by Renae Virata

Usually, we pick out what to wear to please ourselves and (admit it!) others.  But today is one of those days where what you wear makes a statement.  In support of National Wear Red Day from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute to bring awareness of heart disease, we have some red looks that are sure to look great and support a great cause.Mango dress, $59.99; Mango jacket, $179.99; Mango convertible purse, $34.99; Mango platforms, $109.99.

Fergie Beatnik platform heels, $89.99.

ModCloth Heart tee, $27.99 (and perfect for some Valentine’s Day cheer)

Photo | Sports Then and Now

Are you ready for some football?!  It’s that time of year, once again, to gather ’round the tube with your favorite sports fans to watch the Giants versus the Pats.  But even if your team isn’t battling it out on the field, you can still look your best wherever you watch the game.

Tips for Super Bowl Style

• Don’t be afraid to rock a team jersey like the guys.  These days they make fabulously slim-fitting, ladies jerseys.  Try Touch by Alyssa Milano or go to NFL.com and shop their selection of Pats and Giants gear.

Touch by Alyssa Milano Patriots slim-fitting tee, $29.99

• Maybe you don’t want to spend money on an actual team look but want to let everyone know who you’re backing?  Sport their colors!  Tru Colors, started by two Southern sorority girls where football is BIG, has a great line of team color-based silhouettes that you can wear anytime.

Tru Colors apparel, Stafford dress in Giants colors, $78

Outfit Ideas

• Leggings/skinny jeans, jersey (if it covers your you-know-what), casual boots, flats, wedges
• Simple dress in team color, scarf in other team color, tights, boots
• Jeans, jersey, chic street sneakers
• Thick denim shorts, team tee, long-sleeve tee underneath, casual boots if it’s cold, wedges if it’s warmer with no tights

Photo | Marie Claire

by Sinta Jimenez

Dressing for Thanksgiving is one of those occasions where one has to think realistically as a major consideration for stuffing, mashed potato and turkey related bloat must be made! There’s nothing that makes an outfit looks worse than discomfort, and I am never comfortable when I can’t eat what I want or if something feels too tight. Thankfully most clothing during the holiday season isn’t revealing and definitely meant to be cozy. I love traditional classics, especially for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but there are always ways to bring fashion inspiration to tried and true coordinates.

Sinta’s Top Tips

• Thanksgiving isn’t Christmas, so don’t pull out the fancy tartans, bright whites and hunter greens yet.
• Do think of autumn colors as a way to say goodbye to Autumn — warm purples, amber, gold, orange.
• November can be downright frigid in some parts of the country so definitely stay warm – another reason why if you haven’t invested in some good cashmere for a warm but semi-formal option yet, go on and do so this year. Silk is light and breathable for the summer but also warm as a layer beneath a knit for the colder months, so again, if you haven’t invested in a silk blouse yet do so now!
• Low waist skirts, loose or drop waist dresses are perfect to give you the extra comfy room after dinner
• Lots of people go home for Thanksgiving and it’s a time of reunion. If you’ll be going out the same night as dinner with old high school buddies think forward for what would double as a going-out coordinate.

If your family and friends are doing it ultra-casual, try pairing a super low-key shirt such as a plaid flannel with a comfy satin skirt, opaque tights and low-heeled booties.

Click to shop: Esprit plaid shirt, $59.50; Mango satin skirt, $49.90; G by Guess booties, $69.99

For a more proper dinner go for a high quality cashmere sweater and a silk or brushed wool skirt for a cozy, comfy but chic ensemble. Or try a drop waist dress worn under a long knit duster. Dress up with traditional baubles like pearls and diamonds but layer your necklaces and bracelets heavily for a modern sensibility.

Click to shop: Pure Collection 100% cashmere sweater, $198; Esprit wool skirt, $79.50; Modcloth heels, $133.99.

Going out on Thanksgiving with old friends calls for a bit of dress-to-impress but also comfort for a long evening of catching up. Your favorite jeans may be a little tight after feasting so again consider wearing a skirt or dress. Try a sexy leopard print dress to add some fun to the inevitable of wearing tights and a heavy coat.

Click to shop: Minnie Rose leopard print dress, $187

Think of creative contrasts for your old favorite holiday pieces. Many people have certain items they re-use year after year. By thinking of adding a different texture to your coordinate or how to incorporate current trends to your own wardrobe, you’ll definitely come up with something new and exciting for Thanksgiving!

• J.Crew for cashmere and updates to your traditional holiday pieces
• NetAPorter for that necessary touch of couture
• Shopbop for a trendy piece

About Sinta

Sinta Jimenez’s previous incarnations: rolling stone, financial analyst, law student, herbal specialist, waitress, model, wild child, ballet dancer, student, surfer, world traveller. Current incarnation: mother, lotus amidst fierce flames. From birth to death: artist, writer, poet. A lifelong student of the arts, she received her Masters in Fine Arts from Otis College of Art and Design in 2010. Born in Manila,  she was raised and lives in DC. Check out her fabulous blog Hail to the Chic. Photo taken in Los Angeles.

Read Sinta’s posts.

by Renae Virata

Tucked away in a quiet corner of the Woodlands’ Marriott Hotel, the busiest conference center in the greater Houston area, Spa at the Waterway is led by the fashionable, savvy and super sweet Lauren Hunter. As she walked us through the hallways and rooms of this zen oasis, we learned why this place may just very well be the Woodlands’ best kept secret.  Innovation is at the heart of this spa!  Here is what we discovered.

Sweet Sounds of Satori

The initial reason we began our spa journeys at Spa at the Waterway is their being one of only three spas in the nation to offer the Satori sound therapy system, a clinically proven program that combines sound, tone, and vibrations to deliver different therapies for stress, anxiety, insomnia, weight loss or addiction relief.  The story of its development by husband and wife team Jill and Rod Slane (Rod is a vibrational scientist and both worked in Hollywood for years) and treatment of military personnel for posttraumatic stress disorder is a fascinating one and only goes to show how effective the program has been for so many people.

I decided to try the (much-needed) stress relief program.  The entire system consists of a computer which controls the sound environment, a set of headphones, and the amazing zero-gravity, vibrating chair in which you lay during your session, all arranged within a fabulously zen room that you can’t help but feel calm in upon entering it.

Okay, so I wasn’t entirely sure it would work for me.  The first instructions, after all, are to clear your mind of all thoughts.  But I am one of those people who goes through that futile cycle of thinking and thinking and thinking in trying not to, well…think!  After a few minutes, though, of deep breathing (and lots of mental focus!), I was surprisingly whisked away by the soothing combination of sound and vibration coming from the entire system.  At one point, I felt a cool sense of weightlessness.  After what seemed like five minutes, but was actually thirty, I awoke, calm, refreshed and amazed that the system had actually worked for me!

This was one of six total sessions, each of which become gradually more intense and effective, so I felt, for my first session, it was a great start.  Spa at the Waterway currently offers the stress relief, weight loss management and smoking cessation programs.  The travelista in me is psyched that each of the Satori programs comes in a six-CD set for those on the go. Imagine taking care of stress, sleeplessness, weight management, or smoking addiction while you are relaxing in your hotel room or flying on the plane!  You can purchase them at Spa at the Waterway or call them to order a six-CD set.

Nip/Tuck

I once picked up a friend after a major plastic surgery. It was at one of those clinics that seemed so sterile, everything in white and steel and glass. Yuck. What seemed even more unnatural to me was picking her up just hours after her surgery and immediately wheeling her into my tiny coupe and straight to her apartment while she whimpered in pain. (And as best as I could to make her comfortable, I knew why I was never cut out to be a nurse!)

Imagine going through a breast enhancement, liposuction, or butt lift and having the amenities and ambience of a beautiful spa at your fingertips, 24-hour attendance by a licensed nurse, and, if you choose, a comfortable hotel room waiting for you upstairs in which to recover. It can all be part of your procedure at Spa at the Waterway!  In the fall, they will be offering major plastic surgery procedures by board-certified facial and body plastic surgeon Dr. Wilberto Cortés while employing the services of the spa and hotel to make your entire procedure, from beginning to end and soon after,  as comfortable as possible.  It’s been proven that the reduction of stress after surgery can help in the healing process, so there’s no better way to transition from the stress on your body than through this genius combination of services.

Lymphatic…what?

We often forget about that important fluid in our bodies called lymph.  But improving its flow throughout your body can aid in the effectiveness of the immune system; maximize removal of excess waste, fluid, debris, dead blood cells, pathogens, cancer cells, and toxins; and optimize delivery of nutrients, oxygen and hormones from your blood to your cells.  Spa at the Waterway offers a specific massage, by a specially trained massage therapist, focused on lymphatic drainage to help your lymph circulate optimally throughout your body.  Relaxation and lymphatic drainage? It’s like killing two birds with one stone!

For the Man in Your Life

And we can’t leave out the poor guys from the equation – they need some R and R, too!  Spa at the Waterway has a room dedicated to helping men look and feel great, too, with traditional wet shaves, hair cuts, and “man”i- pedis.   While you’re getting your hair done, he can relax in one of their manly chairs and reconvene with you refreshed and rejuvenated.

Lauren, Stacey, Sarah, me, and Jordan of Spa at the Waterway

More to Love

One of the best things we loved about Spa at the Waterway was the team behind it.  Spa Director Lauren Hunter leads a team of chic and friendly spa and beauty enthusiasts that make you feel right at home the minute you meet them.  Their expertise in the industry, however, was not lost amongst all the girl talk.  They love what they do and put their hearts into the spa and services they offer, which is why they would be the best hosts for any private party! Because the spa is located within a beautiful hotel, surrounded by a beautiful man-made waterway, and within walking distance of some of the best restaurants in the Woodlands, it’s a great place to bring the girls for the weekend…or for you to make a quick (but far enough!) escape from the mundane.  For more information on Spa at the Waterway, you can visit SpaWaterway.com or just visit Lauren and her staff in The Woodlands.

Photo credit | HelloNashville.com

Being the Country Music Capital of the world, it is no surprise that Nashville culture and style pivots around music, from country to blues to rock and everything in between. Understated charm with all the modern fixings are what make Nashville style its own. Take a cue from the Music City’s more lovingly known misnomer “NashVegas,” and you’ll immediately know what we’re talking about.

“Nashville is infinitely more progressive in style than many people realize, and the mostly temperate weather gives every fashionista a chance to dispel the myth that everyone here owns a bedazzler!” notes Levy’s store manager Adrienne Scarborough, who describes Nashville style as “classic meets couture meets stage sensibilities.”

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What else should you wear for your trip to Nashville? Fill out our My Stylist form to find out!

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So no matter where you go in Nashville, it’s never a bad thing to have a little fun with what you wear no matter what you’re doing. Jordan Christy, author of How to Be a Hepburn in a Hilton World says Nashville style is “hipster meets country meets chic.”

Photo credit | LineDancing.ch

Weather in Nashville

Contrary to how it sounds, Nashville sits just at the edge of the humid subtropical climate that stretches from Texas to Virginia (pretty much the US South) characterized by hot, humid summers and cool winters. Being inland in this type of climate, Nashville enjoys “true seasons”: orange in the fall, green in the spring and summer, and crisply white in the winter.

Summertime can be quite warm and almost humid, so light layers will get you through a Nashville day and night of sightseeing and bar-hopping.

February and March is “an odd time seasonally,” remarks Christy. ”Most people’s wardrobes are caught between winter and spring.”

Winter and spring also tend to have the most rain in Nashville, so keep an umbrella or warm trench handy.

Source | Climate-Zone.com

Nashville

What to wear in Nashville

Hanging Out | Make it playful! Pair a cute casual knit or woven shirtdress with classic cowboy boots or colorful flats. Or wear a classic pair of straight-legged jeans with kitten heels, knit vest and slim long-sleeve tee.

Professional | Keep it conservative. In a more formal setting, wear a modern pant or skirt suit in navy, brown, beige, or black. Wear a fun shirt underneath for extra panache, accessorize with scarves, vests, and fun but moderate jewelry (try a pendant necklace or a great pearl choker!), and don’t forget a great pair of shoes! They’ll listen to what you have to say but will appreciate your stylish taste. For business casual, try on a cardigan in a fun animal print or bright color and pair with straight-legged seasonless wool pants or dark trouser jeans with heels.

Nightlife | Jeans will take you anywhere in Nashville, and going out is no exception! Nashville wardrobe stylist Chris Harston’s picks: “The perfect party dress or skinny jeans accessorized with statement boots and jacket, statement handbag, and a great platform shoe or pump.”

Trends | Hands down by all of our experts: Hats! ”Hats remain popular because they simplify everything,” explains Christy. For girls, it means not having to spend 45 minutes fixing your hair just so…Every style from the newsboy to the beanie is accepted and embraced! You’ll see hats fade with the cold weather; they are more of a winter accessory.”

Also, patterned tights, spring leathers, loads of color, and, of course, BOOTS of all sorts.

Carrie Underwood. Photo credit | WireImage.com

Miley Cyrus. Photo credit | BDB Photos

Green Hills Mall | This “fashion and lifestyle” mall offers more than 100 specialty stores and eatieries including your favorites. Look for Nordstrom to open in Fall of 2011! | MAP

Cool Springs Galleria | A Nashville favorite and worth the drive out to historical Franklin, also chock full of your malls favorites in a growing, bustling town | MAP

Hillsboro Village | Hands down one of the coolest places to be with coffee shops, unique eateries, and especially the funky stores like Pangea, Posh Boutique (great shoes!), and A Thousand Faces where you can find everything you need and shop in a charming, walkable thoroughfare near Vanderbilt University | MAP

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Don’t leave for your trip without Access America Travel Insurance. From travel delay coverage to missed connection coverage, they’ve got you covered!

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]]> http://blog.wearevertheweather.com/2011/08/what-to-wear-in-nashville-2/feed/ 0 http://blog.wearevertheweather.com/2011/07/what-to-wear-to-white-linen-night/ http://blog.wearevertheweather.com/2011/07/what-to-wear-to-white-linen-night/#comments Fri, 29 Jul 2011 00:45:48 +0000 Renae Virata http://blog.wearevertheweather.com/?p=2032

Photo credit: NOLA Arts District

by Renae Virata

Leave it to New Orleans to provide a supercool (literally) tradition like White Linen Night!  When there was no air conditioning way back when, merchants got together and held a block party around dusk to night to encourage people to come out, sample wares, shop, eat, drink, and socialize.

White Linen Night is August 6, 2011!

Why white linen?  It’s light, airy, and doesn’t absorb the sun like darker colors do, helping people keep cool as they hung out.  Today, the tradition (which takes place in NOLA’s Warehouse Arts District) continues the first week of August each year and with more of an emphasis on the arts.  Houston’s Heights area even has their own version that plays perfectly into the historical and walkable area’s charm.

The perfect white linen night dress - only $59.70 at Esprit! Click item to shop.

Do you have to wear white linen, though?  White, probably.  Linen, no.  You don’t want to be left out! And it’s fun to see the sea of white as you stroll the streets with friends.  Here are some outfit examples and tips to make your White Linen Night experience fun and comfortable.  Create your own outfits like this by using our My Stylist app, creating an outfit, then clicking on “Print This Look.”

Click here or on any item to shop this look: French Connection scarf $48, Isabella Oliver dress $89.50, Miz Mooz wedge boots  $129.99.

Click here or on any item to shop this look: Daytrip vest $25, Esprit ribbed tank $25.50, ApartStyle shorts $88, Carlos Shoes $69.

Click here or on any item to shop this look: ModCloth tank $39.99, Old Navy trouser jeans $29.50, Steve Madden sandals $69.95

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What else should you wear for your trip to New Orleans or Houston?

Fill out our My Stylist form to find out!

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Tips:

- Wear flats or comfortable wedges / platforms.  You will be doing a lot of walking, so also make sure your shoes won’t nip your feet after a few hours.

- Don’t limit yourself to wearing just a white dress – although it IS a great excuse to!  Get creative and find all-white looks you may not have thought of before.

- Many people see this event as an excuse to dress up just a bit…what we called polished but relaxed.  Try a white capri and cropped jacket, white shorts and a cute knit top.

- Accessorize with some punches of color!  A colorful belt, fun jewelry or different shoes will help break up your all-white look.

- Keep cool…Bring a fan – hand-held electric (I’m serious!) or a cute manual one – and drink plenty of water, especially if you plan to do some drinking.  You will be surrounded by body heat galore in addition to the hot and humid weather.

For more info on White Linen Night, check out New Orleans online!

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Make sure you have the soundtrack to go along with your trip. Check out our Travelista playlist for great music on the road or on the go!

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by Renae Virata

While two-stepping at the Houston mainstay Blanco’s, I spotted two delightfully decked out cowgirls – with a twist.  Dana and Emme were immediate standouts at this urban cowboy establishment in their cowgirl-meets-rock, or rockabilly, getups.

Model, designer and stylist Dana Blue balanced her jet-black pigtails, skinny jeans and simple tank with a Texas-sized buckle and black and bone cowboy boots that my friends and I could not stop drooling over.  Meanwhile, her fair counterpart Emme layered to a T.  An extra long gray tank anchored a fun array of pieces, from wonderfully detailed cowboy boots, a cropped leather biker vest to a colorful tat sleeve and perfectly torn leggings that cleverly exposed a beautifully done femme tattoo.

Rockabilly music, a blend of rock and hillbilly sounds, quickly spread from its roots in Tennessee in the ’50s to its present-day popularity across the South and other parts of the States.  Think Blue Suede Shoes, Folsom Prison Blues, and Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On. The rockabilly style, however, emerged more prominently in the ’70s, funny enough, in England after a revival of the music from the ’50s began to influence the music and style of the day. Even today, rockabilly style can be found in the hottest bars of Nashville, on the streets of London, and places like Blanco’s in the heart of Houston.

]]> http://blog.wearevertheweather.com/2011/07/fashion-staples-cowboy-boots-meet-rock/feed/ 0 http://blog.wearevertheweather.com/2011/04/what-to-wear-in-nashville-nashvegas-style/ http://blog.wearevertheweather.com/2011/04/what-to-wear-in-nashville-nashvegas-style/#comments Sun, 24 Apr 2011 04:03:57 +0000 Renae Virata http://blog.wearevertheweather.com/?p=4020

Clare in fishnets, a royal blue dress and boots. Photo | MODA Boutique

by Renae Virata

After four years of college in Nashville, you’d think I’d be an expert at what “NashVegas” really means – but I needed a little help.  So I called on the expertise of fashionistas at two of Music City’s hottest boutiques (which I wish were around when I was there!) to get to the bottom of this signature city style.

The question about NashVegas style came to WeareverTheWeather from a Brazilian native living in Rhode Island who will be attending a conference, with a dinner and party themed “NashVegas,” in Nashville next month.

“What I’ve been told,” says Rachel, the adorable owner of the Green Hills boutique TwoElle (definitely visit her lifestyle shop in Nashville if you are ever there), “is sequins and tacky bling, colored cowboy boots, and big hair.”

“To me, ‘NashVegas’ is dressed up cowboy,” adds MODA Boutique associate Clare Turner.  “Big leather, jeweled belt, a cool top, jeans, and, of course, cowboy boots.”

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What else should you wear for your trip to Nashville? Fill out our My Stylist form to find out!

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So, in order to help our inquiring Travelista strike a balance that is not too dressy and not too casual, I came up with two NashVegas looks for her fete.  The key, Rachel and Clare both agree, is to perfectly blend the sparkle of Vegas and the cowgirl sensibilities of Nashville.  That could be a sparkly top, jeans, big buckle belt and heels or a tube dress, bib necklace and cowboy boots.

“No matter what, you definitely have to have some sparkle in there,” says Rachel.  “Bright makeup, fake lashes, a glitzy top – as long as you have one element of bling and one element of cowgirl, you’ve got the basics covered.”

Click here to see this outfit created by our My Stylist app or click on an item: ApartStyle Dress $98, Old Gringo boots $499.99, Helen Kaminski cowboy hat $295, Chocolate New York bag $99.

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Don’t leave for your trip without Access America Travel Insurance. From travel delay coverage to missed connection coverage, they’ve got you covered!

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]]> http://blog.wearevertheweather.com/2011/04/what-to-wear-in-nashville-nashvegas-style/feed/ 2 http://blog.wearevertheweather.com/2011/04/what-to-wear-in-houston-brogue-sneakers/ http://blog.wearevertheweather.com/2011/04/what-to-wear-in-houston-brogue-sneakers/#comments Wed, 20 Apr 2011 06:29:15 +0000 Renae Virata http://blog.wearevertheweather.com/?p=3941

by Renae Virata

Few people know how eclectic style can be in the Bayou City.  While I stopped by my new favorite vegetarian restaurant, I spotted Christina in an adorably put-together outfit.  What struck me most was her pairing her floral top, mini flared skirt and brightly colored cross body bag with – brogue sneakers!  This particular pair comes from Toms Shoes.

Brogues are those dapper-looking, lace-up shoes that were meant to bring some whimsical flair to the floral dresses we love to wear when spring first hits.  If you’ve ever set foot in a hot and humid city like Houston, however, you avoid shoes that heavy no matter how in season they are.

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What else should you wear for your trip to Houston? Fill out our My Stylist form to find out!

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What’s more, they make great travel shoes.  They are comfortable with a rubber bottom for walking and, with wear, get more cozy.  The unique styling will add flair to any outfit you pair it with in any city you visit.

So that’s what makes the Cordones style so fabulous! It’s reminiscent of the Keds you loved growing up, a little tougher and more fitted than a true, tailored leather brogue.  They also come in an array of sophisticated color combos like olive green and pink or plaids.  At $69, you’ll have an addition to your shoe collection that will transcend seasons year after year.

What to wear

• Follow Christina’s style cues with a flirty mini and fitted tee or tank.
• Wear tailored shorts and a short-sleeve button-down with a brightly colored belt.
• Try an old-school ingenue look with slim harem pants; tank; and light, cropped jacket.
• Add a casual, scholarly vibe to your spring floral dresses.

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Don’t leave for your trip without Access America Travel Insurance. From travel delay coverage to missed connection coverage, they’ve got you covered!

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]]> http://blog.wearevertheweather.com/2011/04/what-to-wear-in-houston-brogue-sneakers/feed/ 0 http://blog.wearevertheweather.com/2011/03/beauty-opi-texas-nail-polish/ http://blog.wearevertheweather.com/2011/03/beauty-opi-texas-nail-polish/#comments Fri, 25 Mar 2011 02:22:38 +0000 Renae Virata http://blog.wearevertheweather.com/?p=3531 I can’t resist mentioning to you all OPI’s new line of nail polish colors.  Not only because the theme is near and dear to my heart but also because it is focused on a specific location.  It’s…Texas!

The new line includes smart polish names such as “Houston We Have a Purple” and “Austin-tatious Turquoise.”  My personal favorite is the neutral “San Tan-tonio” color, which follows the tradition of popular taupes such as “You Don’t Know Jacques (from OPI’s French line) and “Tickle My France-y.”  OPI describes the collection as “sorbet-like” in shade, perfect for the hues selected by Pantone this spring from the spring lines of major designers.