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I have a very special treat for you, my lovelies. New York City-based image consultant Ashley Harris is guest-posting today, answering some of your burning questions and teaching you how to look your best.

So what are you waiting for?

Read on!


Hello Shabby Apple fans! And greetings from the Big Apple!

Ashley Harris here, and I’ve come to help solve some of your shopping and “this just doesn’t look good on me,” problems. I am an Image Consultant here in New York, as well as Boston and want to share with you a few rules of thumb you can follow when deciding on your clothes. This can start today in your own closet and follow you to the dressing rooms, or better yet, allow you to skip the dressing rooms by giving you more confidence to shop online because you’ll know what things work for you and what things to avoid. So let’s get to it.

1. Color. I put this as number one because it is. Make sure you’re not buying a color that you don’t look great in. Just because it’s a fabulous color on Heidi Klum or that girl you saw in the restaurant the other day does not mean it’s going to do you the same favor. Wear colors that bring out a glow in your skin. Stay away from the ones that bring out the grey in your undertone. This can make you look older, more tired, and less healthy. If your skin’s undertone is warm, meaning more yellows, oranges, reds, then choose colors that have warmer temperatures. If your undertone is cooler, choose colors that have more blue to them.

2. Pay attention to contrast. By this I mean if you have a high contrast between the color of your skin, hair and eyes, you can wear higher contrasting colors. If you have really dark hair and very fair skin this would be high contrast. If there is not much difference between your hair and skin this would be a low contrast and you will look better in colors that are of that same low contrast level. Because this model has a fairly high contrast she can pull off a black and white striped sweater without her face getting lost.




If someone with a lighter colored hair wore this same sweater we would notice the sweater before we noticed the person.

And here is an example of very low contrast. The stripes in the design at contrast, but you’ll notice that the contrast in the blouse and the model is very low.




3. Patterns. A good way to choose patterns in the fabric is to look at your face. What kinds of patterns do you see on your own face? If you have a small face and not a lot of skin showing in between your features you would look great in a pattern similar- with less background in between the print.




And similarly, if you have a lot of “face” in between your features your prints can be farther apart from each other.




Another tip is to pay attention to any texture in your face. If you find that you have more texture (acne, wrinkles, moles, etc.) choose fabric that has more texture. A smooth silk on a high textured face will only make the texture in the face more obvious.

4. Necklines and collars. This is another time to pay attention to your face. If you choose a neckline that follows the same shape as your jaw line it will be more flattering on you. For example, those with heart or diamond shaped faces look great in V-neck blouses.




While those with oblong or square jaw lines are better suited for a square neckline.




Notice how their necklines are the same shape as their jaw lines. This helps bring harmony to you and what you’re wearing.

Once you have figured a few simple things out about what shapes, colors and styles look good on your unique body and face, choosing your clothes and accessories will become a much simpler task. And, most importantly, will make you look simply smashing!

A TAD Much

Let's do a little exercise. (Not jogging. Everyone calm down.) Open your closet and tell me what you see. You probably see some sensible stand-bys (the perfect pair of black pants, that well-fitting white collared shirt, a nice jacket or two), as well as some of your favorite pieces, the ones that are just "you." But what about everything else? What about that pink motorcycle jacket you only wore once? Those outrageous shoes with the six inch heel that you can't even walk in? That boho-chic tunic that was only in for one season?

The evidence is all around, if you look for it. You might be suffering from TAD: Trend-Addiction Disorder.

Trend- Addiction Disorder is not a victimless crime. It fills our closets and empties our bank accounts. And it turns our inner fashionista into a walking fashion faux pas. Your mom and her friends are giving you those weird looks for a reason. Let's leave dressing like Hannah Montana to the tweens, shall we?

The good news is, TAD has a relatively easy treatment. Recovery can be quick and complete. Just follow these few, simple rules.

1. Buy good quality (and sometimes that means expensive) basics.

The importance of nice basics cannot be overstated. Invest in staples such as nice black and brown pants, flattering suit skirts and well-fitting white button-up shirts.

2. Only buy one to three trendy items each season.

More than that and you won't have enough time to wear them before they go out of style.

3. Never, ever, ever buy trends that don't look good on you. (Did I mention never?)

It doesn't matter how good skinny jeans look on someone else, or how cool they are, if they don't look good on you, stay away! (They look awful on me, by the way, so you are in good company.) And the same goes for any other trend.

4. Cut down on impulse buying.

Write a list of the basics that you need. If you still have your heart set on a trendy item after that, think about it for at least two weeks and then buy it. (If you still want it, of course.)

5. Wear only one really trendy piece at a time.

The quickest way to look like you're in junior high is to pair your long scarf with your sequined shirt and huge metal earrings while carrying your favorite studded bag. Narrowing it down draws attention to the trend you choose, and gives everyone around you 

a little room to breathe.

The most important thing is to wear what looks best on you, not what everyone else is wearing. You'll look and feel better, and your closet and credit rating will thank you.

Are you recovering from TAD?

What trendy purchase do you wish you could take back?

Summer lovin'

Have you ever been out and about, say at a restaurant or a movie or your great-aunt's house and seen an ensemble that made you blurt out (hopefully just inside your head, but maybe out loud): What were they thinking?

We've all been there. Maybe it was an adult in a pair of turquoise overalls, or someone who looked like they were about to be drowned by over-sized accessories, or maybe it was shorts that were just a little (a lot) too short, or a sweater with some kind of fur, to give a few examples of things I may or may not have seen myself.

Now, while judging others is all fine and good, have you ever stopped to wonder if people have ever thought the same thing about you? I am sure you are all fashion-conscious and self-respecting individuals who would never consider wearing a piece of clothing that can also double as upholstery, but bad things can happen to good people. Take, for example, the debut of my new yellow, faux crocodile pumps the other Sunday. Pairing them with a bright pink skirt was a good idea. Pairing that skirt with a black top, however, was not. Unless I wanted to look like a bumblebee, of course. Which, of course, I didn't.

My point is simply this: everyone makes mistakes. But, here are some tips to get you through the rest of the summer with fewer of them. (If you live in Utah, like me, you'll probably be using these tips for another couple of months. Seriously, is it ever going to cool down around here?)

1. Don't match too much.

Your pink shoes, pink belt and pink handbag are all lovely, but don't wear them all together, unless you are going to a theme party. Or trying to dress up like a bag of cotton candy. Too much matching makes it look like you are trying too hard, and summer collections make it an easy trap to fall into. Branch out with colors and patterns. Your six-year-old niece might look cute in her Hawaiian print hat, pants and sandals, but you will not.

2. Do wear white pants.

The trick here is to make sure they are the right fit (and that you are not going to a chocolate tasting later that night). White pants are great for summer dress-up events, and even white jeans are making a comeback, so go ahead and wear them if you dare! Just make sure they are not so tight that every one can see your underwear line along with your other curves. And while they might mean more laundry to be done, the good news about white pants is that they go with basically everything.

3. Don't show your midriff.

I don't care if you have abs like Madonna, (have you seen those things?), showing your midriff is always tacky no matter who you are. Save it for the beach. The end.

4. Do wear summer dresses with sandals.

Dresses are a much cooler alternative to pants or even shorts, and wearing a dress doesn't mean you have to be "dressy." Go casual with a cotton jersey knit, flip flops and a baseball cap for a trip to the playground or the mall, just like you would in a T-shirt and shorts. Or, dress it up with a big belt and high-heeled sandals. Dressed up or down, you'll always win with a dress.

5. Don't go too tan, or too orange.

We all know the dangers of too much sun, but the alternatives have pitfalls of their own. Tanning sprays, creams and lotions are safer than the real thing, but spend the time to find one that works with your skin tone, and don't overdo it when you do. Unless you're making a bid for a spot in Willy Wonka's factory.

6. Do trade in for light, summer purses.

This is quick and easy (and inexpensive) and shows you are ahead of the season, and the trends. Express yourself with a bold pattern, such as floral prints, or a unique fabric, like canvas. You can pick a bag big enough to hold a water bottle, sunscreen and a trashy romance novel for a day on the beach, or small enough to fit your lipstick and a few sticks of gum for a night out on the town.

7. Don't wear short shorts.

Unless you are under the age of 15, in which case you should be doing your homework instead of reading this blog. Go on now, or I'll tell your mom! For the rest of us, short shorts are just not classy. There's no other way to say it. And, if you think they look good on you, you're probably wrong. (Except if your name is Beyonce Knowles. And even then I'm not so sure.) Being fashionable doesn't mean showing everything you have. Get creative and accentuate your good features.

8. Do get a new pair of sunglasses every summer.

If you're anything like me (and I hope at least some of you are), you end up doing this anyway because you sit on your sunglasses, step on them or leave them in a public restroom. Sunglasses are an easy way to make a statement, and the statement you want to make this season is BIG. You can also make a statement with bold colors like white, turquoise or red. Just make sure you have UV protection, even if you are going with a cheap pair. Your pretty peepers will thank you.

And, there you have it. A fool-proof way to enjoy the rest of the summer in easy, breezy style.

Tell us! What is your favorite summer wardrobe item?