Fashion for less

Fashion for less

Fashion for less. We all have the desire to be fashionable, and in style, however, it does not have to cost a small fortune, look at how...
Fashion is a concept that we are all interested in to some extent. Anyone who watches television, or buys magazines that show people wearing clothing supports fashion. Celebrities are the biggest fashion billboards in media. Commercials and cataloogues no longer depict what is 'in' style, but rather, whatever celebrities are wearing is what we want to be wearing. We have all seen our favorite celebrities dressed in designer clothing and have said one of two things: (a) What ever possessed him/her to wear that? Or (b) Wow, I love that outfit, I wonder where I can get it? The latter of the two is usually followed by "If I could only afford that!" There are many trends that women are looking to follow this season, and it is very possible to spend hundreds of dollars on one outfit, and thousands on a new wardrobe to keep up with these short-lived trends. That outfit that you love, or the the style that you crave can be obtainable for a fraction of the cost.

One of the biggest trends this season is colour. Some of the hottest colours this season are reds and purples. You do not want to go out and spend a fortune on an entire wardrobe full of colours that will be outdated in three months. Instead, buy some key pieces in the season's hottest colours. Buy a shirt in purple or red to wear with a dark pant suit or skirt suit. You could also go for a skirt in one of the hot new colours. Your best bet is to stick with a few key articles though, rather then spending too much on an easily outdated wardrobe.

Leather is another big fashion statement this season, however, the cost of leather, along with the upkeep and wear is not very practical for just one or possible two seasons. If you want something that is leather, invest in a good leather car coat. It is a piece that will never go out of style, unless it is in an outragous colour. The less expensive, and more fun version of leather is pleather, a vinyl and synthetic blend of fabrics. It is a quarter of the cost of leather, it has a great shine to it, and the fabric allows the skin to breathe a little easier than with leather. Most pleather garments are easy to clean, which in the long run, saves you money in the dry cleaning department. Pleather pants are a great fashion staple, without the huge expense of their leather counterparts. These pants can be paired up with virtually anything for a casual look, but look the best matched up with a great tank for an evening look that will wow everyone.

Accessories in animal prints or hides are also hot this season, for both fall and winter. Crocodile and snake prints for shoes and boots are a must this year. Like most of the trends that we are following however, they will not last. Payless Shoe Source is a great place to pick up those fun shoes or boots for a very little amount of money. They have a wide selection of trendy shoes, and an even wider variety of colours and prices. Purses in animal hides such as pony or crocodile are also making a loud statement this season, and can be purchased very inexpensively. For actual jewellry, I tend to recommend that you buy timeless classics that you will not have to replace year after year. A few small pieces that are inexpensive and fun is a lot easier to part with when something else is hip.

If you are interested in buying 'retro' clothing, consignment and thrift stores are the best place to purchase gently worn treasures. You would be surprised what you can find in these stores. Some examples of my newest purchases... a patchwork leather purse that retails for over $100, I picked up for only $7.50. I also got a pair of platform wedge heels that retail for up around $60 for only $3.00. You do have to look closely, but you would be surprised with what you can find. If it is brand names or designer clothing that you are looking for, try outlet stores, or wait until the designer has a sale. Outlet stores generally sell clothing for 40-60% off the normal retail prices, and designer sales tend to happen at the end of the season. If you see in magazines or feel like the item will be a hit again the following season, then purchase it. Some good designer items to get on sale are coats, like a pea coat, this will never go out of style, black dresses, and dress pants in dark colours. All of these items remain timeless classics year, after year.

It is very possible as you can see to buy that favorite celebrities clothing without spending an entire paycheck on one item. Next timt that you see a star wearing something that you want, write down a list or cut out the picture and take it along with you, and copy it, but at a fraction of the cost. Happy shopping, and remember, it doesn't take thousands to look like a million bucks!!!

How to make your clothes last longer

How to make your clothes last longer

Tips for making those expensive clothes last longer and getting your money's worth.
Clothes are expensive and it really gets you angry when your favorite shirt or pair of pants gets ruined. How long do your clothes last? You can make them last longer if you care for them properly and there are some great ways to make sure you'll have that favorite dress for a very long time.

When you do your wash, do you throw everything in the dryer? Even if you only tumble dry your clothes on a low heat setting, dryers strip away at your clothes over time, do you see that lint in the lint trap? That used to be part of your shirt! Drying clothes also causes them to shrink a little bit each time and all of those clothes that don't fit anymore aren't necessarily that way because of that extra piece of pie you ate at Thanksgiving. To make your clothes last longer, hang them out to air dry. This is especially good for jeans and sweaters though you can still throw things like towels, sheets, socks and t-shirts in the dryer.

Dry clean only clothes should be dry cleaned only. Sometimes we try to sneak a skirt or top into the wash thinking it won't do any harm when it often does. Materials like wool should never be washed, it can be the death of them. Take you clothes to a dry cleaner and make sure it is a good dry cleaner. Dry cleaning also removes dust mite allergens from your clothes. When you bring your dry cleaning home, don't forget to remove the plastic which can cause moisture to build up inside. If your clothing gets stained, don't forget to tell the dry cleaner what kind of stain it is, this can help them decide how to treat it.

Get a needle and thread and learn to sew. Sometimes when you loose a button, the shirt goes in the bottom of a drawer until you throw it out a few years later. It only takes a couple of minutes to sew a button back on and you can use that shirt for a few more years. Also, small rips in clothing can be stitched up very quickly to get some more life out them rather than throwing them in the Amvets bin.

Keep your clothes hanging loosely in the closet and don't jam them up against eachother. Heavy sweaters should never be hung on hangers that are not padded as this can put stretch marks on them from the hanger which will never come out.