Spring is just around the corner, ladies, and it’s time to make way for the latest trends. Yes, I know cleaning out one’s closet can be the last ‘to-do’ on a weekly list, but this season’s silhouettes make it all worthwhile. Thankfully, I had the pleasure of catching up with Lake Forest’s own Ellen Stirling, owner of The Lake Forest Shop, as she celebrated her family’s 90th year in fashion. To commemorate the occasion, and in honor of Spring 2012 Fashion Week, Stirling held a small presentation to showcase the collections of seven exceptional designers, highlighting some of this season’s most…

  In the midst of family and friends which dominated the recent holidays, we were confronted with something far more overwhelming for our waistlines: an over-abundance of food and drink. Year after year, we promise ourselves we’re going to be better – we are going to go to the gym and get on that treadmill tomorrow. Yet, as the holidays pass and we either return to home or bid loved ones goodbye, we come to terms with the result of our flailing willpower and lack of movement: We’ve put on a couple of pounds, and we’re desperate to lose them before we head to sunnier locations. Thankfully, …

Every fashaholic, and, well, shopaholic like me, remembers that famous scene in the movie, Devil Wears Prada, when Miranda Priestly is concerned that an outfit in her run-through will look like last season’s Lacroix. Thank goodness for her faithful servant, Nigel, who responds with, “I thought that, no, but with the right accessories, it should work.” Well, God bless Nigel, and his keen open mind, because he’s absolutely correct: With the right accessories, almost anything can work. I have always been a true believer that accessories make the woman and that no one should be forced to wear the…

Typically not one for sweeping my hair up, this season’s fall hair trends left me in quite a tizzy. Perhaps designers sought to pay homage to the sophisticated ‘30s inspiration scattered across runways this fall in comparison to the long, easy styles of seasons past. But even though each up-do is in fact, well, up, it comes with its own attitude – a personality to match your very own. And ladies, these ‘dos’ are anything but uptight. Here are the top three runway-inspired looks, the designers who adorned them, the products that saved them, and where you can find them. Low pony: Chic and …

Fall fashion is upon us, ladies, and it’s time to get excited. No need fret about how to incorporate some of the more unusual fashion trends from Fall 2010 into our wardrobes. I mean, how was anyone supposed to pull off baggy parachute pants or knee-high fur boots? Is MC Hammer having a conference? Are we going into battle? I don’t think so. Thankfully, I had the pleasure of catching up with Lake Forest’s own Peach Carr, in her studio, to discuss the hottest fashion trends for the upcoming season. Sitting printy: When asked what fall trend she can’t live without, the answer for Carr was …

As women, we all know the daily obstacles we face when it comes to taking care of our skin: unhealthy food consumption. I mean, it’s just one doughnut; lack of water intake; nonexistent sunscreen application; and going to sleep with our makeup on -- yikes! These are just some of the habits that can leave one with a dull and oily complexion. If that wasn’t bad enough, we are in the midst of prime-time summer season, which means long days at the pool, weekend barbeques at friends’ houses and volleyball games on the beach. This is not a time for an unsightly breakout or a congested T-zone. Alan …

Let’s be honest. While the actual wedding day is viewed as a defining moment in anyone’s life, planning it can be an entirely different, daunting beast – especially when it comes to finding “the dress.” Once that is figured out, a bride usually faces questions regarding what the bridal party will wear, what her mother will wear, the latest bridal trends for the season … Before we know it, our lovely, slaphappy bride is in the midst of a panic attack. Deep breaths, ladies! If you are just beginning to plan your wedding or are putting the final touches on your big day, you are in good hands. …

Marking one of the worst winters our communities have seen in almost 44 years, it may feel as though spring won’t ever come. Never fear! There is enough vibrancy, variety and color in this year’s spring fashion collections to shake the mopiest of winter moods. There is a constant throughout the Spring 2011 collections that sauntered down the runways in New York, London, Milan and Paris: Fashion is inspired as much by activity as it is about the warmth. Whether it is a trip to the morning street market, an afternoon gallery opening or evening cocktails, there are enough fashion trends to cover…