Get Your Growl On With Animal Print Accessories

By Colette Bouchez
For CountryDutchess.com

It takes a special kind of woman to go “animal print” head-to-toe. I’m not sure any of us actually want to be that woman …but most of us can learn from her mistakes!

Indeed, the key to wearing animal print is to use it sparingly – and one of the best ways to do that is via accessories. From shoes to handbags, scarves to belts, jewelry, hats even gloves, accessorizing with animal print can be fun and stylish – and keep you looking current without spending a ton of money.

The key to making the look work: Choosing wisely where you place the “growl”.

Here’s a few tips to making animal print accessories work for every season.

1. Don’t over populate the zoo. And that means selecting one animal print per outfit. If you’ve got the leopard shoes and bag going on, don’t mix in the zebra belt or the giraffe print scarf. Unlike other prints which can be mixed and matched, blending in too many animals makes for one untidy fashion playground!

2. Do pair your animal print accessories with bright colors – but chose just one color. For example a great red dress can look amazing when accessorized with leopard . But if the top is red the bottom is blue and the bag is navy, adding an animal print scarf or shoes is just too much activity for the eye to focus on at once.

3. Wear no more than 3 animal print accessories at once. If you’ve got the bag and shoes happening, you can add an animal scarf, pin, bangle, or sweater – but not all of them at once.

4. The biggest animal makes the loudest roar - true in the jungle and on the runway. So the larger your animal print accessory, the fewer pieces you need to play it up. If you’ve got a great animal print topper or a huge oversized bag let it do the growling for you and accent it with other colors, not more animal print.

5. Tiny animals get noticed too – which means you don’t have to wear a lot of animal print to make an impression. Choosing one item – like a zebra print belt on a LBD or leopard print scarf on a LWD – can give you the updated look without going over the top

Flower pin available at CountryDutchess.com

To see a fabulous slide show of the latest animal print accessories at great prices click here.

Oringally printed by  Examiner.com.

For round-the-clock fabulous time & money saving beauty and style advice visit CheapChicDiary.com - or visit us anytime at CountryDutchess.com - Your Source For Fabulous! Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2011 - All Rights Reserved.

Rose Gold: Ten Tips For Wearing The Hot New Metal for 2011

By Colette Bouchez
for CountryDutchess.com

When Katherine Zeta Jones lit up this years Palm Beach Film Fesitval Runway with her dazzling style she wasn’t just looking fabulous – she was on spot with the hottest new trend in jewelry: Rose Gold.

In fact, beginning right now and going forward into Fall 2011, rose gold is making a huge fashion comeback. From major runway forces like Michael Kors, to the craftsperson on Etsy.com, you will be seeing lots more of this warm, rosy metal from fingers to toes.

Of course if you’ve got the zillions of KZJ, then of course you can do the whole look – from earrings to ankle bracelets in this stunning warm toned metal.

But what if you’re only going to buy one or two pieces? Are you stuck with wearing just those two pieces over and over? Not at all!

Rose gold not only pairs deliciously with certain other fashion metal finishes, it also goes great with some wow punch colors. Learning the art of combining them will help you get the look you want without swapping your mortgage payment just to stay on trend!

Here are some tips for how to wear rose gold – what to mix it with and how to be on trend and on budget!

Rose Gold Tips and Advice.


1. Rose gold is made primarily by blending copper with gold – and the more rosy the color the more copper it contains. So your first rose gold fashion tip is to pair it with copper jewelry. Be it bracelets, rings, or earrings, inexpensive copper jewelry will set off the glow of a single piece of rose gold jewelry, keeping you in the right color without breaking your budget.

2.Pair rose gold with turquoise. Nothing, we mean NOTHING looks better than a rose gold watch snuggled up next to a few turquoise bangles. Or choose a pair of fabulous turquoise earrings trimmed in colorado topaz crystals or a turquoise ring to go with your rose gold bracelets. Also seek out the hot new Mosiac Turquoise which blends tiny bits of copper and other earth tones with turquoise for an amazing look with rose gold.

3. Want to give your rose gold jewelry an even rosier glow ? Pair it with coral, rose quartz or red crystal earrings or bracelets for the ultimate red gold glow.

4. When mixing rose gold with yellow gold realize that they both come in many different shades. To get the best blend look for either antique gold (with a darker hue) or a green gold . Both will set off the glow of rose gold and make it stand out . If your gold is too “yellow” your rose gold will fade into the background and won’t even be noticed.

5. When pairing rose gold with silver search out a soft, muted antique silver as opposed to a bright silver. Again, you want the rose gold to come center stage so don’t outshine it with a bright silver.

6. When purchasing rose gold remember there is no such thing as “pure” rose gold – so don’t fall for that sales pitch! Since it’s an alloy blended with yellow gold, you can never have “pure”rose gold.

To learn more tips on how to buy rose gold - and how to get the best bargains - CLICK HERE.

For round-the-clock fabulous time & money saving beauty and style advice visit CheapChicDiary.com - or visit us anytime at CountryDutchess.com - Your Source For Fabulous! Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2011 - All Rights Reserved.Reprinted courtesy  of Examiner.com

Wear Red - Get Noticed - Save Lives!

By Colette Bouchez
for CountryDutchess.com

As February marks the start of The Heart Truth – a month long celebration of women’s heart health awareness – women everywhere are urged to wear red. As a reminder of the importance of our heart health, it’s a kind of fashion-meets-science celebration from which every woman can benefit. In fact, as Fashion Week unfolds in New York City, Mercedes-Benz devotes one entire evening (February 9th) to the Red Dress Collection - an annual fashion show of the hottest red dresses on the runway.

And while wearing a red dress of your own is the ultimate way to make your mark this month, don’t overlook the power of red accessories to bring attention to the cause, and help you look fabulous in the process!


To help you get in the spirit , here are some style suggestion on how to add a touch of a red with a touch of class!

1. Never overlook the power of a great pair of red earrings! If you choose a chandelier style, they might be all the red you need to bring attention to the cause. Wear them with the LBD, with your jeans, with a black or navy business suit and watch the color pop put all eyes on you!

2. Dorothy didn’t just discover Oz in those ruby red slippers – she gave us all a fashion tip that will last for eons of time. We’re talking red shoes – and they can make a powerful fashion statement no matter what you wear them with. If they’re red stilettos, all the better – just ask Carrie Underwood! Pair your own ruby slippers with almost any neutral color outfit for the greatest color impact.

3. The little red bag! Whether it’s a clutch, a tote, a hobo or a satchel, wearing a red bag adds a dash of panache to any outfit ! Pair it with those red shoes and/or a red belt and you’re not only making your statement about women and heart disease, you’ll be making your mark as pretty savvy fashion diva too!

4. Red tights. We know – they’re not for everyone. But if you have great legs, pair them with red or black pumps and wear them with that LBD and you’ll have a pop color statement that won’t soon be forgotten.

5. Red gloves. Michelle Obama set the trend just last month – and instantly red gloves became the “it” accessory of the moment.

6. We’re certain princess- Kate -in-waiting will singlehandedly bring back the fabulous hat as the accessory du-jour, you can get a jump start on the trend by celebrating women’s heart health month with a brand new red hat! Whether you choose a wide floppy brim (ala Jennifer Lopez), a snazzy new fedora or the subdued beret or knitted stocking cap, pair it with a black winter coat, or a denim jacket and you’ve got the look!

7. Wear red lingerie. Even if no one but you knows, let it serve as your personal reminder to take women’s heart health seriously – and to treasure the health of your heart by taking as good a care of yourself as you can!

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Accessories watch: Wear red - get noticed  and see a fabulous slide show of gorgeous red accessories - at discount prices!

For round-the-clock fabulous time & money saving beauty and style advice visit CheapChicDiary.com - or visit us anytime at CountryDutchess.com - Your Source For Fabulous!

Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2011 -Reprinted by permission of Examiner.com