Posted by Sarah on September 16th, 2009
Guest post by: Elizabeth Ann West
The first step is to look at your current wardrobe and set aside any pieces that are appropriate for work. Remember to take into consideration fit when determining appropriateness. Take digital pictures with your cell phone if you need to so you can find selections in stores that pair well. This is going to be your base, and it can be as large as a few button down shirts to as tiny as one pair of black pants.
Next, figure out what you need to get through one full week of work. The best wardrobes are made of pieces that are interchangeable. Even if you are someone who generally enjoys wearing flashy prints and patterns, to build a work wardrobe it is best to pick two to three key colors that go well together. The most common color families are the cools–blues, purples, grays, and blacks–or the warms– earthy browns, tans, creams, and greens. Just beginning, pick one of the two major color families to work within so you can mix and match without revealing how limited your clothing choices really are.
When selecting pieces for the work wardrobe before a paycheck, resist the urge to get anything with loud prints or highly stylized in fashion, cut, or trim. Save the flashiness for accessories; they are a much lower cost investment in case fashion changes. Simple, flattering cuts of basic colors will pair well with accessories of all types. A baby blue buttoned-down cardigan goes well with silver or gold gemstone jewelry, or a costume necklace with a multi-colored stone pendant. A boring brown jacket comes alive with a bright earthy toned scarf hung loosely under the lapels or with a pinned costume broach.
Until real money is coming in and you set aside money for monthly additions to the wardrobe, shoes are not accessories. By starting with only one of the major color families, you should only need two pairs of comfortable but classic work shoes. Eventually, we all realize we spend so much time at the office and in our work “uniform,” it is worth the boost in happiness to wear what makes us feel good. For the beginning of any work wardrobe though, the good feeling really needs to be physical when it comes to shoes, and not emotional from the cuteness.
Finally, to avoid buying “just the deals and steals,” write out the work wardrobe pieces you are looking for before you go to the stores. A small note with the number of slacks, skirts, and tops with specific color types will help you avoid a hodge podge of clothes once you are home. Sure, two of the shirts you bought were only $5 each, but perhaps they only go with one pair of pants. When one of the outfit pieces goes out of commission, either from snagging in a car door or an unfortunate coffee spill, and it puts TWO major pieces of your wardrobe on the “injury list.” It is vital when you have little to work with that all the clothing works in at least two different combinations.
It is very easy to let the excitement of a new job bleed over into buying clothes for that first week. A budget for each item will also help because it will prevent you from talking yourself into “deserving” a flashier or designer piece of clothing. Remember, until you actually start working, you have the time to really hunt and only settle for the clothes that fit perfectly, look great together, and give you the most options come Monday morning. One day you may need a bit of happiness from the clothes you wear to work to give a little motivation, but you shouldn’t need a work wardrobe to fill this role until the enchantment of “new job” wears off.
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Posted by Sarah on September 9th, 2009
1. Word of Mouth
This is probably the most dependable way to find a good tailor, but the key is to start looking before you need one. If you need a suit altered or a dress custom made for a special occasion, you don’t want to desperately seek out the services of a tailor. Start looking now. Ask friends and the personnel working in fashion boutiques and department stores who they would recommend. Some department stores have their own tailors although you may need to buy something from the store to use their services. Also, contact the local dry cleaners in your area. Some cleaners have a tailor on staff or can recommend a good one.
2. Choose Someone Close to Your Home or Job
Don’t underestimate the importance of choosing a good tailor who lives close to your home or place of work. For a complicated job, you may need to go in several times to try the item on. If you tailor is located on the other side of town, this can be a real hassle. Unless you work in the city, avoid using a tailor located in a busy downtown area with limited parking. Always keep convenience in mind.
3. Make Sure There’s Good Communication
When looking for a good tailor, you may find excellent ones who don’t have a firm grasp of the English language. Although they may be quite competent, you may not get the results you want if there’s poor communication. Choose someone who understands what you’re looking for.
4. Test Them With a Simple Job First
When you finally choose a tailor, give them a simple job such as hemming a skirt or a pair of pants first. Don’t be tempted to give them a stack of clothing to alter on the first visit. Make sure simple jobs are performed competently and with attention to detail before asking them to alter your best dress.
5. Ask to See Samples of Their Work
Most good tailors will have samples of their work on hand that you can use to judge the quality of their work. Inspect their work carefully to make sure it show attentions to detail.
6. Other Factors to Consider
There may be times when you need a clothing repair job done fast. Find out what the average turn around time is on alterations, repairs, and custom made clothing. A longer turn around time may be a sign you’re dealing with a good tailor since he or she has lots of clients, but if you need things done quickly a busy tailor may not be the best choice.
Of course, you’ll also want to keep costs in mind. Try to get a copy of their fee structure and compare it to the rates charged by other tailors in your area. You may pay a bit more for a good tailor, but the difference shouldn’t be enormous.
Once you find a good tailor, let them know you appreciate them. Treat them with the care and respect they deserve. They can make your life so much easier.
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Posted by Sarah on September 2nd, 2009
The Versatile Scarf
A scarf can change the look of an outfit completely. Try wearing a scarf under a plain colored suit jacket instead of wearing a blouse. Fold the scarf around your neck and pin it carefully under the neckline of the suit jacket. You can achieve three different looks by sometimes wearing a bold patterned scarf, sometimes wearing a scarf with a tiny print, and sometimes wearing a soft pastel colored scarf.
A pretty scarf will dress up a plain straw hat. Choose a scarf that will complement the rest of your outfit. You can match the color of your scarf to your footwear, handbag, or clothing.
A large scarf can double as a sarong when you are at the beach. Tie your scarf at the waist and wear it at a long length to highlight your legs. Choose a floral patterned scarf to wear with a plain colored costume or bikini. A plain scarf will blend in well with a bold patterned costume or bikini top.
The Finishing Touches
Earrings, necklaces, pendants, and bangles will all complete an outfit. You can liven up neutral colored clothing with the addition of a brightly colored pendant, necklace, or bangle. Matching earrings will provide the final additions to your outfit. Women with curvy figures should avoid wearing small items of jewellery. A curvaceous figure will appear to advantage in large chunky items of jewellery. Petite woman can emphasize their delicate size by wearing tiny or fragile looking pieces of jewellery.
You will be pleasantly surprised at how easily you can alter the appearance of your clothing by the addition of new accessories. A few subtle changes can make a great deal of difference to any outfit. Shop carefully, so you can wear the same accessories with a variety of outfits. Save money this season by updating your wardrobe with beautiful accessories.
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Posted by Sarah on August 26th, 2009
Choose Shoes that Enhance Your Outfit
Every outfit you own will look wonderful with color matching shoes. Unless you always wear neutral colored clothing, color matching your shoes is a very expensive option. A less expensive method of matching your shoes with what you are wearing is to buy shoes in the same color tone as your hair.
When you are considering purchasing new shoes, hold them up to the level of your hair and match the shoes to your hair coloring. Shoes will co-ordinate perfectly with any color outfit if they are the same color as your hair. A person with dark brown hair can wear dark brown or black shoes to co-ordinate with almost any color, even navy. A blonde-haired person will look great in caramel colored shoes regardless of the color of her outfit. A red headed woman will look stunning in a rusty colored shoe.
The most flattering shoes are pumps with a medium to high heel. Open-toed sandals look wonderful especially when enhanced with well-manicured toenails. Pumps and sandals are suitable to wear with a variety of skirt lengths, which makes them a very versatile choice when you need to adhere to a budget.
Buying the Best Handbag
It is important to choose the right size handbag to suit your own shape and size. Small handbags look lovely when carried by petite women. Tall or more rounded shaped women look best when they carry a large handbag.
When choosing the color of your handbag, you can either co-ordinate the color of the bag with your shoes or with your clothing. Metallic colored handbags are a perfect choice for dressing up an evening outfit, provided the metallic color matches your jewellery. Do not carry a gold colored bag and wear silver jewellery. Avoid two-toned colors or patterns unless the two colors are a perfect match with the colors in your outfit.
Keep on watching this space, as next week the second and final part of this article is coming up, where we share you with even more stylish tips!
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Posted by Sarah on August 24th, 2009
A quick reminder about the promotions currently running at Catherines which will expire in 1 week:
All these offers are valid online until August 31, 2009.
Posted by Sarah on August 19th, 2009
Does anyone remember the 1980s teenage flick, “Weird Science”? The one scene everyone remembers about this movie is the woman in the sexy red dress coming to life. In the Matrix, a woman in red is the decoy to stop Neo seeing the Federal Agent in the training program. There are hundreds of examples women in red dresses stopping traffic, and catching the attention of men, and not just in the movies. Red is the colour of passion and confidence, so wear red to make your own “look at me” statement.
Wearing red attracts attention because it is the most energetic colour in the spectrum. In Feng Shui, red means luck, and even wearing red accessories should give you a confidence boost for the day.
Red is an invigorating, energising, stimulating, and compelling colour, and men see a confident woman wearing red as exciting and sensual. Red is a passionate and hot color and scientists have even linked the color red to people experiencing an increase in appetite and higher blood pressure.
Wearing red makes you feel powerful, confident, and desirable. Red can produce an illusion of fantasy. However, some people may find a person wearing red intimidating, so beware of wearing too much red to the office or a corporate environment where such power plays could be dangerous.
Although few women can get away with wearing fire engine red from head to toe, everyone can look fantastic with some red accessories or clothes. Accessorise a grey or black business suit with a pretty scarf with some red in the pattern, and red earrings, to give your spirits a lift for the important meeting. A red handbag and shoes will change any plain and dull outfit into an attention-grabbing fashion statement.
The trick to looking fantastic when you wear red is to choose the tones of red that most suit your features. If you have brown hair, you can wear the deep or crimson red tones, while those with dark hair and olive skin can wear the true reds like a fire engine red. Women with blonde hair tend to look best in the gentler reds, like warm raspberry red. Even if you have red hair, you can look stunning in red, especially if you stick to the russet reds or the gentle reds with orange overtones.
Wearing red gives you an instant confidence boost and is sure to attract attention. Matched red accessories give an instant lift to a dull outfit and you can make a fashion statement with a stunning red dress. Men tend to see women dressed in red as sensual, exciting, and passionate, so wearing red could lead to any kind of adventure.
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Posted by Sarah on August 12th, 2009
Although a handbag may be essential equipment if you’re a female, there’s no requirement that it be expensive. In fact, the trend these days is towards undisguised thriftiness. People are proud to divulge how little they spent on an item and more avenues for getting items at a reduced cost are opening up. If you don’t want to spend a fortune on your next purse, discover some of these easy ways get cheap handbags for under $20.00. Keep in mind that a cheap price doesn’t have to mean low quality.
Go Vintage
One way to spend less on a purse while expressing your individuality is to buy a vintage handbag. Although some vintage handbags are extremely expensive due to their collectibility, others are surprisingly affordable. If you buy a purse at a vintage clothing store or antique store, you could end up paying quite a bit. The better option is to watch the paper for local estate sales. These sales are conducted when someone in the household passes away and their belongings must be sold off, including their purses. You can often pick up stunning vintage bags in great shape for almost nothing. Go early for the best selection and be sure to ask about purses that aren’t on display. Clothing and accessories are frequently given low priority at these events and you may end up with a real treasure that no one bothered to put out.
Make Your Own
If you want to carry an inexpensive handbag with some character, why not make your own? Handbags can be crafted from unusual containers such as cookie tins or wooden boxes. How about a cigar box purse? You can find instructions for creating and personalizing these eclectic types of purses online. For casual wear, you can transform an old pair of jeans into a hip and trendy bag. You can even find instructions online for making a purse out of a bra! Could there be a better way to recycle?
Be Thrifty
Thrift store shopping is always an adventure. If you may envision piles of vinyl purses filled with stains and debris, you may be surprised. Higher end designer handbags in good condition can sometimes be found at these stores for almost nothing. Look for high quality, classic leather purses that only need a good cleaning to make a statement. Pick up a container of leather polish on the way home and use it to bring out the beauty of your new treasure. If you don’t find what you’re looking for the first time, check back frequently and you’ll eventually be rewarded. Another option is to buy a purse from a local consignment store.
Of course, you can always find cheap handbags under $20.00 at online sites such as Ebay, but it can be difficult to determine quality without actually touching the item. If you choose this avenue, do your research before opening up your wallet.
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Posted by Sarah on August 6th, 2009
The free shipping promotion currently running at Fashion Bug will soon expire ladies, so remember to use it this week when shopping at Fashion Bug!
Free Shipping with every $75 purchase: Enter promotion code 776276701 at checkout. Expires August 14, 2009.
Posted by Sarah on August 5th, 2009
3. Turn it Into a Suit
A long, black pencil skirt looks chic paired with a shorter, fitted jacket that’s nipped in at the waistline. Think of the jackets worn by sophisticated women in the 1940’s. Check out a vintage clothing store that sells 1940’s apparel and choose a jacket that buttons at the waistline and flairs slightly at the hips. Slip on black hose and black pumps to complete the look. Tres chic.
4. Choose Simple Shoes
A black pencil skirt looks best with simple shoes. Keep your gladiators in the closet and bring out a pair of simple high-heeled pumps instead. Avoid sandals with straps that can cut the line of your legs. Pencil skirts worn with complicated shoes can make your legs look shorter and destroy the clean, sophisticated line you’re trying to achieve. In general, heels look better than flat shoes with pencil skirts, although you may be able to pull off the look with a pair of ballet flats.
5. Go Light on the Jewelry
Resist the urge to pile on the jewelry when you wear a pencil skirt. Keep the look sleek and simple with one or two bold sculptural pieces such as a flared cuff bracelet in silver or a strand of oversized pearls. Resist the urge to layer necklaces or wear overly ornate pieces. Keep the focus on your neck, wrist, or ears, but not all three. Simple is better when wearing a pencil skirt.
You’ll love the versatility that a pencil skirt offers and when you have one in black.
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Posted by Sarah on July 29th, 2009
What could be more sophisticated than the long, lean lines of a pencil skirt? Audrey Hepburn made this look trendy back in the 1940’s and these sleek, fitted skirts are still gracing the pages of fashion magazines today. Although you can find pencil skirts in a variety of colors, if you could only choose one, the obvious choice is black. Need some ideas on how to pull off this look? Here’s how to wear a black pencil skirt.
1. Get the Right Fit
A black pencil skirt is meant to hug the lines of your body without being overly tight. Spend some time trying on a variety of pencil skirts and walking around in them before making your final selection. The skirt should accent your shape without being constrictive or uncomfortable. The straight lines of the skirt can make walking a challenge if you select one that’s too snug. To prevent this, look for one that has a discrete slit in the back to allow your legs to move more freely. Don’t give up comfort for fashion.
2. Keep the Lines Clean
A slim pencil skirt looks best with a simple top that plays up the sleek, sophisticated lines of the skirt. For office wear, pair it with a stretch top and a bold, silver cuff bracelet. With a basic black pencil skirt choose a top in a bright color or create a sleek, ultra-sophisticated look with a fitted black top and a silk scarf tied at the neck. A silk blouse that buttons up the front is a good choice for an office environment or a business lunch. If you’re feeling more daring, pair it with a leopard or other animal print top and black pumps for evening. Think sleek, clean, and sophisticated with a pencil skirt.
Keep on reading the scoop, and next week watch out for the second and final part of this article, where we share another 3 tips on how to rock a black plus size pencil skirt. Keep on reading ladies!
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