October is the month of the "ta-ta's"!

Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness month....STOP what you are doing right now and make an appointment for your mamogram. When was the last time you had one anyways? No more procrastinating! Just do it!

Another way (literally) you can support the "girls" is with a good bra. Nothing improves your silhouette more than a supportive bra!

I have to say this new bra from Soma--is the bomb! It eliminates back fat and gives you a smooth look in your clothes! Now is comes in animal print too! Also, it is available w/ a back closure style if you prefer.

Soma's Vanishing Back Front-Close Nadia Underwire Bra

Since EARLY detection saves lives, I hope you'll join me and get your mamogram done!

Love, Leslie

Eleven Ways to Boost Your Body Image

I'm pretty good looking, aren't I?

Beauty is more than skin deep...it really is. It's about having the confidence that you are pretty inside and out just the way you are. However, a bit of self-grooming does wonders to how a woman feels!

Here are eleven ways to boost your self-image...

1. Preen, primp and groom. Take care of any neglected grooming. Pamper with any or all of the following: mani, pedi, bikini wax, underarm shaving and eye brow shaping. A touch of self-care and you’ll feel pretty instantly.

2. Wear pretty under-things. Sure, no one else sees your lingerie beneath your clothes, but you’ll feel prettier knowing you are wearing them. Nude colored undergarments (how about lacey ones?) are great investments because they don't show through—you’ll surly get your money’s worth.

3. Shop for shoes. Nothing orthopedic looking. Go for style—but don’t skimp on comfort. Sassy flats with embellishments will make everything you wear look fabulous! Maybe you can hot-glue some glizty gems onto flats you already own?

4. Make it up. Put on a little makeup and you’ll positively glow! A touch of lip gloss and mascara on curled lashes--it doesn't take much to feel and look so pretty!

5. Treat yourself to a massage or a long walk. De-stress by getting a massage or going on a long walk. Yes, you’re busy but take time out for you—because you are worth it.

6. Sign up for a 5k walk/run with a friend. It’s hard to not feel more confident when you are training and thinking about making it across a finish line—bring a friend and you’ll motivate each other.

7. Focus on what your body does for you. If you are a mother, you know the amazing things your body is capable of creating—your beautiful children! Treat your body with the respect it deserves and it will treat you well too.

8. Embrace your womanly curves—because they are beautiful. You were created as a unique person. Embrace your curves, ladies! Wear flattering clothes that are not too big or too tight and you’ll always look your best.

9. Strike a pose. Perhaps a yoga pose. Try out a yoga class and see what happens. Research suggests women who do yoga have a healthier attitude towards their bodies because yoga discourages self-judgment.

10. Accept compliments with a smile. Others see your beauty—so simply thank them. Soon you’ll see your beauty too.



11. Stop, look and appreciate. Stop and take a look at your reflection---yes really look. Don’t zero in on your trouble zones—instead smile at the good parts. Remember: it’s okay to be proud of your body just the way it is.

You are beautiful and deserve to love yourself just the way you are!
 

Love, Leslie aka MissusSmartyPants

How to Liven Up Your Basic Black

Do you wear black more often than any other color? It's the "easy button" in style, isn't it? 

Here basic black is livened up with color and texture....

Automatically grabbing something black first thing in the morning doesn't require much thought--and before a cup of coffee who wants to think? The problem is after awhile your style lacks creativity--and well, looks BORING! Soon you begin to look like you'll be attending a funeral on a daily basis. If this is starting to sound like you, you need to lighten up and liven up all that black in your wardrobe!

Don't purge all the black--work with it! With these tough economic times, I don't know a woman that is willing (or should) chuck all her black clothes from her closet!

So, here's how to liven up all the basic black in your closet...

1. Wrap an animal print scarf around your neck or wear an animal print belt. Even a sweater in an animal print will work! Nothing brings black and brown together better than an animal print!

2. Add a chunky mixed metal and pearl necklace to your basic black outfit. The sparkle and shine of a cute necklace will brighten up basic black.

3. Now's the time to wear those pink shoes that you don't thing go with anything!

4. Wear a different color/texture of tights. Try gray tights---they will lighten up your black and they are the "hot" new color for fall!

5. That bright red handbag that hardly gets used? All black would give it center stage!

6. Wear your favorite colorful sweater or blouse under your basic black suit.

7. LBD w/ low neckline?...wear a colorful choker or layered dyed pearls and show off your sassy neckline.

8. Don't shy away from mixing black with other neutral pieces like navy shoes or a brown belt.

9. Have something you don't think "matches" anything? C'mon wear it with your basic black. Soft pastels, grays, mauves, blush pinks...all look great w/ black!

Polka dots, checks and stripes (as long as they are different scales) can be mixed and matched with black!

10. Wear your basic black with a textured jacket, tweed pants or a nubby scarf. Black is the perfect backdrop to any unique textured item.

Don't ditch all your black! Black is a "fab" wardrobe choice because it's classic, goes with just about everything (given the chance) and it doesn't show small smudges--plus you can wear the same piece differently in one week (no one will even notice)!

The black in the skirt's print, the tank and boots all are "livened up" with

the use of the light denim jacket...

Black basic pieces do stretch your wardrobe dollars--it's up to you to get creative with your style!

Love, Leslie

Fall Style in Paris

Fall Style in Paris by Leslie Rouch Gonzales on Polyvore.com

You can have great style!

This season there are exciting new silhouettes to try! However, many women are afraid to try something new with their style. Perhaps because they don't know if the style is right for them. Is it right for their body shape, is it too "out of the box" and fashion-forward because they are afraid to try something new? Being stuck in a style rut makes your life dull, so why not explore new style?

Many women sit on the sidelines and let fabulous style just pass them by. Is this you, and if so why? What is holding you back from great style?

You certainly don't have that twenty-something shape anymore, but aren't you more confident than you were then? What is holding back your style could be your negative attitude and the social media's influence of what the "perfect" woman's body is....

(This cute sweater vest is a fabulous fall style---Coldwater Creek)

Women sometimes give up on style and feel they can never look as good as they once did--when they were younger or thinner. I’m here to tell you beauty is NOT a size or particular shape. What is important is finding out what styles are best for your body shape. Learning how to highlight your good parts and minimize the not so good parts is what makes you look great. When women dress for today they feel like a million bucks!


Be realistic with yourself and love yourself enough to make some changes in your appearance. No more do you have to just put on “whatever”! You can have great style—just the way you are!

The media's negative talk doesn't help us! When it comes to images of beautiful women, we are inundated by the media of what women should look like. When you stand at the check-out lane in the grocery store, you see slim, vivacious women on the covers of magazines. You see celebrities that look too good to be true. Guess what? They are! The glossy photos of women on the cover of Cosmo, and other magazines, ALL have been air brushed to perfection. Yes, they may be beautiful women, but if the angle was not quite right or they appeared “thicker” than what the editor had in mind, then picture is re-touched to make them appear “perfect”. This in NOT what real women look like! (Thank Goodness) To get a more realistic idea… look around you. Open your eyes and see women on a bus, in the doctor’s office, out shopping at the stores--everywhere. They are not magazine covers--they are REAL women. They are beautiful women with flabby arms, average height, petite women with full bottoms, those with skinny arms and everything in-between. Take a look in the mirror and see what another REAL woman looks like—YOU!

Regardless of your dress size, shape or age you CAN have terrific style all you have to do is reach out and grab it! Make it happen! All women have some figure challenges—it a matter of finding the styles and cuts that work for you. When you learn WHAT to wear and WHY, then you will begin to have that style other women envy!

You may wish you had that “twenty-something” body again. Don’t live in the past! Instead, dress for today and look ahead to great style! Start learning to dress your body shape and your body will “appear” well proportioned and everyone will want to know what your “style secrets”are! Great style is NOT a size or shape--it's about attitude, great fit and knowing what styles are your best! Having great style is for YOU!

Need help knowing what styles are most flattering for your shape? Check out my website: http://www.missussmartypants.com/
 
Love, Leslie

Leggings: to wear them OR not to wear them....

(photos: Ann Taylor Loft)

Dear SYSters,


It’s now officially the beginning of fall (according to the stores). It may not yet seem like fall where you live (I know, it’s over 90 degrees here) but it’s time to start thinking about the new fall fashions—even if you can’t wear them yet.


Preparing your wardrobe ahead of the cooler weather will assure you style will shine all season long. I’m happy to report many stylish SYSters are beginning to put their fall wardrobes together right now. I’m so looking forward to the first cold day I can wear my new gray boots—aren’t you?

So far this season here is the one question I’m asked most often:

“I’m over 40, can I still wear leggings?”

This is not a “one size fits all” type of question to answer. However, that being said, you’re never too old to wear leggings. Really, you are not too old! What is more important is how or what you wear them with!


You should wear leggings with longer tunics, dresses above the knee, sweater dresses and long boyfriend jackets and sweaters. Your bottom should ALWAYS be covered when wearing leggings. Leggings look equally good with flats, pumps or boots/booties (depending upon what you are wearing).


Which color of legging is best? For the best look, select leggings in the same color as the shoe you are wearing. Leave the zebra print leggings and bright colors to the teenage girls!


STYLE TIP: Treat your leggings like tights—don’t wear them like pants. Follow this tip and you’ll never look like you forgot your pants. Instead you'll be “Showing Your Style” SYSter—every time you wear leggings!


Love, Leslie MSP


Ah, NO! Wearing a different color of shoe makes your legs look stumpier! Not a good look....

Ah, NO! Ladies, don't do this...Cover your bits!



Do pair up a longer tunic or sweater (or dresses & skirts) with your leggings....

+

What's your opinion about leggings? Are you going to wear them with me this season?Join my MSP’s facebook fanpage and give your opinion about leggings and more:


http://www.facebook.com/pages/MissusSmartyPants/133840446927?ref=mf

Find YOUR ideal skirt length

What's your best skirt length?

As you all know I'm all about finding the right body proportions and wearing the right styles for your shape! It's what REAL style is all about for women...wearing what flatters YOU!

Recently I was "googling" and I came across a website talking about skirt length. I wasn't looking for anything about skirt length...but one click lead to another and there I was SIDETRACKED! Argh! I found an article about measuring and forgot what I was originally doing, LOL! Anyways...since my recent posting about body measurements and horizontal lines that are created on our bodies with the clothes we wear...well, I got engrossed all over again! Below, I'll give you the measurement formula I learned back in college in one of my advanced sewing classes--so you can find YOUR best skirt length...

So, what is the "right" skirt length? These last couple of seasons, skirt length has been up in "mini" territory or about mid-thigh-ish--and it's just not something most ladies can wear!!! Thankfully most women are ignoring this trend and wearing whatever length they prefer. This fall we find skirt lengths all over the place. Marc Jacobs and other designers are now bringing back mid-calf lengths (I think just to mess with our heads, LOL)! So, my timeless advice of wearing what works BEST for you--still holds true!

Does this look good?!

When wearing boots...this awkward length doesn't look so bad...

Wear what you love, what flatters you and be the best "first rate version of yourself"!

Here is the "formula" for figuring out your most flattering length:

(You'll need a cloth measuring tape)

You’ll take 2 measurements: from your hipbone straight down the outside of your leg to the middle of your kneecap, and from the middle of your kneecap (outside edge) straight down to the middle of your ankle bone.

Here’s the formula:

(LONGER LEG LENGTH minus SHORTER LEG LENGTH) divided by 2 = X

X is the number of inches above or below the knee your skirt length should be.  If your shins are shorter than your thighs, raise your hem X inches above your knee.  If your thighs are shorter than your shins, lower the hem X inches below the knee.

Basically you want to visually equalize the length of the upper and lower leg.

So, I did it and here are my calculations...

Hipbone to middle of knee: 24"

Middle of knee to ankle bone: 17"

Difference = 7"

Divided by 2 = 3.5"

So, my IDEAL skirt length can go up or below my knee 3.5"...I played with this in front of my full length mirror and I agree that both lengths will be attractive on me (but keep in mind, I'm tall so I have more vertical space to play with in the first place). It's good to know since skirt lengths are coming back DOWN again. Actually, according to this calculation--I should go UP above my knees to balance things out since my thigh measurement is larger....I'm not feeling it right now. Maybe when the weather cools and I'm wearing opaque tights....

Long story short...I still maintain that my BEST skirt length is around my knee. It works for me and it'll still work for YOU! So, if you follow my timeless advice about wearing your skirts around your knee area--you can chuck this whole skirt calculation thingie right out the window!!!! LOL!

I'm sticking with what works for me....

But, do the calculation because you may have some skirts hanging in your closet long or short and it's good to know if the length considered right for you :)

I'd love to hear your opinion...
Your turn. What do you think? What skirt length are you going to wear this season???