Finally, something all of us can get excited about...Simply Vera by Vera Wang for kohls....(wait, I should say "expect great things" right about now...)

But seriously, this line of clothing available only at Kohls department store is seriously wearable stuff.  You don't have to be a model, or stick-thin.  You just have to look...

Each season is divided into mini-collections and right now we are looking at a collection called "Mosaic" and it is definitely wearable and collectible because the shapes and the colors are more wearable than some of the past pieces that venture into cutesy and we all hate cutesy right?  But my first peek at Vera came in the form of this shirt:

Its polyester charmeuse and in the most wonderful flattering shade of deep purple.  There's a sailor collar and a hood, it's just very unique styling for a plain top and it makes a pair of black slacks or leggings very stylish.  Plus the best part of this is you put this in the washing machine and wash it on gentle and you hang it up - you can even put a cool iron to it..it's gorgeous stuff.

Her deconstructed looks are cool as well and work very well into a working woman's contemporary wardrobe.  Seriously,  the skirt has an exposed zipper, and the cap sleeves are cut long enough so a real woman's arm (and not Sarah Jessica's) looks good in them.  This particular two piece ensemble is a taupe gray background with a white dot print.  Realize this pattern is not a horizontal stripe and its' intermittent breaks in pattern visually draw your eye up and down in rapid eye movements, so no one has time to estimate the width and depth of your butt.  They are admiring the clothes which enhance your body not detract from the overall experience.

My favorite pieces in the last year included this series of trapeze tops that Vera included in a very funky polyester fabric that has an interesting paintbrush pattern to it:   the fabric does look hand-painted and that's not because I drank the koolaid.  I have it in the citron and the turquoise and the cream..have worn them all excessively this summer and since I hang them to dry - they show virtually no wear.  There is a facing on these out of a cotton fabric to contrast with the smoothness of the poly, again visually stimulating so your eye takes in the whole experience and not just your big boobs or your expanding waistline.   Plus with a cropped jacket and some skinny jeans and you can go to a movie with your own Movie Guy, he will love your look.  

Vera's dresses are not to be believed.  I still have one from the first season that I wear all the time even though some stick-thin model wore it on Oprah.  I wore this one:  to synagogue yesterday.  It has some faux gems on the neckline..the poly breathes believe it or not and you wind up looking quite elegant for little to no effort...and who can argue with that kind of deal right?  I have a razorback tank dress with navy sequins all over the bodice I'm wearing to Movie Guy's partnership announcement and it's flattering even on a walrus like me.  He wanted to know how much it cost to give me trouble and when I told him I got it on sale for under $50, he about passed out.  I have a pair of Chloe chunky heeled sandals I plan on wearing it with and believe me, no one will be the wiser that the dress cost 1/15th of what the shoes cost!~!  You can high-low Vera pieces all the time.  Her black leggings are perfect, opaque enough not to be feel like underwear and slim enough not to bag out at the knees and make you look hump-backed. 

Vera even went into the lingerie and shoe lines too -- her fishnets are also exceptional.  I know every magazine tells you not to wear fishnets or that they are out, I wear them all the time with skirts and they are subtle and way more effective than going bare-legged.  I am not 22, I have road maps for legs so the fishnet provides a satisfying diversion and Vera's fishnets rock.  The shoes are unique and almost always on sale.  I have a pair of patent black t-straps I've worn since March I think and I love them! 

So ladies, I think what I'm saying is Vera Wang is at Kohls.  Drive into the lot, park your car and you label snobs hold onto to your egos...take a breath and walk in.  The area is clearly marked - the sale prices will make you smile and all-in-all if you pick and choose, you can find pieces that will service you well for some time to come.