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spring shopping tips

2/25/2015

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Warm weather still feels like a faraway dream, but warm weather clothing is arriving in stores. I know that I have been tempted to go on a shopping spree to update my closet for the upcoming season, but before you head to the mall consider what you actually need in your closet. 
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1. Think about pant length. While it is fun to pick up pairs of brightly patterned shorts that you can imagine lounging in on the beach, cropped or ankle pants are much more practical for the transition to warmer temperatures. You'll be able to wear them from late-March to early-November so invest in the basics, like denim and chino. 

2. Take an inventory of your tanks and tees. Chances are that you picked up a stack of basic tops during the end of summer sales last September. Now is the time to remind yourself of those purchases so that you don't spend your entire clothing budget on $8 t-shirts when you already have one in every color imaginable. 

3. Explore the trends. If there is something new and interesting in the window of your favorite store, try it on now! You don't want to wait until the end of the summer to try out a trend because then you will have fewer opportunities to wear it. By browsing the new styles early in the season, you can focus in on what you want your summer look to be.

4. Check your calendar. It may seem early to start worrying about an outfit for a May wedding or beach wear for your June vacation, but by adding those pieces to your shopping list now you will be able to keep your eyes out for great deals and avoid overspending later.

5. Embrace color. We are moving into the part of the year where clothes get bright! Refresh your wardrobe by choosing a bold, new color. Who knows, maybe it will become your favorite this season!
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how to make shopping fun

9/15/2014

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Why do people wear clothes that they don't like and that don't fit? Is it because A.) they don't want to spend the money on new pieces, B.) they are unhappy with their body, or C.) they find the whole shopping process exhausting and exasperating? Based on a very biased sample of people who talk to me about this issue, the answer is far and away C. Shopping feels like a chore for many people and one that doesn't always end with a positive or successful outcome. If it is going to be an unpleasant waste of time, it is easy to throw up your hands and give up. But I promise that shopping doesn't have to be that way. By changing how you approach the process it can actually be a fun experience and one that ends with your closet full of pieces that you love and feel great wearing.
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The biggest mistake that people make is to go shopping only when they need a specific item. This puts incredible pressure on to find exactly what you need when the stores just might not be stocking it. When I was working in retail, it was not uncommon to have clients come into the store on a Friday looking for a dress to wear to a wedding the next day. Often they were visiting from out of town and expected that Chicago stores would have a better selection than their hometown. But by shopping with a time constraint, their selection was limited by several factors. The first was that if we didn't have the size in stock, there was no longer the option to order it from another store. Another was that we might not be having any sales or promotions which meant that the perfect dress was now out of their price range. Since they were trying to buy something before the stores closed (which on Michigan Avenue was between 8 and 9pm), they didn't have time to comparison shop. Maybe they would have found the perfect piece at the perfect price at a store two blocks away, but because they were desperate to just buy anything, they never made it past the first store they went into. Compounding this problem was that they were trying to choose a dress that worked with the shoes and accessories that had brought along so they could avoid spending even more money on coordinating pieces.
While that example is extreme, many people wait until an old piece completely wears out before looking for a replacement or wait for a special occasion to buy fancy clothes. It is actually less stressful to always shop than to rarely shop. When you see pieces that you like, you should buy them even if there isn't an immediate need for them. That way you never are in the position where you have nothing to wear. Earlier this summer Boden had all of their dresses on sale for 50% off. I didn't specifically need new dresses, but I really liked two of them and the price was right so I bought them. That was back in June and one is the perfect piece to wear to a wedding early next month.
Of course, you should still use your judgment when buying things that catch your eye. You may fall in love with five different sequin evening gowns, but unless your social calendar includes at least five black tie events a year, you should probably hold off on purchasing them all. When deciding whether or not to buy something, ask yourself whether you can foresee yourself wearing it in the next six months and if you think you will still like it in six months. If you answer yes to both of those questions (and it is not a duplicate of something you already own), then you should go for it. These questions are especially important to ask when the item is incredibly inexpensive. It is easy to be blinded by the low price and not think about how useful the piece will be in the long run. 
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When you do find a great piece, there is always the temptation to buy multiples of it so that you never run out. While this inclination isn't entirely bad, it does need to be tamed. For example, if you find a pair of jeans that fit and then buy five pairs, those will be your only options when you want to wear jeans. If your weight or mood fluctuates and you no longer feel like amazing in those jeans, there is not another alternative in your closet. But if you buy only two pairs of that style and then continue shopping and find another style or two that you also like, you now have insurance against those fluctuations. The easiest way to keep a varied wardrobe is to shop in multiple stores. A long sleeved, crew neck cardigan from Ann Taylor will fit differently than one from Banana Republic. Even better would to get a crew neck cardigan from one store and a v-neck cardigan from another. Basically you want to avoid having any category of clothing dominated by a single style.

When you are shopping, don't be afraid to try on new things. Take an adventurous friend with you or enlist the help of the sales associates and have them pick out pieces for you. Commit to trying on everything they bring you, even if you are sure that you won't like it. If you don't pre-judge the items, you will open yourself up to discovering new styles that look incredible on you! Some of it will probably look not so great on you, but that's also okay. That's the reason that we try on clothes before we buy them.

If trying on clothes in a store is discouraging for you, try online shopping. I personally hate bra shopping, so I recently ordered several styles from Nordstrom. They offer free shipping and returns so there wasn't any pressure for me to keep the pieces if I hated them. I could try them on in the privacy of my home and see how they looked with various tops. If you often get pieces home from a store and find you don't love them as much as you did in the fitting room, then this is your solution. Zappos also offers free shipping both ways and except during big sales, so does Boden.
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For an in-store experience that is more leisurely, do your shopping during slow times, such as weekday mornings. You won't have to fight the other shoppers to find your size and you'll also benefit from having the full attention of the sales staff. If you have a favorite store, call them up a day or two before you want to go shopping and see if they can set up an appointment for you with a sales associate. Let them know what pieces you are looking for and your size so they can set aside some of their favorites for you to try on when you get there. If you build rapport with a sales associate, pass on your contact info along with a few notes about styles you are interested in. Ask if they can let you know when items arrive that they think you might like. They'll be thrilled to know they you will be a repeat customer!
By adjusting how you shop, you can avoid long and exhausting days hunting for an elusive item. When you need something, you will be able to head to your closet, not the mall, and find exactly what you need. Popping into the shops on a regular basis to window shop or browsing through inventory online lets you find the pieces you love without all the added stress-and I promise that it might even be fun.
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shopping for fall in the summer sales

8/13/2014

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Banana Republic Monogram Diamond Jacquard Dress $129.99
Although it is still the heat of the summer in most places, fall clothes are available in stores and warmer weather ones are being marked down to jaw-dropping prices. Whenever there is a change of season sale and the prices are low, it becomes easy to get carried away and purchase pieces that you otherwise would pass by. However, there is also the opportunity to find great pieces and invest in your clothing collection. With an eye to the season ahead, here are the types of pieces I suggest looking for on the sale rack:
Dresses are great pieces to pick up on sale because, with the exception of strapless and halter dresses, they can generally be worn all year round. Neon colors and white may be a bit harder to pull off during the colder months, but cardigans and blazers can transition a short sleeve or sleeveless dress into fall and winter. 
Layering pieces like jackets and cardigans are also worth scouring the sale rack for, although there are a few more caveats here. The first is to be very aware of sleeve length. Many summer cardigans have sleeves that only reach the top of the elbow which is only really helpful when it is warm outside. Look for sleeves that reach past the elbow. 

The second thing to look out for is the fabric. Linens and cotton sateens make great warm weather blazers, but those fabrics scream summertime. (A matte cotton blend is a great option; the issue with the cotton sateen is that it is very shiny.) 

Last, white blazers and cardigans look best in the peak of the summer and the peak of winter. Navy is a popular color during the summer and is the perfect color to add to your wardrobe. If you are exceptionally lucky, you may even be able to find a suit that is appropriate for cooler weather, so if you find a great blazer make sure to check and see whether it comes with pants or a skirt.
Speaking of suiting, the sleeveless blouses that you wear under your blazers don't really change that much from season to season. The summer options might be a bit brighter in color, but they can be worn year round. 

The same goes for jewelry and accessories. Unless you are buying starfish necklaces or scarves with a palm tree pattern, you can likely style it during the cooler months. Plus, you don't have to worry about accessories fitting next summer, so they are perfect piece to buy ten months in advance.  
Remember, a low price is only a good deal if you can actually get some use out of it! Good luck and happy hunting!
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LOFT Lush Floral Print Scarf $29.99
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getting the most out of the winter sales

1/15/2014

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The after-Christmas sales get all the glory, but there are still plenty of opportunities to snag a great deal on winter clothes in mid-January. My inbox has been full of emails promoting 40%, 60%, and even 70% off of already reduced items! It's like they are giving it away for free. But just because it is a great deal, doesn't mean that it should come home and live in your closet. Here are the questions you should ask yourself before purchasing winter sale pieces:

1. How many more weeks can I wear this item? I know that it can be difficult to pass by a cashmere turtleneck that is marked down to $20, but is that something you are really going to reach for when the weather warms up? If you live in the Midwest, you probably have at least two more months of wearing winter clothes, but my Southern readers should be wary of buying clothes that won't be able to be worn until next winter. Although there are some basics that you should always have around, I don't suggest buying an entire season's wardrobe many months ahead. Styles change, new items come out that you like better, and your size can fluctuate. Save your clothing budget to get some fun spring pieces that you can enjoy in the nearer future. 

2. Can this transition into spring? Long sleeve shirts are great to stock up on because they can be worn now with sweaters and also on their own for spring. Patterned scarves and brightly colored belts are also perfect to pick up on sale because they are mostly season-less.

3. Would I have liked it enough to pick it off the rack when it was full price? This is different than being willing to pay the full price. Too often people buy sale items because it fits and is a good price, but they don't actually have any positive feelings about the item. If you feel ambivalent about an item, don't buy it! You might have to go into multiple stores to find what you are looking for, but shopping the sale rack does not mean having to settle for the leftovers.

Good luck with your shopping and be sure to let me know in the comments if you find anything especially wonderful on sale!
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new resolutions, new wardrobe?

1/3/2014

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It is the third day of the new year and the time to start putting together action plans for all the resolutions you made after a few glasses of champagne. If you're like most people, you resolved to lose weight, eat better, or exercise more. Those are all great goals but there is one pesky side effect: while your body is in transition, few of your clothes will fit, but you won't want to invest in a whole new wardrobe for what is expected to be a temporary period. Here are a few tips for looking great without breaking the bank:

1. Get a great fitting pair of pants for the middle of your journey. Very few people actually enjoy trying on pants so it is tempting to just "make do" with belts and long shirts to cover ill-fitting bottoms. Don't do it. In a workplace, ill-fitting pants make you look unprofessional and in your personal life, they make you look sloppy. All you need is one pair of black work trousers and one pair of denim to get you through a transitional phase. 

2. To subsist on just a few basic pieces of clothing, accessorize and pair pieces in creative ways.  For example, one day you can wear a black knit sheath dress with a cardigan and a bright scarf. The next day you can wear that  same dress layered over your white oxford shirt and with a belt defining your waist. Then you pair the belt, oxford, and cardigan with your black pants for work and then again on with denim for a weekend look. 

3. Don't give away/throw away all your clothes the second your body shape/weight changes. Less tailored blouses and sweaters will probably still be wearable for a longer time than your pants, so make sure to try everything on before it heads for the door. Also, keep in mind that there will often be unforeseen fluctuations. So while you may be tempted to purge everything in a now-too-big side, I would suggest keeping a couple basics folded away on the top shelf of your closet.

4. Shop for lower quality pieces. This is the time to head to Old Navy and H&M instead of to Banana Republic and J. Crew. Although the pieces won't last as long, you won't feel bad about retiring them after you get to your final goal size. 

5. During a transition phase you will probably be able to wear the same size for several weeks, if not months, at a time so you want to make sure that you can still put together appropriate outfits for all your professional and personal obligations. Here is my list of "the basics" that will keep you looking stylish:
          -1 pair black work pants
          -1 pair dark wash denim in your favorite cut
          -1 black sheath dress
          -1 patterned skirt
          -1 button front oxford shirt
          -1 cardigan in a solid (not neutral) color
          -1 blouse
          -1 long sleeve tee (not black)
          -1 patterned scarf
          -1 neutral belt

Don't think you can look stylish with only 10 pieces in your closet? I will be posting all the outfit combos later this week!
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