Why getting Jerseylicious is a good thing for American fashion.

Jerseylicious, the new Style Network reality-TV show, is sending this Texas fashionista back to school.

I thought Texas women ruled the art of of big hair, bling and animal prints. Ladies of Houston, Dallas and Paris (Texas), we have officially lost the pink rhinestone-encrusted crown.  And I am addicted -- the unapologetically gaudy gals at this New Jersey salon are inspiring me, and they can inspire you too.

I have been buying textiles since 2003, and animal prints have never gone out of fashion for home or apparel. I guess they just make folks happy, even more so in blue or hot pink. There is nothing better for shoes, bags and scarves (though probably not all at the same time).

Cinch belts are one of the best accessory trends to come along in a while -- they can polish up a shapeless knit dress or boring skirt and top. I won't be wearing mine to the feed store, but since it hits the smallest part of my waist, it's slimming, which surprised me. You never know until you try one and see.

Along with the cinch belt, these ladies can work a knit dress. I can't tell you how many women have told me that once they left their 30's, they left knits behind as well. This is so not necessary, especially if you sew for yourself. The key to knits, such as matte jersey, is to skim, not hug the body, and to use gathers, ruching and empire waists to skip over hips and tummy. My biggest, loudest patterns are my best sellers because, as counterintuitive as it may seem, they are the most flattering.

I am past the age where it's a good idea to visit the tanning salon, so bronzer is my friend. Being Texan, it's difficult for me to use in moderation, but I do my best.

I spent my twenties taking myself much too seriously and feeling fat (shopping at Talbot's at 23 -- what the Hell was I thinking?), so while I would like to see more sisterhood and less backstabbing (this is reality TV after all), I enjoy seeing the girls have a good time with fashion. Even the salon owner, with her age and career-appropriate style, takes Jerseyliciousness beyond the twenty-something set.

Jerseylicious, as well as RuPaul's Drag Race, and Be Good Johnny Weir, are inspiring because the stars use fashion to express themselves, holding nothing back.  The ladies at the Gatsby salon don't apologize for being curvy, for having hair that cannot be moved, or for their regional style.

I think far worse fashion crimes are committed by women who dress to hide their bodies (example: mom jeans and vests) than by women who are really out there.  We think our style is constrained by our size, age and budget. Not true. We are limited only by our insecurities and imaginations.