Forever 21 $29.80

I’m of the mind that if you’re going to do sequins, you should go for the gusto! That means: fully sequined leggings, skirts, and pants. What I wouldn’t have given to have been on the set of “Soul Train” in the 70’s, pop lockin’, doing the hustle, my oil-sheened afro large and in charge, my sequined pants glistening under studio lights. Don’t know what I’m talking about? Check out these bad mama jammas, boogying down to Earth Wind & Fire’s “Mighty Mighty” and get inspired!

WHERE:

Topshop $80

ASOS $43

Topshop $100

Topshop $110

DKNY $105

VS $89

HOW:
As always, with something this flashy, it is generally best to keep things more muted on top. That means sticking to solid colors, like a metallic cami or a black fitted shirt. Wear silver jewelry rather than gold to play up the reflectiveness of your bottoms, and don’t shy away from strappy sandals with a fit like this. The holidays are the exception to the “no open toes in the winter” rule, so take advantage!

EASY-LIVING TIP:
In chapter three of his phenomenal book, The Power of Positive Thinking, Normal Vincent Peale gives us the secret to having constant energy. Ever feel drained before you even set foot out of the house for work? Use these all-natural energy booster to get you out of your slump and back on the grind:

1. Begin the morning by affirming vocally that you are energetic and ready to tackle the day. Resist the urge to hit the snooze button and sleep some more. State aloud the day is great and put a smile on your face. The things we say–especially first thing in the morning–have a direct effect on our vitality.

2. Take cat naps of no more than 30 minutes when you are tired. Your body is designed to tell you exactly what you need, when you need it, in order to operate at your optimal level. Don’t ignore it and stubbornly forge ahead. Submit to your body’s cues and your productivity will soar.

3. Exercise. Yes, exercise is one of those counterintuitive things that actually gives you energy rather than zapping it. With just 30 minutes of exercise, you release endorphins into your system and get the blood flowing, giving yourself a much needed jolt.

4. Make sure you’re on fire for whatever it is that you do. Studies show that individuals who believe in what they do–who feel like they are contributing to the wellbeing of others and/or improving humanity–tend to have boundless energy. So if you can’t do a job you love, at least commit yourself to something you believe in as a hobby. This will jump start you when you’re lagging.

5. Let go of fear, guilt, anger, and other negative feelings. Nothing will zap your energy faster than a haunting grudge, resentment, or envy, Our emotional health probably has the most direct effect on our physical health. Whatever it is you’re hanging on to, let it go and gain a vital energy boost.

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Marciano $98

Pencil skirts cover just a bit more skin while hugging your curves in all the right places. Plus, if you buy one in solid black, you can recycle that sucka with a rotation of different tops and no one will be the wiser. Talk about cost effectiveness. There are tons of new shapes and materials this season, from the tulip skirt to high waisted, and patent to tweed.

WHERE:

Dillards $34

Kenneth Cole $99

American Apparel $36

American Apparel $40

Topshop $50

Topshop $70

HOW:
Where to begin? Pair a pencil skirt with a cardigan and camisole or simply a short-sleeved sweater. Wear it with a crisp button-up for work, or even a blazer. If you’re wearing one in a crazy fabric, color or pattern, keep your top solid-colored. As far as shoes, you can wear booties, knee-highs, or pumps, but I’d opt for heels over flats since knee grazing skirts can shorten your legs visually. Finally, to keep those legs warm: a pair of opaque tights should complete the look.

EASY-LIVING TIP:
For today’s easy-living tip, I would like to link to one of my favorite blogs–Henrik Edberg’s The Positivity Blog. In his post, Heraclitus’ Top 3 Tips for Living a Richer and Happier Life, Edberg encourages us to purge ourselves of envy, be childlike again and…you’ll have to go to the link to learn the last tip. Trust me, it’s worth it! Enjoy!

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Rich & Skinny $140

Whether you like designer or cute-cheapies, I’ve got you covered. Below, I’ve featured the darkest, sexiest pairs I could find–sans embellishments. If you’re over the age of 18, I beg you to lose the jean flare or risk looking like a member of Destiny’s Child (I’m sorry Mrs. Doing Too Much Knowles, but patent, rhinestones, fur AND denim?–oh so tacky!)

WHERE:

Urban O. $54

Kill City $88

Free People $73

J. Brand $160

AG $158

Levi's $30

HOW:
They’re jeans, ladies! You already know you can where them day, night, with a dressy top or a chunky sweater, a collared shirt or a tunic. The possibilities are endless. Shoes-wise, I would recommend a mean pair of ankle booties, an above-thigh pair of suede flats, or a sky-high pair of platform stilettos. Just suck it in, shimmy them on, and you’re halfway home!

EASY-LIVING TIP:
Everyone’s always telling you how to be effective. Well, I thought I’d spin that around and give you a list of habits that the world’s most ineffective people consistently exhibit. Avoid these five toxic productivity-zappers and watch your motivation soar:

INEFFECTIVE PEOPLE…

1. Are closed to outside ideas and influences. Do you find that you clutch-tight to your ideas, opinions, and work-habits? Sure you do. We all do. It’s that ego, rearing it’s ugly head again. But sometimes admitting that your way may not be the best way can be the most productive thing you do.

2. Don’t show up. Yes. It’s simple. In the words of Woody Allen, “80% of success is showing up.” Whether it means avoiding Pilates class because it’s drizzling outside, or just not sitting still in front of your computer, not showing up is the quickest route to failure.

3. Think too much. You want to plan. You want to outline. You want to research. At the end of the day though, too much thinking is just another means of procrastination. Don’t get it perfect, just get it done. Then, get it perfect.

4. Suffer from information overload. Ineffective people check the weather, the world news, the score of last night’s game, the outlook on the stock market…you catch my drift. Only consume the information you absolutely need in order to get done what you need to do. Being a well-rounded conversationalist is not going to get you closer to that goal. Doing work will.

5. Whine. Okay, we all feel better when we share our sob-stories about our hellish bosses and nincompoop co-workers and sadist mother-in-laws…or at least we think we feel better. In actuality, we’re reinforcing a negative outlook, weakening our own motivation, and…wasting time, yet again. Sure it sucks, but suck it up. It’s in the past and present is calling.

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Express $49.50

There are SO many kinds to choose from now! We’re talking bright, bold opaques, faux leather leggings, cozy knit thigh-highs, satiny disco pants, lacy, floral, fishnet, knee-highs …you get the picture. Obviously, I couldn’t begin to show you the zillions of options out there for tights, but I’ve tried to point out several sites that have tons of choices for you to peruse. Let’s dive into the rabbit hole, shall we?

WHERE:

Jonathan Aston $12

We Love Colors $12.50

Topshop $12

Topshop $44

American Apparel $78

Trasparenze $23.25

HOW:
As many of you may have noticed, fall fashion tends to produce a lot of black, gray, and otherwise gloomy colors. Fortunately, tights are here to save the day! Take that little black dress, throw on some electric purple opaques and voila!–from snoozer to stylista! The knit thigh highs are beautiful when paired with knee-high leather boots. When it comes to fishnets, lace, or the other more provocative styles, I would definitely pair with a more conservative outfit, like a sweater dress or a pretty, full skirt (street-walker style is only sexy on Halloween!). My only hard, fast rule for tights: always go for opaque! Except for in the office, sheer is done!

EASY-LIVING TIP:
Today’s easy-living tip is one that may seem simple, but when put into practice, it can give you great peace of mind and serenity–which is always a good thing. I can’t remember who said it now, but some years back, a friend of mine proclaimed: “When my room’s in order, my life’s in order.” You may not realize it, but a lack of organization in your bedroom could be adding to your stress.

Think about it: digging for things you need, wasting time looking for lost items, shuffling through old irrelevant documents–these are time and energy zappers that you could avoid. And here are a few simple rules to help you do just that:

1. When you take off your clothes at night, don’t wait to put them away or throw them in the hamper. Just do it now! It won’t take any less time later, but it will prevent wrinkling and clutter and save you time in the end.

2. Go through your old documents and shred, shred, shred! Do you really need that cable bill from 1999?

3. Go through your beauty products and toiletries and ditch or condense. There’s a reason you haven’t used that hair gel in almost a year!

4. Try to keep surfaces generally clutter-free. This is more of a Zen habit. Visually, clean surfaces create better feng shui and increase productivity by decreasing distractions.

5. Give your room a thorough cleaning at least once a week and you’ll avoid the build-up that makes tidying a drag.

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Urban $48

Yes, I know—the little girl appeal is just not for everyone. I’m a big advocate of dressing of your years and tend to cringe internally every time I see a woman over 22 wearing pigtails, overalls, or–God forbid–scrunchies. However, I think I’ve found a way for us to all maintain our grown-ass-woman dignity while capitalizing on an undeniably cute trend: go with structured jumpers in solid colors or sophisticated fabrics like linen or satin. Let’s face it–-miles of legs and/or bare shoulders are not going to hurt in turning some male heads. Another plus? You can forget the exhausting “subway clench”–you know, that tense pose you have to hold so the skeevy guy across from you can’t see up your mini skirt!

WHERE:

Urban O. $38

Bebe $129

Alloy $24.50

Dolce Vita $165

Haven $118

Alloy $42.90

HOW:
Don’t you love reaching into your closet and pulling out a whole outfit in one fell swoop? Because they’re so fashion forward, jumpers make all the statement you need. Pair yours with flip-flops or gladiator’s for a casual look, or spice it up with strappy metallic heels to become a nighttime minx. Final touch? Oil up those legs and shoulders and let your glowing skin take center stage!

EASY-LIVING TIP:
So your boss keeps circling your cubicle and that law school paper isn’t going to write itself–yet, you can’t seem to get out of your motivational slump. Why? You’re probably asking too much of yourself. Realistic goals are the key to staying inspired during a project. Some steadfast rules for greater effectiveness:

1. Never have more than one major goal at a time. A major goal should be something that is achievable in 6 months to a year. For example “launch a blog,” or “get a new job.”

2. Break your goal down into smaller steps and apply deadlines. Then, break each of these steps down into micro-steps. You might want to write each one on a note card and tack them to a board so you can see them clearly and change their order easily.

3. Each night, write out three micro-goals for the next day. These should relate to your current small goal and should be the three things that will be most effective in getting you closer to accomplishing it. Take time to think about this carefully. Calling a friend who is computer savvy might make more sense than learning HTML code yourself.

4. Complete each of these three tasks from start to finish, in order of importance.

5. Commit to completing your first task before checking your e-mail each day. Then, if at all possible, only check it every 3 hours. It’s an easy way to blow a whole afternoon.