paris fashion: My 5 Must-Have Items For the Fall Wardrobe and more...

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We're experiencing a long summer here in Southern California, and I envy those of you who already have fall weather! It is hard to think of shopping for fall clothes when it's still 80+ degrees outside, but I'm going to share my must-have items anyways...

1. Beret - A wool or knitted beret is sure to keep your head warm on those chilly fall days. Besides that, it's a classic accessory that never goes out of style.

2. Thermals - Thermal clothes are those basic items that can be worn under sweaters and pants or long skirts. Shops like Damart have a wide selection of thermal clothing for both women and men.

3. Boots - A nice pair of boots can add polish to any outfit. I don't know about you, but I absolutely cannot go without wearing boots during the fall and winter. My eyes are on these Kors by Michael Kors Jada tall leather boots (Available at Lord & Taylor)...

4. Cardigan sweater - I always carry a cardigan sweater with me everywhere I go because you never know when or where a chilly wind will hit in San Diego - especially when I'm in the downtown area. A cardigan is another staple that does not go out of style. My grey cardigan from H&M that I bought several years ago is still going strong.

5. Tights or leggings - Even during the fall I still like to wear dresses, so to keep my legs warm I put on a pair of fun, patterned tights or black leggings. Sometimes I'll wear tights under pants if it's an exceptionally cold day.

What are your must-have items for fall?

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Latest Obsession: Floral Dresses

Black and white floral print plus size dress

Right now I'm lovin' floral dresses. I've mentioned on several posts that I do love flowers, but I own only one floral dress at the moment. Back in the early 90's I had so many floral dresses, and I wish that I had kept all of them because many of the styles have made a comeback this year. I did go through that "grunge" phase, so those dresses ended up in a bag that was given to a thrift store for someone else to appreciate them.

So, just because it's fall doesn't mean you have to put away those floral dresses. You can segue those pretty dresses into a fabulous fall outfit with a pair of boots and a blazer or jean jacket. If it's a short dress, you can wear it with leggings, a short button-up sweater, and a pair of flats (or sandals if you live in Southern California). I've seen some fashionistas wear floral print with stripes and other prints, but my style is not so daring and bold.

The last time I was in H&M I saw so many dresses with small floral prints that I like. Hopefully I can find something similar to the Joe Browns dress pictured here that I saw on PlusSize-Dresses.com, which has a nice selection of plus size floral dresses. For fall, I could picture myself wearing this style of dress with a pair of white tights, a black cardigan (which I really need), and my new black platform shoes. Hmmm...I may just do some shopping this weekend!

What do you think about wearing floral print dresses? Do you have any tips on how to wear them for the fall season? You're welcome to upload your look on our Facebook page!

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A Positive Attitude Conquers All

So, who's excited about the new season of Dancing With the Stars? I've been watching it for a few years now, and I love all the dancing, music, and costumes. I've put ballroom dancing on my "bucket list" because I've been so inspired by the show.

This season one of the stars is J.R .Martinez who was an actor on All My Children and an Iraq war veteran who was severely burned when he hit a landmine. He's gone through 33 surgeries since the incident, but obviously he's still going strong. Most people would probably go through severe depression and hibernate in their home for the rest of their lives, but J.R. is a perfect example of what positivity can do for your life.

When you see J.R. dance and talk, you see a confident, jubilant young man who doesn't seem the least bit insecure about what he looks like. I see his smiling face and think, "Wow - that's a good looking guy!" Really, his true beauty shines through everything.

Here's a video clip of J.R. Martinez talking about being on the show and realizing his purpose...

What we can all learn from watching J.R. is that beauty is indeed skin deep. No matter what physical ailments or insecurities you may endure, you can overcome them with a positive attitude.

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Fall 2011 Classic Jackets: Top 5 Picks

When I was working at Wet Seal, I was known as the "Jacket Queen". I had enough jackets that warranted their own dedicated closet. (It was a small closet, ok!) I think the only reason why I love fall so much is because I can get that cozy feeling in a jacket.

So, of course I'm excited that fall is finally here. Well, in San Diego it's not quite fall season weather, but at night it can get a little chilly in some parts of the city.

Every fall I usually buy a new jacket, so I spent some time today shopping the web. Here are my top 5 picks...

1) The tuxedo jacket is a classic which can be worn dressed up with a pair of black slacks or a pencil skirt, or it can be dressed down with a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. This Tibi leather-lapel tuxedo jacket ($497) is available at Neiman Marcus...

2)The double-breasted long coat is another classic and perfect for those of you who live in cold weather regions. I like this Joanna Hope Braid Trim Longline Coat (from £100.00 to £120.00) which is available at JDWilliams. Unfortunately, though, this jacket comes only in plus size. Shop for more plus size jackets from JD Williams.

3)According to many fashionistas, the military look is one of the top trends for jackets this fall season. I adore this Miss Sixty army green wool blend military jacket ($156.00) available at BlueFly.com...

4)The sweater jacket is great for everyday wear. I have one right now that I took with me everywhere I went. In San Diego, you never know when you might walk into a super chilly grocery store or Starbucks :) This Halogen® Peplum Sweater Jacket is on sale right now for $39.97 at Nordstrom Rack...

5)Another great jacket that can be worn just about any time is the denim jacket. This one here is available at Express for $79.90...

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Fashion Inspiration at Project Ethos San Diego

Art, music, and fashion under one roof. How can it get better than that?

Creative energy was in full force at the Project Ethos event a couple weeks ago, which was held at the House of Blues in downtown San Diego. Local artists, designers, and musicians gathered to inspire and wow attendees with their creations.

Retail buyers, members of the media, and the general public were invited to the event that started with the bands and ended with the runway shows. Each artist had a mini gallery which was displayed throughout the venue.