If you wait until Memorial Day weekend to break out the whites — it’s here. And white dresses are the best. I have two, but I would like to have a little more of a tan as one of my accessories. I’m working on that right now! These dresses are from Zappos.

You gotta love a name like White Haute Fashions. Click on that link for some great looks — white with plenty of colorful accessories to pop some style.

Have a spectacular Memorial Day weekend!

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom to three and step grandmom to one.

I have seen this idea in a lot of places, but the folks from Kohl’s sent me some really cute and inexpensive choices for sunglasses shapes that flatter your face for $17 and up. Here they are:

If your face is round: Create contrast, wear square or rectangular frames that are slightly wider than the broadest part of your face.  These floral shades at left are from L.C. Lauren Conrad at Kohl’s for $18 — on sale.

If your face is square: Choose sunglasses with a higher top than at the bridge with oval or round frames that soften facial features. These babies at left are only $11 on sale at Kohl’s.

If your face is long: Choose angular and squared lenses. Try on those bad boys at right from Apartment 9, $13 on sale at Kohl’s.

If your face is oval: Anything goes. These cool Candie’s Retro Florals are $14.99 at Kohl’s.

If your face is heart-shaped: Choose a pair that adds width to the lower part of the face. Glasses that are wider at the top and narrower at the bottom — aviators and cat-eye sunglasses are good choices. Check out these Cat’s eye lenses from Apartment 9 for $12.99.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom of three and step grandmom of one.

I’m not a flats kind of girl, but an e-mail spoke to me about “Earthing.”

The makers of Pluggz teased me about how good it feels to walk barefoot on grass or sand — they explained that it’s because we are in direct touch with nature  – Mother Earth.

We absorb energy, electrons that “ground” us — called Earthing. Well that caught my attention, so I visited the website and found  leather and linen ballet flats that have “pluggzproprietary” grounding technology, padded arches and heels with memory foam, moisture wicking, anti-microbial lining and trampoline heels for extra comfort and support. They retail for $129 per pair. I am hoping to get a free pair to try them out for everyone. They have a men’s version — flip flops.

White nails — they’re everywhere –Huffington Post, Harper’s Bazaar and more. This photo is from InStyle. The white nails look pretty good and some folks add little decals, stickers and other adornments. Check it out in the latest edition of InStyle magazine. 

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom of three and step grandmom of one.

The clothing is coming!

The clothing is coming! And a whole lot more.

“Downton Abbey” styles goes retail this year — according to Gareth Neame in an interview with CNBC.

“We’ll be working across an entire range of products coming out this year. From fashion, apparel and homeware and furniture to wallpapers, beauty products and stationery,” Neame, who is also the show’s executive producer, told CNBC.

“Some of these things have been available since 2012 and we publish books and have made a music album, but the more complex products take time,” he said, adding that there would be even more scope for merchandising in the future.

Click on the picture — it takes you to the story from Huffington Post in the UK. Here’s the story from Huffington Post in the United Kingdom. Here’s the story from E!Online. Here’s the story from Vogue.

Will 1920s styles sell nearly 100 years later? That will be the real story.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom of three and step grandmom of one.

Are you seeing people wearing white year round? I am, and it appears that old Memorial Day to Labor Day seasonality of white is gone — thank goodness! Fashion stylist Christie Maruka says wearing white all year long is a new trend. Here’s her advice on wearing white:

1. Does white work for you? It works for many women, but not everyone. If you have a great tan or naturally dark skin, it’s beautiful. Warm skin tones go well with white. If it washes you out, forget about it.

2. The hottest way to wear white this season is head-to-toe. It can be really flattering if the proportions and the fit are just right. White jeans and a v-neck T-shirt or crisp button-down tailored shirt are great looks.

3. A pencil skirt with a classic white top can be fabulous. Be sure everything is slim but not tight. White can be unforgiving. As for jeans, make sure they are not cropped ,or they can make your legs look shorter. Pass on white skinny jeans unless your very slim. 

4.  An all-white look can be really great accessorized with one of summer’s uber-bright colors such as coral, turquoise or royal blue. A handbag, sandal or scarf in one of these shades can make white pop. A bright print top paired with white pants and blazer is beautiful. And don’t forget stripes with white, especially navy, black or white stripes.

5. The biggest mistake women make with white is what they wear underneath it. When wearing white, it’s critical to wear lingerie that is as close as possible to the color of your skin. Don’t wear white undies because every line will show. Don’t wear colored undies unless you are trying to make a statement.

6. When shopping for white clothes, opt for natural fibers, especially linen or cotton, which are beautiful in white. Avoid white satin or polyester.

7. Beware of cling when wearing white. White doesn’t take well to being too tight or showing bra or panty lines. Dresses that flow gently past the curves look best. Some flowing and billowing sundresses or flirty tops can be lovely in white as well, especially when paired with a narrow silhouette such as a skinny jean or leggings.

8. Avoid white for photos or TV. While it may look lovely in person, it can, sadly, add pounds when worn on TV or captured in photos.

9. When buying something white, especially a dress or pants, it’s important to make sure it’s opaque or solid and not too see-through. Try holding the dress up so the light shines through it.

10. Invest in quality white pieces that you will have for a while. This is where you can feel good about spending a bit more..because quality white pieces hang nicely, wash well, and you can wear year after year.

For more info on Maruka visit fashionfixnj.com.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times andHouse to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom to three and step grandmom to one.

I can’t help but wonder if the resurgence of The Great Gatsby-ish glam isn’t helped a little bit by Downton Abbey‘s fashions. Squidoo agrees with me — the 1920s were soo elegant. Click on the photo, and it takes you to Fashionista.com and links to the film trailer. The new movie is just weeks away from hitting theaters.

“The Great Gatsby,” F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel published in 1925, returns to the screen for the sixth time. Scroll to the bottom for Wikipedia’s entire list of who’s who in the films.

Gatsby brings us lace, drop waists, satin and flowing, fluid style. Femininity reigns. It’s big fashion news in London – click here for more on that. One quirky thing is this movie was delayed in release … a few times, but fashion houses were ready. So some of us already have our Daisy Buchanan duds and frocks. I know I have at least four lacy numbers that look remarkably like what I wore in the 1970s when Gatsby was released. The colors, the fabrics — welcome back, Daisy.

Brooks Brothers is into the fashion – click here for the men’s side.

I remember the 1974 movie and the style. Daisy Buchanan was played by Mia Farrow — she’s now 68. Click here for an update on her. Robert Redford was Jay Gatsby. Farrow  married Frank Sinatra and then settled in with Woody Allen. She was a fixture on “Peyton Place” and played the mom in “Rosemary’s Baby.”And who doesn’t know Robert Redford?

Direct from Wikipedia– here are the six movies all sort of based on the novel:

1. The Great Gatsby, 1926  – a silent movie of a stage adaptation, starring Warner Baxter, Lois Wilson, and William Powell. It is rumored ot be the best adaptation of the novel, but we’ll never know. A trailer of the film at National Archives is all anyone can find.
2. The Great Gatsby, 1949  – starred Alan Ladd, Betty Field and Shelley Winters.
3. The Great Gatsby, 1974 – the most famous screen version and memorable to folks like me.  Sam Waterston was narrator Nick Carraway, with Mia Farrow as Daisy Buchanan and Robert Redford as Gatsby. Get this – script by Francis Ford Coppola.
4. The Great Gatsby, 2000  – a made-for-TV movie starring Toby Stephens, Paul Rudd and Mira Sorvino.
5. G, 2002 – sort of based on Gastby and starring Richard T. Jones, Blair Underwood, and Chenoa Maxwell.
6. The Great Gatsby, directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, and Tobey Maguire. Coming our way  May 10.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three and stepmom of three.

This week I found must-have rain boots and sandals — for the April showers and May flowers.

I really liked these boots at left, but then I discovered they were for kids. So I searched for them for women, and I found them. They are on sale at Bootshop for $49.95 on Amazon. There’s also a ladybug version — see below. They are a little childish looking, but I would wear them to shovel snow and garden, and they make me laugh just looking at them.

The kids’ versions are at Kohls for $32.99 — if I can get my feet into them I am buying them. And I have a granddaughter who must have these, but she might prefer the Minnie Mouse rain boots ($24.99) at Toys R Us.

I am now being stalked by frogs, ladybugs and mice on every website I visit. In spite of that, I discovered some blingy sandals for $16.99 at Zulily – the sale ends in two days, and my size is gone. Never fear — Zulily has a lot more sandals in stock. Anyway, they all appear to have plenty of lily padding — haha! Happy Fashion Friday!

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom to three and step-grandmom to one. 

Check and checkmate for style this spring. Checkerboards and windowpanes are back.  Some of this I like, and some of it is way off the charts for me, but the geometric patterns are hot this year, and some are throwbacks to the 60s …. and the 80s and probably decades before that. In fact, I had a red and black checkerboard skirt and vest suit my mom wore in the 40s. It was awesome. I think Twiggy wore some of these.
These images are all from Elle magazine. Check out the rest of the runway images — some are very entertaining – here.
On the local front, AJ’sin the Colony Plaza  is hosting a trunk show today with Geiger coats today from 1 to 5 p.m. Enjoy!

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom to three and step-grandmom to one. 

Guest blogger Christine Eddy never lets a fashion opportunity get away. She shared her latest fashion find:

“Who says you can’t look fashionable while working out?  As a fitness fashionista, I was on the prowl to find some “fun” workout gloves that weren’t masculine looking.  I came across these divaish animal print gloves, which will take your workout to another level and unleash your inner beast.

Femmefitalefitness.com offers the gloves for $24.99 a pair.  They come in leopard or zebra print.  They are fierce and are perfect for lifting weights or kickboxing. Show up to class wearing these gloves to be spotted immediately. Go after your prey to keeping them running for miles.

If animal print isn’t your thing, there is some good news…they are also available in an array of bright colors with Swarovski crystals embellished on them.  One thing is certain…they will put some sparkle in your fitness routine. Femme Fitale Fitness gloves will have you training like an animal and earning your stripes while adding “bling to your swing.” – Christine Eddy

Christine got me looking for gloves, and I found that Femme Fitale also has golf gloves, and to take the Swarovski crystal bling up a notch, I found helmets for motorcycling, cycling, horseback riding, and skiing at Extravaganzi.com. Want more? Sparkle on with a $375 helmet at bling4divas.com (far left below) or check out the discoball helmet on sale for $999 at bikersblingonline.com.

 Pam Parker is the mom of three, stepmom of three, GramPam to one and editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.

Here’s your chance to be a designer. The Ninth Annual Cheap Chic Weddings Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest Rolls Out — sponsored by Charmin. Don’t laugh — look at the impressive pictures of the dresses that won, and yes these are all toilet paper!

Make a beautiful wedding dress, and you just might win $2,000. Laura Gawne, Susan Bain and Roxie Radford operate the popular website www.Cheap-Chic-Weddings.com, and they are giving contestants until May 10, 2013 to submit toilet paper masterpieces.

They select the top 10 entries, and then the public gets into online voting for the top three dress designs that get showcased at a live event at RK Bridal in New York City on June 6, 2013. Celebrity judge Kate Pankoke, owner and creative director of Elaya Vaughn Bridal and Season 11 contestant on Project Runway, will crown the top designer. “Our world famous TP contest is attracting some amazing talent. We are excited to meet the finalists in New York City!” said Laura Gawne of Cheap Chic Weddings.

The Grand Prize winner will receive $2,000, the second place winner will receive $1000 and the third place winner will receive $500.

Here’s a glimpse of last year’s winners. Grand prize of $2,012 went to Susan Brennan from Orchard Lake, Mich., above. The 26-year-old aspiring artist, designer and member of the Detroit Pistons Cheer Team used 10 rolls of Charmin with hot glue, packing tape and needle and thread. Susan was the 2011 Grand Prize winner as well.

Second-place went to Katrina Chalifoux, of Knoxville, Tenn. The 50-year-old electronics technician and certified mechanic enjoys making costumes. She created a garden of flowers on the gown and used 28 double rolls of Charmin with medical tape, glue and needle and thread. A three-time contestant, she was the 2008 Grand Prize winner. She received a $1,000 prize for her entry.

Third place went to Jennifer Henry of Las Vegas. Henry, 31, is an alternative material designer and stylist who has made more than 70 different designs out of unconventional materials. She called this creation Flockflockflock, inspired by the velvety texture of Charmin tissue and ribbons of whipped cream. She used 36 rolls of Charmin, packing tape and double stick tape. This is her first entry and she won $500.

Here’s How to Enter:

First: Plan your design.

Second: Grab some Charmin Toilet Paper (Ultra Strong, Ultra Soft or Basic), tape and/or glue and/or needle and thread (that’s all you can use)! To help offset the cost of designing theses memorable creations, Charmin is providing coupons via the Cheap Chic Weddings website for those who enter.

Third: Make the dress and headpiece on your model or mannequin and take some digital photos (front, back and side).

All photos are to be submitted to Cheap Chic Weddings at TPdresscontest@gmail.com by May 10, 2013 at 11:00 PM EST. There is no entry fee. The Judging Panel at Cheap Chic Weddings with past eight years here: http://www.cheap-chic-weddings.com/wedding-contest-2013.html

Official contest rules along with lots of other wedding cost saving tips and information can be found at www.Cheap-Chic-Weddings.com.

Pam Parker is the mom of three, stepmom of three, GramPam to one and editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.