TODAY’S WOMAN A SPECIAL SECTION OF THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE
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MARCH 27, 2015
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THE POWER OF THE INDIVIDUALITY IS SPRING’S FASHION MANTRA
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By TRACI DUTTON LUDWIG
t was a long winter, but spring has finally arrived. Time to shed those snow boots, puffy parkas, hats and gloves. Thick tights are making way for bare skin. Heavy pants have been replaced by flirty dresses. Goodbye ear warmers; hello sunglasses! Designers — euphoric over the change of temperature — have turned out a glorious mix of stylish trends, relaying a cast of characteristic attitudes. In this season of abundance and variety, you’re sure to find many new fashion favorites. You’ll know the right match when a look speaks in perfect harmony with your personality. To help guide your shopping adventure, we’ve gathered together a rundown of some of spring’s hottest trends.
Shirtdresses Far from the corporate uniform, women’s fashion takes an offbeat nod at menswear this season. Blue oxfords, white button-downs, starched cuffs and collars have escaped the realm of husbands’ pinstriped suits. Instead, they’ve been trans-
Noir Sachin & Babi, printed tank, and hi-low skirt; available a Neiman Marcus.
INSIDE BEAUTY Style and dye pros offer quality tips for your best look...2A HEALTH Beware the brittle bones of osteoporosis ...4A FASHION Detail oriented: spring accessory report...7A TW PROFILES: Telling stories in the digital age is Wallach’s niche...8A Single-owner estates sales are Elaine Whitmire’s specialty... 12A
formed into short feminine frocks. Contemporary designers have reinvented the shirtdress with double high slits, dropped waists, decorative belts and inventive necklines. Worn with heels, flats or boots — and possibly enlivened with a neck scarf or bold jewelry — the shirtdress is a chameleon of many moods. But in all its manifestations, it’s a fun, crisp look for spring. The only drawback, of course, is the ironing.
Leg up Are they pants? Shorts? Modified skirts? Whatever they are, culottes are experiencing a revival — big time. More wearable than 2014’s obsession with shorts, culottes are a playful way to stay cool and show some leg this spring. Just remember, kneelength or mid-calf styles can hit the body at an unflattering point of the leg, so make sure the overall silhouette flatters your body. Look for shapes that narrow the leg, cinch the waist and create flattering movement. Combined with tailored jackets and smart shoes, culottes are appropriate garb for the office. However, when transformed by a silky, backless halter, culottes transition seamlessly into evening. With a Continued on page 6A
TODAY’S WOMAN
After 20 years, Donovan-Duff’s legacy lives on
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By MARY LEGRAND
urses are considered the ultimate caregivers, professionals who give their all to ensure that their patients are treated to the highest standards of medical care. Like doctors, their goal is to keep their patients alive and comfortable through meticulous and constant attention. But ultimately, all human beings must die, and there are fewer nurses and other medical professionals who work in the field of bereavement than the millions in the more traditional healing-oriented fields. Patty Donovan-Duff, RN, BSN, CT, is in the minority and has committed her life to helping people of all ages work through the stages of grief they experience after the death
JOHN MEORE PHOTO
Patty Donovan-Duff
of a loved one. The Hastings-onHudson resident has worked in the field of hospice and bereavement since 1984 — and was the founding director of the Bereavement Center
of Westchester, a role she has been in since the center opened 20 years ago this fall. The Bereavement Center, located in Scarsdale, opened its doors in
1995, through the efforts of Jansen Memorial Hospice and the Junior League of Bronxville. The staff at Jansen saw the need for a community bereavement program in Westchester County, with a special program for children. “The hospice staff had seen younger families starting to experience losses, either of a sibling or parent, and at that point there was no program these children and families could be referred to,” Donovan-Duff said. “Hospice believes that grief is not an illness, not something to be treated. But grief requires a different kind of expertise in working with people who have experienced a loss.” Donovan-Duff had been working as a bereavement counselor before Continued on page 9A