Saturday, December 24, 2011

Wardrobe Staples Worth the Investment


There are a few wardrobe items that spending more money means you'll end up with a substantially more comfortable, flattering, or long-lasting garment. I'm not suggesting that you drop outlandish amounts of cash; many of the the items on my list can still be found for substantial discounts at places like Overstock or TJMAXX. But when you're shopping for the following five things, it will serve you well to consider quality and fit above cost. 

1. Shoes

There are many reasons why expensive shoes are worth the indulgence, but my big two are comfort and longevity. In my experience, it's much more likely that cheap shoes will cut into my feet, cause blisters, irritate my bunions, and generally provide poor support. Furthermore, well-made shoes can last several seasons as long as you show them some TLC. Have a cobbler fix any rubbed-down heels or soles before the shoes become unwearable.

2. Handbags

Like shoes, a well-made bag can continue looking good for several seasons, and it's much less likely to suffer from ripped straps, broken hardware, and fussy zippers. Don't go all out for a bag that's made to get dirty — a cheap canvas tote does just fine for the beach — but a stylish clutch in a color that matches a lot of your going-out wear or nice everyday leather bag should serve you well for quite some time.

3. Coats

A good-quality coat can last for several seasons, as long as you don't purchase anything too trendy.

 4. A Dress You Love

Whether it's the "little black dress" or a bright-red stunner, this should be something that looks great on you and you can always count on when you need to look awesome...something that's versatile and can be accessories different ways to look different.

5. Good Jeans

I don't care if you think your butt is weird, you don't like your thighs, or you feel like your inseam is outlandish. There are so many companies making different cuts of jeans now, you should be able to find a pair that fits and flatters you. Like other items on this list, properly cared for jeans can last for years. That said, don't think this is an excuse to pay $300 for jeans. There's a difference between paying for quality and paying for a brand name. Hello Nordstrom Rack!


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    Tuesday, December 13, 2011

    Animal print never goes out of fashion.

     
    If there’s anything new, it’s purely a matter of interpretation. The question isn’t about “should you” or “should you not” own an animal print. Every fashionista must own at least a piece of this print be it a dress, a top, a pair of shoes, a scarf or a bag. The question therefore is – how do you make it right?

    Don’t be too matchy
    Choose only one large part of your outfit that’s wild. For instance, if your top is a leopard/tiger/zebra print, let the tights/skirt/pants be non-animal. If it’s your dress that has the print, then let your shoes be plain black or nude. You don't want to look like you are going on a safari.






    ..unless it's with accessories
    If you feel the urge to go matchy, you can do so on your accessories provided, they don’t clash. For example, if you wear leopard printed boots, you can take a tiny purse in leopard print. If your tiger bag is with considerable size, you can take a pair of tiger print stilettos.


    Tone it down
    If your outfit is too wild, tone it down. If you wear an animal print mini dress, you can tone it down by wearing a single-colored-cardigan over your dress in color that blends well with your wild print. If you wear a leopard print tights, for example, you can tone it down by wearing a knee length boots in color palette that blends but suppresses the strongest shade of your animal print.


    You can never go wrong if you take only a single item of animal print, either for your top, bag, shoes or scarf, while the rest of your outfit is entirely a shade of black or white.


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