The Question:

Dear Belinda,

I live in California and love the sunny weather, but I get stumped when it comes to rainy days and fashion. I only have one go-to rainy day outfit; a pair of trusty shorts with knee high socks and sneakers. I hate wearing pants on rainy days because getting my pants splashed from the rain and puddles is a disaster. I have often considered wearing boots but they cramp my petite style and do not show off my nice legs. Help me Belinda!

Sincerely,

Desperately Need Rainy Day Fashion Wear

Belinda Says…

Dear D.N.R.D.F.W.,

Boy, do I feel ya! I, too, love the California sunny weather but when it comes to those random, unpredictable rainy days, it sure can seem to put a damper on fashion. The good news is that there is a lot of great fashion we can wear – even on a rainy day! So after considering your aversion to pants and boots, I’ve thought of the following fashionable trends for you to try out on the next California rainy day (which have been many lately!).

Skirts. Aside from shorts, another great way for girls to show off a pair of killer legs is with a good ol’ fashioned skirt. Ok, maybe not literally old fashioned, but definitely with a skirt. For rainy days, knee-length skirts are ideal because they will let you show off your legs and, unlike pants, will not get splashed by the rain or puddles. This season is all about pleats and A-lines, so a fun and feminine skirt with these attributes is a great choice.

Tights. You can trade your knee-high socks in every once in a while for a more feminine pair of tights. Not only will tights look great with your skirt, but  will also protect your legs from the cold a little more. Additionally, their form-hugging design will still allow you to show off your legs. Opaque and patterned tights are on-trend, so consider these when looking for tights. Dark colors like black, navy, dark gray, burgundy and forest green are great for rainy days. If tights feel too uncomfortable for you then try a pair of leggings, using the same guidelines for tights.

Booties. Perhaps tall boots aren’t your thing, but you can still add some height to your petite frame with a great pair of ankle boots. Heeled boots will elevate you from the ground, saving you some grief from puddles and wet pavement. Even a small heel will help add some stature to your petite frame and, ideally, if the tip of the shoe is pointy or in some variation of a v-shape, you’ll add more visual length (another great alternative to heeled boots are wedged boots). To give your legs a slimmer, more elongated look, match your tights to your booties.

Rainy days may bring you down, but that doesn’t mean they should also take a toll on your undeniably cool sense of style. Defy those puddles with a killer outfit that will not only have you looking ultra stylish, but keep you splash-free (well, for the most part) as well! Try on different skirts, tights and boots until you find the ones you feel most comfortable in. Before you know it, you’ll have a new go-to rainy day outfit! Until then, stay dry, stay warm and, as always, happy stylin’!

All the best,

Belinda

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/helga/3946434501/

Have a question for Belinda? Send an email to belinda [at] smarter.com with all of your fashion inquiries. I may not be able to answer everyone’s questions, but I will try to get to as many as possible. Be sure to stay tuned for next week’s Ask Belinda Column, the next one may be yours!

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As much as I love clothes, I am much more an accessories girl. I can shop for shoes, jewelry and handbags for hours on end, and I sometimes spend more time picking out my accessories than I do my outfit! Here are the top three things that I’m currently loving:

1) Jewelry — Make a statement with the jewelry you wear! You can go big with a jeweled or layered necklaces, bold bangles or my favorite are big cocktail rings. My YSL Arty ring is one of my favorites, and it definitely makes a statement! When wearing a big necklace, try to keep your tops pretty simple and minimally detailed. A bold necklace needs to be the focus of the outfit.

2) Scarves — Don’t forget about scarves for the spring! Even though the sun is coming out, it’s still a bit breezy, and the best way to keep warm with a jacket (or paired with a jacket) is a lightweight scarf. If you’re used to just tossing a cardigan on to keep you warm, then try adding a scarf like this one around your neck. Not only will it keep you warm, it will also add personality to your outfit in an instant!

3) Bags — The brighter the color, the better! A bag is the easiest way to infuse color into your wardrobe. If you are not sure about wearing hot pinks or purples, then get a handbag in those shades and wear it with your black/white/gray outfits. Just wait. You’ll see how much more fun your outfit becomes! This Rebecca Minkoff bag is one of my favorites, and it comes in a ton of colors.

This season, just know that the bolder, the brighter, the better; so whatever accessory you prefer, don’t hold back. Let it stand out and make a statement!

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It’s a sad truth, but most women go about their daily lives without lathering on sun protection. Worse yet, that number goes up significantly when talking about men and children. Dr. Robert J. Friedman, a practicing dermatologic oncologist and a clinical professor at the NYU School of Medicine, recently hosted an event to introduce MDSolarSciences, the first physician-driven, skin cancer prevention and sun protection company committed to education, early detection and saving lives — and with skin cancer rates rising annually, that’s no understatement.

I came away from the event having learned a lot, but I wanted to share my two most important takeaways before getting into the new product line:

1. You must protect yourself from both UVA and UVB rays. Why? Think of “A” as “aging” and “B” as “burning.”

2. If you do protect yourself with daily UVA/UVB protection, then you are most likely not getting enough Vitamin D (unless you’re hyper-vigilant about your diet), so speak to your doctor about taking a supplement.

The MDSolarSciences line is made up of six products: Mineral Screen Lotion SPF 40, Mineral Tinted Gel, Mineral Screen Gel SPF 30+, Ultra Mineral Screen Gel SPF 50, No-Touch Body Spray SPF 40, and Ultra-Sport Stick SPF 40. The brand is currently finalizing a bunch of other products, including a wristband for adults and children that alerts wearers when it’s time to re-apply sunscreen. (Can’t wait for this!)

The products in the lineup go on smoothly (so smoothly, in fact, that I’ve been using the Mineral Screen Gel as a primer), are odorless, stay non-sticky, and apply invisibly without any of that chalky film you often get with sunscreens. They also pull double-duty as a moisturizer, so there’s no excuse to not applying your daily SPF!

On a side note, Dr. Friedman has a unique way of applying sunscreen. According to his research, applying it in 1/2-inch dots, as seen in the sketch to the right, is the most effective. Learn more here.

Images Courtesy of MDSolarSciences.

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