Closet Karma by Kara Kurcz

Dear KK I love your closet advice but I am beyond a "babe on a budget" I am a "Broke Babe". What advice can you give to someone who "literally" has no money to fix her closet. -Poor Pam
	Dear Pam, I completely understand. The great thing about clearing the "karma" of your closet is you really don't have to spend a dime if you don't want to. The most important thing is to make sure your wardrobe reflects who you are. The second is to make sure everything in your closet is accessible and wearable. You don't have to buy fancy wracks or drawers. In fact, you could end up making money when you clear the unneeded clothes out! If you are serious about clearing your closets karma you need to access your closet. Start with the hangers and see WHAT ARE YOUR HANG UPS! Take the quiz below and check back next week for answers to see “How You Are Hanging”.
Make sure to check back next week to see what your results say about you! KK

Dating the Dude with Undesirable Duds

Dear KK, I love to get gussied up! And my man?.... Well, no matter where we are he is fine to stroll around in a baseball cap and flip flops. While I don’t want to change who he is, I am a little embarrassed at times that his wardrobe is “sub par” for the fashion conditions. Any suggestions on how I can remedy my fashion faux pas loving man?                           --Dating the Dude with Undesirable Duds Dear D (I thought I would shorten that mouthful!) Do not fret! This is an issue that has plagued relationships from the dawn of man. I am sure even our fore sisters “the cave ladies” were not exactly thrilled about their man’s choice of wardrobe back in the day.
		But the important thing to remember here is you must not insult or attack someone for their style choice. I am a firm believer that the majority of people out there today are unaware of their options. They open a magazine or see their spouse for the that matter reading a magazine and think, “That’s not me!” So since they can’t relate they close the door on fashion all together.
You have to find a way to meld your man’s style into a fashionable choice. OPEN HIS EYES... to all fashion. I am guessing he is the type of guy who sees jeans as a uniform. And you know what, unless you are going to a black tie affair that is A OK!!! Because now-a-days, even jeans have dress up options. What about finding a retro looking sports jacket at a thrift store? Pairing that with a cool tee and jeans can dress your man up without making him feel you’re trying to “make him over”. As far as shoes go I say take your man to “Nordstrom Rack”. I had a similar issue with my husband... it got to the point where me or the smelly birkenstocks from his college years had to go.... so one day I stopped arguing and said, “Hey, today is Brian day... I am taking you shopping.” I cut him loose in Nordstom Rack and together we tried on 50 pairs of very affordable shoes. We laughed, we joked, and in the end he fell in love with a pair of dress shoes believe it or not that turned out to be totally his style. but never once in the process did I FORCE him to try something.
I made the process fun for him and I kept complimenting his “laid back” approach to fashion and in the end we were both satisfied. A couple who can shop together is a happy couple, trust me. So to make it simple here is my advice to you.
			1.) Comprimise. You like to dress up, he likes to dress down. Find a middle ground with him that allows him to be himself and still makes you feel comfortable. For example: Let him keep his jeans and T-shirt but he has to lose the flip-flops and wear a sports coat over his ensemble. My fun ways to “gussy” up his looks.
2.) Open His Eyes to Options. Clearly your man’s top priority is not fashion so maybe he is not aware of what’s out there. A Taxi Cab hat or a Fedora for example can be super fun dress up options for a man who likes to beat to a different drum than GQ. Take him to a thrift store. If he doesn’t like to spend money on clothes you have to respect that especially in this economy. Show him ways he never thought of to shop.
	3.) Communicate. A lot of men don’t know you’re not suppose to wear “open toed shoes” to this event, or a baseball cap inside. Explain to him kindly that it is not appropriate in some situations. He honestly probably had no clue. And if you are embarrassed maybe explain to him why you feel really good about yourself when you dress up and that sometimes when he dresses down after you spent hours getting ready it hurts your feelings. Make it about how YOU feel, not about HIM and who he is.
Everyone has the right to express themselves. Your man is a great big canvas and he has the brushes you just need to give him the paint! Together I am sure you will make a master piece! KK

Need to Know about the Neon Nancy

Dear KK, What is up with the Neon? I think I am daring, but am I daring enough to bust out hot pink and act like my *%$# don’t stink? I need to know…is there an appropriate way for a 45-year-old to wear neon? Need to Know about the Neon Nancy..
	Dear Neon Nancy,
	Let’s be clear everyone born before 1980 has a right to be afraid of “neon”… I mean the 80’s were a very scary time! Great music! Good ideas! But hmmm... the hair??!
What could the revival of jelly braclettes, lime green and polka dots really mean?…..Aqua net plus a hairdryer? Scary! But the truth is I love color...In fact, I live for color...and some ladies CAN wear neon on top…others CAN wear neon on the bottom…If you have the right skin tones neon green can look amazing on you! Case in point, Michelle Obama’s tops and Cameron Diaz’s bottom’s. But, if you’re a little paler like I am, and not a size zero...I choose to wear neon in accents. Big Bright Bold earings,..fun hot pink shoes...or a great zippy in electric blue! It brings out my eyes but it does not over power the rest of my wardrobe. Hello!!
Even an amazing bright colored necklace can be playful and brighten up your normal black suite no matter what your style! So my answer is…..I totally understand why you are torn about committing to the Neon trend…but fear not dear Neon Nancy… I think Perez Hilton and TMZ have ensured that winged out hair and badly done bubble skirts are officially against the law!

ACCESSS YOU ACCESSORIES...

Dear KK, I am a big fan of Michelle Obama and I have to say I am really starting to like her fashion sense. Do you have any tips on how to get her style at home?                  --Fanny who’s Fawning over the First Lady Dear Fawning Fanny, Great question! I have to be honest. When Michelle Obama first stepped into the lime light of fashion, I held my breath... could she live up to all the hype and media?? There definitely were a few hiccups along the way... but in the end she definitely prevailed! I have always been a big fan of Jackie O’s style, and Michelle is clearly influenced by Jackie, but yet she has found a way to make “First Lady Fashion” accessible to the every day women. One of Michelle’s big secrets seems to be paying attention to the basics: Cardigans, brooches, great fun necklaces, and scarves. But her even bigger secret may be knowing her own body! I am a firm believer that this is extremely important when it comes to celebrating your inner diva. She has amazing arms and she knows how to show them off. She also sticks to short cardigans that fall at the waist or higher which is very flattering considering she is tall. However, Michelle is not afraid to celebrate color. She plays with purples, greens, yellows, and even turquoise on occasion. She has fun with her wardrobe.

What is amazing about her choices is how simple it is to achieve that look at home. Who doesn’t have a cardigan in their closet?... A fun necklace?... Or a playful scarf? And let’s say you don’t own a neck scarf... well that is something you can purchase for under 20 dollars at The Gap, The Limited, or Banana Republic to name a few. Another big thing Michelle knows how to do is, ACCESS her ACCESSORIES especially when it comes to jewelry! If you want to achieve her look don’t be afraid to dig through your jewelry. Draw and pull out your most daring pieces. Pair them with something as simple as a white button down and khakis. Pin those fabulous brooches sitting in your drawer in a unique place. Michelle pays attention to details. She is not running around in crazy jewels and unattainable looks. She is working with color and pieces that anyone has in their closet. So don’t be afraid to be daring! Be BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL! And celebrate your greatest assets whether it be your sexy legs, fabulous arms, or great hips! You got it girl, flaunt it!!! KK

Carry the Concerned Consumer

Dear KK, Recently I had a nasty run in with a company. I ordered a product and when it was delivered it was the wrong color and poor quality (nothing like it was advertised). I sent it back twice and the people working there seemed to care less about my complaints. I am really frustrated especially since the company is well known and with the economy being the way it is...EVERY PENNY COUNTS... do you have any advice on what I can do to demand quality?
		-- Carry the Concerned Consumer Dear Carry, That can be really frustrating! Trust me I have spent hours on the phone trying to “right” the wrong doings of a botched delivery, bad cable installation, or faulty furniture. There are several things you can do to have your voice heard. First go to their website (if they have one) and make a consumer ratings comment. Trust me, companies like, Amazon, EBags, HSN, QVC etc. take that very seriously. And enough ratings will force the company to either remove the product or make some changes based on consumer demand.
If you feel that isn’t enough and that maybe there is a bigger issue at hand like “false advertising” you can contact the Federal Trade Commission and file a consumer complaint. https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/ If it is a smaller company in your hometown definitely check out the Better Business Bureau.
			There is a website for each US city and you can post complaints there as well. Plus, you may find out you are not alone. The most important thing to do is try to prevent this from happening again. Educate yourself. In a tough economy we have to do our research before buying. Read those consumer reviews.
Google the product and see what other people have said. There are lots of great websites that rate products for you like www.consumerreports.org. There is a wealth of information out there thanks to the internet so do your research so you can have peace of mind that this will never happen again... and if it does YOU WILL BE READY TO FIGHT BACK! KK

DISCOURAGED DIVA

Dear KK, Recently I was reading a magazine and a celebrity was commenting on how they have tricks to looking thin. At first I was excited then I realized the celebrity giving advice was a size 2, so being a size 14 I felt crushed. Not to mention it is Thanksgiving weekend and I am feeling extremely bloated and fat.                                       --DISCOURAGED DIVA Dear Discouraged Diva, First of all, DO NOT beat yourself up. Thanksgiving is a holiday centered around food and everyone is feeling it the Friday after... this I promise you! Second, I am a bit tired of the size zeros in the world pushing around lettuce on their plate and giving me tips on how to look “thinner”. Hello! If I was a size zero I would tell the world to “take a hike” if they called me fat in a magazine. Heck if I was a size 4 I would do that!! I can say this for several reasons: 1.) I live in L.A. and work in the fashion and entertainment industry. 2.) When I was growing up in the Midwest as a teen I was one of many teenagers who suffered from an eating disorder because I was trying to listen to these crack heads. 3.) I have been as small as a size 4 in my adult life, and as large as a size 12.
		I still get carded anywhere I go (even though I am 32) and yet I have had the privilege of leaning back in a dentist chair and hearing the doctor say, “You only have slight laugh lines, you totally could do a light round of botox and look natural.” OMG! PEOPLE! What is wrong with this world? Well, I can tell you, for me I should probably be a large size 6 or muscular 8 to be healthy. And yes I am 5’3” not 5’9” ladies.... and I can also tell you that I don’t always fall in that range. Sometimes I make bad food choices.
	Sometimes my life is too stressful and my thyroid breaks. Sometimes I have to pay the bills and work 24/7 and the gym is a distant land. So what is a normal girl to do during the sometimes??? Here is my guide to survival: 1.) Wear the right bra. If you are wearing the wrong size you can look saggy on top, lumpy, and larger.
	2.) Raid your accessories. I am telling you BIG earrings make a difference. Also, scarves and long layered necklaces can be fabulous.
The great thing about fashion is anything goes. do you know how many times my husband has said, “Um you can’t wear those together,” and I say, “Yes I can!” cut to SCENE: L.A. party, five SKINNY BITCHES walk up to me and say, “OMG love your jewelry, who did that?” (wink wink KK did.)
			3.) BIG HAIR. Now don’t do New Jersey circa 1987 hair, but styling your hair bigger will make your face appear thinner. Crimping can actually be very pretty now-a-days. And you can get them CHEAP at any local drug store. Also, if you have a round face... think height. I straighten my hair then pull it half up and add height on top when I want to look thinner.
				4.) Yes Spanx do work. Just make sure if you are thicker, you either hook them into bra, or tuck them under. You don’t want unnecessary back rolls caused by squeezing action.
If you have thin legs, leggings and nylons are the way to go because they distract people from what is going on up top and keep the eye focused on your ASS-etts. 5.) Black is black. Anything you want to cover up, dress it in black, period. For other tips check out some archived blogs on dressing your body type. Don’t be discouraged! You are Fab! Your are Gorgeous and you are A DIVA! KK

Hankering to Hide this Holiday

Dear KK, Recently I had a baby and I am having a hard time losing weight, so now I am dreading the holidays. I can’t fathom going through this season with A.) Still wearing my maternity clothes, or B.) People thinking I am still pregos because my belly is so big. Any words of advice about how to survive the holidays?                                                              - Hankering to Hide this Holiday

Dear Hank (it was too cute to resist!) Ok first off, congrats on being a new MOM! You are amazing and you ROCK!

And I want to take a moment to worship the goddess you are right now! Please tomorrow morning look into the mirror and start your day with this mantra, “Good morning gorgeous, you are ONE HOT MAMA, and you are on FIRE.”

Trust me, there are plenty of us “hankering to hide” this holiday and it ain’t because we had a baby, it is because we forgot our gym membership at work... uh..... like ... 8 months ago.

I know people can be cruel and they say the rudest things sometimes, but I’ll be damned before I let someone destroy the diva-luscious BABE lurking inside of you. Lucky for you, last Holiday season my Thyroid broke (or that is how I like to refer to it)...

all of a sudden I was swollen, bloated, and approaching the season of parties and I quickly became an expert in how to dress when your belly is a mess!

The key to surviving the Hell of the Holidays is to know your body type, your limitations, and your ASSetts. 1.) Are you an Apple, Pear, Hour Glass, Straight, or Full Bust kind of gal? 2.) What is your weakness? Mine is my waist, it is short and sort of smooshed so when I gain weight it throws everything off.

3.) What is your best body part? Mine are my legs. For you, is it your arms? Your butt? Your bust?

I find that short Empire waist dresses look best on me. However, they have to synch under my bra line. Since I have a full bust, I need to make sure my bra line is sculpted out, otherwise I look like a huge square box! If you have slender arms and a smaller bust line you can wear strapless dresses that have a more giving bottom like chiffon. If you don’t like your arms, I am a huge Bolero fan during the Holidays. They are super cute and appropriate for the season. Shift dresses can be very forgiving as well, just make sure you pick one that is flattering to your bust line. If you don’t like your arms get creative on the sleeves you choose.

It doesn’t always have to be long sleeves. There are really cool options out there. Also, make sure you pick forgiving material; stay away from satin or polyester blends and stick with jersey, cotton/rayon blends, and chiffon. If you are going for something flowy, make sure it has a halter top or something sexy that will have people focusing their eyes on the “girls” not the gutt! I love to shop Nordstrom.com. where you can click on dresses and they have a “shop by body shape” section. Even if you don’t buy a dress from that site, you can get some really good ideas on what will be flattering to your current scenario. Do not be discouraged, there are tons of options out there. And remember, rouging rocks and so do you!!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! KK

Haggling? Heather

Dear KK, With the economy the way it is right now, is it acceptable to dicker prices at Sample Sales? If acceptable, is there an appropriate way to go about doing this - a way to feel confident and not too tacky?
-- Haggling? Heather HELLO TO THE SOON TO BE HAGGLING HEATHER! It is always acceptable to negotiate price at Sample or Seconds Sales.
The reality of those sales is that the companies, stores, or designers have made a little “oopsy” when it comes to what they ordered that season. Here is what happens: Vogue says, “Vivacious Violet” is the “it” color of the season.
	So every designer scrambles to come up with the most amazing rendition of “Vivacious Violet” you have ever seen. Then every store stocks their shelves with plenty of purple.... but Mary, in Minnesota, along with half the country, buys everything in BLACK! So let me tell you first hand you can haggle. They just want to get the merchandise out the door. However, you have to be realistic. If you know something is let’s say, $189.00 retail, then you can guess the wholesale price would be anywhere from $70.00 - $90.00. (Retail is usually a 2.0 - 2.5 mark up TYPICALLY, there are always exceptions.)
		So you have to assume that the place selling the item is losing money under $70.00, or at least not turning a very high profit. HOWEVER, You can absolutely walk out the door with items sold for under wholesale. Just arming yourself with the knowledge of the
		wholesale price will make sure you won’t look tacky. I always tell people that 20% - 25% below wholesale is a good number to shoot for when negotiating.
Buying multiple items will always help. When we do end of season Sample Sales, we always give amazing deals if you buy more than two items. When people buy a third item, they get as much as 40% off wholesale... so it’s a steal!
			Now if you are buying “actual samples” that look a little worn but are still fabulous enough to rock out on a Friday night, I feel you can go as low as you feel the item is worth. Remember these are samples that have been traveled, touched, and tried on, so you are doing them a favor by taking them off their hands! HAGGLE AWAY!!!!! KK

Scared Scissor-less

						Dear KK, You had me at layer. You lost me at scissors. What about some options for us no-sew gals?     -- Scared Scissor-less
Dear Scared Scissor-less, Fear not my Fabulous Friend, you can redefine your tee without using a needle or thread. In LAYWOMAN terms... if you take a look at a basic T-shirt, you will see seams around the neck, arms, and bottom.
	I like to cut the seam out of the neck first. (You just follow the circle.) Once that is done you start cutting wider. the beauty is it doesn’t matter how jagged or uneven your cuts are. Thanks to the “80’s” a couple of bad cuts can be considered “retro”. Then you can do the same with the sleeves and even cut little slices into the sleeve to make it more rock and roll. It will hang loosely off you, and if you throw a tank underneath... you’re hot to trot!
But if you are still scared of the scissors, here are several options that don’t involve sewing, scissors, or sweat! 1.) Got a pair of old leggings from last season that are too worn and torn to wear alone? Can’t afford a new jean skirt and the one you love is too short to wear out? Throw the leggings under the jean skirt with a great pair of heels!
				2.) Does your man have a pair of jeans he needed to send to good will 10 years ago? If so today is your lucky day. Oversized jeans are all the rage this year. Its’ worth a shot - try them on. Depending on how tall or big your man is, you can do large rolls with the cuffs and roll the waist down over a belt. You will be on trend without breaking the bank! 3.) Turn your removable straps into jewelry! At solasfashion.com I design most of my clutches with removable straps.
		60% of those straps are designed so you can use them as necklaces or braclets. Start looking at your handbags; what could you turn into jewelry? I promise you there are hidden gems in your handbags.
			4.) Scarves are another fun trick. When my dresses seem drab     or my blouse blase, I look through my scarves and headband bin.      “Hair-kerchiefs” were hot for awhile, and they can be recycled
					and worn around the neck. Old winter scarves with a pair of jeans and a tank can be fabulous in the fall if you are in a warm climate, and if not, throw on an old blazer and it’s an outfit.
					5.) Dig through your old wraps, cardigans and blazers. You can ALWAYS re-invent an outfit by pairing it with a new twist. Whether it be a skirt, jeans, high heels, or layered necklaces, try on old items and have fun inventing NEW FASHION!
HAPPY HUNTING! KK                                                                                                                        http://jsmagic.net/

Bag Hag

Dear KK, I have to admit it... I am a whore..... a handbag whore!!! I have bags in all shapes sizes and colors. Now you may say I need to size down my collection, but I use every single bag I have. Some for everyday use, some for special occasions, some for dates, and the list goes on. The problem is, they are all sitting in a mound on the floor of my closet. Please help!!!     --Bag Hag
	Dear Bag Hag, First of all I would like to start by saying, “Welcome to the Sorority Sister!” I too am a self proclaimed “bag hag”. But here is the thing darling, you can’t leave those precious purses laying around. It’s bad Karma! Leaving your handbag on the floor is more than just a drag for the bag.... it’s telling the universe, “I don’t care much about my personal things.” In fact there are many superstitions related to leaving your “bad bag handling”. And most of them point to bad luck with money! “Purse on the floor, money out the door!” And nobody wants that.... how ever would you shop? So I have gotten quite creative with my bag displays over the years and here are some tips and suggestions I have to help handle your handbags :).
		1.) Organize your bags into a “day” and “night” section. You could do this in bins, on a shelf, or even drawers. Back in the day I bought these beautiful wicker baskets and I laid my bags in them. One was a day and one was night. They only cost me $20 each, but saved me a huge headache!
2.) Consider them a work of art. What does this mean? Display them baby! Hang them creatively. When I was really broke I could not afford all the fabulous options out there to organize my closet, so I redecorated my bedroom.
I created a wall where my favorite handbags were displayed like art. It allowed me to see all my bags, and it looked really neat as well. You need to pay homage to your handbag. You obviously love them so show them off!
			3.) Dedicate a space. If you have the time and space I suggest dedicating some real space to your bags and shoes.
			My husband is really handy, so together we created a wall where I could display all my bags. If you don’t have space, check out your local arts and crafts stores.
They have all kinds of picture frames and easels that you could find really gorgeous ways to display your bags.
4.) Remember you don’t need to be rich to rule your closet. Here are some very affordable and fabulous hanging organizers. You could hang them in your closet or on your door. -Whitmor Handbag File - Clear/White it’s 9.99 and can be found at Target.com. This is clear so it won’t clash with anything. -The Purse Rack by Jokari is only 10.99 at www.organize.com -If you want to be a little more funky, try the Damask Closet Organizer. It’s about 22.00 and it comes in crazy patterns and cool styles. Remember, where you display your purse is just as important as how you pack your purse!
xoxoxo KK