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Inside Press

Must Haves to Be An Instant Fashionista

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By Sandy Hapoienu

My number one rule is to find the right fit for your body type. Nothing else matters if your clothes are too tight or if you look like you have a sack on. I recommend the following:

10. Animal Prints. A little goes a long way but be careful not to overdo it.

9. High Heels. They make your legs look longer so you look taller and skinnier. For me, the higher the better, but you will not look like a fashionista if you can’t walk in them. Simply, very high heels are not for everyone. You need to be able to bend your knees comfortably. Otherwise, you will look like you are on stilts.

Another factor that may deter you is the comfort factor. Some options that may help are inner soles or platforms. Stay away from pointed toe shoes!

8. A Fabulous Hat. It’s an instant way to hide a bad hair day while looking chic.

7. Red Lipstick. Don’t be afraid! Contrary to popular belief, red looks good on just about everyone. The most universal red has a blue undertone.

6. Sparkle. It’s still a trend and I don’t think it’s going away soon. It’s in and works on everything from make-up to clothes and accessories.

5. Scarf. What a great way to jazz up outerwear. There are so many ways to wear them and with all the variety of textures and prints, you can make one jacket look ten different ways. In the spring, try wearing a scarf with a tee-shirt.

4. Big Earrings. When I’m out all day and need to run to an evening event, I throw a pair of dramatic earrings in my bag. In an instant, your inner diva will surface after a long day.

3. Great Belt. Almost anything can be belted, and in most cases, it will enhance your look to give you an hourglass shape. Try it on everything from coats, faux fur vests, dresses and even ball gowns.

2. “It” Bag. I think every girl should have at least one over the top bag. It is one of the most valuable wardrobe investments you can make.

1. Sunglasses. Instant glamour! Need I say more?

Follow the trends but stay true to your personal style.

Sought after stylist and fashion columnist, Sandy Hapoienu, is known for her sharp eye and her sophisticated style. She covers all the major shows in New York including Fashion Week and The New York Gift Show. Sandy is also a Fashion Professor at SUNY Westchester. She has won awards for teaching and her commitment to education. Visit Sandy at stylingsession.com

Top Ten Reasons I Keep Publishing this Magazine

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10. Local celebrity can be a blast. I still enjoy hearing,
“ You’re THAT Grace? I love your magazine!” Who wouldn’t?

9. Why give up a great team? There’s a wonderful synergy between myself and my two right hand folks, Carine and Dina. All my other contributors really rock too!

8.New testimonials are heartening. At a local business networking group meeting I was invited to attend recently, a new advertiser mentioned “six hits” he received as soon as the magazine came out. While not every advertiser will share a success story so readily, I am convinced print advertising still works just fine!

7. Working at home does the trick. Inside Chappaqua is a home based business conceived of in part to accommodate my work and family life. It still serves that purpose for me and I’m glad I can help many of my contributors accomplish the same.

6. There are new social media opportunities I happily exploit. I can spend hours in a day online posting for work while simultaneously entertaining virtual friends with my great wit or flirting with the occasional suitor on my personal page. That I’m “on” Facebook is quite accurate.

5. Party plans. I hope to hold a 10th anniversary bash in the spring of 2013 and invite the entire world.

4. I always wanted to own a dog. I have happily settled instead for the intrepid Maggie Mae Pup Reporter in these pages.

3. Rick’s Last Licks. Rick’s is so many people’s favorite page in IC, there could be riots around here if I stop publishing.

2. I’m privy to all kinds of Chappaqua chatter, and not just about the Clintons. It’s fun to be “in the know.”

1. I like surviving against all odds. I am a daughter of Holocaust survivors, after all.

Just Between Us

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Editor’s Note: When I decided on the Flood Sisters cover story, I turned to Westchester’s most ubiquitous fashion stylist, writer and instructor Sandy Hapoienu to help out. A permanent fixture at Fashion Week, her latest venture “Styling Session” embodies all her sought after expertise. Inside Chappaqua asked Sandy a few questions following the shoot:

Grace Bennett: What motivated you to choose a career as a stylist?

Sandy Hapoienu: I started as a shopping editor then photo stylist, styling celebrities, corporate, television, closet edits, wardrobe building and fashion shows. This also led me to teach as an adjunct Professor at SUNY Westchester.

GB: Is styling a natural gift, or something learned?

SH: I believe that there is an art and a science to styling. The art is the creative side that can be tapped into by reading fashion magazines and watching fashion shows. The science can be learned by knowing the type of clothing that is the best fit for your body type.

GB: What inspires you most about styling?

SH: Most people are married to a look and are afraid to take chances on their own. The confidence level rises significantly.

GB: What is rewarding to you about it?

SH: The thanks I get from my clients and the look on their faces. The befores and afters are amazing.

GB: Can you describe your experience with the Flood Sisters?

SH: The Flood Sisters are three young women working hard to bring attention to their foundation in the hopes of kidney donors. I took the whole picture into account: where are they now and where they are going in the future. First I started with their body types and what would be the most flattering styles. Then I made suggestions for hair and make-up. I aimed for a more polished business look.

If you would like to get in touch with Sandy Hapoienu, you can click to email her.

Maggie Mae Pup Reporter: Doggie Love

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“Nobody will ever love you as much as your dog does,” writes Jean Craighead George in her book, How to Talk to Your Dog. I have been thinking about that line since I interviewed her last year. What better month than February and the love issue of
Inside Chappaqua to explore the way my
canine friends and I express our love.

I’m always happy when my owner comes home. I wag my tail, run to her and then scurry to see what she has brought into the house. My friend Bear, a big Akita/Shepherd blend, howls to welcome his owners Dan and Sheila when they walk through front door. Coco and Jules, two mixed breed rescue dogs, jump on their owners Dave and Celine giving them lots of licks. “We follow them around the house because we want to be near them,” says Coco who also loves to cuddle with the family cats.

Another way I show my love to my owner is to curl up on her bed. I roll over so she can rub my belly. Coco and Jules love to nestle in bed with their owners too. “My favorite morning moment is to jump in the bed and snuggle,” says Coco. “And Jules loves to kiss his daddy’s shiny bald head when he does his
sit ups!”

The sofa is another place to show affection. I climb up with my owner, resting on her chest while she watches television or reads a book. I can feel her heart beating and I am sure she can feel mine. My friend Belle, a Chocolate Lab, nudges her owner Jen when she wants to lie down next to her. And on a cold winter night, Bruno, a Boxer, puts his paws up on his owner Carmine, hugging him till Bruno falls asleep in his arms.

Grooming is not my favorite activity, but it’s a special time for Alfie, an Old English Sheepdog. He loves to be brushed by his owner Bill. “I just melt,” says Alfie. It’s a bonding experience for both.

I never know who I will see when I take walks. When I see Natalia and Melanie, two six year olds who live in my neighborhood, I always wiggle and wag my tail with happiness. I give them my kind of hug, nuzzling on their feet. One day I saw Riley, a year old American Staffordshire Terrier. We were sniffing each other “hello,” when all of a sudden the girls came running towards me. I was excited to see them, but Riley, who did not know them, barked. I had never heard him bark before so I knew he was protecting me–giving puppy love a new meaning!

When I’m feeling affectionate, I push my head under my owner’s hand, begging to be petted. She calls me a love bug and says, “Maggie, you’re my girl.” I love her no matter what she does, even if she annoys me–which she does from time to time. I protect her, I defend her and I will be a loyal friend, always. This talk of love makes me want to jump up on my owner’s lap, lean my head on her hands, and finish writing this story together.

Contact Maggie Mae Pup Reporter.

Maggie Mae lives in Chappaqua with her adoring owner Ronni Diamondstein, who, when she isn’t walking Maggie is a freelance writer, PR consultant, award-winning photographer and a School Library Media Specialist and teacher who has worked in the US and abroad.