<p>First of all, I think you need to know that I love Project Runway. I <a href="http://www.blogher.com/everything-i-ever-needed-know-about-style-i-learned-project-runway" target="_blank">don&#39;t even consider it to be a guilty pleasure</a>. Tim Gunn is my pretend gay boyfriend. (Isn&#39;t he everyone&#39;s?) But as much as I love Tim, my one true love is Nina Garcia. It doesn&#39;t hurt that I just <em>knew</em> she was Colombian from the moment I saw her. (I guess it takes one to know one!)</p>
<p>And, OK, I also love how she looks like she would cut anyone  that dared to call her a &quot;hot tamale&quot; or some other ignorant nonsense. I hate, HATE, the stereotype of the sluttily dressed latin woman -- mostly because it&#39;s so far from the truth. Most latin women are pretty conservative dressers. If this surprises you, you need to stop watching Telemundo and hang out with more of us.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/6a00d8341db04e53ef0133f4131ec9970b-pi.jpg" style="display: inline;"><img alt="DSC_0059" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00d8341db04e53ef0133f4131ec9970b" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/6a00d8341db04e53ef0133f4131ec9970b-500wi.jpg" title="DSC_0059" /></a></p>
<p>From the second I sat down to read my review copy of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nina-Garcias-Look-Book-Occasion/dp/1401341470/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top" target="_blank">her latest book </a>I felt like I was back in Miami talking to my girlfriends. Nina is the quintessential Colombian woman -- unapologetic in her love of <em>salsa</em> music and <em>buñuelos.</em> She also teaches you how to look sexy while always dressing appropriately<em></em>. It&#39;s a nifty trick, and one that proves that sexiness comes from your brain and not from spandex.</p>
<p>About the book: It&#39;s set up like a reference guide, and it gives you advice on what to wear to specifc occassions, from the expected (what to wear on your first day at a new job) to the ridiculous (I mean, what to wear to therapy? <em>really</em>?) You might be surprised to learn that Nina&#39;s tone is less snobby editrix and more wise older sister. She also reveals a wicked sense of humor (a necessity if you&#39;re going to be brave enough to be stylish in the real world).</p>
<p>But most of all, she revels in all the little luxuries that come with being a woman.</p>
<p>Look ladies, we have it tougher than the guys. It&#39;s true. Which is why I think it&#39;s essential that we indulge ourselves in ways that are uniquely female whenever we can. Pampering yourself, playing with makeup, dressing up -- I suppose men can do it too, but no one does it better than a woman. This is common sense to most Hispanic women I know, but it seems to cause unnecessary guilt among my other friends -- so many of them are terrified of looking like they made an effort to look good.</p>
<p>It breaks my heart, it really does.</p>
<p>Ladies, relax. It&#39;s OK to enjoy the glamorous side of life. You can be successful and wear lip gloss. Nina says so.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/6a00d8341db04e53ef01348733b1bd970c-pi.jpg" style="display: inline;"><img alt="DSC_0081" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00d8341db04e53ef01348733b1bd970c" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/6a00d8341db04e53ef01348733b1bd970c-500wi.jpg" title="DSC_0081" /></a></p>
<p>Some of my favorite passages from the book:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>&quot;Overbearing, too-stringent rules are the enemy of true style&quot;</p>
<p>&quot;True style is not about having a closet full of expensive and beautiful things, it is instead about knowing when, where, and how to utilize your collection.&quot;</p>
<p><em>(About dressing for school events)</em> &quot;Don&#39;t be a MILF: Just be a regular mom.&quot;</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Amen to that.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/6a00d8341db04e53ef01348733b2cc970c-pi.jpg" style="display: inline;"><img alt="DSC_0079" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00d8341db04e53ef01348733b2cc970c" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/6a00d8341db04e53ef01348733b2cc970c-500wi.jpg" title="DSC_0079" /></a></p>
<p>&#0160;</p>
