Well it’s been a busy week, but I still managed to make sure I put together a few outfits to show you.  I decided that since Halloween was Saturday I would wear orange all week.  I guess you could say I have a little “crush” on what I wear.  Every item I wore this week came out of the closet and is more than a year old.

No. 1 Sweater sweet – I choose to layer an orange cropped sweater over a black ribbed turtleneck  and then paired it with a corduroy skirt. I added chocolate accessories to include a ruffled scarf and boots.

No. 2 Vested interest – This all-in-one orange and white shirt looks great next to a pair of black and white checked pants.

No. 3 Jumpin’ Jack -This ruffled black blouse and skirt looks pairs nicely with my orange cardigan. I accessorized with gold jewelry (which the one necklace reminds me of jack-o-lantern teeth, which was not intentional.)

No. 4 Plaid about You – I picked a orange and brown plaid skirt, orange shirt and denim blazer. Again I accessorized with a hint of gold.

I enjoying picking a theme for the week. I don’t have to think about what I’m going to wear as much and instead focus on what I have in my closet that fits with the idea.  When I do this I also discover that I can wear many of the clothes I  so many different ways. It’s a new way to look at things and often times it keeps me from wanting to go shopping.

Again let me know what you think. If you’ve got a idea please feel free to share it with me.

In Europe, where fashion is at the forefront an Italian mayor proposed banning women from wearing too short skirts and the town’s council passed it.

Don’t even dream of going to Castellammare di Stabia, a seaside city near Naples, in your micro-miniskirt.  If you do police could measure your hemline and issue you a fine up to $700 in an effort to restore ” restore urban decorum and facilitate better civil coexistence”.

The mayor said very short skirts were unacceptable. When asked he said police would target women wearing miniskirts that did not fully cover their underwear.

“The display of too much cleavage will also earn a fine,” the mayor added.

Really do they have to create laws that actually say a woman’s clothing is too tiny. I mean Europe has beaches that allow people to go topless and naked and it’s the norm.

The Guardian calls the miniskirt ban “a small, incompetent step backwards.”  Read more about it here.

While doing a little research I discovered that the Italian village was not the only place where officials wanted to prohibit the fashion choices of women.

In Uganda , the ethics and integrity minister banned miniskirts two years ago because he believed it caused drivers to lose their concentration and crash.  He compared women wearing a miniskirt to walking naked in the street.

In Santiago, Chile public employees were banned from wearing miniskirts or exposing their shoulders. The outlaw of the attire didn’t last long once women angrily protested it.

If you’re one of my avid readers then you can probably tell that the past several weeks I’ve been wearing outfits through the week with a theme— “Fit to a ‘t’” and “Fashion meets function.”

This week I chose dresses. It’s easy, simple and comfortable and really doesn’t require as much effort.

No. 1 Flower Power — I picked a large flower print dress I purchased at Value City years ago and paired it with dark gray tights, pewter flats and my Vera Wang necklace with a flower attached to it.

No. 2 Polka-dot Pretty — I also purchased this 1940s inspired dress at Value City. (I really do miss that place) I paired it with a red cardigan, red button earrings, red necklace and Dana Buchman shoes that resemble vintage 40s footwear.

No. 3 Kimono Cute — I got this black and blue Dana Buchman dress at Kohls two years ago. I love the stretch material and although I can wear it in warm weather, I threw on  a black ribbed turtleneck to transition it for fall and paired it with blue tights, boots and silver jewelry.

I think dresses are romantic and feminine. So many women today never wear them and for me they are a staple of my wardrobe. Choosing a dress is about choosing an image. Each dress creates a different impression, carries different feelings, and shapes different images. Decide what story the dress should tell for the day.

If you grew up in jeans and a t-shirt, you may find wearing a dress a bit awkward at first, but I bet you will get noticed. Nothing makes me feel more womanly, attractive and appealing than wearing an outfit that accentuates the female body.

As you all know by now I love fashion.  I wanted to share a picture of the oldest item I own.

It’s a vintage beaded handbag that once belonged to my “Granny” and before that it belonged to her friend. A small card is tucked inside the bag with an obit of the woman who once owned the bag. She died in 1970 at the age of 77 and had the bag as a young girl.

I acquired it many years ago from my mother, who kept it stored in a drawer. I have proudly displayed it for years. I’m amazed at the detail in this truly fashionable early 20^th century piece. They really don’t make bags like this anymore.

There is something abut vintage accessories that really is remarkable.  Do you have an heirloom or vintage piece that you like? Let me know.

I thought I would share with you some recent outfits I put together.

No. 1 Grey Anatomy – I wore this the night of the Heads & Threads Fashion Show at Jacoby Arts Center.  I though I would wear something a little more avant garde, especially with my hair and makeup looking different than I normally wear it. I wore a grey ombre style tunic as a mini dress with dark grey tights and a long grey jacket that I’ve had for years.  I picked a pair of large earring and my Vera Wang shoes to give the outfit the extra punch.

No. 2 Cargo Cropped – I got this Norma Kamali bohemian style top at Wal-Mart for $3 on clearance. I  paired it with a pair of black cargo style capris I’ve had for years and then  added a belt and boots to create a crossover look for fall.

No. 3 Pink your Poison -  I wore a hot pink “poison” tee with black tank undeneath, jeans and velvet jacket. I accessorized with a Simply Vera Vera Wang necklace I picked up at Kohl’s for $14  my “Lucky Leopard” Mulberry bag I told you about last week that I got at Target.

No. 4 These Boots Were Made For Walking – I spent the last of my Cato gift card on these grey over-the knee boots. I decided to wear it with the dress I bought on clearance from Kohl’s, a cropped denim jacket. I accessorized the outfit with a necklace I picked up at a yard sale for $1 and a fedora hat I got from Wal-Mart for $8.

I enjoy sharing my style with you, however I would like to see some of yours. Send my an email at cellis@thetelegraph.com and I post your photos for readers to see. I always enjoying seeing what’s being worn in the River Bend.

We all dress ourselves every day, usually with no trouble at all. So why is it that so many people seem paralyzed by decorating decisions?

We decided to take a look at some basic fashion rules. Most of these you’ll recognize as conventional wisdom. But did you know that these same fashion rules can apply to decorating your home as well?

Find out how with these 8 simple fashion rules for home interiors.

1. Invest in classic pieces. Spend the biggest portion of your budget on pieces that you will have a long life.

2. Neutrals as a steady diet could be boring. Spice it up with color.

3. Too tight a fit is uncomfortable; too loose is unattractive.

4. Highlight features you like; play down what you don’t love.

5. A well-constructed color scheme helps bring an outfit together. Consciously work with one main color  and one lesser-used secondary color. Add a third accent color (usually the brightest hue) in smaller amounts, such as trims, and accessories.

6. Fabulous shoes can make an outfit.

7. A few great wardrobe basics can take you from day to evening, just by changing accessories.

8. Versatility is a virtue. Choose fashions that can be worn with a variety of other pieces; for example, a great tweed jacket that looks as good with a matching skirt as it does with jeans.

Here are some pictures of the room where I get ready every morning.

I think our home style is of reflection of our personality. It’s a statement about us, just like the clothes we wear.

For many the t-shirt is an old standby. They are a staple in many women’s wardrobes and it’s something comfortable and easy to put on without really thinking about it.

T-shirts travel well, but overall they make an un-stylish statement if not worn properly.

I don’t own too many t-shirts, simply because I don’t like the way they look or fit. Lately though, I’ve found myself drawn to a few and I realized with a few simple steps I can wear them by dressing them up.

I prefer the more vintage style. I also like ones with a scoop neck and some shimmer or embellishments.

Here are three looks I wore this week.

No. 1 City Scape—I spent the last of my Kohl’s gift card ($17) on this “t.” I wore a blue tank underneath with the lace edge showing, gray striped pants (to mimic the lines in the t-shirt) and a silver necklace.

No. 2 Pink Passion— I found this “love” on the clearance rack at Target for $6. I paired it with a denim skirt, black satin belt, black cardigan, boots, grey pearls, a pewter and pink flower necklace (got at Fashion Bug for $1.98 on clearance) and my Staxx ring (gifted from White Birch in Godfrey) that I layered with pink for breast cancer awareness. I also carried my Miche “breast cancer” bag (I’m actually carrying it all month.)

No. 3 Mean Green— I transitioned a pair of tan capris for fall by pairing them with a green NYC “t,” (I already owned) a tan tank layerd underneath to elongate my look, brown belt with large buckle chocolate suede boots, brown hat and gold necklaces.

So many t-shirts are really great and have such strong, eye-catching designs. You don’t have to stop wearing them, you just have to think “outside your closet.”

Although the best t-shirts to dress up are solid colors, you can do so with a graphic design. Make sure you accessorize appropriately. A triple strand turquoise necklace gives a pop of color while using a natural element. Wear oversized chandelier earrings to look chic and modern so your choice of shirt blends into the background. Dress up your t-shirt for winter with a scarf. Pairing the right accessories will give the shirt just the right look.

Remember t-shirts don’t have to look sloppy.

I’ve been a fan of designers Vera Wang, Dana Buchman and Isaac Mizrahi for some time. However I’m not a gal who can afford the high costs associated with these designers’ looks — that is until a few years ago when Kohl’s and Target started carrying their lines.

You get the same great looks that these designers are known for, but at a fraction of the cost. There is also no sacrificing their unique style. Isn’t that why we like designers in the first place?

Since designers have made their distinctive fashion available I’ve been able to get shoes, handbags and clothing. I have a pair of red patent leather (likely PVC) Isaac shoes, Simply Vera and Dana Buchman clothing and Joy Gryson handbag (I got it at Target several years ago.)

Gryson is the former director of design and development for Marc Jacobs handbags and accessories. She also designed for Coach and Calvin Klein.

I like affordable fashion, especially on my budget and since I’ve been doing so well at not really buying much lately every once in awhile I get the opportunity to splurge. For me, that means buying items that I really like when they’re not on sale or the clearance rack.

I purchased a new handbag this week. The Mulberry for Target line hit store racks on Sunday and I just couldn’t pass up getting one. If you’re not familiar Mulberry it’s a company founded in 1971 in Somerset, England.

Mulberry is known for its turnlock. According to creative director Emma Hill the Target bags “represent our Mulberry style and character that channeled our funky, English cool.” Rather than spending hundreds and even thousands of dollars on a Mulberry bag, get your hands on one for as little as $14.99 (instead of $250) and no more than $49.99 (instead of $950 to $5,000!).

I bought the pink leopard patent print — which is not only on point with this season’s animal prints trend, but also reminiscent of the brand’s plum loopy leopard patent leather print, whose Bayswater satchel retails for $1,250.

I guess now you can say I’ve got my “lucky” leopard.

This past weekend I took part in the “Heads & Threads” Fashion Show at Jacoby Arts Center. The event was put on by Lillian Bates of By Design and Conya Cowan of Fringe Salon.

The fashion show was held at the Arts Center because the look both women aspired to do was  more avant garde. Although there were some styles that could worn daily, the majority of the clothes including the outfits made for me were more art pieces rather than ready-to-wear.  I gave my mother the camera before the show and of course she only got a few shots (she’s not really a photographer) so I thought I would post one of my looks. (Once I get some more I will post them and the rest of the ladies looks.)

I picked this shot because it’s Breast Cancer Awareness month and when you’re looking at it , you can’t help but think of the one clothing piece that all women have in common – the bra.  Yes, I did have enough nerve to strap on the unique brassiere that a local artist made from beer/alcohol bottle caps.

I had a fabulous time. Who doesn’t like playing dress up, especially  when it benefits a good cause? It’s the second year the women teamed up for a charity and this time the event actually was put on to help the Arts Center.

The Arts Center opened in 2004 and is governed by the Madison County Arts Council, which is a not-for-profit organization that supports local arts and art education in approved Illinois Arts Council programs. The organization, which was founded in 1981,  works to bring arts to the community through various programs such as ARTEAST, Arts and Champagne and Live at Jacoby: Last Saturday Nights, which showcases local musicians.

Every fall season there are dozens of jacket/coat styles to pick from and for me it’s like a smorgasbord of fabric to enhance my daily look. All this week I wore a jacket with my daily outfits.

Sunday — I spent most of the day outside, so I decided to pair my newly acquired $1 denim jacket with a black turtleneck sweater and white jeans.

Monday — I wore 3 /4 length sleeve blazer I found at the Caravan on Broadway in Alton for $6 along with a deep purple blouse and black pants.

Tuesday — I wore my denim jacket again with a skirt and top from my closet, a scarf I got at Cato (gift card purchase) and brown sweater I bought for .50 cents at the same yard sale I got my jacket along with my wool hat.

Wednesday — I paired a menswear style jacket from my closet with black capris and a black top.

Thursday — I picked a black corduroy jacket with a red plaid skirt and white ruffled blouse.

I paired each outfit with a great pair of shoes and boots that I already own as well as jewelry from my collection.

I feel that each of my outfits looks good with or without the jacket. I think that the key to wearing lightweight outerwear. It needs to be versatile so if you get warm you can take it off and still look good. Outerwear is about fashion meeting function.  So what do you think? What’s your favorite outerwear piece?