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Sarongs may be the most versatile item you own.  With some practice and a few adjustments, you can turn your sarong into a key piece in your summer wardrobe!

Check out my appearance on The Rhode Show this morning.

Look #1: Short Skirt
1. Fold sarong in half long way
2. Wrap your sarong around you in the front (overlapping), bringing one end to your back.
3. Wrap the other side of your sarong around you, meeting the other in the back.
4. Tie the ends together behind your back.

Look #2: Halter Dress
1. Hold ends across back in the horizontal position.
2. Cross and twist the ends in front of you, then tie around your neck.

Look #3: Grecian One-Shoulder Dress
1. Hold ends across back in horizontal position.
2. Wrap across bust and hold one end under the opposite armpit.
3. Wrap the other end around opposite shoulder and join it with the first end. Tie.

Look #4: One Shoulder Dress w/banded waist
1. Hold ends across back in horizontal position.
2. Wrap one side across bust and over shoulder.
3. Wrap other side lower, across waist.
4. Join ends in back. Tie.
Alternative: If you want the banded look but don’t have a sarong with that detail, use a belt.

Look #5: Strapless Dress
1. Hold ends across back in the vertical position.
2. Wrap both ends around your bust and tie under the armpit. Dress will be very long.
3. Hold each side about 6 inches below waist.
4. Pull sides up and fold over waist.
5. Tie sides at the hip.
Using a sarong tie:

Look #6: Halter dress
1. Hold ends across back in the horizontal position.
2. Pull ends in front of bust and thread through holes of sarong tie.
3. Pull until tight on the bust. Adjust as necessary.
4. Tie ends around neck.

Look #7: Long skirt
1. Hold ends across lower back in the horizontal position.
2. Wrap one end across waist.
3. Thread both ends though holes of sarong tie.

Published : Thursday, 08 Jul 2010, 11:49 AM EDT

(FOX Providence) – When you head out to a BBQ or a summer party, you want to look your best, but you also want to feel comfortable in the heat.

Personal stylist Jill Marinelli joins the Rhode Show to tell us about stylish summer dresses that you can wear on many occasions this season.

Marinelli shows off several dresses from Nordstrom, all within a reasonable price range, that can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.

Dresses seen on The Rhode Show:

Dress #1: Maggy London, $98
Dress #2: Kensie, $138
Dress #3: Taylor, $118
Dress #4: Taylor, $118
Dress #5: Alexia Admor, $198
On mannequin: Andrew Marc, $138

I recently met with professional organizer Janine Cavanaugh.  Janine is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers and organizes “places, spaces and stuff” – including closets.  She shared with me her top tips to keeping your wardrobe uncluttered:

1.  Assign a Home
Every category of clothing or accessories, such as shirts, pants, shoes, sweaters, purses, etc. should have its own designated home. This makes it easier for you to retrieve items, put them away and also reduces the chance of losing them.

2. Create Daily Habits
Set aside 5 minutes a day to organize your wardrobe. Giving yourself time to put clean clothes away, put shoes back in the shoe rack, remove clothes from dry cleaner bags, store unused hangers and other such activities will keep your wardrobe organized and easily accessible on a daily basis.

3. Maximize Closet Space
Take advantage of every inch of available space in your closet. Measure your space exactly, then custom fit the space and install rods, shelves and hooks to accommodate your needs. An efficient space allows you to see and reach everything.

4. Create a Donation Box
If you’re not wearing it, ask yourself, “Why am I keeping it?” Establish an area to hold these items until you can donate them. Adopt a friend or charity to donate to, or have a clothing exchange with family and friends. If you are unsure about which items to keep and which to give away, hire a personal stylist to help you.

5. Separate Seasonal
Store off-season clothing in another area, such as a basement, attic or separate closet. Use appropriate containers that are properly labeled to hold these items.

6. Schedule Regular Purging
Mark your calendar for seasonal cleaning out twice a year. This regularly scheduled purging prevents stockpiling and keeps your wardrobe current.

7. Learn to Let Go
You deserve to look your best even when exercising, gardening or walking the dog. Toss clothing that is torn, stained or faded.

8. Practice Proper Maintenance
Making an investment in your wardrobe with proper laundering, ironing and tailoring boosts your self-esteem as well as your willingness to keep your wardrobe organized.

For more information about Janine, go to www.helpfulorganizer.com.

Stylist Jill Marinelli has summer beauty tips

Updated: Wednesday, 30 Jun 2010, 11:54 AM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 30 Jun 2010, 11:54 AM EDT

(FOX Providence) – Summer’s here and the heat is on! But along with the hot weather, come some season specific beauty challenges!

Personal Stylist Jill Marinelli joined The Rhode Show with some ideas to keep us fresh and looking good in the sun.

Summer beauty products featured on The Rhode Show:

• For an instant bronzer and lasting self-tanner try Body Drench Quick Tan Mist , $19.95
• A polish color that works for all skin tones and goes well with bright summer colors: Essie Nail Polish in “Mademoiselle”. ($8.00)
• To better hold ties around your dress, try using the Sarong Tie. ($1.99)
• The Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer helps keep your pores looking smooth even in hot sticky weather. ($36.00)
• For a light moisturizer that also adds a touch of color, try Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer. ($42.00)
• The Bosom Button is a great way to fix a neckline that dips too low. ($25 for three)
• To lengthen and volumize lashes without spending too much, try using Cover Girl Lash Blast Mascara . ($8.50)

Recently I met with fellow stylist Tracey Sloan to discuss a possible collaboration.
After talking business for a while, we started comparing notes on our favorite beauty products.  As it turns out, Tracey knows her sunless tanners!  She has tried them all and has tips to share, so I invited her to contribute an article to my website.

Read on to discover her favorites, one of which has been featured in Oprah, Real Simple and InStyle magazines!

It’s summer and everyone is asking the same question: ”What is the best sunless tanner to use?”  Well, I have tried them all and most of them over promised and under delivered!  Between the smell, streakiness, and orange color I almost gave up on self tanners.  However, I have found two that deliver amazing results.  Jill has added a third that she loves, both for it’s performance and its affordable price.

1. Diana B. 60 Second Instant Tanning Mousse ($60) is for an immediate tan with none of the telltale sunless tanner smell.  The results are streak-free and natural.  This formula is unique in that its key ingredient, a sugar protein, is activated by water.  You apply this while you are in the shower!  The mousse has a slight chocolate smell but it goes away after you rinse.  Follow these steps:

♦ Once you are finished with your shower, turn water off and apply the mousse to your body in circular motions.

♦ Let the mousse stay on for 60 to 90 seconds and rinse off.

♦ Lightly towel dry and then follow with moisturizer.

2. Dr. Adrienne Denese has come up with a truly revolutionary self tanner that really works!  Look for Dr. Denese Glow Younger Self Tanning Glove ($42 for 12 or $3.75 for an individual application).  The application is simple but I suggest the following steps:

♦ Take a shower and exfoliate before using any sunless tanner to remove dry patches and avoid blotchiness.

♦ Apply lotion to your elbows, knees, tops of toes, in between toes, tops of fingers and in between fingers.  This helps the product blend in areas that can wind up looking too dark/dirty otherwise.

♦ Apply tanner in circular motions and be sure to pay extra attention to hands and feet, adding a little more moisturizer after applying the tanner (this ensure a smooth, natural result).

It takes about 5 minutes for it to dry so wait a few minutes before you get dressed.  The tan will develop over several hours so you may want to apply this before bed (no, it won’t come off on your sheets!)  You will wake up with a beautiful healthy glow.

3. Quick Tan Sunless Tanning Mist by Body Drench ($8.15) delivers a fabulous golden tan and earns rave reviews from die-hard tanners, as evidenced here.  Since it is a spray, the only drawback is that it can be messy.  Cover the floor of your bathroom or better yet, step outside to spray!  The best part about this product is that it delivers instant results that you control yourself.  Just spray more to intensify your tan.  Note:  When using any sunless tanners, use latex gloves to protect the palms of your hands.

If you are in the NJ or Philadelphia areas and need a stylist, contact Tracey at traysloan@aol.com.

Click the photo for the full article from the Providence Journal about Sunday’s opening night of StyleWeek Providence.

p.s. that’s me on the right in the blue dress!

Does your excitement for summer come to a screeching halt when you think about bathing suit shopping?  Here are my suggestions to make it a (practically) pleasant experience.

1. Know your body type, and then shop only the shapes and styles that will flatter you. Don’t waste time on suits you may love but don’t love you back!
To determine your body type, take this quiz or identify yourself below:

An hourglass figure has shoulders and hips that are about the same width with a defined waist (Drew Barrymore, Scarlett Johannson).   Rectangles are straight, with shoulders and hips about the same width without a defined waist (Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Hudson).  Triangles have smaller shoulders and a fuller hip (Jennifer Lopez, Mischa Barton).  Inverted triangles have broader shoulders/bust and an almost non-existent hip (Angelina Jolie, Cameron Diaz).

Check out this video for bathing suit suggestions by body type, or see my faves for 2010 below!

2. Shop now! When the pressure isn’t on to find a great suit by the weekend, your shopping experience will be a lot more relaxing.  As well, if you wait until summer, the retailers may run out of your size and color choices.

3. Shop online. Spare yourself the torture of trying on a zillion bathing suits in horrible fluorescent-lit fitting rooms.  Many retailers will offer free shipping with a minimum purchase.  You will only be charged shipping on what you return, a small price to pay for the opportunity to try on in the privacy of your (perhaps candlelit?) bedroom!
Don’t forget to order up a size from your usual clothing size.

Check out some of my favorite suits for 2010:

Rectangle
The ruching on this Lenny tankini hides a multitude of sins in the tummy area!



Hourglass
A classic bikini keeps proportions balanced.



Triangle
Gathering on the top of this J. Crew suit adds volume and draws the eye away from fuller hips



Inverted Triangle
This Miraclesuit provides excellent support for larger-busted women.



A note to Philadelphia-area readers:
You must check out Abbe’s Place at 4355 Main Street in Manayunk.  Owner Abbe Cheskin has been fitting women in bathing suits for 20+ years, so she knows all the right questions to ask.  Abbe is so good that twice she has fitted me for bathing suits over the phone! The exclusive labels she carries may cost a pretty penny, but the service and quality she provides is well worth it.

The Rhode Show (air date 5/18/10)

Courtney Caligiuri and I before the shoot.

One of the privileges I have as a stylist is seeing the inner transformation that can occur when someone’s outsides are spruced up a bit.  There is a ripple effect that happens when someone looks good and feels good.  They have an energy about them that affects everyone they come in contact with.

It was lovely to read someone else’s words about their reaction to seeing one of my clients “looking fierce”.

Persephone Brown is a health coach who primarily counsels women in the art of self-care.  The following is an excerpt from her blog post entitled, Yoga Pants are for Yoga: