I always tell people that they need to be prepared to give clothing a great life. It was designed and intended for attending parties, having dinner with friends, wheeling, and dealing. The fashion trends of 2011 want to be taken out on the town and shown a good time, rather than be treated like a pop-tart for breakfast - mindless and bad for you.
This coming season will be filled with textures, prints, rich fabrics, sheen, and luxury. To me, a lot of the styles featured are very 60s inspired in their simple lines with bold colour blocking and accessories. The fashion is not mute, but rather, screams out, "Hello! Look at me!" Will women outside of the pages of Vogue be able to handle this kind of attention? (Insert a "Hell, Yah!" here)
As always, the details are what create greatness in everything - your job, parenting, client care, architecture, design of all kinds, and fashion. Every day before you leave the house, you should have at least 3 fab accessories visible with every layer of your outfit. So, when you are bundled up, accessories can be seen to make a statement, and when you get to where you are going, take off your coat to reveal an outfit that shows deliberate attention to detail - it shows you made an effort! This can be a scarf, brooch, a great belt, printed tights, amazing jewellery, and statement pieces like shoes, purse, and/or coat.
There is no doubt in my mind that I will get asked if the fall trends will hold through the ages. Uhhh... no, and the entire point is that they are not supposed to. Buy things that you love and you will love them for a long time. Buy practical pieces and you will be a practical person for a long time - whippee ding, just what every woman wants to be described as; practical.
Seeing as you can get amazing pieces for less by shopping at Changes, or consignment in general, money gets taken out of the question. It simply becomes a question of being artistic and detail oriented in your wardrobe art, OR being plain and thoughtless about what your clothing is saying about you. You choose.
Many women exclaim that they don't pay attention to what they are wearing because "they are a Mom," or they are "too old for that." Bullhooey. Stop hiding. Women who dress plain or frumpy do so because that is what they choose for themselves. It is a question of self worth. Dressing in comfort and dressing like you were issued a set of dingy yoga pants in 2003, that you are required to wear every single day for the rest of your life, are very different things. One has intention and style to it, and the other is a cop-out. If you can't do this for yourself, then do it for others. Your co-workers are the ones who look at you every day, and don't kid yourself in thinking that they don't notice what you wear.
Having a limited fashion vocabulary is no excuse to give up. If your car breaks down, and you don't know how to fix it, you wouldn't leave it on the side of the road to rot... I hope. So, if your wardrobe speaks more about the fact that you have ignored yourself than exuding empowerment, then it is time to find an expert to help you. Diva Dens are free at Changes. It is never too late to learn, change, and shine.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Look & Feel Great While Pinching Pennies
You and I know we are living daily with the effects of a recession, whether the media reports the economy to be recovering or not. Our friends and neighbours are paying more and taking home less. So, when we are in penny pinching mode, how do we still feel and look great?
Summer clothing often gets the most wear and tear as we wear it to the pool, park, hiking, etc... Looking at my summer wardrobe, it is clear that it is time for a new look. However, if you feel poor - regardless of how much money you have - it never feels great to spend a lot of money on new clothing.
A new white tank, a white tee, a black, jersey sheath dress that can be worn with a bra, and a cardigan; these are the must buy basics for your summer wardrobe, while being the perfect crossover pieces for fall.
The dress, if black, can be worn with flip flops or a dress shoe, and everything in between. The cardigan should be versatile enough to tie in the front, leave loose, crossover ballet style, or tie back. This will give everything a different look. Grey would be a good choice for the cardigan as it looks good with all other colours throughout the year. Whites should be replaced every season. Chuck your dingy whites or those that have yellowed. You could avoid white altogether, but it is a great basic that will make everything you wear with it, look crisp and new as well.
It is almost August, which means we are in full swing for fall consignments. Take the time to look at your fall wardrobe now. It is probably packed away or at the back of your closet, so it should look fresh to you. donate or consign the items that you are not enthused about, or those that don't fit you properly. Don't waste emotions on trying to fit your body to clothing. get rid of it and get something you will love to wear. A lot of women feel bad for paying a lot of money for things, yet they don't wear them. Nothing will change, other than the item staring at you every time you open your closet, so cut your losses and sell or donate it. If you are not excited to look at your clothing, you won't be excited to wear it! Make a consignment appointment and try consign some items. The money you make from these pieces will be wisely re-invested into something you do like, allowing you to spend zero dollars for something new!
Book a Diva Den at Changes - a free stylist appointment - to save money and time in getting your existing wardrobe to work for you. We will show you the 4 basics that I have spoke about, but will also make these work with your favourite items from home to teach you how to create even more versatility in your closet.
While you're at it, try some hair accessories to stretch out the time between your next hair cut, saving more money. Twist a small amount of the front of your hair back and secure it with a hidden bobby pin. There are plenty of websites online to show you hair tricks and tips. If you let your hair go sloppy and you don't like what you are wearing, you might as well post a sign on yourself saying, "In Hibernation until the money rolls in again!"
Try some of the many bottles of hair products in your cupboard to see if you like them or not. Finish the dregs before buying new stuff. We all have makeup that we received as a bonus in some pack or another. Why not test out the eye shadows to see what you think. Look into your jewellery drawer and try on a few pieces you haven't worn in a while. If you don't like this stuff, then get rid of it, as clutter is another culprit to make the house and mind feel overwhelmed.
There is no question that spending money on "stuff," is fun. As a retailer, I want people to spend money in my store, obviously, but I want people to feel great and buy wisely so they keep coming back! At Changes, there is the unique twist of being able to consign so that you don't have to outlay more money, but rather, get your wardrobe working for you.
Spending your money more wisely at a locally owned and community invested store will be a great win-win. When you feel like you shouldn't spend the money, remember to consign, and never let a thrifty time be an excuse to feel unpolished.
To book a Diva Den, call: 604-222-1505. Enjoy your closet!
Summer clothing often gets the most wear and tear as we wear it to the pool, park, hiking, etc... Looking at my summer wardrobe, it is clear that it is time for a new look. However, if you feel poor - regardless of how much money you have - it never feels great to spend a lot of money on new clothing.
A new white tank, a white tee, a black, jersey sheath dress that can be worn with a bra, and a cardigan; these are the must buy basics for your summer wardrobe, while being the perfect crossover pieces for fall.
The dress, if black, can be worn with flip flops or a dress shoe, and everything in between. The cardigan should be versatile enough to tie in the front, leave loose, crossover ballet style, or tie back. This will give everything a different look. Grey would be a good choice for the cardigan as it looks good with all other colours throughout the year. Whites should be replaced every season. Chuck your dingy whites or those that have yellowed. You could avoid white altogether, but it is a great basic that will make everything you wear with it, look crisp and new as well.
It is almost August, which means we are in full swing for fall consignments. Take the time to look at your fall wardrobe now. It is probably packed away or at the back of your closet, so it should look fresh to you. donate or consign the items that you are not enthused about, or those that don't fit you properly. Don't waste emotions on trying to fit your body to clothing. get rid of it and get something you will love to wear. A lot of women feel bad for paying a lot of money for things, yet they don't wear them. Nothing will change, other than the item staring at you every time you open your closet, so cut your losses and sell or donate it. If you are not excited to look at your clothing, you won't be excited to wear it! Make a consignment appointment and try consign some items. The money you make from these pieces will be wisely re-invested into something you do like, allowing you to spend zero dollars for something new!
Book a Diva Den at Changes - a free stylist appointment - to save money and time in getting your existing wardrobe to work for you. We will show you the 4 basics that I have spoke about, but will also make these work with your favourite items from home to teach you how to create even more versatility in your closet.
While you're at it, try some hair accessories to stretch out the time between your next hair cut, saving more money. Twist a small amount of the front of your hair back and secure it with a hidden bobby pin. There are plenty of websites online to show you hair tricks and tips. If you let your hair go sloppy and you don't like what you are wearing, you might as well post a sign on yourself saying, "In Hibernation until the money rolls in again!"
Try some of the many bottles of hair products in your cupboard to see if you like them or not. Finish the dregs before buying new stuff. We all have makeup that we received as a bonus in some pack or another. Why not test out the eye shadows to see what you think. Look into your jewellery drawer and try on a few pieces you haven't worn in a while. If you don't like this stuff, then get rid of it, as clutter is another culprit to make the house and mind feel overwhelmed.
There is no question that spending money on "stuff," is fun. As a retailer, I want people to spend money in my store, obviously, but I want people to feel great and buy wisely so they keep coming back! At Changes, there is the unique twist of being able to consign so that you don't have to outlay more money, but rather, get your wardrobe working for you.
Spending your money more wisely at a locally owned and community invested store will be a great win-win. When you feel like you shouldn't spend the money, remember to consign, and never let a thrifty time be an excuse to feel unpolished.
To book a Diva Den, call: 604-222-1505. Enjoy your closet!
Monday, March 14, 2011
As Far As The "I" Can See
I write this from the Big Island, Hawaii where turquoise waters meet black lava cliffs that are decorated with palms and hibiscus, creating perfection for the eye to drink in. For my Mom and I, Hawaii feels like home.
During the recent tsunami, we sat sipping a latte and marveling at the beauty of this island, while others scrambled to make travel arrangements back to the mainland. When a tsunami cannot chase you away, you know that you are exactly where you want to be. That blissful moment of being present and happy may not seem like much, but for a busy entrepreneur and constant planner like me, moments like that are rare.
The Farmer's Markets throughout every island in Hawaii are filled with artisans who are generally from the mainland USA. Most of the stories have the same theme in that they had visualized a better life for themselves in Hawaii, so made it happen. Most are not wealthy, and many left great paying jobs to make soy candles or sell organic veggies for a better world and life.
I love being around people who feel no boundaries in life. They know that happiness has only one obstacle which begins and ends with the letter, "I."
I cannot say that I "Live Aloha," all the time, but it is great to be reminded to keep trying.
During the recent tsunami, we sat sipping a latte and marveling at the beauty of this island, while others scrambled to make travel arrangements back to the mainland. When a tsunami cannot chase you away, you know that you are exactly where you want to be. That blissful moment of being present and happy may not seem like much, but for a busy entrepreneur and constant planner like me, moments like that are rare.
The Farmer's Markets throughout every island in Hawaii are filled with artisans who are generally from the mainland USA. Most of the stories have the same theme in that they had visualized a better life for themselves in Hawaii, so made it happen. Most are not wealthy, and many left great paying jobs to make soy candles or sell organic veggies for a better world and life.
I love being around people who feel no boundaries in life. They know that happiness has only one obstacle which begins and ends with the letter, "I."
I cannot say that I "Live Aloha," all the time, but it is great to be reminded to keep trying.
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