Dear Sammy,
I have an after prom event to go to. It consists of bounce houses and casino tables.
I want to look nice for it, but also comfy to run around and have fun.
I was thinking of a cute mini dress (with shorts underneath of course), but that eliminates all bounce house activities.
Any ideas?
-Tyler

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Tyler,

Thanks for your question! I love that my fashiongal inbox has suddenly become inundated with prom and post prom queries.

I assume that you've already secured your prom dress, which means you're in excellent shape. Dressing for the after party should be nothing more than an afterthought. Post my prom we all just wore shorts/tee shirts/jeans, pjs and anything else that was the complete opposite of formal. Your post prom activities sound a little more upscale, so we want to find you the perfect piece that represents what I like to call Casual Chic.

While I'm digging your mini dress idea, I don't want you to exclude yourself from rocking bounce-related activities, so I have the perfect compromise. A romper. I'll be the first to admit it Tyler, I wasn't a fan at first, but the romper rage has grown on me. This look will give you the style of a minidress with the functionality of shorts so you can bounce like you've never bounced before without worrying about flashing your days of the week underpants to all the boys in the [bounce] house.

Forever 21 has an adorable Spaghetti Strap Romper for only $22.80 that can be pumped up with simple accessories and jewelry. You can wear it with wedges, pumps or cute flats and sandals, depending on how badly your feet are hurting after dancing the night away to Jay-Z's remake of Alphaville's Forever Young which played at my prom FYI {sigh... I'm old}.

Another swell after prom party look is this Element Edgewood Jumper from Swell.com, (on sale for $34.99) and Urban Outfitters has tons of them to choose from. If you're still crushing on the shorts under skirt look, Tilly's features the Roxy's Tea Time Girls Romper that highlight the cutie shorty pants rather than hide them.

Have a blast Tyler and remember to enjoy every minute of your pre-prom, actual-prom and post-prom moments, because regardless of what Jay-Z, Alphaville and Rod Stewart say, you won't always be forever young.

I'm like, living proof.

xoxo,
sammy

Having a fashion dilemma or crisis?

Need to know what top goes with what bottom?

Don't go it alone. Ask Sammy!

In honor of Mother's Day this Sunday, I have a few words of advice to bestow upon all of the beautiful mothers of daughters out there in cyberland.

Keep your clothes.

Most mothers make it a habit of holding onto clothing that their little girls have outgrown, some for sentimental reasons, some with hopes for a future baby, others share and recycle them to other family members and some simply cannot force themselves to part with those adorable little onesies, ruffled dresses, lacy socks and petticoats.

My advice to you my dear mothers, is to hold on to your own clothes for your daughters rather than hoard her old baby bibs and bonnets.

I have four favorite pieces in my wardrobe. A delicate, black sequined cardigan, a vintage leather purse with a gold plated chain strap, a cocktail ring that has the initial G centered on it in diamonds and a pair of oversized sunglasses from the 70's that I adore, even though one of the side arms keeps falling off. All of these pieces left behind by my mother who is no longer with me.

Every girl loves something vintage, but if it's something her mother once wore, she will treasure it more than any other article of clothing that has ever touched her skin.

Whether it's something old, something new, something borrowed or something blue, hold onto those classic pieces, the ones that you love(d) the most, even if they stopped fitting ages ago. Every article of clothing tells a story, but these will tell your story... and who knows, your daughter might pass them down to her own daughter one day.

Happy Mother's Day to you all.

This past weekend I took an extended vacation to Boston, Mass where I lived the Bostonian high life.

I sipped a glorious cup of clam chowda at the historic Union Oyster House, freed my inner inhibitions along the Freedom Trail, took in some wicked aht at the Boston Museum of Fine Ahts, had a few cocktails at the Cask n' Flagon across the street from Fenway Pahk during the third Yankee/Sox game, explored Harvard Yahd... and I shawpped. I promise you guys, I shawpped 'til I drawpped.

Thanks to the shawpping savvy and guidance of my bestest childhood friend from Junyah High, I took to the cobblestone streets and explored all of the retail haunts this fine New England town had to ahffer. Armed with a Charlie Card and a diminishing line of credit, she showed me everything it took to experience life as a true Bostonista.

Beantown virgin that I was, I had always heard about how great the shawpping in Boston was, but it meant nothing until I was actually there. From the adorably hip fashion boutiques like Mint Julep to the coolest consignment shops ever like The Closet where I scored a brown suede bucket bag from France and my pal scored herself a pair of Premium Denim jeans, sweet tops and a posh belt that she treated me to that I will wear with everything.

I had a torrid love affair with Newbury Street, 8 blocks of shawps that reminded me of SoHo, with a mixture of vintage stores, staples like JCrew, Urban and Anthropologie, one-of-a-kind boutiques and a little Chanel, Nanette Lepore, Burberry, Marc Jacobs and Gretta Luxe sprinkled in for good measure. Of cawse I visited my beloved H&M (two of 'em) and enjoyed more than a few fashion bahgains.

I want to go back to Boston. I want to go back to Boston more than the boys in Southie want the Sox to win the World Series. One day I hope to walk down Newbury Street and have all of the shawp owners call out "Hey Sam", like the patrons of the Bull & Finch Pub that Cheers was modeled after, because sometimes you want to shawp where everybody knows your name.

Thanks for the memories Boston. I'll be back.

I prawmise.

Now that I'm back in Miami where the temperature has been sunny, stable and consistent at a low of 80 degrees, I've been taking notice of the spring staples that Miami gals are showing off, compared to the essential pieces I saw walking the historic streets of Boston.

In Boston, the style uniform was basic, classic and weather appropriate for the friendly skies could be clear one moment, pouring down heavy droplets of rain the next. Variations of cute trenches (black and tan), light jeans, sweet flats and wellies for the rain were heavy on the scene, creating a comfortable median between winter and spring.

In Miami, we might as well skip the season of spring altogether and just pretend that we're in the middle of yet another long, hot summer. We're sticking to our mini and maxi dresses, tanks, tunics, short shorts and a few key accessories that say "it's hot" and "we're hotter".

Nothing says spring/summer like straw, and we Miami girls know just how to pull it off. From a sassy Stella Fedora or Straw Women's Fedora to shade your face from harmful UV rays to Fossil's Farrah Straw Hobo to tote around your SPF and darling Donna Karan Straw Wedges that will put some spring/summer in your step, there are endless options to choose from.

A little straw goes a long way, so one piece is all you need. Too much and you'll run the risk of breaking the camel's back.

I dare you to be sad while listening to Whitney Houston's pop classic and #1 Billboard hit, I Wanna Dance With Somebody.

Yes, the male dancers in the video are kind of cheesy and Whit's permed faux hawk is kind of spazzy but whenever I wind up feeling down, this song will ultimately surface either on the radio or an episode of I Love the 80's, right when I need it the most.

I am transported back to the year 1987, much like Jennifer Garner in 13 Going on 30, and I want to be in front of that paint splattered wall with Whitney, dancing like no one is watching under a bright sea of confetti.

It's the perfect cure to chase my blues away, even though I would never be caught dead in that puffy flamenco skirt.