Grace Kelly, Marlene Dietrich, Brigitte Bardot, Joan Crawford and that mom at school pick up that ALWAYS looks cute all have a common bond: a signature style. Through their fashion choices, their personalities loom like a halo over their heads.
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But, many women don’t necessarily have a “signature look.” If you have lived for years mystified by what happens on runways, red carpets and hyped paparazzi shots in gossip magazines, call upon your dormant SAT studying skills and study fashion divas of the twentieth century. Pregnancy is, in fact,  a golden opportunity to exit your comfort zone and bring your inner glamazon to life. Give a nod to the fashion icons of the twentieth century and use your belly as a VIP pass to the order of eternal divahood.  Go to Barnes & Noble and purchase Fashion Icons: Fashion Trends Throughout the Century, Star Style, Thje Marchesa Casati Portraits of a Museand Mistress of Modernism: The Life of Peggy Guggenheim, and start thumbing through. Eccentric? Yes. But, absolutely scintillating. Learn about silhouettes. Discover accessories. Investigate why muses perenniale- marvelous Marchesa de Casati, dynamic Diana Ross, chic socialite Babe Paley, 60s siren Edie Sedgewick, boho babe Talitha Getty and art deco diva Nancy Cunard-became style revolutionaries. These histrionic women dissed convention and used fashion to express themselves. Such bravado is evident in their outré fashion choices: gowns as daywear, turbans, shoulder sweeping earrings, extreme eye makeup, stacked-to-the-elbows bangle bracelets, cloaks fashioned of peacock feathers. Don’t feel pressured to swap your skinny jeans for an electric blue jumpsuit. Just get inspired. Then, take it down a notch to reality. In your free time, let your fingers do the walking right over to Netflix.  “Fashion moment” TV shows and films are a great way to research style and learn about silhouettes. Once the kid(s) are asleep, rent Mad Men, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Women, Mia Farrow in Rosemary’s Baby, Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face and Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Katherine Deneuve in Belle Du Jour, Mia Farrow in Great Gatsby, Marlene Dietrich inShanghai Express, Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada and Joan Collins in Dynasty.
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I am not suggesting that you go radical. Your task is to find a scintillating look which suits your personality and flatters your body type.  Upper East Side Lady Who Lunches? Downtown “it” Girl? Haute Hippie? Groovy Gal About Town? Be the girl with the Bakelite cuff bracelets and fabulous YSL scarves adorning every outfit. Wear Grandma’s lurex sweater sets to go to the supermarket. Layer vintage Betsey Johnson baby doll dresses with Byzantine beads and rhinestone crosses just because. The larger you feel, the more accessories required. Your Cinderella moment awaits!

(as seen on the Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amy-tara-koch/pluck-u-the-inside-scoop-_b_792481.html)

Women always tell me how lucky I am. They gaze longingly at my full, well arched brows, waxing poetic about blessed DNA and the painful woes of the anorexic browed crowd. And I bask in their praise. At long last, my wayward thicket of facial hair had been tamed. I smile and nod my thanks whilst inwardly chortling that I, a mere beauty obsessed mortal, had — through hard core plucking and primping — transformed my God given caterpillar brows into something resembling the effortless chic projected from professionally groomed models in Vogue.

The truth? Thick brows are a massive pain in the ass. Though the glossies have pronounced the thick Charlotte Gainsbourg-esque look au courant, we of the looming Unibrow, spend inordinate amounts of time plucking, trimming and praying that we don’t morph into Dr. Zaius of Planet of the Apes stature while we sleep at night.

I am not a hairy gal. But, somehow, my eyebrows never received the genetic newsflash to cease growing at the 1/8 inch mark. Mine ascend upwards to mid forehead and have a wingspan that almost reaches my temples. Instead of the soft downy fuzz of most women, my brows seem to be infused with testosterone and fishing line; wiry descendants of my grandfather. Without vigilance, I become a scary hybrid of Brooke Shields, Eddie Munster and Frieda Kahlo.

Some people always have breath mints stashed everywhere. I have tweezers. In the car, I peek in the vanity mirror to remove a gaggle of strays that have reared their wiry heads since breakfast. At work, while stroking my forehead in thought, I discover scary pube-like patches that have bloomed between my brows. And, then there is the Martini Tweeze; a post cocktail depilation that never ends well. Such evenings I am tempted to call Dr. Drew to implore the addition of a tweezer category to his rehab show.

So, how to avoid a hirsute destiny? Similar to thick, kinky hair, we women of the dense brow require the three ‘P’s: patience, product and professional help as needed. Inspired by the spate of editorial touting the full brow, I will spill the beans on how to morph caterpillar brows into coiffure du jour.

Here are the tools for your eyebrow arsenal:

To shellac wayward brows into well arched submission, slather on clear Alessandra Brow gel, $15

To keep create two definitive brows from one, invest in the Tweezerman Kit featuring brow Scissors and tweezer , $19.99

To maintain a groomed to- the nines arch, use Colorscience brow stencils, $10

To repair bald spots after a Martini Tweeze, keep Anastasia Brow Enhancing Serum on hand, $36


For more fashion and beauty tips, visit www.bumpitupstyle.com and follow “amy tara koch style expert” on facebook.

Cynthia Rowley—she of the cutesy dresses and girls-just-wanna-have-fun state o’ mind—has put her stamp on the most sacred of mom paraphenalia: Band-Aids! Now, when you or your family gets cuts, scrapes, or if you gauge your flesh, you have instant style by slapping on CR’s bling-worthy plasters.

I am super excited to host a holiday event for VOGUE at BURBERRY next Tuesday in Chicago. The event will feature the latest and greatest from the brand and benefit Northwestern’s Prentice Hospital.

AMY TARA KOCH & VOGUE MAGAZINE

Add some fierce fabulosity to your look with BURBERRY studded bracelets.

I am hosting a holiday soiree for Vogue at Burbery Dec 7 in Chicago and had the pleasure of shopping for MOI (versus everyone else on my list) for two hours. An accessories lover, I fell hard for the fantabulous studded bracelets and PLISSE leather bags. This, ladies, is what I call INVESTMENT PIECE

Thankfulness comes in many forms: Good health, Prosperity, Great family life. Love. But, on a recent trip to Miami, my gratitude quotient skyrocketed to a dazzling new dimension. For years, I took the term “family vacation” to be a cruel play on words. In my pre-mom life, Vacation→relaxation. Being with my children is hard core work. Therefore, going to a resort with my family was like a juicy carrot dangled before my frazzled face. My fantasy? A hybrid scenario where I—a working mama with maximum responsibilities and minimal downtime- could log in family time with a few hours to read, work out and nap. This meant that I had to unearth a property proffering the crème de la crème of kids programs.

So, with an event in S. Florida looming on the horizon, I tried something new. Instead of parking myself in hedonistic South Beach where children are treated as an unfortunate fashion “don’ts” and the expectation of “service” yields haughty glares, I booked a room at Acqualina in Sunny Isles, FL just north of Bal Harbor. This resort -the only 5 star on Miami Beach-boasted generous rooms, an Espa spa and Il Mulino restaurant. But, it was the Marine Biology based program that held the most cache. Would my daughter willingly oblige me with three hours of free time each day?

The answer was a resounding yes. After swimming for 2 hours and collecting shells, we approached Acquamarine. Every mom knows the rules of engagement. The first five minutes are crucial. Obviously trained in the high art of sharpie’s, glitter and paper plate self expressionism, Brette was immediately sucked into the world of whales .Art projects. Shell hunting. Swimming .Lunch. I scooted out and ran-literally-to the spa. After a massage, I took a nap. I read. And, at 1pm, refreshed, I picked her (and mountains of artwork) up so we could spend the rest of the day together. I was on cloud nine. This divine schedule persisted for the entire four day trip. By 8:30 each night, we retired to our cozy room, juices in hand. She of the Macintosh apple variety. Me, some heady “mommy juice”, a Pinot Noir. Needless to say, I will be returning soon.!

AAA Five Diamond Award 2010; Spa Finder Readers’ Choice Award 2009, Allure Magazine ‘Best Day Spa in Miami’ 2009, Conde Nast Traveller Top Spas in The Americas and Caribbean 2008, Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards 2008, Sun Post Best Resort in Miami 2008, Robb Report’s Top 100 Exclusive Luxury Resorts 2007

http://www.acqualinaresort.com/

17875 collins avenue, sunny isles beach, fl 33160

305 918 8100 Reservations

HINT: We don’t want a vacuum cleaner. Bakewear is a bust. The monogrammed coffee holder for the car (to energize us for schlepping the kids) is not our idea of good gift. Oh, we always smile and muster a joyful expression. But, the truth is that these gifts are for YOU, not us. What do we really want? I will spill the beans on fantabulous gifts that will really help mom grin as large as her to do list!

Click Here to watch the video of me styling Good Day New York’s Heather Nauert

Everything about travelling is stressful; especially packing. I am headed down to Miami today and thought I’d share a few expert packing tips.
 

-  Compress everything with Flight. 001 space packs.

-  Pack anything that can wrinkle with tissue paper. Stick it in each fold.

-  Pack black, black and more black. If you stick with multi-tasking neutrals you can easily dress them up wth a scarf and necklace.

-   Layer anything that can wrinkle with bags from dry cleaner. They keep things crisp.

-  Fedex the heavier things and fluids.

-  To avoid spending $50 on a breakfast at hotel, pack instant oatmeal and plastic spoons.

-  Collect sample toiletries at all times to avoid bringing fulll sized products on the plane.

-  Prepare for delays with snacks in your purse.

-  Bring a giant cashmere shawl that can double as blanket on the plane.