One of my favorite Saturday activities is to page through home decorating magazines. Some of my favorites are Traditional Home, Veranda, Elle Décor, House Beautiful, Country Living. and Architectural Digest. I rip out things I love – phrases, design elements, color combinations – that sort of thing. These are my inspiration touchstones. I keep them in a folder until I’m ready for step two, assembling the collage.

A couple of weeks ago, Istarted making my collage for 2012. I reached for my recent picks that were waiting in my folder. But for good measure, I went through a couple more magazines – not fashion magazines, though. Why? I like to save that kind of collage project, one that’s just focused on fashion, for spring and fall, the big fashion seasons of the year. For now I’m just interested in broad themes for the year. I’ll start the fashion collage in March.

I have an 18” X 24” artist’s pad that I use to group my images on a page. I lay the pad on a worktable, pull out the glue stick and scissors, start trimming images and arrange the pieces according to my whims. I like to stay open and curious as to how it will look in the end and just enjoy the process.

I may not understand all parts of it when I do it but I know that time will reveal more. That’s why we trust this process, right?

The Modern Edge section

Keeping an eye on what makes something modern

Here’s one corner of my collage. There’s so much I love about this image. If I’m not mistaken, it’s a foyer to a shop in New York City that sells accessories. But I loved the title, “Modern Edge.” I always want to look modern and I counsel a lot of women about how to look modern as they age. I love seeing this theme holding center court for 2012.

Being modern doesn’t have to mean indulging in trendy looks that are worn best by 20-year-olds. We can be modern and age appropriate at the same time. I think being modern is sometimes about taking a chance with a color or an accessory. I can’t wait to explore what it will mean in 2012.

The softer side of 2012

Bring on the femininity!

I’m not sure how this image will move me this year but I really loved the feeling I got from it. It has sensuality to it. I loved the casualness of the white jean (and the great fit!) and the total femininity of the sheer loose top with sleeves. Am I ready to express more femininity in my style? Maybe! And with the spring trends getting ready to bloom, this could be a lot of fun!

The words that I glued near the top resonate with me too. Relaxed Glamour. That could be my fashion theme for the year! And “Simple Luxuries” could refer to careful shopping, looking for that one great necklace, scarf, watch or handbag that works with everything and adds quality to any outfit.

Working with a buddy

The last few months, I’ve enjoyed having an assistant with me on shopping trips and closet appointments with my clients. My assistant does the heavy lifting (clothes racks and bags of weeded out items being recycled), the charting of outfits (her handwriting is better than mine), the running around for other sizes during a shopping trip – things like that. Who is she? She’s my daughter Erin.

When I came across this image (it’s an ad for watches) of what looks like a mother and daughter, I was smitten. When I found the phrase We complete your look, I saw the future! Erin and I so enjoy working together and get so excited about fashion and all things style. Having an assistant seems like a great new adventure in 2012. It makes me so happy to see this in my collage.

So my dear friends, what are your ideas for your year? I hope you’ll leave some comments as I’d love to hear all about it! Together this just might be our best year ever!

I’ve given this some serious thought. If I can be the boss for the day, here’s what you should not buy if you’re out shopping on the busiest day of the year (the crowds, the chaos — what were you thinking????) if you’re over 18 years old.

1. A black leather mini skirt — even if they’re “in” you shouldn’t be in one. Your age on your driver’s license may not match your mental age. If it’s “mini” anything, let the driver’s license number be your guide.

2. Black fishnet stockings that are designed to look ripped. But go ahead and buy the fine knit ones!

3. Black over the knee boots — they’ll go on sale in a couple of weeks. Hold off!

4. Black nail polish. I love it but it’s been overdone.

5. Another pair of black pants — unless they really are in a category that hasn’t been covered already!

If you made it through the throngs of shoppers and came away with some great purchases, good for you! Tell us what you found!

My list appears in no particular order and of course, there are more where these came from. But I must mention:

1. Lilacs. To see them twice this year was awesome. First in Sonoma this spring, then in Queenstown, New Zealand at the beginning of November. My heart sings!

Queenstown lilacs

2. Trees. They are endlessly entertaining.

Under a giant sycamore

3. Young people having fun with fashion.

young fashionistas

4. Older people having fun with fashion. This is a woman I introduced myself to in a restaurant in Sydney, Australia. She was so distinguished, wearing a slim black dress, with bracelets and a scarf. I told her how beautiful she was and she said, “Really? I thought maybe I’d worn too many accessories today.”

mature fashionista

5. Russ and how he moves his body. He makes me laugh!

Russ and mime

6. Being present with my parents as they celebrated their 60th anniversary this summer.

Mom and Dad with 60 years of marriage under their belts

7. Colleagues. Fellow image consultants all over the world are passionate people who just want to serve the planet by creating more beauty.

New Zealand image consultants rock!

8. Writers.

9. Comics. They write and perform and I saw one of the best in Marin last week — Brian Regan. So inspiring and talented!

10. The three Cs — coffee, chocolate, and cornbread.

11. Good people … like you. Long ago when I was sad to be leaving my buddies on the Central Coast and moving to Marin County, a friend said, “Don’t worry, Brenda. There are good people everywhere.” She was right!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. If you care to, share your list too!

I wrestled Russ for the remote last night as I had to hear what dresses were making reporter’s best and worst list after Sunday night’s Emmy Award’s show.

It’s so funny because one person’s favorite is on the top of another person’s worst dressed list.

I was enthralled by Sofia Vergara in her red gown designed by Vera Wang. The way the designer wrapped fabric, twisted and arranged it to follow the amazing curves of Sofia’s body was pure genius. Many people may wish for a body like that but I know dressing lots of curves has its challenges. Vera Wang adorned those curves masterfully. It was just right.

In a structured white gown by Giorgio Armani, Julianna Marguiles was at the top of some lists for best dressed. Although it wouldn’t have been on my best dressed list, it was a great study in a completely different kind of design. The bodice had its own definition — which had basically nothing to do with her body and its shape. The dress called the shots. Of course, her body shape lent itself to this display of talent. You couldn’t have put that dress on a curvy body and gotten the same results.

Can you imagine how fun it must be to have masters of design creating something for you to wear to a special event? Of course, the stakes are high. Here we are talking about best and worst afterall!

What dresses stood out for you — whether in a good way or a bad way?

Here is an interview with my folks, Don and Alma, on how to get to 60 years of marriage and be so in love. Love is always in fashion, isn’t it?

Mom and Dad, still smiling after 60 years of marriage

Hope you enjoy!

Don and Alma on 60 Years of Marriage,  2011

What qualities are necessary to be married 60 years?

Don: Have a positive attitude. Humor goes along with that.

Alma: We had the ability to laugh at ourselves.

Don: Take a day at a time. If you have a down day, wait 48 hours. The sun will shine again.

Why did you marry Don?

I just knew he’d make these real cute babies.

Why did you marry Alma?

She had a wonderful smile, a wonderful disposition and was fun to be with. I was looking forward to a mate and togetherness.

Why it works

Alma: We’re each other’s best friends. We can trust each other and bare our souls.

Don: And have an honest discussion.

Alma: There’s always someone there to help you whether it’s physical or emotional.

Don and Alma: We’ve been lucky and we’ve been blessed. We’ve had lots of good friends all our life and good family to back us up.

Don: We’re always concerned about each other.

Alma: We worry about each other. That’s the sad part that happens now and then.

Best tools for getting through tough times

Don: Communication.

Alma: We’re more optimists than pessimists. If one gets down, the other one pulls us up.

Don appreciates Alma for …

She finds the clothes for me to wear so I depend on that and her cleanliness in our home.

Alma appreciates Don for …

I’m real content going with him in a car because I think he’s a very good driver.

Togetherness

Don and Alma: We always have something to talk about. We love staying up until one in the morning with the lights out and music on and just visiting. When we reminisce, it’s about the good things, not the bad. We omit the bad things that have happened and remember the good times.

Fears

Alma: I thought after two weeks of marriage we wouldn’t have anything to talk about.

Don: That’s a good one! That is absolutely precious!

Their advice to others

Don: Enjoy life!

Alma: We’re thankful for every day and look forward to many more. We’ll never get enough.

I found myself missing the old days when everyone wore tee shirts that declared something about themselves – their political persuasion, favorite band, sense of humor, personal interests. I love how they helped you realize whether or not someone was a member of your tribe or not. If they were wearing a tee shirt with something on it that you resonated with, you could make a comment and soon find yourself a new best friend!

This weekend was Father’s Day weekend and I spotted a couple of guys wearing tee shirts with writing on them. One guy had a tee shirt that said “Boston” across his chest. “You must be excited about those Bruins!” I offered. The Boston Bruins just won the Stanley Cup in hockey. You might have read about it. “Yup,” he responded.  I thought he might be a little more excited about it than that considering they haven’t won that title since 1972.

The next guy spotted with writing on his tee shirt was a gentleman whose faded shirt said “World’s greatest grandpa” on it. I said to him as he passed by, “You don’t look old enough to be a grandpa.”

He said, “Oh, but I am!”

I said, “No, I think you’re wearing someone else’s tee shirt.”

“Now you’re just flirting with me,” he said with a chuckle.

I was sitting at an outdoor table with Russ sipping lattes so it wasn’t exactly flirting but it was fun being accused of it nonetheless.

My parents are experts at starting up conversations with strangers. They do it everywhere they go. You’d think that would have rubbed off on me but I’m actually on the shy side. But I’ve decided to be more vocal. I’m going to make more comments on people’s clothes. “Hey, great color!” or “I love the shoes” or “You’re really stylin’” will be my opening lines. I’ll see what happens!

Have you commented on someone’s clothes and had it turn into a great connection? I’d love to hear about it!

With John Denver and the Muppets singing “The 12 Days of Christmas” in the background, it’s time once again to provide a quiz that will challenge what brain cells you have available this time of year. I might also be able to entice you to appreciate the effort put into presenting the year’s fashion choices that got your attention, served a purpose, lifted your spirits, made you feel like a million bucks while not costing a million bucks, and maybe won you some second looks and a few compliments. That’s fashion’s job. Were you engaged in it this year?

You might also have noticed a few fashion faux pas in your comings and goings. I sure did. Skirts up to there, pants down to there and the wearing of clashing trends that threatened my sense of right and wrong. (Anybody watch American Idol this year? Randy liked Siobhan Magnus’ crazy outfits. I didn’t. She lost.)

So take a deep breath, get out a pencil (so you can erase and think twice about your final answer) and give it your best. Score two points for each correct answer. If you fashion brainiacs score 18 – 24 points, send me your favorite fashion blog sites. I want what you have! If your score is 10 – 16 points, don’t feel bad. Fashion never stops. You can look forward to fashion rehab in 2011, getting ample tips from TV’s stylish Mad Men when it returns for the next season; score 2 – 8 points and I’ll understand you’ve been getting your fashion advice from the pages of Field & Stream. Score 0 points and you need to heed Mark Twain’s advice. He said, “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.” Put some clothes on and do it with meaning. Before you reach for that stylish scarf and head out the door, answer these questions and score your fashion sense.

• • • •

1. The person who said the following, rocked the fashion world in February with news of his suicide: “I think the idea of mixing luxury and mass-market fashion is very modern—wearing head-to-toe designer has become a bit passe. It’s a new era in fashion—there are no rules. It’s all about the individual and personal style, wearing high-end, low-end, classic labels and up-and-coming designers all together.”

That designer’s name is:

a. Yves Saint Laurent

b. Giorgio Armani

c. Alexander McQueen

d. Ralph Lauren

2. New York retailers such as Juicy Couture, Niketown, Victoria Secret and Abercrombie & Fitch had a lot of worries this year. They worried about their bottom line, how deep to dip into discounts in order to get people into the stores, plus what?

a. negative feedback from their racy ads

b. their company spokespeople being jailed for drug possession

c. falling stock prices

d. bedbugs

3. While we’re getting used to seeing clothing pieces that have content labels that might include hemp or bamboo, another material showed up in an eye-catching ensemble this year worn by a performer at an awards show. That material in the outfit was:

a. linoleum

b. Astroturf

c. raw meat

d. recycled film

4. After years of bare legs—in winter or summer—what is the latest trend in hosiery?

a. ankle socks

b. patterned tights

c. knee highs

d. all of the above

5. The jean style that got the most attention this year was:

a. the skinny jean

b. the wide-legged jean

c. the holey jean

d. patchwork jeans

6. What connects Tiffany’s and a red thong?

a. Tiffany earrings plus a red thong were all that Charlie Sheen was wearing when police broke up a party at his hotel room in New York last month.

b. Neiman Marcus advertises a $15,000 jeweled red thong by Tiffany’s in this year’s holiday catalog (hand wash only).

c. Tiffany bracelets and red thongs were the coveted backstage goodie bag items at this year’s Oscar awards show.

d. The World Championship trophy designed by Tiffany’s and Aubrey Huff’s red thong shared the stage at City Hall when San Francisco celebrated the Giants’ World Series win in November.

7. If you got a Brazilian this year, it means you are now sporting ________.

a. the skimpiest bikini ever

b. straight hair

c. giant sunglasses

d. hemp flip-flops

8. A much-publicized line was created and launched by a mother-daughter team this year for teens. That team is:

a. Madonna and daughter Lourdes

b. Blythe Danner and daughter Gwyneth Paltrow

c. Naomi Judd and daughter Wynonna

d. Joan Rivers and daughter Melissa

9. No-iron khakis and wrinkle-free blouses and shirts mean the steam iron stays in the closet. One of the key ingredients that makes these items wrinkle-free is:

a. formaldehyde

b. paint thinner

c. motor oil

d. cornstarch

10. Lindsay Lohan became the artistic adviser for the house of Ungaro in 2009. How did that work out?

a. The collection was a bust and Giles Deacon has taken over and turned it around.

b. Best known for its haute couture, with Lindsay’s influence the line had more street appeal.

c. Hemlines went up and so did the stock prices.

d. Just like Rapper T.I., who launched a new record from prison that sold like crazy, under Lindsay’s vision the house of Ungaro has sold a record number of units.

11. Looking back on 2010, we’ll remember the year most for:

a. the color “nude”

b. clogs

c. dresses

d. all of the above

12. The movie that did not provide a fashion fix in 2010 was:

a. Burlesque

b. Black Swan

c. Valentino: The Last Emperor

d. Sex and the City II

• • • •

4. d. Your mother is happy. No longer can she say, “You’re not going out barelegged, are you? You’ll freeze to death!”

5. a. The skinny jean wins out even though we saw patchworked and holey ones emerge. Everyone’s wearing skinny jeans—whether that’s the best choice for her frame or not.

6. d. Go Giants!

7. b. Called a Brazilian blowout, this keratin process straightens curly hair for up 12 weeks.

8. a. The line was launched at Macy’s and is called Material Girl.

9. a. Yup! Who’d have thunk it?

10. a. Sticking movie stars on the face of product lines isn’t always the answer.

11. d. Just don’t wear the clogs with the nude-colored dress.

12. c. Valentino, the movie, was so last year! But you must rent or own the DVD. It’s awesome!

This is my annual fashion quiz that I write for the Pacific Sun. It appeared there first on Christmas Eve day.

Life is back to normal because Mad Men is back on TV.
So I was reading the latest issue of Time magazine where Joe Hamm is interviewed.

(Great photo of him, too, by the way.)

Here’s his answer to the question, “Has playing Don Draper influenced your personal style?”

Joe Hamm: “I’m more conscious of what goes into dressing up. My personal style is not quite up to snuff with Mad Men. But the difference between a nice suit and a suit that isn’t tailored to fit you is significant. It’s very much a statement about a person who’s ready to look like he’s in control of a situation.”

So true! Fit is part of my CSF Formula which stands for Color-Style-Fit. You need all three working for you in order to look and feel your best. Bad fit is big drag. Okay, I’m hearing you say, “No kidding! Why, I remember this one time when I was wearing this . . . ”  Tell us all about it. Use the comment space to share your story.

incredible prints

Is this gorgeous or what? Fall fashion is going to be showing us lots of print combinations–some of which should not be tried at home at all! But this is a great example of prints gone wild and they’re perfect! I’d love to nestle inside this outfit on a crisp winter’s day. It’s an Oleana sweater. I see things like this at the Hostfest in October in Minot, North Dakota when I go there. Wish they’d be showing them there this year (hint, hint, Laura who is my Facebook friend who showed this to me!). Hope you get a chance to just take a break and feast on this beautiful image!

The twins, Brent & Brenda, in Davy Crockett outfits

I was watching CBS Sunday morning this week and they paid tribute to Fess Parker from Davy Crockett TV fame who had just passed away. I don’t think my twin brother and I had very many matching outfits, but I do remember our Davy Crockett outfits. There’s a story about Brent making a fuss in church because he wanted to be in his Davy Crockett outfit and mom and dad wouldn’t let him wear it there.

I dug out a photo and there we are, sometime during the craze for all things Davy Crockett, maybe around 1955. Even though we lived on a farm and the nearest town had 75 people in it, my mom was always so fashionably dressed and I guess this is proof that she was quite aware of current trends of the time!

I wasn’t always taller than Brent. He gained on me in high school. What you hear about twins is true–we’re very close in ways that are sometimes hard to explain.

There was a period of time when we were estranged for 6 very strange years. One time I was talking to my friend Patti, my best friend since high school who lives in Minnesota, and I was telling her all the crazy upending details about a guy I was dating at the time. I wanted her to tell me what to do next.

“Call your brother Brent,” she said. Was I hearing her right? She knew about the estrangement. “He’s probably watching the NCAA championship game tonight, right?” she said. “Well, I’m sure he is,” I said. He’s a sports nut. And I am kind of one too. “Call him up and ask if you can watch the game with him,” she said. He and I lived in the same town at that time. ”And this has what exactly to do with my guy troubles?” I asked. “Nothing,” she said. “It just came to me and I think you should do it,” she said.

So I did. I called him up. I hadn’t used his phone number in six years but it was easy to dial. I asked him if he was watching the game at home. When he said yes, I asked if I could come and watch it with him. He said, “Sure. How about I order a pizza?”

So after 6 years of not talking, we got together that night and watched a basketball game together. It ended the estrangement. And the situation with the guy took care of itself. He was out of the picture shortly after that game which was the right thing as well.

When I think about it today we’re in the middle of that same NCAA tournament. I’m kind of amazed about how that all went down. It’s the power of my friendship with Patti that made me pick up the phone that day and do what she told me to do.

Brent and I don’t live in the same town anymore. We’re about 45 minutes away from each other while the rest of our family is in Minnesota. When St. Mary’s won last weekend to advance and play this week in the Sweet 16, Brent was the one I called. We hashed over the juicy details of that great game and I even contributed some sports knowledge about St. Mary’s that he didn’t have. It will probably never happen again, but he gave me praise.

If you don’t watch anything about this famed college tournament, you want to go to You Tube when it’s over on April 5th and watch the film montage that goes along with the song, “One Shining Moment.” You can’t watch it without getting tears in your eyes.

It’s one of my shining moments that something was healed all those years ago, and I got my brother back.