Caring for your shoes will not only preserve them, but will contribute to your overall “polish“. Different types of shoes require different types of care. Over the years, I’ve learnt a few tricks:

• Tidy storage – putting shoes away neatly in your closet helps to maintain them. It’s when we fling them into a cupboard or forget about them outside that they suffer.
• Leather – leather shoes are best waterproofed with a waxed leather protector and then polished from time to time. If you can’t find polish to match your shoe colour, opt for colourless shoe shine – this will also do the trick.
• Suede – suede shoes are the most difficult to maintain. No matter what they tell you when you buy them, they will never look the same again despite what you do to them.  However, prevention is better then cure. Start off by spraying suede shoes with a suede protector. If they get scuffed after that, try rubbing the mark out with an eraser, or brushing it off with a relatively hard bristle brush. Never wear suede shoes in the rain – you will ruin them.
• Canvas and vinyl – sneakers are easier to clean than you might expect. Wash the laces like you would launder your clothes. There are a variety of athletic shoe shampoos on the market these days that work really well. I’ve also found that scrubbing with washing detergent and a dishwashing brush works wonders too.
• Metallic and patent – metallic and patent shoes will unfortunately not clean well. Soapy water works if the dirt is removable. Colourless shoe shine will work up to a point on metallic leather, but not as well as you would have hoped. I have been disappointed with gold sandals that I have not been able to maintain. However, it does take a lot for then to get scuffed in the first place.
• Boots – long boots need to be kept upright. If you can’t find proper upright supporters, then rolled up newspaper secured with a few rubber bands will work just as well at a fraction of the price.
• Odour – “tissue sheets” (scented tissue sheets that you pop into the dryer with your washing for extra sweet smelling laundry) will help eliminate shoes with unsavoury odours. Scrunch a scented sheet or two up and pop them into your shoes when you’re not wearing them. I recently received this tip from a friend – thank you Joey for sharing!
• Share the wear – you need to have enough shoes in your closet to “share their wear”. The more we wear our shoes, the shabbier they become. This is especially a point to consider for gents and elderly people who often do not have enough shoes.    

If you give your shoes the attention that they deserve, there is no doubt that they will look nicer for longer.

Suede and leather care products from Kiwi (available at HealingTouch.com).

Accessorizing with style isn’t easy, especially when it comes to wearing necklaces and earrings. It used to be simple – when you saw a necklace with matching earrings (or vice versa), you assumed that they were to be worn together. This is not always the case. Here are a few guidelines:

• One or the other – chunky necklaces should not be worn together with chunky earrings.
• Dangly, chandelier style earrings are enough of a statement of their own. Refrain from wearing anything around your neck when you wear these.
• Chunky neck pieces look best with dainty studs, delicate drop styles or extremely small hoops.
• Matching sets – matching earring and necklace sets are pretty but have a tendency to look dowdy if you are not over 55. By all means buy them as a set and then separate them when you wear them. 
• Adding your spectacles – don’t wear dangly chunky earrings if you wear glasses. Wear small studs or nothing at all. Wearing a chunky necklace with specs is absolutely fine.

There are exceptions to every rule. But if you adhere to the tips above, chances are high that you’ll be accessorized correctly.

It seems ridiculous to think about winter woolies, coats and boots in sweltering summer temperatures; yet it’s the perfect time to contemplate the season that lies ahead. Retail stores in the northern hemisphere offer their fullest and finest autumn and winter collections from August to October. It’s therefore best to dive in while selections are abundant.

Before decisions can be made as to which trends will work for you, it’s imperative to understand what they are:

• Black, black, black – is this season’s most important fashion colour.
• Black, white, grey and red combinations – will liven up the somberness of a very dark palette.
• Menswear suiting – is ultra feminine when tailored to perfection and worn with the highest of heels.
• Horizontal jailbird striping – in jersey and knitwear is most effective in two tones.
• Romantic blouses or “girly tops” – are still one of the prettiest and most versatile items of the season.
• Waistcoats and vests – are especially androgynous in grey and black pinstripe suiting.
• Brocade outerwear – is rich and luxurious in a season of black.
• Oversized welted knitwear – is flattering in delicate fabrics that show off the contour of your pretty shoulders.
• Grandpa sweaters – are best when belted at the waist.
• Military coats and jackets – are serious yet sophisticated when combined with shiny metallic buttons.
• Biker jackets – can be “cool” when contrasted with ladylike blouses.
• Nylon body warmers (sleeveless jackets) – add an urban edge to any outfit.
• Bell or bubble knee length skirts – are elegant in drapy fabrics that lie flat against the body.
• Tartan and hounds tooth checks (plaids) – are funky when styled in cropped peplum jackets, walk shorts, pencil skirts, bags and shoes.
• Sack dresses – are best when worn over jeans, skinny pants or leggings like a school uniform.
• Leggings – are more like footless opaque tights and worn most stylishly underneath skirts and dresses.
• Skinny jeans and pants – are a good idea if you want to tuck then into your boots.
• Cheetah and zebra printed anything – is a classy statement if you limit it to one item in your outfit at once.
• Wide waisted belts – will instantly pop anything that you had last season into this one.
• Army boots – are back for comfort and contrast.
• Ankle booties – make their debut as the “shoe of the season”.

There is lots of newness to absorb because Autumn 2006 marks a watershed change in fashion. Changes in silhouette as dramatic as these are only seen every decade. Stay tuned on how to best adopt the above trends for your body type and lifestyle. Keep those fashion feet moving!

Having done your closet cleanup, it is now time for some re-organization. You should have been left with 4 piles of clothes:

• A pile to donate – consider donating to non-profit organizations like Dress for Success or the Salvation Army. Pass clothing that is the incorrect size or colour to family and friends who you feel might benefit.
• A pile to have altered – get these items off to a tailor quickly.
• A pile to store away – all outdated designer and vintage pieces should be kept because fashion repeats itself. You might not be able to wear them now, but you will again at some point. Store away items like your wedding dress, and other sentimental garments that you can’t bear to part with but cannot wear. Box them to protect them from moths.
• A pile to keep – these are the “cherries” that made it into your new, regimented closet system.

The first step to creating a happy, efficient and comfortable personal dressing environment is to arrange the appropriate storage space and invest in the correct storage aids. Most of us are not blessed with lavish walk in wardrobes and have to make do with the cupboards we have. Not to worry – there are storage solutions for everything! The most important aspect to create in your closet is visibility – you cannot shop in your closet if you cannot see and access things easily. This goes for underwear, socks, shoes, belts, hats, scarves, gloves and handbags as well.

Before we can slot our wardrobe into a system, we’ll need the right tools:

• Hanging space
• Different types of hangers
• Shelving space
• Drawers and drawer dividers
• Shoe racks or shoe files
• A belt rack, necklace rack
• Transparent boxes
• Jewelry storage vessels (a very personal choice)
• A full length mirror

The above items are inexpensive to buy and can make the world of difference to your daily dressing ritual. Once you have the correct supplies, you’ll be able to follow a simple system. Stay tuned for how an efficient clothing system can positively influence the way you dress!

Hangers (30 for $17) and shoe rack ($24.99) from Target.

Drawer dividers ($14.99 a pair) and tie, belt, cap, or necklace rack ($19.99) from Bed Bath & Beyond.