Featured Writers
Marty Michaels
joined February 2011has 20 years' experience as a reporter and editor at the Chronicle of Philanthropy and at Ipas, an international women's-health charity. She lives in the Naples, Fla., area, but calls North Carolina home. (Go Heels!) She's also a certified yoga instructor and has traveled extensively, including month-long stints in Amsterdam, Berlin, and Paris. Her next destination? Peru.
Tammie Jo
joined January 2011I live in a bucolic town along the golden California coast with one husband and three shih tzu dogs. When I'm not writing, I'm at the dog beach collecting sea glass, getting my hands dirty in the garden or making plans for the next travel adventure.
Robin Odach
joined February 2011I have a Bachelor's Degree from SUNY (Fredonia) in Sociology/Anthropology and a MSW from Fordham University. My writing relies heavily on the research techniques I learned at Fordham.
All About Fair Isle Sweaters
Fair Isle sweaters are sweaters made with the Fair Isle knitting technique, a style used to create patterns that have multiple colors. Originally popular in the 1920s, Fair Isle sweaters are again in vogue. These new sweaters have all different colors and patterns, but traditional Fair Isle sweaters use only five colors and two colors per row. Many sweaters today are given the 'Fair Isle' label, although technically most don't use the rather strict Fair Isle knitting requirements. Nowadays, any multi-color stranded-knit sweater is called Fair Isle. (read more)
All About Long Sleeve Sequin Dress
With the combination of long sleeves and sequins, what you get is the long sleeve sequin dress, a perfect choice for cool weather formal wear. A long sleeve sequin dress can also be a great choice for little girls who love to dress up, as well as for your next adult gala, party or formal affair. You have your choice of mini, knee length, mid-calf length and floor length hemlines with a long sleeve sequin dress, and the sequins themselves may be featured all throughout the fabric or simply used here and there as extra subtle ornamentation. (read more)
How to Shop for a Men's Leather Bomber Jacket
When shopping for a bomber jacket, the first thing you'll want to think about is the fur lining. Strive to find bomber jackets that feature real shearling, which is not only warm, but exceptionally attractive as well. Fit is everything when purchasing a bomber jacket; avoid those which are boxy or oversized. Finally, consider the color of the jacket, as neutrals like black or brown will be far more versatile than louder colors. (read more)
All About High Waisted Skirts in Fashion
High waisted skirts are found in every fashion magazine and walking down every runway. The fashion-forward look hails from a simpler time and creates a beautiful, retro hourglass figure that looks great on every woman. It is no wonder they are available in such a wide variety of styles. High waisted skirts sit around the natural waist of a woman’s body. They are available in body hugging, A-line, and draped styles. Hemlines can range broadly as well, from mini to maxi skirts and everything in between. High waisted skirts are commonly found in a myriad of solid colors and prints. (read more)
All About the Midi Skirt in Fashion
The midi skirt was born in the 1940s when it was actually considered racy for women to be showing off their calves. Hemlines had gone from short in the Roaring 20s to long in the 1930s, but were growing increasingly shorter from that point on. Hemlines moved upward to just below the knees in the 1950s and then to the mini skirt in the 1960s, when women enjoyed the freedom of showing off their legs. Then, in 1970, driven by "Women's Wear Daily", the midi length returned as fashion harkened back to the elegance of the 1940s. (read more)
