Home Page - Hot finds for a Cool summer

So typically the fashion powers that be usually clump us into 7 main types. Petite, Plus, Small Busted, Boy Shaped, Curvy, Top Heavy, and Pear. We know there's more, since we are all fabulously unique. I will speak from personal experience as I do not fit into one of these categories. I have a small bottom and a top that spills over into the next county. That would be a combo of top heavy and curvy. I can get away with small bottoms at great prices like Swim Bottom Turquoise $7.48 But for tops I have to have a tankini with a built in bra in my size.

Most print suits have a little black in them so one or two black bottom styles enable you to mix and match with bikini tops, (if you're small on top), or tankini tops if you're big like me. We are all about the bargain, but do not cheap out and think that you can squeeze those DD's into a top without a bra inside. It will not be pretty! So, even if you are not a plus size, don't shy away from plus sites, like Fashion Bug, that's where you'll find tops with bra sizes that will really flatter the girls!

Coco Reef PerfectionFit™ swim wear at Smart Bargains offers true bra sizing for every figure. Use your bra size to determine the right swimsuit for you. Coco Reef offers fashion separates to flatter your curves with style, support, and comfort!

To camouflage a puffy tummy and create a slimmer shapelier bod go for roushing like on these tankini tops.

If you're small on top and need a boost accentuate what you have and go for a push-up with some padding like this two piece polka dot.

If you're small on top but have a big bottom, the pear category, although we'd like to come up with a name for this that doesn't resemble a fruit, swap out the bikini bottom for one of these great skirt bottoms. Use to be if you wore one of these, I Love Lucy Skirtini $14.99, you'd feel like you were screaming "I'M COVERING STUFF" but now they're in style and we love them!

Boy Shaped, what the heck does that mean? How about athletic? Go for a top with a band and a belted bottom which gives the illusion of curves, or a cut out one piece, they're called monokini's. These are tricky for most but on your body type, it's like abracadabra , instant curves!

15% Off New York and Company's Swim Collection Online Only $16 & Up - Shop Now

If you are Petite all over you'll want to go with prints for dimension, or bright colors. Highlight where you need it, like underwire, to appear bigger on top and where you are glad to be small, like skinny straps to highlight your delicate shoulders. No butt, try a bottom with a ruffle in the back.

Binge or Budget?

Recently for a weekend addition of Good Morning America, Kate Snow, wearing two different pumps, did a Binge-Budget challenge.

She enlisted two women, twins, (I guess presumably they'd have similar feet), to walk 1 mile in Central Park, each wearing 4" heels. One shoe, a Payless Pump, on one foot, $19.99, and a Christian Louboutin $600.00 pump on the other. The shoes looked almost identical and the Payless pump's sole was painted red, a Louboutin trademark. Passersby, even savvy New York fashionistas, couldn't tell the difference between the high priced shoe and the cheapy in disguise.

The twins had to rate the pumps for pain on a scale of 1-10 after their painful mile, and just as we suspected, the pain was an equal 10 for both. After all, no one in their right mind walks a mile in Central Park in 4" pumps. Not even me, heel-a-holic.

Then Guess what they did?

They had the nerve to saw that $600 Christian Louboutin shoe right down the middle and like a bad accident, I couldn't look away. And there was the difference, the Payless on the inside, all man made, the Louboutin, all leather.

But unless you plan on walking on your hands with your shoes cut open ... take your blisters at a discount.

GREAT TIP! From fabulous fashionista Peg in Elgin Illinois. Ice cube trays to organize earrings by color and styles. We love this idea, remember the 'purge' in our Spring-Has-Sprung-Newsletter, (if not go back and read it at www.JulieShops.com). We found some in our local $1.00 store, in colors too!Well there's nothing better than being past the purge and on to organizing!

This Celine Ombre dress from the ready to wear collection will set you back a few hundred and is definately a BINGE. Product Image [celine-dress.JPG]

But this BUDGET look-a-like has showed up in Harpers Bazaar, People Style Watch and Lucky. This dress can go from picnic to wedding guest. One outfit, all occasions!

Converse One Star wrap dress $32.99

Lose the sneaks and go for a strappy sandal

Remember when we were all so clever putting a bow on the handles of our black luggage? Stood at an airport conveyer belt lately? Nothing but black bags with bows. Still can't find your luggage? T ry t hese fabulous Razz Tagz, they stick around the handles of your luggage making yours unique!

These packing cubes are fabulous for organizing your stuff and make packing and unpacking a breeze. They come in all different sizes and sell in packages of 3 from $12.99-$29.99.

Remember, what goes with white? Everything you own! So stretch your wardrobe with a great white piece.