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Can you tell the difference between an authentic designer item and a knock-off?     One difference is:  One you can hand down to your daughter, who can then hand it down to her daughter; the other will be dust before your daughter can ask for it!  Can you tell which of the bags below is a knock-off?  They’re both bags; neither of them is a fake bag, but one of them isn’t made by Louis Vuitton. 

 

It is important to know what you’re buying and where it comes from.  There is a certain kind of confidence that comes with wearing a real designer garment.  I really don’t understand what the fascination is with knockoff’s.   

Look at the way the monogram lines up on this authentic bag.  But notice there aren’t any “LV’s” in the creases or seams.

 

 

The worst thing is that some people are paying $40-$140 for FAKE bags.  They’re buying them from people who have stands and parties – posing as authorized dealers.  

I wrote a story for the Southern News last semester on counterfeit bags, and with the research I did, I was able to get some valuable information about Coach bags.

According to Coach’s Web site, you can only purchase a Coach bag through an authorized dealer, such as a Coach or department stores.  

In the above photo, the bag on the right is fake.  The craftsmanship on the authentic one isn’t that great either, and this is something else to watch for.  Don’t pay full price for an irregular authentic bag.  I would rather get an irregular one with a slight flaw, but I don’t want to pay the price of a “perfect” bag.

Ever wonder why you’re sweating so much?  Even when wearing those cute little summer tank-tops?   It may be the blend of fabrics you’re wearing.  Polyester is made from polyethylene terephthalate, which is used to make plastic drinking containers and other plastic goods.

Most of the time, blends have small percentages of polyester; this is because too much of the polymer will cause skin irritation. This may not be the best fabric to wear, especially in the summer, or if you have sensitive skin.

So, if you find yourself sweating more than you think you should be, check the label in your clothing and see if you’re wearing a plastic blend. The more polyester, the more you’ll probably be sweating. 

If this tip helps you, please let me know.  If you have any tips of your own on how to stay cool and dry in the summer heat, please share in the form of a comment.  Thanks!  Stay cool!

They say you’re not supposed to wear white after Labor Day or before Memorial Day, but people have been breaking that rule since I can remember. I strictly follow the white rule, and when it comes to shoes, I WILL NEVER WEAR WHITE SHOES. EVER. No matter how fly the shoes may be.

Once in a while, I see a beautiful pair of shoes that happens to come in white. But, that will never change the way I feel about white shoes. I believe white shoes should be reserved for nurses ONLY. Besides sneakers, there are NO exceptions, at least for me.

What do you think?
Do you wear white shoes? Please explain.

People have different reasons for buying different brands and designers. Some people say it’s comfort, some say it’s style. But when it comes to shoes, I must go with comfort. How about you? What’s your favorite brand of shoes and why? What’s the worst experience you’ve ever had with a shoe? What happened Sweetheart?

In black, green and tan, these are really fly. I like them in green! Find them in the “SHOP” page under “Heels.”

I like the heel on the sandals pictured below. The color is very neutral as well. Nice for wearing with whites or bright colors.

SPLURGE of the day!

Desiree Fontaine, who does the traffic for WTNH News Channel 8 and WCTX My TV 9 in the mornings, wore the first skirt from my 100 percent cotton line of skirts! It’s a wrap-around, red with small white stars, for the 4th of July.

My entire clothing line will be 100 percent cotton because I like the way cotton feels, I like working with it and it’s natural, with no plastic fibers like polyester. Right now, it will be mostly skirts and simple tops and accessories. Once I develop more skill, I’ll begin making high quality shirts and dresses and more, all at a reasonable price.

When I say reasonable, I mean the price will make sense when you calculate the price of the supplies and my time into the quality of the garment you receive.

I fell in love with cotton fabrics when I started a quilt for one of my BFF’s, Shema Hobby – which I still need to finish. I’m too ashamed to say how long ago it was when I started it, but she would be surprised to see that I’ve worked on it since she’s seen it last.

I hope to finish it and post a picture of it soon. I will be posting sketches of the whole line of skirts very soon and you will be able to order a custom-made skirt in the style and color that you like!

Thank you for visiting again and have a nice day! I mean it!