Chic Galleria » Heidi Ducato

Crop Top…makin’ a comeback!

Heidi Ducato — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 07:31:07 +0000

Check it out! I lived this era of the 80’s or should I call it the Flashdance era….and now it’s back! The “crop top” is back! Can you believe it?

I used to do this with my t-shirts and sweatshirts. I would “crop” them to make them cool! I would cut the bottom and even around the collar to give you that “one-shoulder look” (this is where you “flash” back to Flashdance) when you REALLY wanted to look cool!

If you dare to wear…

*Try to avoid bearing the belly, unless you are hanging with friends on the beach or at the gym

*Layer it over a tank top or t-shirt

*For a more urban/uptown look, pair it with a pair of high-waisted dress pants

Those are a few tips to bring new meaning to the “crop top”, but I’m going to be honest…this is a trend that I may just let pass me by and let’s be really honest…I hope it passes by quickly!

Heidi Ducato is “Stylish Stepmom. Find more tips and tricks at www.stylishstepmom.com. “Staying Stylish…one STEP at a time!”

DRESSed to the MAXi!

Heidi Ducato — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 07:27:30 +0000

Summer temperatures are rising and I’m not ready for that…yet! So, I’m always finding ways to look good and stay cool! The maxi dress popped into the “style circle” a few years ago, but it still remains a popular item when the temperatures run high.

Here are a few tips to look “hot” while staying “cool” in a maxi dress:

*Make sure you find the appropriate length for your height. Overly long hemlines will make you shorter, not taller.

*Keep an eye on the print in correlation to your body type/size. You want people to see you IN the dress and not have you lost in the pattern of the dress.

*Remember that lighter colors will show more of your silhouette underneath the dress vs. darker colors.

*A maxi dress should skim your silhouette.

*To give it true Hollywood style, pair it with over-sized sunglasses, an over-sized bag, chunky jewelry, and a headscarf.

*Don’t be afraid to wear it as an “everyday” item. It’s a perfect way to look “effortlessly chic” in the hot summer months!

Have fun and stay cool while the summer temperatures are on the rise!

Heidi Ducato is “Stylish Stepmom”. Find more tips and tricks at www.stylishstepmom.com “Staying Stylish…one STEP at a time!”

THE “Sex in the City” Bracelet

Heidi Ducato — Mon, 24 May 2010 07:53:04 +0000

I can’t decide if this bracelet is “Carrie” or “Samantha”. For those “Sex in the City” lovers…you know who and what I am talking about! But, what I know for sure is…THIS IS a “Sex in the City” bracelet!!

This is a true statement piece that you build an outfit around! The colors are amazing! The design is intricate, yet simple! Truly, a piece that every “Sex in the City” fan should have on their wrist!

Statement jewelry is not going away. It’s coming on strong in all forms…necklaces, earrings, bracelets…you name it…they are all making statements! I’m hoping this trend doesn’t disappear too fast! So far, it looks like it’s sticking around!

Just remember, whether you are wearing this bracelet, or any other statement piece…let that be the center of attention. Don’t wear too many statement pieces at one time or combine it with two many patterns! Let the item shine all on it’s own.

Come on…..”no one puts this bracelet in the corner!” Oh wait, that’s Dirty Dancing….we’re talking Sex in the City!

Bracelet found at Chrome in Tulsa, OK.

Heidi Ducato is Stylish Stepmom. Find more fashion tips and tricks at www.stylishstepmom.com.

Who Are You? Say It With A Monogram

Heidi Ducato — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 07:43:26 +0000

Monograms! They are everywhere and I don’t think they ever go out of style! You see them on bathrobes, towels, sweaters, t-shirts, and even bedding! Remember the days of Laverne and Shirley, Laverne didn’t go ANYWHERE without displaying the HUGE “L” on the upper corner of her chest.

I am LOVING this particular option of a monogram. These necklaces are by Moon and Lola. They are divine! Celebrities have been spotted wearing the monogram cluster and the key, the key is huge! If you have not noticed, the key pendant is all over right now. Tiffany is offering them, which means EVERYONE is offering them. So, this is a clever combination of both – the key and the monogram.

Great pieces that make a statement, are individualistic, and just plain perfect to pair with simple tanks, tees, and flowy chiffons for the spring/summer!

Heidi Ducato is Stylish Stepmom. Helping you stay stylish one step at a time! http://www.stylishstepmom.com

100 Years of Customer Service

Heidi Ducato — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 07:51:31 +0000

Recently Miss Jackson’s in Tulsa, OK, celebrated their 100th anniversary! 100 years in business! Think about that….that is a LONG time! How many businesses do you know, specifically a specialty retail store, that has been in business for 100 years? THAT is very impressive!

The original “Miss Jackson” was Nelle Shields Jackson. She was the founder of the specialty retail store that still exists today in Utica Square. According to the Tulsa World article, it simply states that “she wanted to make people’s lives more beautiful and enjoyable”. What a simple concept!

Nelle took that concept and then took it one step further by offering EXCEPTIONAL customer service. I mean EXCEPTIONAL! It wasn’t just walking into the store and having someone say “May I help you?” It was more than that! It was about creating a culture in which it was the “norm” to be treated like royalty. This was accomplished by having a personal shopping assistant within the store. The same person that you would work with EVERY TIME you came into the store. The person that would call you the minute a garment came in that screamed your name. The person that knew you would LOVE IT before you even saw it! They would take your coat, provide you a place to sit, and offer you something to drink.

Excellent customer service and their pride in offering higher end designer names that aren’t offered anywhere else in town is what has kept them in business for this long. It became a tradition for generations of families to shop at Miss Jackson’s. Great-Grandma shops there, Grandma shops there, Mother shops there…you see where I’m going with this! It has continued to live through the cycles of the economy, because of those families. The families that made Miss Jackson’s a tradition.

Think about this for a minute, how many stores do you go into today where the store personnel know your name? Or they know your mother’s name or grandmother’s name? How many even ask you if you need help these days? How many offer you a chair and something to drink while they show you what they have available in the store? What happened to the days of good customer service? Scratch that….what happened to the days of EXCEPTIONAL customer service?

With the economy these days, businesses, specifically retail businesses, come and go on a very regular basis. So, what’s the trick to Miss Jackson’s? Why as a specialty retail store have they been able to stand the test of time?

My belief is this…Miss Jackson’s caters to their customer. They LISTEN to their clients by watching what they like and don’t like, what they purchase, and what they come back for. It’s not about competing with other stores, about the latest and greatest technique and trick, it’s about staying true to their customers. They know what works for their customer and they stick with it!

Seems like a very simple concept….do you think that is what retail businesses are doing these days? I’d be curious to your thoughts…..

I do need to say “HAPPY 100th ANNIVERSARY, MISS JACKSON’S!” You have achieved a feat that most specialty retail stores will never do!

Visit www.MissJacksons.com.

Heidi Ducato is “Stylish Stepmom” and enjoys sharing fashion tips, tricks, and trends with everyone. Staying stylish…one step at a time. www.stayingstylish.com