Looking good and feeling good has nothing to do with numbers: size, age or how much money you have!

In today’s economy you need the tools to maximize your dollars.  This book will show you the basics to help you look great without spending a lot of money, time or changing your priorities.  It will be your best friend when you shop, making it easy to make the right choices.  Whether you are 18 or 80 this book is for you!

We are in to the second week of the year; most having a slow start with all of the problems surrounding us. As we rummage through all of the turmoil we will tend to reach for comfort foods instead of the latest piece of exercise equipment. This will ultimately put us on that emotional rollercoaster; never quite getting a handle on FEELING very well; about being healthy or looking good.

My suggestion is to ease into the New Year without the stress and doing something good for those that have sacrificed a great deal for all of us.

Simple Solutions for Women! (diet & exercise not required) is a book that will allow you to immediately feel better about the way you look while easing into a healthier lifestyle. When you purchase this “how to” helpful book you will take comfort in knowing that all of the proceeds will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project. Not only will you be helping yourself with a lifestyle change but you will also be helping to change the lifestyle of someone in great need. The money that the Wounded Warrior Project receives goes to helping make life a little easier for those severely wounded in Iraq/Afghanistan.

Since women are not the only ones that go up and down the scale needing specific advice on how to look and feel better I will include as a gift to you The Complete Guide to Dressing for Success for Gentlemen looking to make an impression or build a wardrobe when you purchase a copy of Simple Solutions for Women! (diet & exercise not required).

Get started feeling better right now! . . . . and help me to help the Wounded Warrior Project. (Buy: $12.00) (For more information on this donation please visit: www.lindaeastwood.com.

Have a wonderful, happy, healthy New Year!

After spending several years working with women, helping them to develop their self esteem regardless of their age, size or disposable income by showing how they could leave the house in the morning, facing the day with confidence and not buying into social pressures to look a certain way, 9/11 happened; it changed everything for me.

Living in Southern California, driving up and down the 5 freeway allowed me to witness the day to day exercises taking place on Camp Pendleton. Making a long story short; I found my way onto the base with the intention of conducting my seminars for the women, wives, spouses on the base at no charge. Looking to volunteer my time I met with several people on the base that showed me around, allowing me to see how life was for those that lived there. I discovered many things; one being the importance of the Marine Corps Birthday Ball held every year. This is a formal affair that all look forward to, with the only requirement being formal attire for the spouses. Most soldiers couldn’t afford the extra expense for a special dress. From that need, “Operation Ball Gown” was born. I was privileged to be allowed to start this program on the base; it continues today under the direction of the ASYMCA.

In addition to the seminars for the women I was asked to conduct the “dress for success” classes for the retiring Marines/Navy on the base as these men (and some women) needed to know how to build a wardrobe for civilian life after serving for multiple decades.

With my heartfelt appreciation to these men and women along with their families has driven me to help whenever possible. I selected the Wounded Warrior Project to help those that need to rebuild their lives.

By now you would have to be living on another planet not to know about this movie or who stars in it! But for those just visiting earth the famous 4 return to the screen: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon.

The story line aside; everyone is “hooked” on the fashion. I have never seen women attend a film in droves dressed to the nines, it’s just great! Regardless of what you think about the story what this TV series and film has done is give women the permission to be themselves, something that I have advocated for a long time. When it comes to fashion or getting dressed they broke all of the rules and that is what is TERRIFIC! No more matched sets! AMEN! No more “have too’s” looking at your own body and lifestyle is finally enough, you don’t have to follow the flock.

So, get dazzled, drag your best friend and head off to the film. Then make time to stop for a fancy cocktail on the way home so you can try to remember all 80 of Sarah Jessica Parker’s outfits! Good luck!

Well now you can afford to have body work done in the snap of your fingers! Save the plastic surgery for another time. Dr. Rey (www.drrobertrey.com) the notable Beverly Hills plastic surgeon has made the decision easy for you by offering a “quick fix” that is comfortable and affordable, not to mention you can customize the applications based on your figure and articles of clothing. I highly recommend trying these before you decide to go under the knife.

Here are a couple pieces from his line. They all come in black or bone and hover around the $50.00 mark. They beat dieting and surgery! Check out the entire collection on his website or on hsn.com.

High Waist Step-In from Dr. Rey’s Shapewear

• Stretch microfiber
• Fixed, elastic waist with hidden, no-slip finish rests at underbust
• Maximum control tummy panel. Highly contoured waist. Contoured hips
• Maximum control derriere panels. Lined gusset
• Long legs rest at mid-thigh. Hidden, no-slip finish at straight hems
• Aloe finish
• 72% nylon, 28% spandex. Machine wash, line dry
• S-3X
• Imported

Smooth Slip from Dr. Rey’s Shapewear

• Stretch microfiber
• Full-body coverage. Strapless. Bust darts
• Maximum control tummy panels. Highly contoured waist and hips
• Hidden, no-slip finish at neckline and straight hem
• Aloe finish
• 72% nylon, 28% spandex. Machine wash, line dry
• S-3X

Although there were several pretty ladies there was no contest when it came to the very best dressed on the red carpet. Katherine Heigl takes the prize. She looked like a movie star, not only was the color beautiful but the classic lines and fit made her a standout. She is naturally beautiful . . . . but last night she was incredibly beautiful!

Katherine Heigl in red at the Oscars

Now, what was she thinking?

…I really hate to be critical when it comes to an individual’s particular taste; after all it is subjective . . . . except in this case. There is really no accounting for this choice. There are other ways to stand out without making Cruella look like Coco Chanel. This dress looked like it was designed by someone on “crack”. I feel so sorry for her; she will see these photos for the rest of her life as being one of the “worst” dressed in Oscar history. The less is more is something that she should have tattooed on her body as a reminder for the next event. I’m really sorry Rebecca . . . . you are such a pretty lady, you deserve better.

Here are 2 bargains that I needed to share with you. Even though the brand has been around forever; they have kept up with today’s technology. I found both of these products to work well, especially when you consider the price.

Suave Professionals Volumizing Root Lifter Spray Gel, Maximum Hold

Suave Professionals Volumizing Finishing Hairspray, Maximum Hold

If your hair is fine or needs a little more body and lift I think it is worth the try. Depending on you hair and the style looking to achieve spray on damp hair, initially blow dry upside down then smooth over with a round brush.

For maximum volume that holds pretty well throughout the day without looking like a helmet head; the hairspray can be used on towel-dried hair at the roots as well.

Each are found in your local stores and cost under $4.00/ea. A real deal!

Oh NO, not again! It’s January and we haven’t even come up for air with the holiday bills and the fashion police are telling us to throw everything out and start over! The menswear look of ’07 is over, don’t be caught dead in any of the looks, including the flowing trapeze looks (tent dresses), cropped jackets and oversized sweaters, short skirts and opaque stockings.

Now, if you paid any attention to my advice last year you would be OK (all but the stockings; but I’ll get back to them). You would have selected the items that best suited your figure and not have purchased the fads of ’07. I specifically pointed out the negatives of the cropped jackets and tent dresses to name two pinpointing what they actually do to your silhouette; generally adding weight and framing parts of your figure that you may not want to bring attention to.

This year we are told to buy tight fitting, bright colors, add belts to everything (at the waist), floral skirts with your blouse tucked in, etc. With this in mind I would like for you to do your own little experiment. The next time you are in the market, at the mall, the movies or your neighborhood restaurant; sit back and take count of all the people that cross your path that would look great in these “new looks”. If you find one, you’re lucky. How on earth can we ever feel good about ourselves if we keep buying into this advice?

Do yourself a favor and start wearing ear plugs; you will save a lot of money since the fashion police will be telling you the same thing in the first part of ’09! Throw everything OUT!

I’m happy to answer your fashion/style questions in order to help you salvage what you already own. Feel free to e-mail me, all questions are welcome.

This is one accessory that you pretty much can’t screw up. OK, I take that back; if you are really petite you don’t want to carry a suitcase on a daily basis and on the other extreme if you are trying out for the NBA then you probably don’t want a teeny tiny bag, each will create an imbalance in your overall proportion.

Now, having said that . . . this is one area to have fun, even if you are on a budget. Your bag can be an accent or a conversation piece in addition to being a practical accessory. Below I have a couple of examples of how you can get similar looks utilizing fashion trends that will keep you up to the minute. The sky is the limit, from prints, patent leathers to woven and textures in everything from totes to clutches; just have fun.

Chanel

Purse in lambskin and ruthenium, Chanel, $3,650;

Satisfy a fashion trend with a version of a metallic tote for $138.72, you can go on vacation with the money you saved!

Kooba Leather bag, $835.00

Another example of having fun with fashion, incorporating new colors and textures while saving some money.
Patent Red Tote $195.00

Oprah recently aired a show that had a really good theme; referring to looking great at any age. Oprah in her typical fashion looks to support women and provide them with the very best information possible; however this time the “experts” hired for the show fell short.

When watching any of these programs (and there are many) you really need to listen, listen hard to what they are saying. Many times it is comical, especially if you happen to recall what they have said previously which is what happened on the show.

Now, I’m sure that the 3 experts are terrific people in all regards; they just didn’t give women the “tool box” that they needed to go home and put on what will suit their individual figures and lifestyles.

I got the biggest kick out of them justifying the high rise pants/jeans. Last year there were specific shows (with at least one of the experts) that tore women apart in a store that had them on, telling them how it made them look heavier and old fashioned; calling them your mother’s jeans. Yes, on the show they were now explaining how “slimming” they are by making you look longer with the high rise. Now, if that doesn’t confuse the shopper I don’t know what does. When the market was flooded with low rise, plumber’s pants we all had to have them regardless of how they made us look, the same thing is going on now only with the opposite look.

The same holds true with wide leg trousers. They may be comfortable due to all the extra room swishing around your legs, but they are not the best slimming look for a vast majority of women. One can look like a huge column walking down the street adding more weight to an already sensitive area of most figures.

Another trend that they were pushing was the short “trapeze” jackets to be worn with skirts, slacks or jeans. Cropped sleeves, short wide cropped swinging jackets over the average size hips is not a slimming look. Stay away from them unless you are stick thin and “0” hips. If you carry any extra weight you will end up looking like you were wearing someone else’s jacket that didn’t fit.

Then a classic balance and proportion faux pas was on a woman that lost a great deal of weight. Granted the wardrobe she had prior to the show was lacking in many ways to say the least. She walked around as though she was still much larger. I was disappointed in what was selected for her, as there are gazillion choices out there and I dare say better ones. Her hair and makeup looked terrific, she smiled from hear to hear; but so would just about everyone being given a new outfit and having professional hair and makeup done for the first time. This woman had a really good figure and yet with the jewel toned knitted outfit she looked round and uncomfortable.

The portion of the show that I thought was well executed was the “Luxe or Less” segment. The looks were duplicated very well in the range of price points, even the last outfit (the denim) although is a perfect example of why you shouldn’t bother with a trapeze jacket.

I could go on for a much longer time as there are many other examples. You can check out the show on Oprah’s website if you missed it and if you have questions about any of my comments or on any of the other outfits I am happy to help. You can e-mail me and I’ll be sure to get back to you.