I love the idea of wearing sequins all day.  From work to evening. In Las Vegas and in Scottsdale.  We might even see this in San Jose but I’m not expecting it to be everywhere you look.  I am probably a little too classic to pull it off but there’s no question that it is going to be a hot trend for Spring.  The long list of designers showing this for Spring range from the uber trendy Alice & Olivia, Anna Sui and Isaac Mizrahi to the elite establishment of Pucci, Christian Dior, and Armani. And shoe designers from Lanvin tennis shoes to Doc Martens (yep, sparkly Doc Martens combat boots!).  Looks like there will also be sequin sandals!

Sequins have been popular for the past few seasons.  The extension to day wear is the big news.  And where they are showing up:  on suit pieces tailored for business, on hoodies, and twinsets.  On cute skirts, accessories, jeans and pants.  And on every fabric and color imaginable.

Are there any rules to this trend?  One very important one.  Do not overdo it.  Strictly one piece with sequins. 

Here are a few sequined treasures from the Doncaster Spring 2010 line.  These have classic lines with a trendy edge.  Take this anywhere and wear them anytime. 

Click here to see more of the Doncaster line.  For ease of ordering, use consultant code 1867121.

December 26th is one of my favorite shopping days of the year.  I line up my gift cards all in a row and start hunting for the best online deals on the favorite items I have been following all season.  When I sat down to scope out the specials today, I was initially intrigued by huge markdowns.  Unfortunately, what I have also found is very low inventories.  There are still great bargains to be had but patience is the word of the day.  And flexibility.  I did spend a few of my gift cards on treasure but most of them will be stored away for a month or two when inventories are a little more plentiful. 

If you don’t see what you are looking for, many sites will let you sign up to receive an email when the products are available.  I love this!  Its like having my own emailing personal shopper! 

Thanks to the internet, personal service and product offerings based on my preferences is back!  And thanks to social intelligence, that computer even knows my name!I grew up in a small town where I went to school with the store owners who were also the store managers/cashier/purchasing manager and custodian.  I grew up in the day of personal service.  When I went into a store, I was greeted by name by the owner who had a pretty good idea why I was there.  She usually had suggestions to guide my purchase in between questions about how my family was doing, how school was going, etc.  Even the chain stores were franchises with local ownership and coexisted peacefully among the mom and pop stores. 

Then big box discounters moved in during my high school years.  My college roomate used to say about Walmart, “If they don’t have it, you don’t need it.”  And with them, the small mom and pops became a thing of the past.  There are still wonderful small stores, but they are much more gift, hobby and lifestyle oriented.  And with them, relationship shopping left the landscape.  You were expected to purchase with the masses as inventory became a decision of scaled purchasing on massive discount.  So, if I was willing to go with the flow, I could buy what everyone else was buying from the front of the store at a massive discount. 

Meet the loyalty program.  The best of both worlds.  I have been Christmas shopping the past few days and my email inbox is bursting from the seams.  Discounts and links to items that are similar to or complementary to my purchases.  Coupons to entice me into the store and to the website.  And the banner advertising on my Google and Yahoo mail accounts all reflect where I have been spending money either online or in the store using loyalty cards and coupons.  And when I go to the site, I am greeted on a first name basis and links to products are ready and waiting to hop into my shopping cart! 

Gotta run!  Some of my loyalty coupons are only good today…Happy shopping!

Every week, as part of my Weight Watchers online subscription, I receive an email with great tips and strategies.  Some weeks, they are geared to the time of year.  Other weeks, they are more geared toward where I am in my weight management goals.  They always provide encouragement and lots of great ways to maintain my goals for maintaining a healthy weight with nutritious choices.  This is an excerpt from this week’s article, which was just too perfect for the Monday after Thanksgiving!

Have a healthy holiday!
Even in the hectic weeks ahead, you can make small adjustments that will make it easier for you to tackle your weight-loss goals in the new year. The first step toward a healthful holiday season is simple and effective: Don’t use the season as an excuse to splurge. The second is to always be on the lookout for ways to fit healthy behaviors into your life.

Click here to learn more about Weight Watchers Online. 

Just in time for Holiday shopping, GlamourByLBD is very pleased to announce its partnership with Zappos.com.  Zappos is a fabulous online retail destination with a huge inventory of shoes, clothes, handbags and accessories. Yes, even Glamourous LBDs!

Last spring, I was on what I expected to be a futile hunt for a favorite discontinued style of jeans.  I found two pairs in my size on Zappos.com and grabbed them both! 

So, how will I work with Zappos.com?  Several times each week, I recommend clothes, shoes, and accessories to fit a certain occasion, opportunity or body shape challenge.  Zappos will be an important part of my “bag of tricks” for finding just the right piece to make my readers glamourous. 

Here are a few quick nougats that drive home what Zappos.com does so well…

- Zappos.com has free shipping on all orders.

- Zappos.com has the best selection of shoes and handbags anywhere.

- Zappos.com offers over 1200 brands with 130,000 styles and more than 2.7 million products in stock!

-Zappos now offers clothing and accessories and is continually adding new product categories.

Click here to Start Shopping at Zappos.com

Starting on Monday, my focus into the new year will be sales and specials.  However, if there is a trend that you want to hear about or a fit challenge that you want GlamourByLBD to write about, please let me know about it and I will add it to question of the week. 

 I will also bring back the shopping page.  Please visit it and let me know what you’d like to see there!  I am here for your questions!