| ||
| ||
|
Fashion Game |
|
|
|
|
10 Tips to Stretch Your Wardrobe Dollars
1. Buy what works for you! - Don't waste your money buying two-piece suits if you work in a warehouse! Take your job responsibilities into account when purchasing clothing for your career. If you work outdoors, buy clothing fit for your environment. Don't buy items that you won't feel comfortable in, because you won't wear those items and that's wasted money! 2. Stick to your best colors - Have a professional Color Analysis done to determine what the most flattering colors are for you. By sticking to those colors, you'll be assured that you'll always have mix and match capability and you'll always look great! One of the foundations of Capsule Wardrobing is the selection of 3 basic colors to build a wardrobe on. Make sure they are the right ones for you! 3. Buy the right size for right now - Clothing manufacturers are not known for their adherence to standards. Don't get hung up on what size the clothing is tagged as, get hung up on proper fit! If the article of clothing feels tight, pulls or seems stressed at the seams, it won't last as long, and it will make you look heavier in the process. Buy clothing that fits you well and it will not only make you look better, it will last longer. 4. Purchase for Multi-season use - Try to purchase fabrics that are multi-seasonal. A heavy, textured wool jacket is only good for the coldest of weather, whereas one made of mid-weight or lighter weight wool or wool blend could be worn with a sweater in cold weather and with a shirt or blouse in warmer weather. You'll get more use from multi-season garments than those with a single-season focus. 5. Remember the basics - Suits and separates can form the foundation of a great working wardrobe. Single and double-breasted long-sleeved blazers with matching skirts for women or pants for men or women are essential basics. Save the novelty items for your casual days at home, or for accessory pieces. Don't try to build a wardrobe around the "trend of the moment". When the trend passes, you'll look dated. Purchase basic building pieces to build your wardrobe and you'll be able to mix and match pieces to create lots of different looks with a minimal investment. 6. Accessorize with style - Every wardrobe needs a certain investment in accessories. The considered use of scarves, jewelry and pins, ties and pocket squares, and even hosiery, shoes and hats can transform ordinary clothing into something extraordinary. Determine whether your coloring is cool or warm and let that guide you in choosing accessories, especially metal jewelry. If your coloring is warm, gold will emphasize the glow in your skin. If your coloring is cool, choose more silver, platinum or white gold to emphasize the contrast of your skin. Combining smart accessories with a basic wardrobe ensures you'll always look coordinated and polished, not thrown-together or haphazard. 7. Buy quality over quantity - When purchasing clothing, consider buying items that are fully lined versus only partially lined or unlined (the clothing will "hang" better and last longer). Purchase items with a good feel and drape to the fabric, and choose clothing distributors that have a reputation for quality. It's not necessary to only buy wool, when a better grade wool or polyester blend will work as well initially. Buying a $400 suit for $175 on sale is a really good deal, considering the fabric and construction of that suit will be better than the $150 suit purchased on sale for $80. The more expensive suit will be worn more often and cost you less per wearing. A less expensive piece won't be worn as often and won't last, thereby costing you more per wearing. 8. Compatible shoes and hosiery - For a work wardrobe, shoes and hosiery are the finishing touch. Purchase quality shoes and take care of them. Shoes that are run down, scuffed and showing wear make you look the same way, no matter how polished and professional the rest of your outfit. Job interviewers have been taught to check out a prospective employee's shoes, and for entrepreneurs, prospective clients do the same thing! If they don't look their best, it will reflect badly on you. When you find shoes that fit well and feel good on your feet, buy several pair in your foundation colors, and two pair of your most often-worn color so that you can give one pair a rest while wearing the other. Avoid fads in shoes and stick with classic designs like pumps and sling backs for women, and wingtips or oxfords for men. Ladies, stick with a heel no higher than 2 ľ", and no lower than ˝" for ease in walking and a reduced chance of injury. 9. Organize and categorize - Once you've determined your foundation colors for your wardrobe, you can organize and categorize your clothing for easy selection and wearing. Hang jackets by sleeve length, color and garment length, or combined with matching pieces to create ready-made outfits. Keep similar fabric weights close together to avoid putting a heavy wool jacket over a lightweight chiffon or silk skirt. Put mix-and-match items near their foundation counterparts for easier selection. Move items that need cleaning to a specific area for easy pick up and removal. 10. Take notes for future use - Whenever you are shopping, take along color swatches of your basic colors and those determined to be right for you. Make a promise to yourself to stay with your correct colors, and keep notes of what basic foundation items you already own. No one really needs 10 virtually identical black dresses or 10 identical black suits! One of the guidelines of Professional Wardrobing is to make sure that any item you purchase must either be compatible with at least two other items in your closet, or it must be a foundation garment that could be combined with other pieces to create many other outfits. In this way, you'll be sure to maximize your clothing dollars and create a terrific wardrobe. Make the most of your clothing investment by using the principles outlined above, and you'll always be impeccably dressed! About the Author: Dianne M. Daniels is an Image & Color Coach, Consultant and Professional Speaker, and the author/publisher of "Polish & Presence: 31 Days to a New Image". She has helped individuals refine and define their personal and professional image, along with corporations and organizations. Learn how to create your Personal Climate for Personal and Professional Success at http://www.imageandcolor.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Bra and Panties - Reassess Your Intimates Before Fall There is a great chance that you forgot to do some of the most important cleaning tasks of the spring season. Your bra and panty drawer, housing some of your most essential lingerie, is a mess. Tribal Tattoo Designs For centuries, tattoos symbolized the membership in groups, families, but for a few years, tattoos have become more popular. It is possible that many people have them not only for decorative purpose, so we must understand why more than thirty million people worldwide have submitted this type of self mutilation. Pearl Jewelry: The Epitome of Elegant Simplicity Pearl jewelry catches attention because of its uncomplicated and serene elegance. It may seem like an oxymoron, but sometimes the simplest things are the ones that are the most attractive. Pull Off a Blazer with These Five Steps The key to this season is to mix it up. This season is looking more towards a laid back but sophisticated look. Mens Dress Shoes: Details that Define Quality in Mens Fashion Every man should know the mens dress shoes details before even considering buying their dress shoes. It is important to understand that these details define the quality in the shoes. Celebrity Birthstone Jewelry It seems that birthstone jewelry isn't just for us normal folk, celebrities have been seen jumping on the birthstone jewelry wagon. They claim it has more of a personal touch than other jewelry. Turn Boring Reading Glasses Into Fun With Color, Shape And Design! There is no use fighting the fact that at some point everyone needs reading glasses. There is no reason to tie yourself to a boring pair. Recycle Vintage Furs Vintage is all the rage in fashion from sparkling costume jewellery to those old fashion stoles grandma used to wear. The influence of fur is being seen in fashion and home décor. The History Of Jewelry Rhinestones have a glittering past. Originally rhinestones where referred to Czechoslovakian or Bohemian glass dating as far back as the 13th century in Bohemia and the Czech Republic. A Clothes Encounter In The Business World Do you ever wonder where all the dress rules have gone? Depending on when and where you are on any given business day, the words "distant past" might come to mind. It's difficult to decide if people don't know what to wear to work or if they have lost sight of the relevance of appearance to professional success. Look Fashionable At The Beach! It's that time of year when we pack up our bags and head to the beach for the day to enjoy those warm sunrays and the refreshing sound of the lapping water.So what constitutes a good beach wardrobe. Top 5 Most Often Carried Handbags Handbags have become the most popular accessory on the market and there's no reason to wonder why. There are so many styles and trends to choose from that it's hard for a woman to choose just one handbag. Keep Your Flair of Style with Designer Reading Glasses Reading glasses can be stylish and fashionable. There are many options in reading glasses today to give you that designer look. Pretty in Pink Contact Lenses Want a different eye color than the one you were born with? No longer does anyone have to be satisfied with what biology gave them. Pink contact lenses, along with other colors, have found their way into the market and they are making quite a splash!Pink contact lenses are mainly worn for cosmetic purposes and generally are not for those needing a prescription to improve eyesight problems. Travel With Style Your heading out for that vacation you've been waiting sooo long for. You've got your tickets, passports current. Lingerie Shopping Tips for Men Every man has done it - or will do it - and you know who you are! You walk into the lingerie department and pick out something you saw on a size two hottie in a movie and take it home for your lady and then wonder why she never wears it.Buying sexy lingerie for your lover can be really romantic or really tragic. Menswear - Putting Together A Business Wardrobe - Part 2 Here's the second installment of the "Menswear" series, on adding dress shirts to your professional wardrobe. Let's go guys!Dress shirts come in a lot of different styles, fabrics and colors. What to Wear: Summer Dressing in a Business Environment Choosing appropriate clothing for the business environment can be challenging at the best of times. It becomes more difficult when temperatures rise and we feel being fully covered is uncomfortable and downright hot. Stockings - Getting a Leg Up, Again It hasn't been all that long since vintage stockings became a staple in women's attire. Leg wear has been around for longer than we have been alive, but it wasn't until the early part of the twentieth century that the fashion hit the mainstream. Women's Guide: Fashion Trends for Summer 2005 If you are like me and many others the warm weather motivates you to do or try new things. It even inspires you to pay more attention to your overall appearance.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
