High Waist, All Legs

When people talk about being high waisted or short waisted, it sounds like they are speaking Chinese to me. I have no idea what all that means, but what i do know is that when i wear a high waisted skirt or dress my legs look longer and my waist looks small. Done and done, i'll take one of each. Strolling around New York City's East Village last fall, I came upon a vintage store having a sale. A $5 dollar box was set outside and I started to rummage hoping to find some pieces I could deconstruct or rework. I snagged four high waisted vintage Saks skirts and wore one today (pictured above). It nips me in my smallest part, the waist, and hits at the knee making it look like my legs start at my waist. The overall look is a throwback, a play on the librarian look, but sophisticated at the same time. No one looks frumpy in a high waisted skirt and tucked in shirt. In Campaign 2, our Slimwear line is interpreting this trend and presenting to you, the Slimwear Shirt Dress- an updated spin on the classic black and white look. With the added benefit of slimming mesh technology woven into the dress, your waist will look doubly as tiny as it did before. The dress is only $34.99, way less than a tummy tuck.

I Can't Believe It's Not Cashmere!

One of our "big news" items this winter has been the introduction of the "Cashtastic line." These items look and feel like cashmere but with a price tag that doesn't leave you crying and penniless. No longer is luxury unaffordable. These items are luxe and lovely and won't pill, so they will look new throughout many wears. Vlor and Beth were nice enough to model for me. Beth refuses to wear the Brimmed Hat ($12.99) fearing her hair would get messed up-but Vlor was more of a trooper. They both wore the Ruffle Scarf (specially priced at $14.99) and the Gathered Glove ($9.99). All three items come in ivory, teal and fuchsia. These make great gifts, you can get all three items for less than $40.00- that's way less than one cashmere item would cost at your local department store. Find these pieces along with cashtastic cardigan sets, a men's sweater, and a women's sweater in C24-26. Look forward to more cashtastic apparel coming in C3 2010.

Getting a Bang for Your Buck- Sneak Peek!

In today's economy we all have to be more watchful of what we spend and what we spend it on. My closet is already too full so whatever I buy now must be something I'll wear a lot and can work with what I already own. In my opinion, the only thing better than something that can transform your outfit is something that can transform on its own. Beth manages our product samples so she always snags some goodies for herself during the process :). This cardigan, new in C7 2010 can be worn in many different ways (4 are shown in the pictures). Simply by tying the long ends the result varies from casual to sexy. Wear this cardigan long and open, with jeans and our Loop Belt (also available in C7), cinching it at the waist. For more of a night look, wear a black dress (like the SlimWear Shirred Waist Dress from C18) and tie the cardigan ballerina style-crisscrossing it in the front and tying it in the back. This way you can cover your arms but still let the stretchy cardigan hug your curves. Look out for this great item, I promise you've never had so much fun with a cardigan before!

Put A Belt On It

If you like it then you shoulda put a belt on it

If you like it then you shoulda put a belt on it.

Don't be mad once you see that he want it

If you like it then you shoulda put a belt on it

Wha-oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh Wha-oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

I dedicate this posting to Avon's very own Beyonce: Ms. Jackie (if you're nasty). Talk about wearing attitude on your sleeve, Jackie knows how to work it. For a lady with two small children Jackie always looks put together. One of her secrets is: Belting. Jackie knows the power of a woman's waist. By accentuating the smallest part of your body you can create curves you never knew you had, or flaunt the ones you're so proud of. I love the wide baroque one Jackie has on, but for more flowy dresses or tops, I'd use a thin, maybe half inch belt to pull the look together. It's really important that you don't let clothes just hang on you, but instead make them work for you. The Ruffle Dress that Jackie has on is new in Campaign 22 and will be flowed throughout the beginning of 2010. This dress has great proportions, sophisticated gold details and ruffles at the neckline, sleeves and hem. Everyone knows that black is slimming, but with the added benefit of the dresses' adjustable cloth belt with metal buckle, the slimming effect is taken to a new level. For more adventures in belts look at Campaign 23 for a super cute thicker elastic croco embellished one!

A Purchase to be Proud Of

October is Breast Cancer awareness month and Avon as always is spearheading the cause. Every year Avon creates products where 100% of the proceeds go to the Avon Foundation to be donated to organizations that support the cause through awareness and education; screening and diagnosis; access to treatment; support services; and, scientific research. The Avon Walks alone from 2003-2008 have raised $285 Million dollars. Purely incremental to that are the products produced by Avon and sold in our brochure and crusade flyers. In 2008 alone one of our top items was the Breast Cancer Flip Flop, selling over $3 Million Dollars. This year in 2009 we are introducing a Breast Cancer product linked with our Marimekko alliance. The Marimekko tote is being introduced in C22, and for $10.00 it is a steal!! Reese Witherspoon loves it too.

The Ultimate Day to Dress Up!

So Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, which is great if you want to make it an all night event, but it also means that while at work the Friday before there is no celebration. Last year when Halloween was on a Friday my group really did it up. We dressed up as Avon excess inventory- that's right, all that stuff that we thought would sell and didn't. If you look at the picture out of context it looks like we were having an office sleepover party, Michael our apparel designer is wearing "Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" sleep pants.........I've never seen Michael in anything but a well tailored suit. I dressed up as IMIS, it's the computer system we use to plan products in each campaign. It looks like a screen shot out of the 80's apple II GS, but if it ain't broke, don't fix it right? Enjoy the Halloween festivities.........I hope you're so stylish, it's scary.

From Heeled to Healed

There is a comfort queen in all of us. Here at Avon looking professional and put together are part of the job, which means high heels. Uh, heels-most heels hurt, they make you look taller and leaner and always feel great when making two laps around the shoe store to see if they are comfortable, but then you wear them for 5 plus hours and all you can think about is your throbbing feet. No pain no gain right? Well my girls at Avon waver between two extremes. Every morning Beth puts on 4" inch heels (her boyfriend is 6'4" so she has that luxury). Similarly Vlor who is the "fancy pants" glamour girl among us slides into a beautiful pair of Christian Louboutin patent pumps.

And then 4 o'clock hits.................off come the heels and on go the Avon Slippers.

Vlor is wearing the C23 Sequin Slippers, Beth is wearing the recolor of the C24 Cable Knit Pom Pom Slipper (coming in pink in C2 2010!).