scent Fanatics

The nose is, in my opinion, the most powerful sense of the five that humans have.  Our sense of smell can bring back memories, create physical/chemical reactions in our body, and increase the taste we experience when we eat something.  You know that expression, "It smells so good, I can taste it."  Well it is based on fact.  I personally rely on my "sniffer" a lot.  Smells, the right ones anyway, can give me a feeling of confidence, sensualness, sexiness, and make me feel better about myself and life.  My favorite scent in my entire collection of perfumes, body sprays, lotions, body washes, shampoos, and candles is Modern Muse by Estee' Lauder.  The feeling I get from it is re-enforced when people tell me that everytime they come near me, they breathe in deeply because I smell incredible.  Girls ask me what the scent I'm wearing is, and guys take a big whiff.  Some people like to have a signature scent, one they are known by, but I say that each situation or destination or outing requires a certain attitude and feeling within yourself, and therefore a different scent.  While I say there is no such thing as being obsessed with amazing smells, there is such a thing as too much scent.

Too much perfume or body mist can be a turn off as it is overpowering and overwhelming.  A guy or girl should only put just enough on to create a light aura around him/her.  For guys, you know you have a good scent when the girl smells it and scoots or leans slightly closer to you. For ladies, you know you have a right scent when it makes you stand taller, prouder, and creates more confidence in you.

So those of you who are such scent fanatics that you spray a small squirt of calming body mist over yourself every night before you get into bed, I say that is not overboard but a good thing to do.  Whatever the case, everyone who isn't a scent fanatic should become one, in my opinion at least.

The Deal With Heels

For all you women out there, and the occasional man, how many of you are shoe lovers? I'm betting most of you are.  Now, out of all of you shoe lovers, how many are mainly obsessed with high-heeled shoes? I'm willing to bet it's at least half.  I, personally, am a high-heeled shoe lover.  My personal favorite shoe store is Designer Shoe Warehouse (a.k.a. DSW).  Everytime I go to DSW, I have to get at least one pair of heels along with whatever else I need at the time.  Being a Premier Rewards member there has its perks as well.  I have fifteen pairs of high heels at the moment.  I'm sure many of you can top that number easily, but that's okay because fifteen pairs is good for a woman like me.

A good way to weed out the shoe lovers from the shoe obsessed is to figure out those who give their shoes names.  I'm not talking about names like "Sally" or "Taylor".  No, I'm talking about those who name their shoes like I do.  I have my "Country Club heels", "Friday Nights heels", "Valentine's Day heels", "Wedding heels", "Hooker heels", "Classy Business Woman heels", "Socialite heels", "Sunday Brunch heels", "Painted blur heels", "Sexy Assistant heels", "Anything Goes heels", "White Formal Party heels", "Cowgirl heels", "Catwoman heels", and my "Zipper heels".  Those are all my high-heels names, though I also name my flats.  What do you name your shoes?