Clear glasses | Tortoise and Blonde | Coral striped shirt: Boehme Boutique | Grey jeans: White House Black Market

Joe has cropped up on Cable Car Couture before giving style advice on He’s Got Style, and for our recent visit to the SODO Antique Mall.

Photo Elisabeth Kate Photography

Not a week goes by when I don’t get a compliment on my short hair. After fantasizing about going short for years (literally), in 2009 I took the plunge and cut my hair and haven’t looked back since.

Short hair is edgy, it’s unique, and it can totally define your personal style. However, short hair isn’t for everyone. If you’re a girl who’s thinking about taking the plunge and going short, here are five things you need to know.

1. Maintenance: To keep the cut looking maintained, you’re going to need to get it cut every 6-8 weeks. With long hair, it’s not unheard of for women to go half the year without getting a haircut, but with short hair, you can’t afford to. Anything after 8 weeks looks shaggy and sloppy. Be prepared to spend $40-60 on your haircut every 6-8 weeks. **Update: To save up front on your haircut, try going to a hair school for a discounted rate. Sometimes you can even choose a student who is close to graduating and has more experience. Tip via Fleur d’Elise.
   

   Happy and healthy hair after a cut & style by Mike Kowalis @ Relik Salon
2. Make sure your bone structure can pull it off. To pull off a short haircut, you need some angularity to your face and features. If you have a round face, a short ‘do can over-emphasize the roundness. **Update: That said, not all short haircuts are created equal, so work with your hairstylist to find a cut that will flatter your face shape. Tip via Citizen Rosebud.
   

   Cut and style: Sophia Simone

3. You’re going to have to style it. Everyday. Unlike long hair that you can pull into a bun or a ponytail and not think twice about it for the rest of the day, short hair is going to require daily styling. That will involve blow-drying, product and accessories, and on bad hair days, the occasional hat. All things considered though, on a regular day you’re looking at five minutes to style your hair — tops.
   

   Sometimes a headband is all you need to brighten a bad hair day.

4. Short hair requires lots of product. Short hair has required more hair product than any other haircut I’ve ever had. Be prepared to spend money on good quality product to give your hair the texture it requires. On a regular basis I use Curl Interrupted by Brocato to calm the natural curl, HairPlay by KMS California, and Texture Twist by Pureology.
   

   Gravity-defying hair requires lots of product!

5. You’re going to have to work on looking feminine. Long wavy hair has a definitive femininity to it, while short hair can look masculine if you’re not careful. Having short hair, I have to make a conscious effort to look more like a girl — wearing more makeup, wearing more jewelry, wearing more feminine colors and styles of clothing.
   

   Extra makeup and jewelry will make you feel more feminine when you have short hair.

Cutting my hair short has been one of the best style decisions of my life. Whenever I see a woman with kickass short hair, I like to think I played a part in her decision to take the plunge and go short. (And in some cases, I have!) So if you cut your hair, let me know! I’d love to see pictures.

Also, if you are looking for inspiration and photos to take to your hairstylist, check out my Short Hair pinboard on Pinterest. I love collecting photos of short hairstyles and the board has 1100+ followers.

Did I miss anything?

There’s a new thrift shop I found in town recently and the majority of the pieces in the outfit were purchased there for a steal! This entire outfit was probably under $20.

Earrings: blue bijou | Silk blouse: thrifted — for $2! (similar) | Multi-strand pearl necklace: ALDO | Gold oversize watch: Fossil (similar) | Gold clutch: thrifted (similar) | Pleated skirt: clothing swap | Liz Clairborne Gold peep-toe shoes: thrifted

What’s your go-to outfit when you want to feel like a lady?

I chatted with Megan afterwards and it turns out this gold glitter polish wasn’t a polish at all, but Sally Hansen nail strips! I may need to give these babies a try…

Sally Hansen Glitz Blitz $8.54

I also couldn’t help but notice how Megan bore an amazing resemblance to Sara from White Collar. (By the way, that would be a really challenging job to get all dolled up and play opposite of Matt Bomer’s Neal Caffrey, decked out in his delicious suits.)

Photo: buzzfocus.com

Photo: FanPop.com

Aaaaand we’re off track.

Have you tried Sally Hansen’s nail strips?

Sunglasses: Nordstrom | Necklace: DIY | Military Jacket: Walmart (!) | Purse: Momentum Handbag | Paisley tunic: Nordstrom Rack (similar) | Watch: Fossil | Pleated skirt: Forever 21 (similar) | Shoes: Born Shoes (similar)

On our way to dinner, I saw this brick wall and had to pull over to take photos. Wouldn’t you? It reminds me of the wonderful photos that we’ve taken with Justin Hackworth over the years, in front of brick just like this. Exhibit A: an oldie but a goodie from when I had longer hair (with a red streak).

Brick is where it’s at, baby.

What’s your favorite photo backdrop?

Orange lipstick has been on my beauty bucket list for weeks. After browsing the counters of Sephora and Clinique but with no luck in finding the right vibrant shade of orange, I definitely wasn’t expecting it to come from Cover Girl. But that’s exactly what happened. The perfect lipstick of the season… at the drug store!

Cover Girl Temptation Lipstick

Will you be wearing orange lipstick this season?

My “before” picture: this is what happens when you don’t stay on top of your 6 week haircut cycle! Egad!

I’d highly recommend Sophia if you need a short hair stylist in Seattle. You can find her at The Hair Lounge in Federal Way, WA @ 253-941-3680. To sweeten the deal, I have a referral card to save you $20 off your first haircut with Sophia!

Outfit Breakdown

• Sunglasses – Nordstrom
• Earrings – Francsca’s (also worn here)
• Red dress – Shabby Apple (also worn here)
• Red belt – modbod
• Gold watch – Fossil
• Chevron nails – Jamberry Nails (stay tuned for a giveaway for these babies!)
• Teal ruffle skirt – Downeast Basics (also worn here)

You’ve gotta ged a closer look at these nails!

Of course, just because I’m not wearing pastels doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate chocolate wrapped in pastels…

Dorit 2012 Twisted One Piece $209

Warehouse Floral Swimsuit $62

Nosara Color Block One Piece $180

Direction Jets Black 2012 $259

Anthropologie Sculpted Maillot $138

Runway Simone Maillot by MARC by Marc Jacobs $142

Badgley Mishka Surplice Blousan $120

Will you be wearing a one piece swimsuit this summer?

Clearly I can’t get enough of stripes this season.

This week I got a Macy’s catalog devoted to menswear and this studly model looks like he could be related to Mat Kearney.

Blunt bangs from today’s fab haircut by Sophia Simone. (Click through for a coupon!)

While the weather might not have been warm enough, I wore the maxi skirt and sandals anyway.

Sunrise.

On Wednesday night, we had a girl’s night in and made friendship bracelets.

Dark chocolate for me, please.

One of my clients and her husband owns Fresco Chocolate. After her wardrobe evaluation, my husband and I were treated to a private chocolate tasting. It was unreal! The Fresco Chocolate 216 bar is my favorite. It tastes like jazz.

Every Easter my uncle brings local handmade chocolate for the kids. Those are handmade jelly beans, too!

Cupcake sugar high.

The Jamberry Nails chevron nails dictate wearing red. Giveaway coming soon!

Building walkable heels, via WSJ.

Bloom.

My first cupping session made it look like I was tangoing with an octopus.

Far more likely to cook than wearing an apron.