It’s Fitness Friday, isn’t it? Nope: Not this week. This Friday we’re taking a break from fitness to focus on fashion—that’s a lot of F’s in a row.

In case you haven’t heard, SoCal is being a little indecisive lately; it’s cold and cloudy all morning and then magically transitions into the sunny summer weather we pretend exists year round—which it does. Meanwhile, the east coast is hogging all the heat. If you’re feeling a little bicoastal, you may be looking for a shoe that can handle your many transitions: day to night, hot to cold, club to car. You know: the basics.

Luckily, ShoeDazzle’s Chief Stylist and seasoned, coast-to-coast jet setter, Kim Kardashian has picked a shoe that she believes is up to the ever-changing challenge; she calls Romi “a wedge with some edge.” Check out her styling tips here and keep reading for some advice based on recommendations from our other style experts (but written by me).

- The combination of black and white makes Romi twice as neutral. That means you can pair her with everything from solid gray to darker floral prints. If that means packing a handkerchief dress in your briefcase for an after-work cocktail hour, so be it.

- Romi flashes some pearly white, which brings levity to your day looks and brightens up your evening attire. Wearing white in the summer is a great way to stay cool, thermally and visually.

- Wedges will help you avoid being the girl who walks barefoot through the parking lot with her heels in her hand—not that there’s anything wrong or gross or horrific about that. Wedges are big(ger) on comfort, and Romi’s lighter base and cutout vamp read more like a high heeled sandal than a typical wedge.

I’ll be peppering my Friday posts with a mix of fitness and fashion while I look for another word that starts with the letter F.

Happy Friday!

Richy T.—I didn’t say the F word.

Based on the results of Tuesday’s Twilight poll, Ashley Greene’s look was your favorite at the L.A. premiere of Eclipse. Let’s call this style ‘Intricate Simplicity.’ Not only do I really like those two words together, but I can’t think of a better way to describe a look that's plain without being ordinary; I mean, other than the gold bracelet, she isn’t even wearing jewelry! I heard someone say it looked like she was going to a toga party; it must have been the hottest, greatest toga party ever! I’ve asked the stylists for a few quick tips on how to do something similar—although maybe a little more wearable at non-toga parties. Here’s their advice:

- Stick with the monochromatic gray scheme. If you’re hungry for color, look for grays that have baby blue or sage undertones.

- Keep it simple; but how simple is up to you. A tank dress is as basic as it gets, so you may want to find a piece that also features gathered elements, which add complexity and movement to the look.

- Ashley’s look isn’t all about the shoes. You, however, can draw more attention to your stunning shoes by contrasting the single-color, matte finish of your dress with something metallic, like Aven, or two-toned, like Carolina.

- As you can tell by her silver clutch and gold bracelet, Ashley isn’t afraid to mix metals. Bangles like Treasure Chest in silver will reinforce the gray palette; a touch of gold will add visual interest and reinforce the glow of a great tan. An accessory like your Robertson clutch will provide both: the gray and the gold.

There are some things you just have to do: charge your phone, put gas in your car, see the new Twilight, go to the gym, etc. I know; it’s not fair, because summer makes me want to lie out in the sun and be perfectly still. If only there were a way to play possum while burning calories and looking awesome—I didn’t mean for that to rhyme, but since it did, I’ll take credit.
This Fitness Friday, let’s liberate ourselves from the idea that you have to move to tone and tighten. There are definitely ways to get physical without budging an inch (sorry, Olivia Newton John).

The Plank: Harder than it seems, this not-so-simple exercise will strengthen and tone you from the inside out. Lie down on your stomach, then brace yourself on your elbows while keeping your body perfectly rigid for 60, 30, or even 10 seconds. No crunch and all flex makes for an unexpectedly difficult ab workout.

The Shrug: I don’t know. I’m kidding—I know everything—but shrugging with weights is a great way to improve your posture, tighten your neckline, and reduce back pain. Hold some manageable hand weights while you try to make your shoulders touch your ears. Hold still for a bit, then repeat and keep extending the time you spend in that position. The longer you can hold it, the more benefits you’ll see.

The Tip Toe: While holding weights, stand on your tip toes like you’re trying to spy on your neighbor over the fence. Just make sure you spy for a while. With these, you’ll think, “This is easy,” for like a minute, but when it gets hard, force yourself to hold for a little longer; that’s when it’s working. Soon your calves will look great and you’ll be able to spend more time looking into your neighbor’s yard than ever before!

I hope you have a great 4th of July; maybe I’ll take some of my own advice and hit the gym—or at least do some of these exercises while I watch TV. Either way, Happy Fourth!

Richy T.—I hate putting gas in my car.

Featured Dazzlers left to right: Rayna, Ainslee, Monica, and Allandra
Featured Accessories left to right: Drip Drop in black, Rodeo in black, Mojave, and Dramatic Proportions.

Rayna sent us these pictures from a recent shoe-lovers lunch she helped organize through FaceBook. What a great idea! These ladies look lovely in their ShoeDazzle shoes, and in creating that perfect gal-on-the-go style, they’ve incorporated some great bags and accessories!

In her Marchesa lattice heels, Rayna combines edgy elements with flirty surprises like pleats, sparkling earrings, and a funky hat. Her dainty necklaces add the finishing touch to her cutting edge cuteness, and although not identical, Drip Drop can help you achieve a similar style. Ainslee balances her printed trapeze dress beautifully with a substantial heel, the Domino. Her bronze metallic bag echoes the gold hardware of her shoes, but you could also do the same with Rodeo and its oversized gold studs. Monica’s Celeste wedges are a great color match for her necklace, but it’s her purse that really stands out in the best of ways. If you want to show off your style sense, use a bright bag like Mojave to create a rich color palette rather than exactly matching other pieces. Last but certainly not least, Allandra works it in her Camerons and this season’s must-have shorts. Her jewelry plays with proportions; the tighter fit of her necklace balances the cut of her top while the spidery cuff brings drama to her wrist. Dramatic Proportions could bring you both at once if you go for a look like Allandra’s. Job well-done, ladies!

Thank you for showing us just some of the dazzling ways to wear items from the new DazzleAvenue!

Normally, I read posts on the FanPage about how people can’t wait until the following month, and I think, “Next month is only 5 days away!” This month, I’m right there with you. Please, let it be July soon, because it’s been June for decades. I hope you’ve enjoyed the new site and new products.

If you remember, I used to be all about short workouts. Since then, I’ve changed my mind. I do that often, and my doctors say it’s okay as long as I’m crazy. Short workouts are convenient, but your body is smarter than that; it actually gets used to your routines. So, if you do 20 minutes on the stair climber every day, your body only cares about the first two weeks. After that, you’re basically climbing stairs for no reason while your body laughs at you.

The solution: switch it up.

I’m sure you’ve heard that slow and steady wins the race. Which race? Not sure: but it’s a great way to fool your body into working harder (and not laughing at you).

Rather than running for 20 minutes, walk super slowly for an hour. Call a friend, chat it up, and bide your time on the treadmill. Sure, there are people waiting, but who cares? Unless it’s me; in which case, hurry up.

If you’re into heavy lifting, switch to light weights for a few days. Your muscles are easily confused, and changing your workout will actually build more muscle in the long run—unless I’m waiting for the 5lb dumbbells; in which case, hurry up.

You know how you’re super cool because you can do 30 leg presses at 200 lbs? What if, instead, you did 200 leg presses at 30 lbs? Then your leg muscles would be more toned, you’d take forever, and I’d tell you to hurry up.

I love long workouts because they help me relax. I focus on not falling, and my mind is inordinately clear. I hope it works for you, too.

Richy T.—Hurry up.