We usually associate Fall with colors like brown, red, green, and deep yellow. This year we’re seeing shades of purple appear in Fall collections across the board. A color that was once associated with royalty, wealth, and power is now to be worn by woman everywhere. It’s commonly thought that people who embrace the color purple are creative, eccentric, independent, and mysterious. This intriguing color brings sophistication to our usual measure of fall colors. It works beautifully with grays, blacks, and denim. It’s a quick way to update your wardrobe for the season, without having to spend a fortune. Try to work at least one piece of purple into your story this season, even if it’s only a scarf. Be a bit mysterious, and let out your inner royal. Let the majestic color work magic on you!

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The skirt to have for Fall has a sassy silhouette. It’s full but fitted at the waist, enhancing our womanly curves. It’s a skirt that you’ll feel confident and comfortable in all day long. It looks great with opaque stockings, ankle boots, tall boots, or even ballet flats. The best part about this skirt is it’s flexibility. You can dress it up with a silk blouse or throw a belted cardigan on for a more casual feel. If you’ve got great stems, go for it in a mini. If you’re not as confident about your legs, choose a knee length version. It will come in all sorts of fabrics for fall, but we’re loving it in a tweed. Tweed is a substantial fabric that captures the feeling of Fall. Go grab your Fall skirt before they all sold out!

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If you have it in you to brave the stores at sale time, there can be some great finds. However, you’re best bet for finding pieces that work right through Fall is on the web. You can easily pull together a look with designer pieces that will not break the bank. The key is to look for more classic pieces (not boring pieces), not ones that scream last year’s trend. The idea is to keep the dress simple yet sophisticated. The boots should be classy with modern detail. The bag should work with it all and accessories are the place to have fun. Go for it with a leather jacket in a color like red or tan. Pop on some bangles, earrings, and a playful hat. The look is sleek, with a vintage feel, sexy, with classic grounded pieces. The best part about it all, is that you’re left with articles of clothing that you can work into your wardrobe without hesitation. Happy hunting ladies!

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Summer can be the hardest time of year to camouflage the areas of our body that we don’t particularly like. A common body part that we hear women complain about is their arms. During the hot months when everything seems to be sleeveless, how can a woman who hates her arms dress? Well, we have a few tips for you. If you’re very sensitive about your arms, you can go for tops that have 3/4 sleeves. That way, you can cover the part of the arm that you probably object to the most. You don’t have to completely cover up, simply transition from top to arm gracefully. For example, the DVF yellow top has an open flutter sleeve that the arm extends from beautifully. The orange DVF dress has a similar sleeve that will showcase the part of your arm that you feel more confident about. You don’t have to completely sacrifice sleeveless items. If you come across a sleeveless dress, like the Milly maxi dress, that you can’t live without … simply throw a cropped cardigan with 3/4 sleeves over it. You can conceal your upper arm without compromising the effect of the dress. Another way to cover your arm without looking too covered up, is to choose a top or dress with a sheer sleeve. It’s covered while still giving a glimpse of skin. When all else fails, self-tanner can serve as a smoke screen to any perceived problem areas. There’s nothing wrong with a little smoke and mirror magic during the horrific summer months. Good luck Girls!

A special shout out to Trish Ginter, Founder of Smashing Darling for suggesting this post topic. We’d like to do more posts on topics you care about most. Send you ideas to: suggestions@giftgirl.com

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Gladiator sandals are one of the biggest trends of the season. Last month’s post on the Gladiator ignited a firestorm of questions: How do I wear them? We’ve put together three of our favorite looks to help you out.

Gladiator look 1

The first look has a tall gladiator paired with a summer cotton dress. The key to this look, is to keep the dress flowy and unconstructed. The cut of the dress will balance out the tall gladiator sandal, making your legs look slim. A big hobo bag completes the look beautifully.

Gladiator look 2

The second look has a short gladiator paired with shorts, a billowy top, bangles, and a textured tote. The key to this look is to lean toward the bohemian, not preppy. It should look relaxed and sophisticated. It translates into a perfect day to evening summer look.

Gladiator look 3

The third look is a more dressed up version of the gladiator sandal. Again, the dress is free flowing which helps to balance the bulk of the shoe. The gladiator we chose is metallic, and reflects beautifully as opposed to drag the outfit down. We paired the outfit with a linen bag with gold accents, to tie it all together. The dress becomes the focus, with very fashion forward accessories that don’t take over the outfit.

We hope some of these looks inspire some of your own creations. Have fun with it, and relax into a pair of gladiator sandals this season.