What's the most versatile accessory? Nope, it's not a handbag or a pair of shoes. Silk scarves can instantly create multiple looks from the same outfit, tie back your hair, double as a halter top, swimsuit coverup or keep your shoulders warm on a breezy evening. They travel well (you can tuck them into your handbag, carry-on or suitcase) and they never go out of style.
Here are some different ways to wear a scarf.
Handbag Styles
A handbag is a handbag right? Wrong! There are many different styles out there. Here's a quick look at the most popular styles right now.
The Shoulder Bag
Photo: Zac Posen Daisy Bag:
eLuxuy.com
With the exception of clutches and handheld bags (bags with handles too small or short to be worn over the shoulder), most handbags fit into this category. Every woman should have at least one shoulder bag in her wardrobe. They’re practical (but that doesn’t mean that can’t be stylish!) and come in handy on shopping trips, out running errands or for the office. They free up your hands to carry other items.
Here are examples of shoulder bags:
Hobo bags: A crescent-shaped, usually unstructured bag. But that’s not always the case. Modern variations include more structured hobo bags, drawstring hobos, skinny styles, even square hobos and bucket hobos.
Totes: Totes are roomy bags, usually rectangular with single or double straps. Totes are available in structured and unstructured styles.
Photo: Dior Soft Babe Shopping Tote:
NeimanMarcus.com
Satchels: Satchel bags are typically small to medium-sized zip-top bags that usually wider than long. They can be structured or unstructured and have shoulder straps or be hand-held. Hand-held satchels are often referred to as bowler bags, like the and the
Photo: Gucci black coated twill
“Snow Glam” bowler bag: Bluefly.com
Photo: Prada dark brown chevron
quilted nylon large bowler: Bluefly.com
Barrel Bag: Like the name implies, a barrel bag is cylindrical and resembles a barrel turned on its side, often with a long, thin shoulder strap.
Flap-enclosure bags: Flap style shoulder bags have a flap enclosure that folds over, typically about midway down the front of the bag, with a clasp, turn-key, snap, or other fastener. Check out the Flatiron long shoulder bag.
Photo: BananaRepublic.com
Cinched and Drawstring bags: The cinched or drawstring bag is a fun variation of the shoulder bag. They gather at the top in place of a flap or zip top. The Bulga Brown leather 'Krystal' cinched bag and the Christian Dior black lambskin 'Cannage' quilted large tote are examples.
Photos: Bluefly.com
Quilted bags: Quilted leather bags are a popular leather handbag style that incorporates the quilted texture into fine leather, like the Balenciaga (pictured below) ivory quilted goatskin “Matelasse” small bag.
:A. Covington for The Divas Dreams
Handbags 101
If you’re like most women, you love to shop. We have so many options, however, making smart buying decisions when it comes to handbags is not as easy as it once was. There is not just one It Bag or style that’s en vogue. And not everyone can afford dozens of bags in all shapes and sizes, so it’s important to choose wisely. The good news about having so many options is that there are a variety of styles and price points, so you can find the one that works best for you.
Handbags should match how you dress and your lifestyle
Before buying any handbag, think about your wardrobe and lifestyle. Are you more sophisticated with a polished look? Do you have a corporate job and attend a lot of work events and travel for work? Or, do you have more a casual work environment, like a yoga studio or spa? Your handbag should reflect the way you dress and fit your lifestyle as well. If you hit the clubs on a regular basis you will probably have different needs than a mother of three (then again, maybe not!).
Think about what you want or need to bring with you. If you only care about the bare essentials (id, cell, mad cash and lipgloss) or are you a walking drugstore? Deciding which handbag is worth the investment is unique to each woman. Some women strictly follow seasonal trends, while others confine themselves to specific handbag sizes (e.g., I could never carry a small clutch/oversized bag).
If you’re stuck in a handbag rut, the best way to get out of it is to try something new! Here’s an overview of the most common handbag styles. Choose one that fits your personality.
Choosing the right handbag for your body type
Even though you don’t actually wear a handbag, you’re carrying it up against your body, so it shouldn’t be out of proportion with your body type.
It may seem counterintuitive but fashion experts advise choosing a shape that’s the opposite of your body type. If you’re tall and thin, a slouchy, rounded hobo bag will compliment your figure. If you're shorter and curvy, choosing a handbag that’s longer and more rectangular or long and sleek like a clutch looks best.
The rounder your figure, the more structured the bag. But you don’t have to go severe—rectangular or square shapes in soft leathers will offer a complimentary silhouette.
On the other hand, the size of the bag should be in proportion to your figure. Think about it, if you’re 5’10” a mini handbag would look out of place. Likewise a 4’11” with a humongous oversized bag the size of a TV would look equally silly.
And keep in mind that a handbag's length—where the bottom hits your body—will accentuate whatever part of the body it comes near (eyes are drawn to the bag). The most popular length is mid torso because it flatters the waist.
::A.Covington for The Divas Dreams
When in Rome, prepare to spend!
If you’re an American heading to Rome for vacation and you plan to shop, prepare to spend. You won’t find many deals in this ancient city. The major fashion houses aren’t based here (like they are in Milan and Paris), and Rome is more of a draw for tourists, so you can expect the prices to match those found in high-end stores in the States. And with the weak dollar, you’ll end up spending nearly double that amount. When I visited Rome in March, the exchange rate was $1.58 to the almighty euro. Ouch.
While it 
might make you feel like somewhat of a have-not, it’s still fun to walk by the designer shops like Prada, Gucci and Ferragamo along Via dei Condotti near the Spanish Steps, or Via Bocca di Leone, where you’ll find Fendi, Versace, Valentino, and Moschino. If you keep going past the spendy shops you’ll run into Via del Corso … and consequently more affordable, trendy shopping like Zara.
Other places of note include Via Nazionale, where you can browse a variety of shops, like Max Mara, that sell reasonably priced merchandise. 
I also found some cute shops with reasonable prices near the Pantheon and near the Hotel Eden (which has an amazing view of Rome) in the upper Via Veneto district. You really just have to wander the streets in those areas (it’s a small enough area to do so).
If all of the couture gazing has you feeling blue, sign up for a tour to one of the local designer outlet malls. Many hotels offer these tours. McArthurGlen Designer Outlet in Castel Romano is a popular outlet, although I didn’t make it out there personally. There are 95 shops including Etro, D&G, F.lli Rossetti, Moreschi, Mariella Burani, Calvin Klein, and La Perla—all at discount rates.
Leather goods in Italy
Italy is known for its leather and you can find it in abundance virtually everywhere you turn. Glove emporiums line the busy streets and side streets. I didn’t find any incredibly cheap—between 50-80 euro, which is a lot more once you factor in the conversion rate but if you’re used to dropping $300-400 on leather gloves in the States, then go for it. You might want to hold off on buying leather goods in Rome, though.
Now if you’re looking for good deals on high-quality leather, head straight to Florence. Hop on a high-speed train and an hour and a half later you’ll be in leather paradise. I picked up a gorgeous lambskin motorcycle jacket (which are really hot right now) for 80 euros and a calfskin doctor’s bag (aka satchel) for 50 euros. One note of caution, book your train ticket ahead of time and do not, and I repeat do not, miss your train! If you do, you could end up sitting on the floor in between cars next to the bathroom (I speak from experience).
Taking the metro is a cheap way to get around the city. Before you enter the station make sure you have change for the ticket machines because there are no change or cash machines. And of course, keep a close guard on your wallets or purses. I didn’t have any problems but you never know. In bigger stations like Termini be weary of gypsies who do a good job of distracting you with ademant pleas for spare change. Tell them “no” firmly and hold on to your belongings. They are professionals at this and you can easily get taken advantage of while digging through your bag for money.
Shopping in Italy
Shops don’t always hold consistent hours, especially the smaller boutiques on side streets. So if you walk by a shop and tell yourself you’ll catch it on the way back from lunch or sight seeing, my advice is not to wait! You may return to find a Closed sign on the door. Many shops close during lunch, from 1:30-3:30 or 2-4 pm (don’t you wish we could take two hour lunches?). If you see the sign, “Chiuso per Ferie” it means the shop is closed for vacation. August is a popular time for Romans to leave town to escape the oppressive heat.
When you enter a shop in Italy, try to follow some traditional customs. Say “Buon giorno" (good morning) or “Buona sera” (Good evening). “Quanto costa?” means “How much does it cost?”
Tax Refunds
In Italy, and in all EU counties that I’m aware of, Americans are entitled to a refund of the “VAT” (Value Added Tax) but you must spend at least 155 euro in one store. Many stores will write up the paperwork for you that you will need to present to Customs before leaving Italy. You must show your passport in order for the store clerk to complete the form. At the airport, go to the Global Refund Office. Look for stores with signs that say “Europe Tax Free” or “Global Refund” but many stores will know what to do even if it’s not posted in the window.
Happy shopping!
::Amy Covington for The Divas Dreams
The beach is not off-limits when it comes to high fashion. Just because you’re wearing next to nothing in the presence of strangers doesn’t mean you should throw all sense of style out the window.
What is “beach couture”? It doesn't mean basic bikinis and swimsuits worn with a plain t-shirt and flip flops. If you're hitting the sands in South Beach or poolside at the Delano, you'll want to "dress" to impress with European styled cut-out onepiece suits or couture bikinis like this one from Emilio Pucci. If you're going to lounge by the pool and skip the frolicking in the water, you can opt for a fancier swimsuit like this one by Cavalli.
But the fashion show doesn't end with your suit. You'll want to compliment your stunning swimsuit with a sexy cover-up, sandals and a designer beach towel.
Sexy Beach Cover Ups
Designer Beach Towels
Celebrities Sir Elton John, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Elizabeth Hurley rallied in support of breast cancer research at the recent Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s Hottest Pink Party Ever 2008 held on April 8, 2008 at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York.
While Elton John brought down the house with an exclusive performance, celebrities danced the night away—and wrote hefty checks—all in the name of breast cancer research. An estimated $5 million was raised from the event.
Elizabeth Hurley (BCRF’s resident emcee), who arrived wearing a sari, and Gwenyth Paltrow in a pretty pink strapless gown, were among the honored guests at the party, where tables went for between $20,000 and $100,000. In addition to Hurley and Sir Elton, several stars came out to support the Foundation, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Padma Lakshmi, Project Runway winner Christian Siriano, Carson Kressley, Katrina Bowden, Lipstick Jungle's David Alan Basche, Tommy Hilfiger, Donna Karan, Vera Wang and Celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito.
Want to do your party to help raise awareness and research funds for breast cancer? Belisi Fashions Luxury with Meaning program donates a portion of sales from its breast cancer awareness products to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Show your support … wear pink!
Breast Cancer Awareness Products 
Pink Products , Pink Neckties, Pink Scarves
:: A. Covington for The Divas Dreams
While I admittedly am over the 7 for All Mankind denim pocket design (let’s
change it up people!), I am a fan of their new collection of sturdy oversized handbags like the Mixed Media Top Zip Satchel. I like the fun print and eye-catching details.
I also really like the 7 for All Mankind Pleated Straps Tote. For $895, you get a luxurious soft leather bag with pleats on the front and back. It’s a breath of fresh air not to have their company insignia monogrammed all over the bag too.
Photos: 7 for All Mankind
::A.Covington for The Divas Dreams
Spring is finally here and summer is within sight. And warmer weather means more wardrobe options and summer vacations.
A silk scarf is a must-have accessory for spring and summer (especially for the beach to keep fly-aways at bay). Scarves make for a great travel accessory too. They're lightweight and don't take up much room in handbags or luggage, and you can use them to create different looks from the same outfit.
Silk scarves are without a doubt a timeless accessory and celebrities like Sienna Miller, Ashely Olson and Nicole Richie have discovered that scarves are a versatile accessory too. You can wear them as a scarf around the neck, as a headband or ponytail holder, a shawl, halter top or belt--even around the handles of a handbag or around your wrist.
Here are a few stylish ways to wear the scarf trend:
Photos: Belisi.com
Celebrities wearing scarves
Photo: FabSugar.com
::A.Covington for The Divas Dreams
Kate Hudson always looks great; her style is effortless and approachable. And fortunately accessible to the rest of us. Get the 3.1 Phillip Lim dress Kate Hudson wore on a recent trip to Miami.
Photo: FabSugar.com
3.1 Phillip Lim Paisley Dress worn by Kate Hudson
Photo: StardardStyle.com
::A. Covington for The Divas Dreams
Yes, what's old is new again. That's what happens in fashion right? And now those body-hugging Herve Leger (by Max Azria) dresses are back and boy do celebrities love them. Most notably Victoria Beckham. Also seen in the signature bandage dresses are Lindsey Lohan and Hayden Panettiere.
You've seen vintage Leger numbers on the red carpet recently but now celebrities have access to a whole new collection. And now you can get your own. Intermix and Net-a-Porter are happy to sell you one online, or you can try one on for size at boutiques across the country. For a complete store list, visit HerveLeger.com.
The idea of wearing a bandage may be an old joke but these gorgeous yet simple dresses make wearing bandages en vogue.
Lindsey Lohan, Hayden Panettiere, Victoria Beckham (Photo: WhatsHauteBlog.com)
::A. Covington for The Divas Dreams
