Shopping Tip #6

First, happy Saturday and HAPPY SAINT PATRICKS DAY!

Now, shopping tip #6:

Know your GO-TO stores

When you are going shopping to shop and not just peruse, know what stores you love, are in your price range, and you can almost bank on always having something you will love.  For me those stores are Kohl’s, H&M, Target, Forever 21, and New York & Co.  When I walk into these stores I know that they are in my price range, what size I wear there, and that I am guaranteed to find at least one item I love. Unfortunately I normally find waaaaaay more than just one thing I love. But, better yet Kohls and New York & Co. literally ALWAYS have ah-mazing sales.

After you have established your go-to stores, sign up for their mailing lists. You will often get coupons through e-mail or postal mail on a frequent basis and you can plan your next shopping excursion accordingly.

I hope you all have enjoyed my shopping tips this week. Let me know if you have other questions or comments!!

Have a great weekend lovelies :)

Shopping Tip #5

Invest more money into your "staple" items

If you are like me you have a closet full of sale and clearance clothes. Truth is, I have a hard time buying things that that are on the pricier side, even when I'm in love with something. My rule for spending a little more on a piece of clothing, a pair of shoes, or an accessory is to evaluate how much I will use it. For example I have a pair of heels from the Simply Vera Wang Kohl’s collection. I am a shoe lover and these were calling my name! They were much more than I would normally pay for a pair of heels but I justified it by saying they were black and I would wear them all the time. Well, I do! They are my go-to shoe and well worth EVERY penny.

When shopping for clothes, shoes, and accessories think if this is something you will wear or use a lot. Below are some items that you use all the time and it is worth it to get the quality items because you will probably put some serious wear and tear on/in them.

©       Cardigans

©       Black Heels

©       A neutral color flat

©       Structured jacket

©       A purse you can use all season (you do carry it every day)

©       Jeans

©       A go-to dress for weddings, holiday parties, etc

©       Coats

©       A great watch and pair of earrings that can easily be paired with almost any outfit

©       A fabulous pair of boots

Shopping Tip 4

 Dress your body

So you don’t have the perfect body, who cares neither do I;  just be sure you dress for the one you do have. And give yourself a break when you walk into the dressing room and the outfit that you saw on the manikin or on your girlfriend doesn’t quit fit right on you. Remember you are dressing for your body type not theirs. And I know your excuse to not buy any clothes right now, you want to loose some weight first right? But listen there are very few women that wouldn’t like to lose a few pounds, but dress the body you have NOW not the body you want to have. You will be more apt to lose the weight if you actually like your body somewhat.

::But enough on that back to my shopping tip::

Even though something is “in” right now doesn’t mean you have to wear it despite the fact that it doesn’t look good on you and you feel horrible in it. When you get dressed in the morning it should make you feel good about yourself. You should feel confident. The more you start understanding what looks good on you the more you will enjoy shopping, because you won’t force yourself to try on the things that don’t flatter your body style.

Now, I definitely do not claim to know it all, but here are a few rules I do know in dressing your body…

©       Accentuate the smallest part of you. For many women this is their waist. Look for tops that draw attention to this area with a belt, or some type of embellishment. Empire tops are great for this.

©       V-Necks are great for women with a shorter torso because it gives the illusion of elongation. They are also great if you have wider shoulders to draw the eye in.

©       If you have those good “child bearing hips” you will look better in a pair of pants that goes straight down, like a wide leg or trouser pant, rather than bootcut or straight leg pant.

©       If you have a straighter figure go with dresses and tops that have structure. Jackets are a great way to give you the illusion of an hourglass shape. Another great way to do this is to belt your shirt, cardigan, etc.

©       Whenever you can, avoid horizontal strips, they add girth ::who wants that!:: If you like strips try vertical ones. A vertical pin strip on your dress pants can create an elongated leg.

©       If you have a small bust, look for tops with ruching to add some volume.

Shopping Tip #3

Know What Colors Look Good on You

There are just some colors I know I can’t wear, which normally isn’t a problem since I naturally gravitate to blacks, greys, browns, and any other neutral colors. But, I am aware that I need to add a little more color into my wardrobe.  The key to color is knowing what looks good with your skin tone, eye color, and hair color. The best and easiest way for you to do this is to hold the color up to your face as you are looking into the mirror. You can watch the way your skin tone, eyes, and hair color reflect the new color.

Or you can decide which season you are:

Winter:

Hair Color: dark shades

Eye Color: Brown, Hazel or Dark Blue, Grey, or Green

Skin: Cool Blue undertones

Spring:

Hair Color: Your natural color ::if you can remember:: is a strawberry blonde to reddish brown, or flaxen

Eye Color: Blue, Aqua, or Golden Brown

Skin: Warm Yellow undertones

Summer:

Hair Color: Ash Blonde

Eye Color: Blue eyes are the most common but may also be Green, Grey, Hazel or Brown

Skin: Rosy coloring with Blue undertones (you burn easily)

Autumn:

Hair Color: Blonde to Dark Reddish Brown with Red highlights or tint

Eye Color: Usually brown but sometimes Hazel, Green, or Blue-Green

Skin: Dark skin tones, with Golden Undertones

 

Here's the simple break down: If you have lighter hair you are Spring or Summer

 (Summer = brighter eyes, mostly Blue, Spring = Most Red heads and Green and Brown eyes)

If you have darker hair you are Autumn or Winter 

(Winter: Blue and Green Eyes, Autumn: usually Brown eyes)

Shopping Tip #2

Don’t get consumed with what is “in” for this season.

I am a total sucker for looking in fashion magazines to see what the new trend or colors will be for the upcoming season. And well, let’s be honest these trends are just that, trends. If you have an endless shopping budget then I say go for it; buy a new wardrobe every season. But, something tells me you are more like me and that just isn’t doable. ::Plus I am pretty sure you have to be a celebrity to pull of some trends, like this mix and match pattern trend. Floral skirt and polka dot top, yeah I don’t think so::So here is what I recommend stick with classic pieces in trendy colors, but only if they look good on you (more on that tomorrow). For example I bought a cute wrap dress (not going out of style next season) for spring from H&M in the “it” spring color of watermelon.

::Even better it was only $18:: 

Shopping tip #1

This past Saturday I went with two of my friends, Kara and Aaron, into the city to play stylist. I had a blast!!! I think this would be my dream job! Shopping and spending someone else’s money, I think I could get use to this.  

I did have to say no to a couple of their style choices.

::a big NO to pink tights with little pink hearts if you are above the age of 10::

In fact, my shopping trip with Kara and Aaron has inspired my posts for this week. Each night I will be posting a shopping tip. So for tonight... 

Shopping Tip #1

Only buy it if you love it.

You will always like it better in the store than you will when you get it home. So my rule of thumb is if you are wishy washy about it in the dressing room, leave it in the dressing room. It is highly unlikely that you will suddenly decide you love it once you get it home. I know I have stood in front of my closet, full of clothes I once fell in love with in the dressing room, and thought “I have absolutely nothing I want to wear.” 

And since she was one of the ones who inspired this post here is one of my favorite pictures of me and my amazing friend Kara. 

::She is also an AMAZING photographer::

Check her out here

Faux Leather Leggins

The faux leggins look is very in right now. If you haven't noticed just flip through a few pages of the Victoria's Secret Catalog. My friend jokingly calls these pants my "whale pants" saying they remind her of whale skin.
Anyway, I love my pants! I pair them with sweaters in the winter and flowy tunics for spring.
I bought my leggins at Kohls. They are part of the LC by Lauren Conrad line.

The Button Down

Most of us have button downs in our closet. Here are two of my favorite ways to wear mine. 

Purple Button Down: New York & Co.

Vest: Charlotte  Russe

Black Pants: Kohls

Cream Cardigan: Target

Silver Flower Belt: New York & Co.

Grey Boots: Kohls

Fashion Friday

This is my new favorite outfit.

Here is a close up of the jacket

The jacket is from a boutique in Mobile, AL called Polish 

http://www.polishboutique.com

(I love shopping at boutiques. It is a great way to ensure that your clothes are a little more unique.)

I love the zipper around the collar and the studs on the sleeves.

and the shirt under I got from American Eagle for about $20