Spring is finally here. I bet you’re ready… but is your closet? If you don’t have the time or money to re-vamp your wardrobe, no worries…. Here are 5 easy ways to freshen up your look for spring and get on trend.

1.  Stripes
What’s old is new again. Stripes are back. This time they aren’t preppy. Think more nautical elegance, French Riviera-esque, Bridget Bardot inspired stripes. You can do a casual stripe tank or tee, cropped or long. Or you can try a more dressed up sequined stripe. Whatever you do, keep spring’s silhouette in mind… a looser top with a skinny bottom. The best thing about this trend is that there are stripes for every budget. You can grab a tank at Wal-Martand throw it under a blazer or pair it with your favorite shorts or jeans. And atBloomingdale’s, there are so many stripes it will make you dizzy.

2.  Jeggings
Denim is huge for this season. Denim dresses, shirts, jackets, and cut-off shorts are back in a big way. If you are going to make one denim purchase—make it the jegging. Jean + Legging= Jegging. Get it? Jeggings come in all washes, colors, and some even have faux pockets. They look great with your relaxed striped shirt and are the perfect transitional item. Beware—for anyone getting bikini ready, jeggings do expand with you. Unlike jeans that eventually get snug, jeggings are very deceiving!Leggings and jeggings were on the runway again for fall, so they are an investment. If you don’t quite feel like investing, grab an inexpensive pair at Conway, Annie Sez, and Mandee. There is also a wide designer selection at Bloomingdale’s.

3. Trench
You can never go wrong with a classic trench. The trench is bigger than ever but this time around it’s  a bit more fun. Try a pop of color, a new texture or a little something extra like a ruffle, puff sleeve, or add a belt. Burberry is right on. Aqua also some much less expensive options.

4.  Oxford
Ban your ballet slippers to the back of your shoe closet—the flats of the season are oxfords. Yep- flash back to dance class and your old jazz shoes. I personally prefer neutrals, but grown-up oxfords come in all colors and textures. They can be paired with a flirty dress or skirt, a boyfriend jean or jeggings. By giving your feet a break from heels, you will definitely add some spring to your step.Bloomingdales has a great variety of oxfords.If you are unsure of the trend and just want to give it a try, you can find less expensive options at TargetJCPenney and Zappos

5. Accessorize
Lucite is easily most versatile accessory of the season. You see it literally from head to toe—adorning Louboutins to gumball necklaces draped on the neck. It goes from day to night and with just about anything. It does come in different colors, but clear (especially tear drop) is the biggest trend. Don’t to be afraid to mix Lucite bangles with your old silver or gold bangles. And don’t be afraid to layer your Lucite necklaces.

Spec-tacular Geek Chic glasses“Four eyes” has never been so sexy. For years you begged your mother for contacts… who ever thought you’d choose to sport these strong rimmed glasses? Luckily, no prescription is necessary. If you have a desire to make a statement, this trend is a no-brainer.  You can skip the pocket protectors, but be sure to choose a pair that protects your peepers (with UVA protection).

Check out the video on HealthyStyleNY

As you shop for Spring—don’t forget to dress your nails. Keep them clean and polished with the hottest new shades. This season the most fabulous fingernails are kept on the shorter side and painted putty. Yes, that’s right…putty!

Chanel’s Particulière is the must have bottle of the season and sets the trend. Of course, you will have to stalk your local counter because it sells out….fast! I’ve been wearing it for about 2 months and love, love, love it. I must tell you though, my endless hours on on a keyboard have it chipping like crazy, but still, I have  never received more  nail compliments on a polish.

If you want a putty polish at a much lower price point, try Sally Hansen’s Complete Manicure Nail Lacquer in Commander in Chic. Even side by side—my trained Chanel eye could barely see a difference.

Karie L. Frost, Fashion & Beauty Editor for Nailpro Magazine agrees that “greige” ( a blend of gray and beige) is chic.  She says Chanel’s Particulière, and Deborah Lippmann’s ‘Waking Up in Vegas’ are sure beauty bets.

Pastels are always associated with spring and they are in full bloom on fingernails this season too. Frost says that sweet, sugary pastels like mints, baby blues, soft lavenders, periwinkles, and peaches are back and big. BUT– be sure to only pick polishes that are opaque creams with full coverage. Stay away from sheer and shimmer. Frost says Essie’s Tart Deco, China Glaze’s Refresh-Mint and Orly’s Gumdrop are all perfect pastels.

If you love all that glitters or just want to have a little fun—in the spirit of the Alice in Wonderland big screen debut—everyone is mad about OPI’s Alice in Wonderland collection of vibrant shades and multi-color glitter. Be sure you pick some up before you are too late

Perfect Polish Tips:
Speaking of being late for a very important date– If you are doing your own polishing…don’t rush! Frost warns – if you glob on the polish, thick layers tend to bubble. Remember–do not add the top coat until your polish is completely dry. If you add too much top coat on a too wet surface your polish will shrink and wear off more quickly. Be sure to brush a little more top coat over the edge of your nail tip side to side to help prevent chipping and keep your nails stylish. Happy Spring Polishing!

HealthyStyleNY.com

My skin and hair take a lot of abuse every day. From layers of make-up to the constant use of a curling iron…the last thing I want to do on the weekend is my hair and make-up!

I was happy to hear that “easy” is in for spring. My go-to gals at Salon Blue and Spa 190 in Mineola had some good beauty tips for the ladies that I wanted to share. I am always looking for ways to freshen up my look and a change of season is the perfect time.  They say that casual is hot for hair (thank goodness!). Try the messy pony tail braided over to one side, a fluffy backcombed pony, or a soft loose bun. If you have wavy hair–you are in luck. They say to lay off the straightening iron and go with long loose full waves. I have pin straight hair– so they told me to try Velcro rollers or a full-barreled curling iron (both failed me in the past, but I will try again or just go with the pony tail! ).

As far as make-up, they say to bring on the shimmer–and don’t over bronze. Red lips are red hot. Go for bright orange-red lips with natural face make-up. Be sure to keep eye make-up clean and light and lashes long. Creative Stylist and Make-up Artist Josephine Abbatiello says “Don’t believe the old beauty ‘no’ that you should only apply 2 coats of mascara. That ‘don’t’ is now a ‘do’: You just can’t get lush, thick lashes with just two coats!”  I’ve had a lot of luck with eye lash primer– I’ve tried Maybelline XXL and also MAC’s Prep & Prime.

As far as eye shadows–color is in. Don’t be surprised to see pastels. If you are going to embrace this trend, go sheer to avoid looking too glittery. Make-up Artist Erika Bechtle says that shadows in brighter greens and purples  rule the palette. She also says to put away your black liner and replace it with royal navy and deep browns as well as emerald green, royal blue and sapphire. I personally love my new purple Dior Show mascara (878).

I love their skin care tips. They say that the newest trend for skin comes from the inside–good nutrition. You say tomato–they say powerful antioxidant. Stacy Kotsakis, Spa Aesthetician says that research suggests that Lycopene, found in tomatoes, can increase collagen production, decrease sunburn (due to its SPF capability), and neutralize free radicals which lead to aging skin.  I am making tomato salad tonight–maybe pomegranates for dessert? Kotsakis confirms that they since they are rich in antioxidants (that include punicalagins, and vitamins B and C)  pomegranates are a cell regenerator and a skin cancer preventer, plus they have antioxidant actions that can help in reversing and preventing disease.

They also suggest going green, literally. An organic green tea mask will hydrate and refresh your skin in preparation for the warmer months. Do some spring cleaning of your make-up bag. Clear out the old, heavy winter moisturizers and replace with some lighter weight products. Look for sheer moisturizers, both natural and tinted, that smooth and hydrate the skin with out an oily finish or gel type skincare products. I love my Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer–SPF 20. Linda Collins the director of Spa 190  recommend BioGel from NeoCutis – a super light-weight hydrating gel that contains PSP (processed skin cell proteins) – an optimal naturally balanced blend of proteins which include Human Growth Factors, Cytokines and Interlukins. (Bonus– she says it clinically shown to reduce wrinkle depth 18%)

If you want to try a new look for spring without spending a penny… try an “Instant Makeover” on People’s Style Watch. You can change your hair color, eye color, and try new make-up shades!

What do you think?!?

And the Oscar goes to– a film some viewers just learned the name of and most never saw. The Hurt Locker not only won the Oscar for “Best Picture” , but it also made history twice. It’s the lowest grossing film to ever win the coveted award. And director Kathryn Bigelow is the first woman to ever win as Best Director… beating out her ex-hubby James Cameron. Although the media had a blast with the battle of the exes, the two claim they are good friends and collaborators. And either Cameron was genuinely happy for Bigelow’s win- or he deserves an Oscar for his performance.

The Academy Awards was the classic tale of David and Goliath. The low budget film with a powerful punch and a story relevant to our time triumphed over Cameron’s socially conscious futuristic and highest grossing blockbuster of all time. Although the blow left some Avatar fans blue, Bigelow won over most hearts after she sincerely thanked our men and women in uniform in both of her acceptance speeches.

Speaking of speeches, they were pretty heartfelt and to the point this year. Mo’Nique delivered another strong and powerful one. Sandra Bullock thanked her mom.

Jeff Bridges was cool as always man. Other highlights of the evening included the John Hughes tribute where former Brat Packers took the stage to honor the late director. Although it was a bit frightening to see how some have aged, it brought a sense of nostalgia and an overwhelming desire to watch The Breakfast Club. It was especially nice to give every best actor and actress nominee a shining moment and short tribute.

I think Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin really did a great job co-hosting. They kept it classy. Things that made us go hmmm… the absence of Farrah Fawcett (who starred in 14 feature films) from the “In Memoriam” segment. What was Sean Penn talking about? The awkward Kanye West-esque moment” when Roger Ross Williams who won for his short documentary was interrupted mid sentence. I found the Ben Stiller emulating an Avatar character funny for a few seconds and then transitioning into poor taste. It’s the Academy Awards– not the Teen Choice Awards for goodness sake. And poor Kristen Stewart coughing while trying to present.

As far as fashion… Zoe Saldana had the strangest and most talked about dress. The top was stunning but what the heck was up with that bottom? Charlize Theron– who rarely has a fashion miss- really struck out. Everyone else played it safe (even Mariah was more covered than usual) with some neutrals, but mostly metallics and a few pops of crimson (good job Penelope Cruz and Vera Farmiga… did anyone else notice how spectacular Michelle Pfeiffer looked on stage?) and blue (done especially well by Maggie and Mo’Nique). Besides golden gal Sandra Bullock with sleek locks, there were a lot of up-dos and quite a few frizzies– including SJP, JLo and Rachel McAdams.

One of my favorite parts of my job is when I get the opportunity to go backstage at shows and see how magic happens. It was once again a thrill to go behind the scenes at Radio City Music Hall.

I think every girl in my dance class growing up dreamed of being a Rockette. The idea of performing on stage at Radio City in all of those beautiful costumes just seemed like the most glamorous and fun job in the world. And hey, sharing a stage with Santa wasn’t too shabby either. I learned early on from my dance teacher Miss Cheryl (who was formerly a Rockette) that it sure would be tough for me to make that 5′6 t height requirement! But for one Long Island girl from Lindenhurst who took dance class at June Claire in Babylon–her dream of being a Rockette at the magical Radio City Music Hall came true this year. Synthia Link perfectly fits what I think a Rockette should be.  She’s beautiful, smart, funny and has one of those million dollar smiles. But most of all she is full of  holiday spirit. You can tell she loves being a Rockette. She’s so full of enthusiasm.  The Holy Trinity High School grad took me into the large rehearsal room back stage at Radio City.  She  explained all of the lines and numbers on the floor and how the Rockettes use them to make those complicated formations. They have so much to remember! Synthia said she performs in up to 4 shows a day with 35 other Rockettes. She changes 8 times in a show,  sometimes having only 78 seconds to change costumes. She explained how backstage was really organized with a huge crew to keep everything in order.  She said that the  key is to put each costume on the same exact way every single show.  (For example, leotard first, then hat, gloves, shoes, etc.  Maybe I should come up with a method to help me get ready that fast every morning!)  Costumes are actually specifically made for each individual  Rockette–that’s why they never shift and always look perfect. No magic tape needed!

Of course, I had to ask about those world famous kicks. Synthia was kind enough to give me a little lesson. I never realized that although their arms are hooked behind each other’s back, they are actually never touching. It’s tough to kick without holding on!(I tried…. not too successfully!) They make it look so easy! Having nice long legs doesn’t hurt either…  When you see them kick, it appears that they are all the same height, but they’re not. To be a Rockette, Miss Cheryl was correct, you do have to be between 5′6 and 5′10 and a half.  To create the illusion that they are all the same height on stage, they place the tallest women in the center with Rockettes on each side becoming progressively shorter. Then they all kick eye high. They kick hundreds of times in every show! No wonder why they are all in such good shape! I was winded after 6!

If you’ve never seen the show, it’s really special.  Santa really gets everyone in the spirit. There are a lot of modern things like a huge LED screen, sparkly new costumes,  a bus on stage that takes you on a tour of NYC, and even some 3-D fun.  But Synthia said her favorite part is the classic Parade of the Wooden Soldiers because she said, “It has been around since 1933, since the beginning of the Rockettes, and its the exact same choreography that they did back then so when your doing it you really feel like your part of that legacy and part of the history of the Radio City Rockettes.”

That’s one of my favorites too! I also love the Living Nativity and was lucky to meet Sally, Ted, and Sarah the camels! They get walked (with a pooper scooper of course) around Radio City. They are huge stars–everyone wanted to take their  photo! They actually have their own air conditioned dressing room inside of Radio City.

Next year, I’d like to get a tour of that!

I cried. I clapped. I even danced in my seat. Just natural reactions.

Yesterday I saw the Michael Jackson documentary “This Is It.”  I was touched, inspired, and so sad. If you are an MJ fan, I suggest that you see it.

I am a bit jaded when it comes to TV and movies. I know that 100-plus hours of footage could be edited together to show someone in the light the producer wishes.  But in my heart, I feel that this film captured Michael Jackson’s love and spirit. I think and hope that the film was honest and showed the true Jackson that so many love.  You could see how the crew adored him, and he them. You could see that he was a perfectionist.  And you could see that the comeback concert that should have been would have been an amazing production.  I loved how they planned to bring Jackson’s famous songs and videos to life on stage. In the film,  Michael sure could dance and sing.  He stressed that everything was done with love. And he said “god bless you” to members of his crew so much that director Kenny Ortega made a comment that the rehearsal was like the church of rock.  In what appeared to be the final concert rehearsal, MJ had the crew in a huddle and told them to “bring love back into the world.”  Those are the words that keep echoing in my head.