5 Wardrobe Staples You Should Have In Your Closet

I have always had a love for fashion! Since I was a young girl. I loved all things fashion related from movies to music. Fashion has always been my passion in life with casual couture being my inspiration. Simple and chic looks for women that are comfortable, stylish and ready to wear.

My love for fashion inspired me to open Anne Michelle Boutique, first in 2004 in Agoura Hills and then in 2009 in Beverly Hills. The boutique is filled with casual couture from well-known designer brands; including Vince, Theory and Equipment. We also feature new unknown local designers too. I handpick the selection of pieces from loose fitting tees, to slouchy trousers and simple tailored jackets.

When clients visit Anne Michelle Boutique, Beverly Hills for their styling consultation, I want to know what their personal style is - what their inspirations are and their lifestyle. It's fun to collaborate together to find new outfits and looks. Sometimes all you need to update your wardrobe is a couple of new staple items for you to look good and feel comfortable.

Here are my top five staple items to enhance any wardrobe:

1. A Simple Tailored Jacket 

Lightweight, white or black, tuxedo style. Looks great with a silk tank, jeans and heels.

2. Slouchy Trousers 

Alice & Olivia are one of my favorite staple pants. I have them in white. They are classic, stylish and cool. So versatile, and can be worn to Sunday brunch, a business meeting or drinks at Soho House. They look great with a tank or silk blouse, and this style is always dressy.

3. A light denim shirt looks good with anything. 

Slim fitting and comfortable, perfect with white jeans or cut off shorts. It's a staple item that never goes out of style and can be worn all year long.

4. Equipment Signature Silk Shirt 

Feminine, chic and fabulous! Equipment Shirts are a favorite at Anne Michelle. Perfect for a business meeting or dinner date.

5. White Jeans 

Sounds crazy but they really are my favorite jeans for all year round! Perfect for summer with a tee and heels or flats (think Festival de Cannes.) They also look great during the colder months with black boots and a military style jacket.

10 Things No One Ever Tells You About: Cutting Your Hair

The big chop seems all the rage during the warmer months, but whether you’re thibking about a pixie or you’re just trying to take a few inches off your locks, there’s a thing or 1o you should know about cutting your hair. Below are 10 little known facts about cutting your hair, and some tips to help you get the best out of your cut. 

1. Cutting your hair more often doesn’t make it grow faster: Getting rid of the ends of your hair doesn’t directly effect hair growth. The ends of your hair don’t effect the follicles in your scalp, which determine how fast and how much your hair grows. Trimming simply keeps hair more healthy as it grows. 

2. Skip the trim: Give yourself some time in between each trim instead of going with the typical 6-8 weeks. Hair begins to split around the 3-4 month mark, which is when you’ll actually need a trim.

MORE: 8 Things to Know Before You Get a Short Haircut

3. Layer accordingly: When cutting your hair, you should layer it according to your hair texture. Tighter curls work best with layers that aren’t perfectly even, while straighter hair works best with more even layers.

4. Skip the shampoo: Before cutting hair, skip the shampoo. You’ll be having your hair washed anyway, so there’s no need to dry out the cuticle twice.

5. It’s best to trim natural hair when dry: For girls with natural hair, it’s important to know that hair should be cut when dry. Head to a salon that specializes in natural tresses so you know you’re getting the best cut possible.

6. Search salon apprentice websites first: Looking to get your hair cut for less money? Try SalonApprentice.com, where you can volunteer to be a hair model for already licensed stylists who need to clock a certain amount of hours cutting hair. You’ll be in good hands for half (or less!) the cost.

7. All bangs aren’t cut equally: If you’re thinking about getting bangs, know what works best for your face and for your hair texture. Long, wispy bangs usually work best for a square face, while softer, shorter bangs work best to frame a round face.

MORE: Questions You Should Be Asking Your Hairstylist

8. Short hair takes work: Cutting off your hair doesn’t make hair care any easier. To keep them maintained, shorter cuts usually require more frequent trips to the salon to keep the shape and style fresh, which ends up costing more money (and time).

9. If you don’t trim, split ends will travel: Split ends will continue to split up the length of the hair if you don’t trim them, making your hair brittle and weak. When you start seeing split ends more often than non-split ends, it’s time to get a cut.

10. Bring options: Sure, we’ve all got our Pinterest boards full of haircut inspiration, but make sure you bring multiple options. When you get to the salon, your stylist may explain that a certain cut won’t work with your texture, or that it will actually require much more maintenance than you originally thought. Bringing options will leave you multiple routes for a happy cut.

How To Get Rid of Love Handles: 5 Exercises That Don’t Totally Suck

As women, we’re all equipped with body fat that insulates us from root to tip. This is totally normal—healthy women typically have at least 10% more body fat than men do—but the trouble comes when we accumulate just a little bit too much around the middle of our abdomens. The colloquial term for this phenomenon: love handles.

MORE: 10 ‘Healthy’ Foods That Are Actually Fattening

While small love handles aren’t anything to worry about, if there’s too much of a good thing, the results can be quite unpleasant: the dreaded muffin top starts to make an appearance. And nobody wants that.

MORE: Can a Berry Help You Lose Weight?

Read on for five ways to work on lessening your love handles that don’t totally suck. They neither require long visits to the gym nor that you starve yourself; instead, they’re relatively painless exercises that won’t eat up (pun fully intended) too much of your time or your general joy in living. Will they make you sweat? Sure, but nothing worth doing is easy.

1. Side Plank With Hip Dips
Starting from an upper-pushup plank position, bring your right hand directly under your nose. Bring your feet together behind you, then roll to the outside edge of your right foot and stack your left foot on top of it. Lift your hand off the ground, so all your weight is balanced on your right hand and edge of your right foot. Pull your belly in toward your spine, then dip both your hips down until they almost touch the ground. Lift them back up toward the ceiling. Repeat this movement 10 times on each side, and do three sets. This is a fantastic exercise for your oblique muscles, those abdominal muscles that live on the sides of your core.

2. Boat Pose With Twists
This one’s a move derived from traditional Pilates: sit on the floor and lift your legs and feet away from the ground. Bend your knees at 90 degree-angles and lean your torso back about 45 degrees. Bring your arms our long in front of you and press your palms together like a prayer. (Your body should look like the letter “V,” but with bent knees.) Sit up tall on an inhale, then as you exhale, twist your arms over to the right until they touch the floor beside you. Inhale back to center, then exhale to twist the other way. Repeat 25 times.

3. Plank With Knee Twists
Start in an upper-pushup plank position with your hands directly under your shoulders, then come down to your forearms. Lift up your right foot, extending your leg out straight behind you. Take a deep breath in, then on the exhale bend your leg and bring your right knee to your left elbow. Extend the leg back and place it down, then switch sides. Repeat 10 times on each side.

4. Leg Circles 
Lie down on your back with your arms down by your hips, palm down. Pull your lower abdominal muscles in toward your spine, then lift your legs up toward the ceiling so your body forms an “L” shape. Pull your legs down toward the ground over to right, but before they touch the floor, bring them center so they’re hovering above the floor. Then pull them over to the left, and back up to center toward the ceiling; your legs should be making a big circle. Do it 10 times toward the right, then 10 times on the left.

5. Good Posture
Believe it or not, sitting up straight while you’re at your desk, having lunch, or just walking around can significantly impact your love handles. When you’re at your computer, for example, sit up tall and gently pull your stomach muscles in toward your spinal column. This slight, ongoing activation of your core muscles will help tone them while also burning more calories a day. It’s a subtle change that can make a big difference.

Master This Boho Braid Tutorial and Break Some Hearts

Braids are one of the easiest ways to wear your hair and the ultimate go-to style during the heat of summer. They can be styled in a million different ways and are especially nice when you don’t want to pull out the hot curling iron or blow dryer. Regular French braids can sometimes come across a bit drab or old-fashioned, but adding in a few extra braids can really pump up the look and give it a trendy, boho chic twist.

Check out the tutorial below for this lovely boho braided ‘do, then get ready wear it out and about — I guarantee you will get compliments galore!

HOW TO MASTER THIS BOHO BRAID TUTORIAL:

1. Begin by parting the hair on the right side.
2. Next, separate out a triangle-shaped section of hair by drawing a line from the middle of the part down to the left eye.
3. Separate this section into three smaller sections.
4. Begin an inverted braid by crossing the back under the middle strand.
5. Then, cross the front strand under the middle strand.
6. Continue braiding down until it reaches the end of the hair.
7. Grab a clear elastic band and tie off the end.
8. Next, separate out another section just like you did in step 2.
9. Braid this section into another inverted braid, tying off the end with an elastic band.
10. Now, gather all the hair and move it over the shoulders and to the back.
11. With both hands, divide the hair right above the ears, pushing the hair towards the back of the head. These will be the two side pieces in the upcoming French braid portion.
12. Take the hair in the center of the back of the head and use this as the middle strand.
13. Create a French braid by crossing the left strand over the middle strand, then the right strand over the middle.
14. Next, cross the left strand over the middle and bring in a section of hair, adding it into the strand.
15. Repeat step 14 with the right side.
16. Continue braiding downwards until all the hair is pulled into the braid before finishing with a simple three-strand braid.
17. Tie off the end with a clear elastic band.
18. Now, take the two braids that were completed at the beginning and wrap them around towards the back of the head.
19. Take a section of hair from the French braid and tuck the tails of the two braids into it. Then, tuck them downwards into the center of the French braid.
20. Pin them down with a hair pin if necessary, being sure to hide it underneath the braid.

STYLING TIPS:

Back comb the top of the hair before beginning to create a little volume at the top. Before starting each braid, spray the roots with hairspray or hair wax, smoothing down any flyaways to create a sleek braid. Smooth a bit of dry oil into the end of the tail to smooth rough ends.

WATCH THE VIDEO:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuoviaxlbW0

The One Move That'll Help You Get Strong, Toned Abs FAST

It's time to stop cranking out endless crunches if you want to achieve killer abs. Holly Perkins, C.S.C.S., recommends one basic move that you can do in your living room: the single-leg holding plank. "It's a bit challenging, but it's super effective," she says. "It hits your whole core from a functional and aesthetic perspective." In other words, this exercise will shore up your core—which makes daily movements easier—and give your tummy a toned appearance.

Here's how to do it: Start in pushup position, then drop down so your elbows are supporting your upper body (standard plank position). Make sure your body forms a straight line from head to heels. Tighten your abs, then lift your left foot about two inches off the ground. Hold for five seconds, then return to the starting position. Repeat on your right side. Continue alternating legs until you've completed 10 repetitions per side. Do three sets total.
Maintaining good form is essential to making this move effective. Perhaps the most critical component is contracting your abdominal muscles before lifting your leg—otherwise, you might push out your abs during the exercise. "Over time, that could put strain on the muscles of your lower back," warns Perkins. And when you lift your foot off the ground, don't allow your hips to rotate to either side. "Nothing in your body should move except the one leg," says Perkins.

Want to challenge yourself even more? Double the amount of time you hold up each leg, and complete 15 repetitions per side instead of just 10. 

styl

Fire Up Your Hidden Fat Burners

If you're looking to melt inches off your stomach, legs, or arms, the last thing you want to do is devote all your gym time to those assets. (In case you need a reminder, spot reducing is woefully ineffective.)

But there are two areas that could use some special attention: "Most people don't realize the potential of strengthening their hips and shoulders for fat loss," says metabolic training expert BJ Gaddour, author of Your Body Is Your Barbell. "They're actually among the most metabolically active zones of the body." Surprised to hear that? These two hot spots are the linchpins of your upper and lower body, helping to activate other big players around them (like your glutes and upper back) and spike your calorie-burning potential.

What's more, building strength in your shoulders and hips can boost your efficiency in any other workout you do. That means you'll get more bang for your fat-blasting buck during squats and lunges, pushups and planks. And because they're two major joints of your upper and lower body, strengthening them can help ward off pesky injuries from head to toe.

Oh, and did we mention the aesthetic bonus? "More shapely shoulders and hips can make your waist look smaller from every angle," says Gaddour. (Sold!)

Complete this 30-minute routine three times per week on nonconsecutive days. Each section has a distinct purpose: Developing better body movement, building lean muscle, and shooting your heart rate into overdrive for a calorie-blasting finale. Move from one part to the next without rest, following the specific instructions for each.

Part 1  Get Moving Right
Starting with the first exercise, perform one rep as slowly as possible (aiming for up to 30 seconds), then rest for the remainder of a minute. Continue until you've completed all three moves; do three sets.

 MOVE 1  Eccentric Single-Leg Box Squat

Stand on your left leg with your right foot elevated, arms extended straight in front of you at shoulder height (A). Keeping your chest up, push your hips back and bend your left knee to slowly lower yourself onto the bench(B). Return to starting position, and repeat on the other side.

 MOVE 2  Eccentric Chinup

Stand on a box or bench positioned under a chinup bar; grab the bar with an underhand grip and jump off the box or bench to raise your chin over the bar (A). Lower yourself as slowly as possible (B). Once your arms are fully extended, let go of the bar.

 MOVE 3  Eccentric Pushup

Place your hands shoulder-width apart on the floor and extend your legs behind you, so your body forms a straight line from head to heels (A). Brace your core and bend your elbows to lower your body as slowly as possible to the floor (B).

 Part 2  Ignite Your Metabolism
Starting with the first exercise, do as many reps as you can in 45 seconds, then rest 15 seconds. Continue until you've finished all three exercises; repeat for a total of three sets.

 MOVE 1  Single-Leg Elevated Hip Thrust

Sit with your arms and shoulders on a bench behind you, knees bent and feet flat on the floor; raise your left foot, knee bent 90 degrees (A). Press through your right heel to raise your hips until they're parallel to the floor, squeezing your glutes (B). Pause, then slowly return to start. Repeat on the other side at the start of the next minute.

 MOVE 2  Bear Crawl

Place your hands and feet on the floor, knees bent and raised off the ground and your back flat (A). In one motion, walk your left hand and right foot forward, keeping your core tight (B). Repeat on the other side, and continue alternating.

 MOVE 3  Row to Pullup

Sit under a secure barbell, feet flat on the floor and knees bent 90 degrees; grab the bar with an overhand grip and lift your hips so your body forms a straight line from shoulders to knees (A). Pull with your arms to lift your chest to the bar (B). Pause, then slowly sit your hips back until they are directly under your shoulders (C). Return to start and repeat.

 Part 3  Torch More Calories
Perform as many reps of the first move as possible in 20 seconds, then rest 10 seconds; repeat with the second exercise, and continue alternating for a total of six minutes.

 MOVE 1  Rotational Skater Jump

Stand with feet hip-width apart and knees slightly bent, arms at your sides(A). Jump into the air and rotate 90 degrees to the left, landing on your left foot and swinging your arms across your body and your right foot behind your left (B). Quickly return to the starting position and repeat on the other side.

 MOVE 2  Spider Lunge

Place your hands shoulder-width apart on the floor and extend your legs behind you so your body forms a straight line (A). Brace your core, then bring your left foot to the outside of your left hand, keeping your hips parallel to the floor (B). Pause, then return to start and repeat on the other side.

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/fire-up-hidden-fat-burners

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