the style space/your girlfriend's closet

the style space

your style, inside and out

your girlfriend's closet

Step inside your girlfriend's closet where you'll find a little bit of this and a little bit of that. There are always loads of cute things you'll want to buy each season so we made it a bit more simple to help you decide what to spend your hard earned money on. Browse through our short-list for this season's top picks in the Coveting Corner. Then, check out our featured boutique of the month to find those must have styles. Tell them C and Lee sent you! If you aren't a local girl, don't despair, each month we'll give you a great online option as well.

If you want what you're reading or listening to on your i-pod to nurture your inner style, check out our pick of the month for the best read or artist to download now.

And, it's easy being green with our great tips and product reviews. You'll also find our bag corner. Just as in real life, each season our bag will change so keep your eye on this fun, informational section.

inner style

Lee's sig lit pick

You've heard of Chick Lit? Well, we've coined a new phrase.

Sig Lit is reading material worthy of the Signature Style Girl's time. Since Lee is

a super prolific reader, she has put her signature stamp of approval on all these recommendations. Watch out Oprah!

Crashing Through - A True Story of Risk, Adventure and the Man Who Dared to See

By: Robert Kurson

What if you were blinded at age 3 and then, suddenly, at age 46 you found out that a new stem cell procedure could possibly restore your vision?

Mike May was faced with this difficult decision. He had literally gone crashing through life. He broke world records in downhill speed skiing, joined the CIA, was a successful businessman, husband and father. He had never yearned for vision. His life seemed complete without it.

The procedure is filled with great risks, some of them deadly. Would the risk be worth it? Would music sound the same? Would sex feel different? Would he recognize his own face? This book is an intriguing look into Mike May's life. As a reader you find yourself asking, "What would I do, if facing this same decision". Read this bestseller for the answers.

buy now at amazon.com

suggested download

If you are looking for a great download that will haunt you with interesting lyrics and musical theater style check out the new album by Muse titled Resistance. You will soon see why this band is sooo hot right now!

download now

your green style

At The Style Space GREEN is the new black when it comes to helping the environment. Some of us may have to drive SUV's to get our kiddies and the carpool here and there, but that doesn't mean we can't help out in other ways! This is the spot to come to for great ideas about how you can help in small ways each and every day as you're living your signature style life. We'll also review any great products that do their share in helping to directly impact the preservation of our planet. This can be anything like an organic clothing company, a label that donates part of it's proceeds to environmental causes, or a great organic beauty product. Suggestions, girls? Send your email to thestylespace@cox.net

green tip

Want to help keep the water supply free of chlorine and phosphates? Try buying one of the "green" laundry detergents on the market. We love the Trader Joe's Brand. It works great in cold water so you can also save money and electricity by washing all your things in cold water. It's easier on the fabric too! A few other brands you can look for are Seventh Generation, Shaklee and Bio-Kleen.

green product

Our featured product is actually a book and a website that you'll want visit alone or with your kids. The book is called Generation Green: The Ultimate Teen Guide to Living an Eco-Friendly Life. It's written by mother and son Linda and Tosh Sivertsen. Their background is a great story all by itself! They teamed up to write a book for teens from a teen's point of view. The website www.generationgreenthebook.com

is fun and easy to navigate with entertaining, short videos that make it seem oh so easy to be green!

i've got a secret...

One word for you- GOOP!

We've discovered a super fun new website created by none other than one of our favorite Signature Style muses Gwyneth Paltrow! Visit the site and sign up today to receive her inspiring and informative weekly newsletters. It's like getting practical tips from a girlfriend. It's not just all about fashion. It's about nourishing the inner and the outer you. Click here to check it out for yourself.

In The Bag

For Fall 2009, bigger is once again better. Gone are the days of cute little bags. Today's Signature Style Girl needs a bag big enough to hold all of her goodies she can't bear to leave home without. Classic styles are are the trend and colors are all the rage. Everything goes from blacks and neutrals to emerald green and even red.

Check out a London based designer we discovered at Harvey Nichols, Zufi Alexander. She grew up in Dubai and now has an amazing collection that already has a celebrity following. Best of all, you wont see your same bag on everyone else's shoulder.

And, if you're an eco-minded girl, why not try a "green" bag. It can be used for everyday, as a beach bag or a shopping tote during your Trader Joe's runs. One of our favorites, because of the great selection of reversible patterns and prints, is by Phoenix designer Marci McDonald and her daughter Kassidy. Check out Flipped Bird bags at www.flippedbird.com

Once you decide which bag is right for you, consider filling it with the following:

Oversized Sunglasses: Can you believe it? They wont go away! The only variation we can see is some of the newer looks have a more square-shape frame. Just like the big bag, we hope these NEVER go away.

Dental Floss Picks: Okay, our friend T swears by these and now she has US hooked. You can pick these up at any drug or grocery store. Two brands to check out are Glide and Crest. They have the floss and the little pointy end for getting a little bit of this and that out of those hard to reach in between spaces. Now we don't have to use our earring backs anymore.

Tweezers: OKay, have you ever been sitting in your car at a stoplight and you pull down your vanity mirror to refresh your lipstick? The sunlight is hitting your face in just the right way and, GASP!! You have a stray hair on your chin!!! Growing out of it! Need we say more? Tweezerman makes some great tweezers in all different styles, shapes and colors.

Gum: Every bag needs a pack of your favorite gum. Our gum of choice is Trident SPLASH in the peppermint flavor. The second you put it in your mouth it will be your favorite too. Lasts forever. We get ours in the multipack at Target. Yum!

Agenda: For the busy Signature Style Girl, a calendar is a must. If you don't happen to have one on your phone, check out the MomAgenda in the new smaller size. Lots of fun colors. Almost makes us want to give up our iphones... almost... Click here to check out the MomAgenda and other fun options. www.the dailyplanner.com

Lipgloss: Since we've gone paraben free, we are hooked on Jan Marini mineral lipstick and gloss. Never sticky and super long-lasting, we hardly miss our Christian Dior!

Anything you can't live without in your handbag this season? Let us know! We may add it to the list.

Coveting Corner

magic mirror on the wall, please share with us 5 trends for Fall!

Competition For The Color Black

We doubt if black will ever go away and quite frankly we love it so much we'd be happy to have that color in style forever. But, this season, while black was all over the runway in solid and houndstooth patterns, it is going to be getting some steep competition from some really red red's and some hottest pinks! These colors were even seen paired together in some of the runway shows. Shocking!

Coats

Let's forget for a moment that we live in Phoenix and Dubai. There has to at least be a few cold days this winter in these desert locales to warrant us buying a coat! From classic trench to capes, and everything in between, coats are the item to invest in this season.

The White Shirt

This closet staple is staging a huge comeback. Work it with some other trends to get the most mileage out of this look. Try layering it under a knit sweater or dress, pair it with a pencil skirt for a Mad Men look, or marry it with a metallic mini for an uber modern style.

The Power Shoulder

This is a tough trend for C who thinks her shoulders are too broad as it is. But for Lee, who has a hard time finding a purse strap that will not slide off, this trend may be something she wants to try. That's the thing with trends, remember. They are just suggestions of fun things you MAY want to try and incorporate into your wardrobe. There are plenty of them out there so pick and choose what works for YOU.

This season fashion has made it possible for you to exaggerate your shoulders with poofs or pleats. Go for the crazy Eighties shoulder or go more subtle with a casual shoulder accent made softer by knitwear.

Shoes

Whether you prefer your boots to the knee or to the ankle, just make sure they have a bit of biker to them.

Boots are again everywhere this Fall/Winter and we've seen them in all shapes and styles. But for a super current look make sure they have a bit of buckle on them.

If you prefer to keep them simple, make sure to look for a pair with an interesting and strong heel in either a wedge or a platform. A strong boot will ensure that your feet are in fashion this season.

virtual boutique

Want your inner mantra to match your outer style? Check out the super cute t-shirts from chewylou.com

Designer Alyssa Dinowitz takes a soft, vintage feeling, cotton tee and adds some motivation to it. Words on

the front reflect a thought such as dream, faith, calm...

then, on the back, each letter of the word further

defines your inspiration. The feminine fit with tapered sides and a longer length have us wanting them in all colors and sayings!

OUT ON A LIMB

Autumn/Winter trends in Europe are focusing on the Russian peasant look. Warning. This isn't a trend to be worn from head to toe. Add touches to your style this season with one great piece. Let it be the top or the skirt, not both.

Now's the time to get SNOODY!

Also big on the fashion horizon this coming season, and not just in the Middle East but all over Europe, a "snood".

It's a scarf, hat and a hood all in one.

We dare you to try this face-framing trend!

The look above is classic snood, but we like the 2009 take with draping fabric, for a softer more feminine look. We’ll have to see if this makes it to the U.S. this season…

Young woman with dollar sign drawn above head, portrait, digital composition

the place to find the latest and greatest without spending a fortune. Places to shop that wont break the bank this season.

Our favorite picks of the moment are Forever 21 and H&M. Barney's, you'll just have to wait for us to get some discretionary income again!

Click here to view the archived articles.