Check out these items here from our South Lake Tahoe Boutique.

There are a few do’s and don’ts when wearing animal prints:

1)  Be proud of your prints.  Keep your fur sleek and shiny so everyone notices your fabulous stripes.

2)  Don’t mix prints.  Animal prints is a statement piece so don’t wear all of your pieces at once or mix them.  Zebras and tigers are cute, but together they just don’t work (like in the wild).  Enhance what you’ve got by adding a pop of color or just be confident alone in your animal print.

3)  Don’t be tame!  Some species have spots for hiding, but that’s no fun in fashion!  Why hide the animal in you?

4)  Nothing states the animal in you like a fabulous animal print pair of stilettos. Any accessory has a bold statement when done with animal….chunky bracelet, beautiful handbag or a fabulous scarf.

Come by your favorite SWAK boutique and we’ll make sure you’re set in the right animal accessory for your holiday attire.  Whether its Roseville or South Lake Tahoe, we have just the right item for you!

Become a fan on Facebook and find out all about our great holiday sales and sign up to be a SWAK VIP to be the first to find out about our new items and discount coupons.

Ever wonder how this thin high heel shoe came to be? A lot of drawings from the late 1800s showed evidence of this shoe and photos from the 1940s have proven their long time existence. The word “stiletto” comes from the stiletto dagger, a phrase from the 1930s. A stiletto heel can be from 1 inch high to 10 inches high (if used on a platform) and are sometimes defined as having a diameter at the ground of less than 1 cm. A real stiletto heel is made of solid steel or alloy but you’ll find most mass produced heels made from molded plastic with an internal metal tube for reinforcement.

Stilettos will give an optical illusion of a longer, slimmer leg, a smaller foot and a greater overall height. They are often associated with the image of a femme fatale because they alter the wearer’s posture and gait, flexing the calf muscles and making the bust and buttocks more prominent.

But who wants to think about all this?  Just wear the stilettos for their beauty and as an essential part of your holiday outfit.  We’ve got a lot of great looks at Sealed With A Kiss and we’ll be able to put you into your best look this season.

We’ll share some more news tomorrow on what else to wear during the holidays!

There are a few fashion mistakes during the holidays and SWAK is here to make sure you don’t make them.

1.  Don’t look like the Christmas tree and put on too much glitz. Beading, metallic and shimmer are all fine for the season so don’t be afraid to wear it.  Many of us have things that are just dying to be brought out for the holidays!  But, be careful as too much shine can be overwhelming, especially when worn in areas you don’t want to highlight.

2.  Showing too much skin.  It is very possible to dress sexy while leaving lots to the imagination. Micro-mini skirts and thigh high boots look great on the runway but very few women can pull off the look well.  You can look great during the holidays by accentuating your best features with a suggestion:  a lace camisole under a blazer hints at great cleavage, a small slit in a skirt gives a glimpse of great legs and a halter dress shows off your great toned arms.

3.  Don’t get caught with nothing to wear.  By having a few great dresses in your closet you’ll be ready for all the holiday parties and any last minute invitations.  You can even wear the same dress twice by having some great accessories to change up the look.  Sealed With a Kiss has some great new looks in geometric design that will go great with anything!

4.  Making it too complicated.  There is enough going on during the holidays without having to coordinate a outfit. Shopping, wrapping gifts, traffic and family put enough pressure on you, so keep it simple!  A basic black dress will keep you from overloading!

5.  Being under or overdressed.  Have you ever walked into a party wearing jeans when everyone else was dress in a velvet dress?  Or, dressed in a fancy dress and everyone else is still in their office clothes.  You are not alone if you have trouble figuring out what the dress code of an event will be…what exactly is “dressy casual” or “cocktail attire”?  That little black dress comes in handy when you don’t know for sure what to do!

Sealed with a kiss has some great choices for holiday parties this year!  Check out our pictures of new arrivals at our Roseville and South Lake Tahoe boutiques.  Our knowledgeable staff will help you create the perfect holiday outfit.

Accessories are an easy way to express yourself when leaving your home every day. They can speak about your personality without your having to say a word. That’s what makes it so fun when going shopping for rings, earrings, neck gear and belts…whatever you feel comfortable in will be perfect!

When looking at accessories for fall and winter you will find lots of new choices. Chunky filigree in crazy curves and over-sized shapes will fun additions to our wardrobes this season.

Have you seen the long duster earrings everyone has been wearing? They are still in, and they sure are a head turner! Dusters are anything log that almost “dusts” your shoulder. They can be feathers or metal, beads or chain. And the longer the better according to stylists this year!

Architectural chokers are hot this season as well. They add an extreme style to any wardrobe and can turn drab into glam.

Flowers in accessories aren’t news but the have come out in a whole new look. The new take is in bronze with ornate pieces bordering on the gaudy. Hot, hot, hot!

At Sealed With A Kiss locations you will find a wide variety of accessories, perfect for every occasion and the perfect pieces for you to wear. Our fashion experts will help you find what you’re looking for.  Stop by our stores in Roseville or South Lake Tahoe.

Boots can be worn for any season but there is nothing like fall and winter to really bump up your wardrobe to include boots. If you watched the fall fashion shows you saw models walking on the runway with a variety of boots. It’s now time to think boots! Everything is now in the stores from ankle boots to wear with your best jeans to thigh highs to wear with minis and tights or leggings.

At SWAK we have some great boot choices and they don’t have to drain your wallet to own them. Check out these Prada boots, yours for only $59.95 (compared to up to $175 elsewhere).

We can take care of your winter boot needs, casual boots and dressy boots. There isn’t an occasion this fall where boots wouldn’t be perfect to wear!

Besides cleaning out my closet and donating more than half of its contents, I now have to think about what I want to wear this fall and winter and what I’m going to buy to replace the recently given away items! You may be like me and think “where do I start?”

You will not go wrong this year with these basic fashion items: A maxi skirt and cozy sweater combination for weekends and a knee length skirt and dress for weekdays. Okay, we got that basic information down, now what color and pattern?

Prints and patterns in plaids and art nouveau swirls are hot this fall and many designers are using them. At SWAK we just got in a lot of great maxi skirts in multiple colors…and all are around $40! Pick up a maxi skirt in one color and match a few tops and sweaters to go with it.

After Fashion Week in New York, fashion experts said the colors of fall were bamboo, honeysuckle, emberglow, phlox, cedar, deep teal, coffee liqueur, nougat, orchid hush and quarry. Don’t have those colors in your Crayola box? Neither do I but they are all variations of “normal” colors. Pantone’s fashion color website says the colors of the season are sensible and spirited and are taking cues from the great masters, sepia tones of old Hollywood, Chinese opera, cityscapes and the countryside. They describe bamboo as a warm and exotic color like a filtered sunset on the waning days of fall. It goes well with Phlox, teal and honeysuckle. Emberglow emanates the warmth of a glowing fire and Honeysuckle adds a bold punctuation point. Match Emberglow with coffee liqueur for a classic look or honeysuckle for something more retro. Pantone describes Phlox as a magical, deep purple with a hint of mystery and can be combined with cedar, teal or coffee liqueur. Phlox paired with honeysuckle or bamboo with cedar as a background is a combination inspired by Mother Nature according to Pantone. Cedar resembles a forest’s cool mist and goes well with teal, phlox and orchid. Deep Teal is a strong, blue toned green…think deep ocean paired with a sky at dusk. This is a unique pairing with honeysuckle. Rich and decadent Coffee Liqueur is a fashion staple with its rich and decadent neutral warmth. You can use this as you once wore black…always a good choice.

Stop by Sealed With a Kiss in either Lake Tahoe or Roseville and find you fashion signature for the season. It’s a great time to clean out your closet, donate clothes you’ll never wear again, and find something you can’t wait to wear each day. No more staring into a closet, wondering what to wear next.

Elements of the 70’s are still hot this fall with 2 main themes from that decade holding strong:  The bohemian look and the sophisticated  glamour look. Dresses that fall like a shimmering waterfall along with high-waisted pants and blouses are hot.  We’ve seen elements of the 20s and 30s and 60s recently, but the 70s are here for fall and winter. And don’t forget the Oriental look thrown in too!

The sophisticated look has an underlying confidence to it and that’s the key to pulling it off.  An air of sexuality mixed with defiant independence create this boldness of the 70s and should guide you in your fashion choices this fall.  Think floppy hat, exotic jewels and platform shoes.    Day time will pair high-waisted wide-leg pants or flares that are smartly belted in with neat blouses that have billowing or bishop sleeves. Also hot for fall daytime wear is a roll neck sweater tucked into pants or skirts with beaded necklaces or vests. Jumpsuits and hot pants are also in! At night, this sophisticated gal will wear high sheen fabrics with a disco inspired look, plunging necklines or a tuxedo style jacket and pants.

The “in” accessories this fall are a smart, high quality handbag, leather belts, thigh high boots and lots of jewelry.

What is the bohemian look you ask?  Well, think artistic free flowing fashion that glows of self expression!  It’s a casual mix of hippie, ethnic, gypsy and vintage elements.  The new term for bohemian of 2011 is “Boho-Chic” so you may see it referred to it in this fashion.  The way to pull it off is to keep it chic and stunning and not let it turn into shabby hippie.  Focus on your personality and taste so you’ll feel comfortable in your chosen outfit.  Two hints for finding the right boho-chic layer look for you:  1)  go easy on color combinations, lengths, layers and fit of your outfit. Avoid anything bigger than your body frame or anything that falls past your feet.  (Use a belt to help fit that looser, bohemian dress)  2)  Watch the layers:  step away from the mirror and notice how the outfit falls on you.  Does it draw attention away from your face? Does it drag your frame down and make you appear small? Does it make you appear heavier than normal in some areas? If you answer yes to any of these questions take off a layer or chose a new combination.  Keep it feminine and chic by mixing oversized and tailored/fit clothes.  A bulky sweater paired with slim or fit jeans will balance out the look.  Don’t forget the accessories either!

We are so excited about the new fall fashion this year at Sealed With A Kiss!  The colors are amazing. Red is a must have this season. We have some fabulous reds in the store right now, ranging in rust to scarlet.  What a fun color to add to our fall wardrobe this year.

Are you confident enough to wear it?

For the past 2 years she has chosen S.W.A.K. clothing to show off her fabulous style. Not only is Melissa Crowley is a beautiful, intelligent and talented woman, but she also emulates S.W.A.K.’s community vision of giving back. She is an advocate for car seat safety and is a community board member for the Sacramento Junior League. Sealed With A Kiss is proud to wardrobe Melissa Crowley!