Would you like to freshen your wardrobe and not spend a lot of green? Take an accessories shopping trip! Here are some tips on how to make a smallish wardrobe look bigger and more chic on a budget!
If you're like me, when you're looking over your clothing allowance there's usually not much money available for clothing accessories. The kids need clothes, not to mention necessities like soaring seasonal utility bills that must take precedence. So how can you keep your wardrobe looking up to date without new clothes? Hey, the answer is simple – and inexpensive. Go on an accessories shopping trip! Simple, but carefully chosen accessories, such as a glitzy belt, scarves, handbags and faux jewelry, can be worn with lots of items in your closet. Mixing and matching accessories with clothing you already have is the key to making a relatively small wardrobe look fresh and chic. Let's take a look at how you can make this wardrobe option work for you.
Tip #1 When you plan your accessories shopping trip, think outside the box! There are certainly plenty of upscale accessories shops at the mall, but these are among the most expensive ways to go. Check the phone book for smaller shops, which don't have the high overhead of shops at the mall. The small shops are typically family owned businesses which carry more unusual items that are hand picked by the owner. In order to compete with the mall shops, the small shop must offer a better selection, as well as reasonable prices.
Tip #2 The consignment and thrift shops are other good places to go accessories shopping to find one-of-a-kind accessories that you won't find elsewhere. Many people think that these stores carry old, worn out and outdated accessories, but this is absolutely not the case! These stores are picky about what they accept for resale. In the worst case, a nice pair of gloves may be missing a button at the wrist, or you may find a small tear in the lining of a handbag. With such easily repaired items, the price is going to reflect that flaw. Also, these stores you'll probably find some great "retro style" inexpensive jewelry. Unlike the mall shops with a dozen identical accessories, at the thrift conscious boutiques you may find dozens of one-of-a-kind items from which to choose.
Tip #3 Check out garage sales, crafts fairs and flea markets for some inexpensive and exciting additions. Be creative and look at the items with this question in mind: "How can I make this item (whatever it is) into an accessory piece?" Don't be scared, be creative!
See all seven of these excellent tips on shopping for accessories to make your wardrobe come alive.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Clothes Shopping in 2010
Gone are the days when you could browse a clothing rack and snap up a dress without thinking twice. “It's cute!”, followed by a trip to the register with a credit card in hand, is no longer the norm. You now immediately peruse the price tag and see if the price lives up to the cuteness. You give some thought to how versatile this garment is – how many times do you think you'll actually wear it? Good question!
Ladies, the new clothes shopping trip strategy borrows a page from the 30s and 40s fashionistas. The world was then fresh out of the Great Depression and the ladies of those days wanted to look well dressed, but on a conservative budget. As a result, designers came out with women's clothing which, while chic, were also classic. Neutral colors, navy, black, brown and beige formed the backbone of the typical woman's wardrobe. Plainly cut, but elegant designs were all the rage. Perhaps this period was the beginning of the now well-known 'mix and match' strategy many of us use today. Using neutral colors as the staple items in the closet allowed women to brighten up the landscape with inexpensive cotton shirts in colors ranging from pastels to a fire-engine red. The same clothes shopping strategy applied to sweaters. These classic costumes could be dressed up or down, by mixing and matching.
For more on shopping, style, fashion, costumer jewelry and more visit http://www.smartwomaninfo.com/. This general interest women's site continues to grow as new timely material is gathered!
Ladies, the new clothes shopping trip strategy borrows a page from the 30s and 40s fashionistas. The world was then fresh out of the Great Depression and the ladies of those days wanted to look well dressed, but on a conservative budget. As a result, designers came out with women's clothing which, while chic, were also classic. Neutral colors, navy, black, brown and beige formed the backbone of the typical woman's wardrobe. Plainly cut, but elegant designs were all the rage. Perhaps this period was the beginning of the now well-known 'mix and match' strategy many of us use today. Using neutral colors as the staple items in the closet allowed women to brighten up the landscape with inexpensive cotton shirts in colors ranging from pastels to a fire-engine red. The same clothes shopping strategy applied to sweaters. These classic costumes could be dressed up or down, by mixing and matching.
For more on shopping, style, fashion, costumer jewelry and more visit http://www.smartwomaninfo.com/. This general interest women's site continues to grow as new timely material is gathered!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Fashion Magazines Provide Perspective
If you enjoy magazines focused on women's fashion and style you're not alone. Many readers and subscribers find them fascinating and informative, appealing to a cross-section of enthusiasts. Although at times they may seem to be outlandish, when you understand how to utilize and appreciate them they become a treasured tool of style.
What I have learned about fashion magazines is they show what's on the cutting edge of fashion, and if you can't quite afford to buy these publicized originals, at least you know what style will be coming down the line to a regular department store soon.
If you study fashion magazines, you begin to get a sense of how trends work. For example, in recent issues you may see silk scarves everywhere used as fashion accessories tied about the neck, as belts and headbands. All you need to get a jump on this trend is stock up on scarves, finding your own imaginative way to make a fashion statement. Be creative!
Other accessories are important, too. A smart woman will be very aware of which clothing accessory pieces she has in her wardrobe to give the collection seemingly endless variety. Fashion magazines can educate you, offer varous resources for fashion and lifestyle awareness, and expand your view of the world.
What I have learned about fashion magazines is they show what's on the cutting edge of fashion, and if you can't quite afford to buy these publicized originals, at least you know what style will be coming down the line to a regular department store soon.
If you study fashion magazines, you begin to get a sense of how trends work. For example, in recent issues you may see silk scarves everywhere used as fashion accessories tied about the neck, as belts and headbands. All you need to get a jump on this trend is stock up on scarves, finding your own imaginative way to make a fashion statement. Be creative!
Other accessories are important, too. A smart woman will be very aware of which clothing accessory pieces she has in her wardrobe to give the collection seemingly endless variety. Fashion magazines can educate you, offer varous resources for fashion and lifestyle awareness, and expand your view of the world.
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