'Great Lengths'

Long skirts hit the runway

Everyone remembers the maxi-length dresses of last summer, and now it’s time to welcome the new: maxi skirt. Whether it’s long and denim, sheer and flowing, or ruffled and bouncy, learn how to wear this Spring-Summer staple.

First, make sure to cinch your waist. It’s easy to get lost in all the fabric without adding a belt. Especially for the empire-like maxi skirts, a belt elongates your silhouette by drawing attention to a small waist.

Remember that a maxi skirt should always be matched with a piece that is tailored or form-fitting up top. Too much volume all around will make the wearer appear both larger, and in worst possible instances (think Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen), like a bag lady.

Invited to an evening function but not in the mood to don a leg-baring dress or skirt? Epitomize contemporary glamour with a fluid maxi skirt in a sumptuous silk. Complete the look with a fitted top or a cinched blazer. A style solution that leaves you covered, comfortable, and of course, chic.

Free People boho skirt

Feeling bohemian? Consider wearing a tiered maxi skirt in a spring floral. Wear with a long sleeve shirt, as styled by Free People. Once the weather warms, slip on a tank top and accessorize with a scarf and Panama straw brim hat.

Roberto Cavalli silk print skirt

Evoke the American West – a major trend on Spring-Summer catwalks in New York and Milan – by wearing a floor-sweeping print skirt with a button-down top in a solid or flannel print. Throwing on a cowboy hat might be a bit too much, but boots are certainly not out of the question.

A full-length skirt worn with tights and is a lesson in comfort on days you’d like to stray away from pants. One of my colleagues is infamous for this look, which she likes to layer with colorful accessories and jewelry. Dress down, but still stay dressed up in a cotton skirt by Rachel Pally.

-S. Gonzalez

'Center This'

Hosting a surprise birthday dinner with 25 guests can be a heavy undertaking, especially as a mother of three. But that’s just what my cousin managed to do this past weekend for her husband, who turns 30 Tuesday.

The dinner included generous portions of authentic Dominican cuisine: yucca, beans and rice, pernil, chicken, tostones and potato salad. Guests were seated at a long table and served their choice of white or red wine.

Its success got me thinking: How might I organize and entertain a large party such as this? How might I decorate to highlight the occasion?

I started my search for creative centerpieces, and found the following do-it-yourself solutions:

Candy and Flowers Centerpiece

Sweet on Me

With Valentine’s Day just a few weeks away, entertain guests with a centerpiece that combines candy and flowers. Pick your favorite solid candy (ie. jelly beans) to fill the bottom of the vase and then add flowers.

All That Glitters

Glitter candles light up the tabletop without even having to be lit. Buy a few plain candlesticks and spray with adhesive. Coat the candles with glitter and dry overnight. Tip: Try this art & crafts project with your kids.

Birch-wrapped Vases and Amaryllis Flowers

White Knight

I adore the look of this winter white arrangement. Create the arrangement by wrapping birch bark around glass cylinders. Fill the glass cylinders with amaryllis flowers and add trimmings from the holiday tree or geranium leaves. Simple, easy and surprisingly chic.

Mixed Greens

Similar to my last post where I discussed sustainable décor, think of reusing leftover decorative greenery to make a new centerpiece. Take leftover evergreens, for example, and mix with fresh cut flowers. Your guests will never know.

Candles Centerpiece

Light It Up

Sometimes a centerpiece is as easily created as adding an already-made arrangement of candles atop a bed of stones.

Biscuits and Potted Teacups

Easy Treat

Or create a tabletop arrangement of cupcakes cookies wrapped in colorful ribbon and accented with little blooms in teapots.

Candy Cane Striper

Get inspired by swirly mints by creating an arrangement with red-and-white amaryllis flowers. Wrap glass vases in vellum or pearlescent paper and glue on thin strips of red ribbon.

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of marthstewart.com

'Sustainable Decor 101'

Thrift Store Finds: Trunks, filing cabinet and suitcases

The first time I ever considered vintage and thrift store finds as part of the growing “sustainable fashion” movement was in talking with friend and colleague Sammy Davis of Sammy Davis Vintage.

Vintage retailer and fashion advocate, Davis combs thrift stores for pieces she might sell at featured vintage sales or use to style for an online fashion tutorial or editorial. For those like Davis, sustainability not only applies to fashion and design made from eco-friendly materials, but from those that are vintage as well.

As far as décor, there are several ways to reintroduce flea market treasures into your home. Try these ideas on for size:

Wall Collection of Mismatched Dishes

Build a collection of mismatched dishes to display on tabletops or hang on the walls. You can transform the plates into mirrors if you’d like to take it one step further.

Aside from storage, old trunks and filing cabinets make for good last minute seating and occasional tables.

Fabric scraps for do-it-yourself projects can be found on the cheap at thrift shops. No need to head to your local fabric store where prices for fabric have doubled over the years. Please note: If you plan to reuse, always give the fabric a good wash.

Redesign Your Own Vintage Chair

Dining room tables and chairs can be stripped of paint, painted in a new color, stained, or re-upholstered. You don’t need to buy a whole dining set if you are just looking to add some personality to an unused corner of your home.

The best artwork is often found at thrift stores or flea markets, where you are sure to find a one-of-kind creation.

Lamps can be easily given a new shade and cleaning for a modern update. If the lamp is broken, try taking it to a hardware store for some help with rewiring.

Shelving units are perfect for reorganizing your home office, linen closet or children’s bedroom. The same rule applies as for dining room tables and chairs: strip paint, repaint, stain, or even add wallpaper.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to sustainable home décor.

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of www.re-nest.com; capitolstyle.co.uk; peacelovechandeliers.blogspot.com

'Sale Into a New Year'

In 2010, you probably had the following good intentions: replace or discard old, outdated home accents like curtain rods, drapes and swags. But you never followed through.

This year, you can turn it all around. Stock up on home décor essentials with end-of-season stock now marked up to 50 percent off.

Wild About Fur

Go wild with this wild cat blanket

Embrace the exotic tribal trend without having to physically go on a wild safari. This wild cat faux fur blanket is a dynamic piece to sling over your couch or throw around your shoulders during cold winter nights. Especially if you’re drawn to classic décor, your guests will be in for a pleasant surprise.

Integrate this piece into almost any décor setting thanks to its mix of brown, white and black fur. Easy to wash, this versatile piece also comes in two small and large sizes.

Spare the Rod

Hannah Rust rod

If the last time you bought curtains rods were two or more presidential elections ago, consider yourself in dire need of an update. Often times you can change the entire look of a home space by changing one single simple item.

For a traditional touch, choose from this Renovation series of curtain rods in rounded, square and knob shapes. The Hannah Rust rod (above) is my personal favorite, with a rounded pearl finish and decorative band at the end. The Priscilla Antique Gold rod has a clear knob ending with antique gold rod. The Kingston Antique Brass and Westminister Bronze both have classic shapes and finishes.

Seeing Red

Pinstripe curtains in burgundy

Complete the look with a rich set of curtains, like this pinstripe curtain in a deep burgundy color. The crimson color brings a richness never before seen to your living room or bedroom.

The weighty curtains have a triple-weave design for insulation and blocking out unwanted noise and light. The set comes with two panels of 52”curtains with two different hanging options, depending on your preferences.

What are you waiting for? Time to sale into a new year!

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of decorinnovation.com

'White Out'

As New York City gets pummeled by yet another snowstorm, it’s hard not to be inspired by the white out. White, in its absence of color, represents a blank slate and crisp minimalism that never goes out of style.

Take a clear, refined approach to fashion and décor at the start of the New Year. Start with these inspired classics:

Can’t Top This

A transitional white blazer, 3.1 Phillip Lim

A 3.1 Phillip Lim blazer ($325 Blue & Cream) in white cotton lightens a dark winter look. Disregard the old fashion lore, no need to wait until after Memorial Day for an all-white show stopper. Use as a transition piece for when the weather warms over feminine eyelet dresses and pastel-colored silk blouses.

New Heights

Subtle futurism by Jeffrey Campbell

The latest wedge is the new “It” shoe of the season – if you’ve been taking a close look at the latest fashion publications like Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. This suede wedge by Jeffrey Campbell includes a patent leather trim that wraps across the toe, ankle and heel of the shoe. Not only comfortable, but gravity-defying with a heel 5.25 inches high, these shoes have given petite girls like me something to be excited about. Wear with a fitted dress or wide-leg trousers for a stylish turn-to-spring look.

Clean Sheets

Organic duvet in a crisp white

Cuddle up to some organic white sheets with satin striping. Unlike other organic products, this organic queen set uses no artificial dyes – hence its natural off-white color. The duvet set includes the flat sheet, fitted sheet and two standard pillowcases. The simple, yet luxurious spread can be left as is, or embellished with colorful throws and swags.

-S. Gonzalez

*Photo courtesy of stylecaster.com; shopbop.com; decorinnovation.com

"All That Glitters"

The Times Square ball is not the only thing that’s going to glitter this New Year’s.

Sequins, metallic and gold – anything that sparkles in terms of dress, shoes and accessories – is a must for the last night of the year. This year, I plan on adding an element of shine in the form of jewelry: a chain-link Marni necklace (see left) inter-woven with satin ribbon, diamante stones and turquoise embellishment made from plastic.

Brighten up your party look with a sequin dress:

Dance the night away in this simple and easy-to-wear sequin dress by Parker ($297 by Revolve Clothing). Wear with solid tights and shoes, and add a layer of colorful rings and bracelets for a fine finish. Can’t splurge on a Parker dress? Go vintage with a sequin dress, like this New Year’s Eve dress with lace cap sleeves and beaded trim ($26 on etsy.com).

Parker $297 Etsy Vintage $26

Get your glitter fix with embellished shoes:

Slip into a pair of comfortable flats instead of the usual sky-grazing stilettos, but make sure you do it in style. Pick from a playful selection of ballerina flats by Juicy Couture faux jewels (see below), taffeta flowers and all-over sequins.

Fancy Feet

High shine with a sequined handbag:

Party with Marc Jacobs

If I had my way, I would party into the New Year with this sequined handbag with pebbled leather trim by Marc Jacobs for $716 on my arm. The bag has a chain link strap threaded with satin and a gold lock-in clasp. The handbag would add instant sparkle, not to mention luxe, to any New Year’s party ensemble. It isn’t too late to call Santa Claus and do an exchange on my gifts, is it?

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of yoox.com; revolveclothing.com; etsty.com; neimanmarcus.com; bluefly.com