We all want to look our best regardless of what time of the year it is, and it’s true that there is no “season” for getting into shape. But holiday time is important, when we want to show off our sexy, toned arms in our fabulous dresses and tops.

With that being said, we have a little over three months to get those arms looking great – and that’s more than enough time. If you follow these exercises for 30 minutes a day, you’re sure to go into the holiday season with a bang!

And the good part about sculpting sexy shoulders is that you don’t need heavy weight, a gym or any fancy equipment. If you have dumbbells in the house or go to a gym, fantastic! But if you don’t, grab filled water bottles, or anything with a bit of weight, that you can hold in your hands.

Some of my favorite shoulder exercises are:

• Side Lateral Raises – start with weights in front of your thighs and lift out to the side. Do not lift the weights past your shoulders. The weights should be in your peripheral vision, a V shape, not hyper-extended out to the side.
• Front Raises – take the weights and extend them out to the front. Again, don’t lift higher than shoulder height. Elbows should not be locked, but keep arms straight. Legs should be a few inches apart for stability.
• Seated Shoulder Presses – sit on a back-supported chair and press the weights above your head. Palms should be facing out.

Training triceps is also a great idea. Triceps are those “bat wings” that most women love to hate. While many people focus on the biceps, the triceps are a much larger muscle.

Tricep exercises include:

• Overhead Extension – place one weight directly over your head, holding with both hands. Bend just the top portion of your arm (elbow to wrist) back. This is a very isolated move so your back should not move in any way.
• Tricep Kickbacks – get into a lunge position and lean forward, holding on to something if you need to. Your chest should be leaning forward, and you will start with holding your arm straight with pmeweight in hand. Bend the top part of your arm (elbow to wrist) in and squeeze the tricep when extending out.

Your back is always important to train and build muscle on. The goal is to widen your back so that you create the illusion of a smaller waist. While we don’t get to see our own backs very often, it is extremely flattering to have a sculpted, toned back. All sorts of rowing exercises are excellent for building muscle in your back.

Back exercises include:

• Arm Row 1 – place a leg up, knee on bench (or ottoman or chair at home), leaning forward; row with the weight in the opposite hand. You never want to be leaning over – chest should be pointed out and butt should be out. Good form is very important!
• Arm Row 2 – Bend your knees, push chest out and butt back, and row both arms simultaneously. Arms should come down all the way, and back up to a rowing motion. Do not round back or bend over.

Overall, do three to five sets of 10-15 repetitions each for all of these exercises. It’s important to always add progression to your workouts. So if you can only do three sets of 10 reps the first time, aim for 11 reps the second time.

And keep your goal in mind!

Enter Brandless (www.brandless.com), a shopping site that aims to change the nature of generics, making products as diverse as stylish notebooks and fig and thyme crisps available for a low price of $3 each – and in cool packaging, too. No wondering whether you should wait for a sale on these goodies, or searching through the Sunday papers for a coupon. Everything costs $3, always – everything from coffee pods to toothpaste, granola to gummy candy. Like generics, the products bear only the name of the product (organic dried cranberries, for example) and carry the Brandless name in tiny lettering. The point is the product, not the name. But the effect is minimalist, not tacky. (Food is the biggest section on the website; other categories include household supplies, beauty, health, personal care, and home and office.) And the concept of cool, high-quality $3 items is appealing to everyone from hip millennials getting into groceries for the first time to experienced shoppers.

In making their case, the founders of Brandless, venture capitalists Tina Sharkey and Ido Leffler, point out the hidden cost of brand-name products with the word “BrandTax – meaning the extra money you pay for brand-name products.

In some ways, I’m an ideal Brandless customer. I know which products I want in a name brand, and I’m happy to use generics for others. I decided to find out how Brandless would work for me. I ordered five products for my experiment: blue corn tortilla chips; hand soap; salsa; vegetarian gummy fish; and a notebook. I chose some of my items based on what my family frequently buys and others for which I don’t typically buy generic. I wanted to see how Brandless avoids the “BrandTax money you pay for the expensive ad campaigns of brand-name products. I just wasn’t sure it would be right for me. Here are the results:

The Positives

The site is easy to use, with lots of information about each product.

My box arrived quickly.

The tortilla chips tasted great (though they were half smashed), as did the gummy fish—like a yummier version of Swedish Fish, actually. The hand soap has a great scent. The notebook is well crafted and sophisticated.

The Negatives

Shipping typically costs $9 so you would want to make a significant sized order to make it worth your while. I got my $3 shipping only through a code. The $9 fee was on the invoice (incorrectly), though I was billed correctly on my credit card. Customer service was less than helpful, stating they were aware of that glitch.

For the 8-ounce bag of tortilla chips that’s listed as 2 bags for $3. I only received one. When I talked to customer service, the story is that you have to add items separately. That wasn’t clear so I was disappointed to find just one bag—especially when I discovered how good they tasted.

The salsa was a whole other story, sadly. It wasn’t to my taste – at all. I mentioned this to customer service and was not impressed with their response. “This honest information, while unfortunate, is really important.”

The Takeaway

I love the idea of Brandless, and I loved some of the products. I was pretty displeased with my customer service experience, but I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt because any new company (Brandless started in July 2017) suffers from hiccups in its early days.

As for the $5.61 in ‘BrandTax savings’ my order generated? That’s debatable. I paid about double what I’d spend on a bottle of Softsoap, and slightly more than usual for gummy candy and a notebook.

But I think I’m willing to give them another try. With every purchase, the founders donate to the nonprofit organization Feeding America. That alone merits a second look.

Just as we create a healthy skincare routine to protect from wrinkles, fine lines and other signs of aging, the same should be true for our hair. One of the best things you can do for your hair is to take a proactive approach to managing any signs of aging, especially hair thinning, and seek professional medical advice from a specialist doctor early. Just as a dermatologist can identify risks as well as prevent and treat facial aging, a full-time, credentialed and experienced Hair Restoration Physician or “hair doctor” can help you maintain a healthy scalp and youthful hair growth for the long term.

It is no secret that our bodies change as we age – but many women overlook the impact aging has on their hair. While unruly grays are the most known, and most obvious, there are seven other signs of aging hair to watch out for: dryness, lackluster color, thinning, receding, breakage, split ends, and frizz. When it comes to thinning, women tend to experience diffuse thinning over the top, frontal and temples or sides of the scalp, and for many, the first signs and symptoms may come in the form of a smaller ponytail, a wider part-line, deeper temples, or excessive shedding—called Telogen Effluvium—often noticed during brushing and showering.

Here, some reasons for “aging hair”:

•Genetics and Aging – There are approximately 200 genes that regulate hair growth of the approximately 100,000 hair-producing follicles on the scalp. After puberty, the hereditary hair loss genes can take over—causing a gradual and progressive miniaturization of hair follicles. According the American Hair Loss Association, more than half of all women over 40 experience thinning hair, and they can inherit “hair loss genes,” just like men. As our hair ages, our follicles’ functioning diminishes in proportion to hereditary risk.

•Stress, Diet and Other Factors – While genetics undoubtedly play a large role in how our hair will “age” and our susceptibility to hair loss, there are many other factors that can accelerate the aging process. These factors can include unusual levels of stress, inflammation, thyroid or other hormonal imbalance, nutritional, sleep or iron deficiencies, weight-loss programs, habits like smoking, as well as illness, medications and surgeries like brow lifts or facelifts. These factors can be broken down into two categories: intrinsic and extrinsic. Aging caused by the genes we inherit and our body’s physiology is called intrinsic or internal aging, while extrinsic or external aging and is caused by environmental or social factors. These risk factors must be identified and addressed to properly diagnose, evaluate and successfully treat age-related hair loss.

•Hormones, Menopause and Hair Loss – Hormone imbalance in young women, like that seen in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, the most common endocrine disorder in women age 18 to 44, is often associated with premature hair thinning and hair loss. Many women also experience hair changes after childbirth that may be persistent. Women who have a higher genetic predisposition to hair loss may be sensitive to certain birth control pills and often see their follicles producing progressively weaker hair during perimenopause and menopause. When hormones decline around menopause, about 40 percent of women experience hair thinning – nearly the same rate as men. Thyroid conditions and thyroid hormone replacement are also high-risk categories for hair thinning and hair quality changes.

Keeping Your Hair Young

While it may not be possible to “age-proof” your hair completely, there are steps you can take to hold onto your hair’s youthful shine and fullness. The hair products you use can have a huge impact on aging hair. Cosmetic thickening treatments are a promising option for millions of women, including younger women with subtler signs of aging, like a thinner ponytail. Some of the best ingredients to counteract the signs of aging hair include caffeine and niacinamide, known for their powerful anti-aging properties in the skin. Nutritional supplements can also help strengthen hair and support healthy hair growth. But as far as unruly hair texture and loss of color (gray hair), these are more difficult problems to address. Unfortunately, we don’t have a proven medical treatment for these symptoms; they are better handled with careful cosmetic interventions like hair care, gentle styling and coloring.

Depending on your hereditary risk as well as the signs and symptoms of hair loss you are experiencing, it might be time to call in a medical professional who specializes in hair loss and its treatment. Experienced doctors that specialize exclusively in Hair Restoration have access to the tools to test, measure, monitor as well as safely and effectively treat hair loss. Genetic testing for hair loss risk and androgen sensitivity and scientific measurement tools can assess and quantify the problem. Interventions like powerful, non-greasy compounded prescription topical medications, to physician-only laser therapy devices, to cell therapy using Platelet Rich Plasma or even minimally-invasive hair transplants, modern medical treatments can help women in virtually all stages of hair loss maintain the hair they have and replace lost density when necessary. As in most cases of progressive age-related conditions, early intervention and treatment compliance yield the best results.

The study reports consumer complaints more than doubled for cosmetic products from 2015 to 2016, with hair care products being the biggest offender. But consumers remain at risk because the industry receives little regulatory scrutiny and does not require pre-approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“The FDA has much less authority to recall cosmetics from the market in stark contrast to drugs or medical devices,” corresponding author Dr. Steve Xu, a resident physician in dermatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said in a release from the university. “It’s harder for the FDA to get harmful cosmetics off the shelves.”

Since cosmetic manufacturers are not required to submit adverse health events to the FDA, the current data sources to track product safety are significantly limited. Even though there were more than 5,000 events reported to the FDA from 2004 to 2016, it’s likely only the tip of the iceberg, Xu said. He suspects many events are not reported by consumers or doctors.

The study was published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

“This is really a wake-up call,” Xu said in the release. “The point of the paper is to broaden the awareness of this database and the need for everyone to participate in reporting adverse events from cosmetics.”

The most common complaints in the database were for hair care products, skincare products or tattoos, the study found. The number of overall adverse events jumped from 706 in 2015 to 1,591 in 2016, with hair care products seeing the largest increase. Baby products, unclassifiable products, personal cleanliness products, hair care products and hair coloring products had the highest proportion of self-reports of a serious adverse health outcome, such as serious injury, death, disability.

The research highlights the need for better data.

“This is a $430 billion-a-year global industry with millions of products on the market,” Xu said. “But we are only getting, on average, between 200 and 400 adverse events per year. That represents significant under-reporting. If we want more public safety and to keep dangerous products off the market, the first step is the make sure we have reasonably good data. The key point of our results is we don’t have it.”

What concerns Xu the most are products that contain cosmeceuticals, which market themselves as cosmetic products but with an “active ingredient.”

“Although not explicitly studied, this cosmetic product class is becoming a growing problem,” Xu said. “Many of these products are really making drug-like claims but are skirting the FDA approval pathway by presenting themselves as a cosmetic. At the very best, these products are making unsubstantiated marketing claims for products that may or may not work. At the very worst, there are actual drug components in these products that can cause real harm.”

Additionally, Xu said he hopes the study’s findings raise awareness of Senator Dianne Feinstein’s (D-CA) Personal Care Products Safety Act, which aims to tighten cosmetic regulation.

“Feinstein’s bill is a first step forward in the right direction,” Xu said. “I would have liked an explicit push towards cosmeceutical regulation. Overall, the FDA should have the power to order recalls and mandate that manufacturers declare their products’ ingredients and report every adverse consumer health event to the FDA.”

Opt for natural ingredients only and the color is temporary – and may not be the result you’re looking for, especially in terms of grey hair coverage.

Choose a permanent dye that’s mass produced for at-home use and you’ll have to accept at least some chemicals, but you’re more likely to get the color you’re after and it will last much longer.

“The question often comes down to just how many chemicals will be in the hair dye and what chemicals can be avoided,” says Paolo Tramonti, owner and CEO of Bios Line, an Italian company that manufactures the BioKap Nutricolor Delicato (www.biokapusa.com) brand of at-home hair dyes.

One of the more troublesome chemicals commonly found in hair dyes is paraphenylenediamin (PPD), which can cause skin to become swollen, red, blistered, dry and cracked.

“Many consumers have become aware of the hazards of PPD and they prefer to avoid it,” Tramonti says. “That’s why we have created a PPD-free line, the BioKap Nutricolor Delicato line, that contains 18 colors and 1 lightening cream, all PPD-free and fragrance-free.”

Katelyn Giffen, a professional hairstylist and blogger at Rynsroost.com, says there’s a big divide when it comes to how concerned people are about natural ingredients.

“Some people are conscious of what they put inside and on their body and others couldn’t care less,” she says.  “But the number of people interested in natural beauty products is growing, and I am getting more and more clients who wonder if they could buy something with more natural ingredients.”

But even the BioKap brand from Tramonti’s company, with 90 percent natural ingredients, can’t eliminate all chemicals and still achieve the permanent hair color that its customers are after. In addition to not using PPD, though, BioKap does avoid ammonia, paraben and resorcin, which many dyes contain, Tramonti says.

So where does this leave environmentally minded consumers determined to change their hair color? A few factors to consider include:

• Consider going natural for real. True natural dyes are henna-based and, as previously mentioned, only work as temporary dyes. Henna is a powdered form of the leaves that come from the henna plant. You can also research do-it-yourself hair dying using herbs or other ingredients. In almost all cases with true natural dyes, though, getting the exact color you’re after will be difficult.
• Check the ingredients. No boxed dye you buy online or at the local drug store, super market or retail store will be entirely chemical free. But you can check the list of ingredients to make sure some of the more worrisome chemicals, such as PPD and ammonia, aren’t present.
• Consider the environmental big picture. What’s the brand’s overall eco-friendly record? There are many ways to be an environmentally aware consumer and one of those is to seek to do business with companies that try to reduce their negative impact on the natural world.

Paolo Tramonti is owner and CEO of Bios Line (), an Italian company that he founded 30 years ago. Today, the company’s products are distributed in 35 countries, and most recently its BioKap Nutricolor Delicato brand of at-home hair dyes has been introduced in the United States.

*Dry your hair by wrapping it in a towel after a shower or bath. Another alternative is letting your hair air-dry.

*Most people should handle wet hair as little as possible as wet hair breaks more easily when combed or brushed. However, people with tightly curled or textured hair should brush their hair when wet to decrease the chances of hair breakage.

* Keep brushing to minimum. That classic tip – brush your hair 100 strokes each day – can actually cause split ends.

*Reduce the use of “long-lasting hold” styling products. Using a comb to style your hair after you apply the product can cause the hair to break and can lead to hair loss over time.

*Allow your hair to partially air dry before you style or comb. Decreasing the number of times per week that you blow dry also helps limit damage.

*Flat irons should be used on dry hair on a low or medium heat setting, no more often than every other day. If you use a curling iron, only leave it in place for a second or two. No matter your hair type, excessive heat can damage your hair.

*Do not continuously wear braids, cornrows, ponytails and hair extensions. These styles pull on the hair and can cause tension that leads to breakage. If the tension continues, permanent hair loss can develop.

Material courtesy of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Founded in 1938, it is the largest, most influential and representative dermatology group in the United States. With a membership of more than 19,000, it represents virtually all practicing dermatologists in the United States, as well as a growing number of international dermatologists. For more information, visit www.aad.org.

Information provided by board-certified dermatologist Chris G. Adigun, MD, FAAD, who specializes in nails at her private practice in Chapel Hill, N.C.

THE BENEFITS OF GEL MANICURES

Gel manicures have been around for a long time, Adigun says, but they have become more popular over the last 10 years, thanks to the development of polish formulas that are easier to apply and remove. Today, she says, a gel manicure can be performed in nearly the same amount of time as a traditional manicure — with better results.

When applied properly, gel polish won’t chip in a few days like traditional nail polish does, Adigun says. As a result, she says, a gel manicure provides the longevity and sturdiness of artificial nails without the upkeep or time commitment. “Durability is the No. 1 benefit of a gel manicure,” she says. “Plus, no other manicure has the high shine that you get with a gel.”

A gel manicure can improve the appearance of anyone’s nails, Adigun says, but the attractive results may be especially beneficial to those whose nails are deformed or discolored because of disease or trauma. Regular nail polish may not adhere properly to a damaged nail or provide enough coverage to mask discoloration, she says, but a gel polish can do both, which makes gel manicures a good option for many patients with nail disorders. “Nails are very visible, so disfigured or discolored nails can be really embarrassing for patients, making it difficult for them to work and socialize,” Adigun says. “For many patients, a gel manicure can be life-changing.”

THE RISKS OF GEL MANICURES

Despite their benefits, gel manicures are not for everyone. According to Adigun, weak or brittle nails may not be able to withstand a gel manicure, particularly the acetone used during the removal process. Because a UV lamp is required to harden gel polish and bind it to the nail, she says, gel manicures are not appropriate for people who are highly sensitive to UV light; UV sensitivity may be increased by genetic factors, certain medical conditions, and the use of some medications and supplements.

Adigun says UV exposure during gel manicures should be a concern for everyone, not just people who know they are especially UV-sensitive, because the lamps used in these manicures emit UVA rays. Although these rays don’t burn the skin like UVB rays, she says, they do penetrate the skin to damage DNA and collagen, which can lead to premature aging and may increase skin cancer risk. Some people believe that LED curing lamps provide a safer option, she says, but this is a misconception, as these lamps also emit UVA light.

Although curing lamps are used for just a short period of time during a gel manicure, research indicates that the UV rays emitted by those lamps are four times stronger than the sun’s UV rays. Moreover, some customers get gel manicures quite frequently, Adigun says, and the repeated UV exposure may have a cumulative effect, especially in people who start getting gel manicures at a young age. “The UV dose that you receive during a gel manicure is brief, but it’s intense,” she says. “Over time, this intense exposure can add up to cause skin damage.”

Other risks of a gel manicure include physical damage to the nail or separation of the nail plate from the nail bed, both of which may result from improper curing, Adigun says. The acetone used to remove gel polish may dry out the nail, she says, but attempting to remove the polish by physical means like scraping or chipping can cause damage, so it’s important to ensure that a gel manicure is applied and removed properly.

 THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS

In order to get the best results from a gel manicure, Adigun says, it’s essential to use the correct polish with the correct curing lamp for the correct amount of time. Different curing lamps are designed for use with different polish formulas, she says, so those who perform gel manicures at home should stick to the polishes that are appropriate for their curing lamp of choice. Those who utilize at-home gel manicure kits also should be sure to follow all instructions carefully, she says, particularly in regard to curing time.

Adigun has been in contact with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration regarding the guidelines that govern the safe use of UV curing lamps, which she believes could be improved to better protect consumers. “In an ideal world, every salon would provide customers with a safe solution to protect their hands and fingers from UV radiation during a gel manicure. Until that solution exists, however, customers should be proactive about UV protection,” she says. “I recommend that they use fingerless gloves or a similar garment with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor of 50 and wear them for every gel manicure, but customers should be aware that UPF fabric becomes a less effective form of protection with each wash.”

Alternative UV protection options include cutting the fingertips off a pair of dark, opaque gloves or applying a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor of 30 or higher at least 15 minute before a gel manicure. Sunscreen may interfere with gel polish application, however, so Adigun recommends keeping sunscreen off the nails, which provide their own natural UV protection.

“A gel manicure can give your nails a great, long-lasting look, as long as it is performed properly and you protect your hands from the UV curing light,” Adigun says. “If you’re concerned about UV exposure or the health of your nails, talk to a board-certified dermatologist.”

 Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology, founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 18,000 physicians worldwide, the Academy is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the Academy at 1-888-462-DERM (3376) or www.aad.org.

Microgreens are a quick and easy way to add some flavor and crunch to your plate.  Just plant seeds labeled for sprouting or microgreens in a shallow container filled with a sterile potting or seed starting mix.  Within two weeks you will be harvesting nutritious mini vegetable and herb leaves for salads, sandwiches or snacking.

Take it one step further and grow a few of your favorite herbs on a warm sunny windowsill.  Select a container with drainage holes and set on the appropriate size saucer to protect your woodwork. Fill the container with well-drained potting mix and plant seeds or transplants.  Purchase basil, chives, parsley, oregano and rosemary plants from your local garden center or the produce department.

Greens, like lettuce and spinach, will also grow in a sunny window or better yet under artificial lights.  Grow them in a container filled with a well-drained potting mix similar to your windowsill herb garden.  Plant seeds according to the seed packet. Continually harvest the outer leaves when they are four to six inches tall.

Those that like a bit of a challenge may want to try growing a compact tomato, pepper or eggplant.  You’ll get the best production with a combination of natural and artificial light or full spectrum lights.

Natural sunlight and full spectrum lights contain the variety of light plants need to grow, flower and fruit. Blue light promotes leaf and stem growth, while red combined with blue promotes flowering.  Consider investing in energy efficient and long lasting high intensity grow lights for the greatest yields when growing tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and other fruiting plants indoors.

Leave lights on for 14, but no more than 16 hours each day.  Plants need a dark period as well as bright light each day to grow and thrive.  Use a timer to ensure the plants receive the right duration of light.

Most flowering and fruiting plants need a high intensity of light, so keep the lights six to twelve inches above your plants. Use reflective surfaces under and around the plants to bounce light back into larger plants.

Increase your indoor growing space by going vertical. Shelf units with built-in light fixtures like the Stack-n-Grow Light System  (www.gardeners.com) provide multiple layers of growing space.

And once your tomatoes, peppers and eggplants start flowering, you will need to shake things up a bit.  Gently shake the plants several times a week, better yet daily, to move the pollen from the female to the male parts of the flower so fruit will develop. A gentle breeze from a fan or vibrations from a battery-operated toothbrush work well.

Indoor gardening won’t yield the same results as a sunny outdoor garden, but the flavor can’t be beat when gardening outdoors is not an option.

Gardening expert, TV/radio host, author & columnist Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening and the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything: Food Gardening For Everyone” DVD set and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio segments. Myers has a partnership with Gardener’s Supply Company and is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Myers’ web site, www.melindamyers.com, offers gardening videos and tips.

1.    Add an orange wool scarf. This bright shade is a better choice than red because it’s unexpected. It works best if your basic palette is neutral. (Don’t team it with black or you’ll risk looking like a Halloween throwback!) The accent of sophisticated color will draw attention to your face — and camouflage a less-than-perfect neck. No need to fork over designer prices. We found affordable versions at Target and Amazon.

2.    Look for classic olive green Hunter rubber boots to wear on sloshy days. This is an ageless style that’s fun without being too funky. Pull the boots on over casual jeans or go ahead and wear them with black pants for work. You can change to shoes when you get to the office if you like, but you’ll arrive with dry feet even if you step in a puddle or two along the way. Zappos has a pair we like that goes for $125.

3.    Consider black patent boots paired with a roomy black patent everyday bag. The retro look has a go-go feel and it’s multi-seasonal. Let it carry you through stormy weather and on into April showers. Sears sells a pair of Clubwear boots for $50.60 and an Angie and Lola hobo bag that’s on sale for $15, down from $85!

4.    Invest in a whinsical leopard print umbrella to add some cheer to those days when you have to go out in rain or sleet. Animal prints are still the rage, after all! Totes has a compact leopard umbrella for $26.99 that opens and closes automatically so you won’t be caught fumbling in a downpour.

5.    Finally, if you can still find one in the last winter coat sales, pick a neutral-colored down style or a 3/4 or knee length jacket. These choices will wear better than wool —  and keep you warmer, too. We checked and saw that Kenneth Cole still has a great pick available at only $77.99.

Now you’re all set to head into winter with a some great new looks that didn’t set you back much at all!

Sherrie Mathieson is available for style consulting and speaking events. Please visit her web site at http://www.sherriemathieson.com/