Juicy Sweatpants Do Not An Outfit Make

I had the privilege of spending a few days in my college town Tempe/Scottsdale, AZ this weekend, and I feel compelled to write about this epidemic. Unfortunately, Scottsdale style can be defined by overly flashy, too tight, diamond studded clothing (for men and women), and last but not least, Juicy Couture sweatpants. Now, besides the obvious, there are a couple of issues that I have with the last point:

1. This fad of terry cloth sweatsuits started when I was a freshman in college over 7 years ago

2. It seems the rest of the country has gotten the memo (except maybe the Real Housewives of Orange County)

3. Sweatpants in general are made for lounging around at home, not to be paired with stilettos for a day of running around town.

Sure, we have all bought into fads before, and it's not always a bad thing. But the very definition of a fad is that it is short-lived. This is why I don't understand why girls in Tempe and Scottsdale are still wearing pepto-pink terry cloth Juicy pants with tight tank tops, heels, and hair and makeup perfectly in place. There are many other more modern and more fashionable ways to be comfortable and cute.

Alternative Apparel Eco-Heather Crop Pant

Photo Credit: saltstreet.com

These crop pants by Alternative Apparel, $35 at www.alternativeapparel.com, are a perfect option to soothe your need for comfort, and the style proves that you're not living in the past when it comes to fashion.

Alternative Apparel Burnout Leggings

Photo Credit: thisnext.com

These burnout leggings by Alternative are also a great go-to piece for a comfy mood. The fabric is ultra soft and will look fab paired with a solid longer tee. Plus they are on sale for $19.99 at www.alternativeapparel.com!

Bottom line is that good style does not have to be sacrificed for comfort. Leggings and a cute cardigan are just as easy to throw on as sweatpants and a tank top. So go ahead and skip the jeans or dress, but please don't reach for the terry cloth!

Dress On!

Lisa

S.O.S. - Save Our Soles!

In the world of fashion, looking fabulous often comes first, while comfort is a distant second. Shoes are a prime example of this since most of the boots, pumps, sandals, and heels that we stick our feet into are hardly orthopedically beneficial. If you are anything like me, you have probably learned to ignore the pain and keep on strutting.

Pour La Victoire "Brenda" booties Elizabeth & James "Janet" pumps

Photo Credit: bloomingdales.com Photo Credit: bloomingdales.com

However, last year I learned the hard way that ignorance is not always bliss. After months of stubborn foot pain, I finally dragged myself to the doctor only to discover that I had a broken bone in the ball of my foot...most likely caused by wearing high heels. This landed me three and a half months in a walking cast and near abandonment of my shoe collection - a very tough sentencing for a style maven.

While I'm happy to say that my foot healed, I have been forever cautioned about the dangers of high heels. I wear them on special occasions, and skip them if I know I will be on my feet a lot. I also take precautions to prevent another injury, and one of them is increased cushioning. After realizing that the shoe inserts sold in stores did not provide enough comfort, I turned to something else...silicone nipple concealers.

Photo Credit: www.barenecessities.com

Yes, that's right, I started using nipple concealers on the ball of my foot and the comfort level has increased immensely! They provide much more cushion than the other inserts, and you can use them in just about any shoe. My pick is the "Smooth 'em" concealers by Pure Style Girlfriends, $17, available at specialty retailers and online at www.barenecessities.com. On a side note, they work great in their primary function, as well.

Sometimes in fashion, you have to think outside the box to reap the rewards. Give them a shot, I'm sure your feet will be grateful.

Dress on!

Lisa