There’s nothing better than a successful day of shopping. You arrive home proud of your hard work and add your new items to your sea of clothes. You are confident that the next time you get dressed you will know exactly what to wear. Clothing with tags still on them is a common problem for many of my clients who struggle with the feeling of having nothing to wear. After you finish your shopping there are a few things you can do to ensure the things you buy will help you build a versatile wardrobe.
My first tip is to stop feeling guilty about the clothes you have bought and never worn. The guilt does nothing but eat away at you and at the end of the day, or the beginning as the case may be, won’t help you get dressed any faster. Put aside your guilt and pull out the clothing in your closet still plagued with tags. Ask yourself why you haven’t worn them? Maybe you forgot you had them or maybe they never really fit. Make a mental note and then find out which items can be returned. Those that can’t can be sold at consignment stores or ebay, donated to charity, or used in a fun clothing swap with your friends. Find them a new home and move on.
Next discover how to make sure the purchases you make will help you build a versatile wardrobe with these simple tips.
When you come home from shopping, take a few minutes to try on your purchases again. Often we need the reality of our own mirror or the reminder of our lifestyle to help us determine how useful an item of clothing will be.
Next, take the new items into your closet and pair them with the pieces you imagined making outfits with while in the store. Is the outfit how you pictured? Will it suit the purpose you intended?
Consider grouping new items together in your closet. One of the most common challenges for shopaholics is remembering what they have. Often clothes get stuck in the closet and we forget we even own them. Review your “new clothing” section every few weeks to make sure you have actually worn the things you bought.
For more tips on creating a versatile wardrobe contact Charleston Style Concierge.
1. Dark Denim Jean
Why? Dark Denim can be dressed up for an evening out or dressed down for a casual Saturday.
2. Black Trouser
Why? A great black pant can take you from the office to cocktails.
3. White Button Down Shirt
Why? This classic staple suits your professional and casual style with a very chic look.
4. Structured Skirt in Neutral Color
Example: Black Pencil Skirt
Why? Use this skirt for a power meeting, a hot date, or a casual brunch.
5. Structured Jacket in Neutral Color
Why? Structured Jackets make any outfit look more put together.
6. Camisoles for Layering
Why? White, black, and a few colored camisoles can make a revealing shirt office appropriate or add a pop of color for a more interesting outfit.
7. Tops with Color & Pattern
Why? Add fun and interest to your wardrobe with color and pattern that suits your personal style.
8. Wrap Dress
Why? This universally flattering dress can be dressed up with heels or dressed down with flats.
9. Neutral Leather Handbag
Why? Pull together your outfit with a great handbag large enough to carry your daily essentials but chic enough to take your from work to cocktails.
10. An Unexpected Accessory
Why? Have a little fun with a pop of color from a red shoe, a patent leather belt, or whatever accessory speaks to your personal style.
Ever feel guilty about buying another pair of shoes? Not anymore! Owning a lot of shoes in differing styles and heel heights is good for your health and style. Marlene Reid, a podiatrist in Westmont, Illinois, and a spokesperson for the American Podiatric Medical Association, justifies your shoe fetish in an article from Real Simple magazine.
The Podiatrist Says:
· Size yourself up. Have your feet measured every few years — especially after a pregnancy or if your weight has changed. “Don’t just routinely buy the size you’ve always worn,” says Reid, because wearing shoes that are too small can exacerbate foot problems, like bunions, corns, and hammertoes.
· Change your shoes. You shouldn’t wear the same heel height every day. “Even half an inch of difference changes the pressure on the foot and stretches out the Achilles,” says Reid. Take that as a good excuse to buy those cute flats or kitten heels.
· Banish bare feet. When you go barefoot or wear shoes that have no arch support or motion control (like flip-flops), the plantar fasciae, the connective tissue that runs under the feet to the heels, can get overworked. The result is often heel pain.
Get more great tips from medical specialists from Real Simple. For more information on great shoes for your personal style contact Charleston Style Concierge.
5 Tips & Tricks About Bras
1. Give your bra a rest. Wearing your bra more than two days in a row wears out the support elastic. A day of rest will give it a chance to recover its memory.
2. When you purchase your bra it should fit snuggly on the loosest hook. As the bra ages you can tighten it using the remaining hooks to maintain the original fit.
3. Get fitted at least once a year. Breast size fluctuates due to many factors like age, weight gain/loss, and pregnancy.
4. Try your bras on before you purchase them. Bras are like clothing, every brand will fit a little differently.
5. Quality vs. quantity pays off.
New Bra, Now What?
Now that you have a new bra, use your clothing to accentuate your chest in the most flattering way.
1. If you have a large chest use a v-neck to visually separate “the girls,” making you appear slimmer.
2. Halter tops are a small chest’s best friend. The angle of the halter flatters a small chest and gives you an opportunity to show off sexy shoulders.
3. Just say no to thick stripes and ribbing across your chest. A large chest makes the stripes and ribbing look more like ocean waves.
4. Choose clothing that conceals your bra straps.
5. Use fitted jackets to create and show off a waistline giving you a defined hourglass shape.
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