Sunday, October 2, 2011

Shop Smart

Well, I have been told that I do not  know everything (a point that I argued endlessly in my twenties before realizing it was impossibly true), but girlfriends, I can get some shopping done!
Through personal shopping for clients over the years, I have compiled a little list of shopping tips that may just help you get the job done a little more efficiently and pleasurably...

modcloth.com


1.Shop somewhere that has many choices and has helpful and honest sales people or bring an honest (but not jealous) friend.
2. Take inventory of your closet before shopping and flip magazines for looks you love. Make a list and  a reasonable budget and stick to it !
3. After buying, leave tags on for at least  a week or until you wear it to make certain it belongs with you. Return or exchange if you feel the item is not fitting the intended purpose.
4. If while looking at an item of interest the words "I will die without it", "I want to have babies with it" or any sort of tears of longing emerge....break the list and buy it (within your financial limits of course)
oldglory.com
5. A little wine is fine ladies but do not shop 3 sheets to the wind.Skirt lengths and neckline standards seem to get a bit skewed while heavily under the influence.
6. Do not settle for any item that is just OK, unless...
7. If an item is extremely inexpensive(I mean like ridiculous on sale)  but does not fit just right, consider buying it and having it tailored to fit. Just remember that the tailor cannot make items have more fabric. A size 2 shall not become a size 12 magically no matter how smashing of a color it is on your complexion!...Then again, you could always have a scarf made.
8. When possible, go shopping with a smidgen of a done do and at least some mascara on.
9. Bring Heels but don't wear them shopping
freepeople.com
10. Attitude is everything. If it looks like poo, chalk it up to: "This does not fit well", "This is not made for my body" but NEVER "I hate my body...I need to lose weight...nothing looks  good on me..." etc. If you approach your shopping in a state of self loathing, you have already failed.
Happy Shopping Ladies!  Please comment with your own personal shopping tips, musings, stories or questions about personal pitfalls.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

With Bells On: The new (again) trend in denim

Back again! The bell bottom jean, or flare jean is back in stores, magazines and soon to be in this gal's closet!
They were here in the sixties, held strong into the seventies and made a sweeping appearance again in the nineties with the bell openings getting larger and more strange, and eventually morphing into the rave party gear that I myself once donned.
2011 is reintroducing this trend slowly, more conservatively and with an excellent selection of styles with the higher waist line seen in the seventies.
So who is eligible to participate in this resurgence of hippie chic and where can you find a pair?
Just as with any trend, there are some guidelines to consider when deciding if it is for you. I am 5'3 and have more than enough curves, so I will be looking for a dark and clean wash flare that comes in perfectly at the knee and begins a small flare at the shin that gradually gets larger. A well fitting flare can balance out the hip line and create a fabulous hourglass effect. If you have legs for days and a slim build, a wide leg jean may be a great option for you. When choosing your flare leg, fold the bottom of the jean up to the knee of the jean and line the edge up. The excess will let you know the bell to knee ratio. The more extreme the excess, the more extreme the look. To ensure a perfect fit and to create a complete look for this fun and flattering trend,  find a boutique that specializes in premium denim and gives special attention to assisting you in finding the correct and appropriate fit. If you are local to the Atlanta area, check out Straw Dog at the Avenue Forsyth to find the pair for your fall wardrobe www.strawdog.com .

What to wear with it? Flowing blouses,  long wraps, wedge heels, and confidence!!!

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Getting Dressed


Welcome to my blog. I am so excited to have an outlet to share my passion about putting together an outfit, finding a bargain and thinking outside the box of conventional fashion rules. I believe that clothes can get you promoted, help you find peace and save your marriage! Clothes can do that? Well, the feeling of self confidence that having the right wardrobe can!!!
I wake up every morning and have tips and ideas running through my head that I am just bursting to share with everyone. I am a mom of a sweet little girl, a wife to a busy husband, a business woman, a concert goer, a traveler, a wardrobe stylist, a friend, a crafter, a hiker, a cooker of meals, and so much more.Just like so many other women, I get up every morning and have to get dressed to fit these roles. I dont have it all figured out. In fact, sometimes I just want to stay in pajamas, but....I get dressed, I put on some makeup and I create a look that makes me feel up to it all. Fashion is my art. My closet is my paint. My body is my canvas. I am not an easy fit. I am short, curvy and dont get me started on my combination skin and my hair that does as it pleases. Learning to turn my shortcomings in to my strengths in my personal appearance affected my attitude towards inevitable changes that occured in my life, my body and my responsibilities. Along my journey of 17 years of retail clothing, fashion college and getting myself and my friends dressed for parties, I  have found my style, my peace and my preferred medium. I learned that my real fullfillment lies in helping other women break out of the box ,dress freely and enjoy the process of shopping and getting dressed!