some people are born fashionistas, the rest of us just need a little help
As I work toward improving the quality of my wardrobe, I am becoming more and more aware of the quality of my clothes. Quality is a big reason why people tend to buy more expensive brand name clothing. But don’t fret. You don’t have to spend $200 on a pair of jeans to get good quality. You just have to be diligent in doing quality checks when you are out shopping. Here are five things you can do to ensure that you are getting a good quality of clothing, regardless of where you shop.
1. Do the stretch test. Make sure your clothes don’t feel like you can rip them with your bare hands…unless you’re a body builder with abnormally high levels of strength. Fabric should stand up well to being stretched.
2. Check the fabric for any small holes or weakened areas. You want to make sure that the clothes you buy aren’t already damaged. Unfortunately sometimes other people may unknowingly or knowingly snag or rip clothes in stores. You should check for this damage before you take the item home.
3. Make sure any buttons are secure and won’t pop off at the slightest stress. I have been a victim of poorly sewn on buttons that came off after only a couple of washes. I, too, should be more aware.
4. Try it on! You should always try on any clothing that you want to purchase. I am a firm believer that clothes that look good on the rack don’t always look good on your body. Since you are already in the store, try it on. There’s no need to make a wasted trip to return an item you shouldn’t have bought in the first place. Besides, some fabrics aren’t good for everyone to wear and you won’t know until you actually put it on your body.
5. Check the seams. Make sure the sewing is secure and doesn’t look like it will unravel after one or two washings. Sometimes mass produced clothing can have variations in how each item is sewn. Take a moment to check the seams in that piece you plan to buy. You may be able to avoid a wardrobe malfunction by choosing the one with the strongest seams.
If you follow these five steps every time you shop, you will start to notice an increase in the quality and longevity of your clothes. I don’t know about you, but I am unable to do a complete wardrobe overhaul every season so I need clothes that will last at least a couple of years if not more. Plus, once you start doing these quality checks you will notice that the quality of an item isn’t always directly related to the price. This should make you smile. I love getting a great fitting, high quality pair of jeans for under $50. It makes me feel like I have found a way to beat the system. And we all love to beat the system, even if it’s just by buying a cute and well made dress.
Nothing makes an outfit look more polished than a well placed piece of jewelry. However, some of use don’t have the deep pockets to purchase that lovely Harry Winston bauble. Don’t fret. You can still add the sparkle and glimmer of jewels, golds, silvers and bronzes to your wardrobe as you work on creating your dream shopping nest egg. Here are two websites that will feed your jewelry longing without emptying your bank account.
Overstock.com is a website that sells different types of discounted goods such as clothes, bedding, purses and jewelry (of course!). Check it out. I’m sure you’ll find something you like. Overstockjeweler.com is a site that specializes in selling designer inspired jewelry. I recently purchased a ring that was inspired by a Tiffany ring that would normally retail for about $900. The ring I got was a little under $60 and it looks great. It came fairly quickly and was in a lovely little box. One day I will be able to purchase that Tiffany ring (their gold jewelry is SO much more expensive than their silver jewelery) but for now I will be working it out with my Tiffany inspired ring.
Happy jewelry shopping!
I know that some of you breathed a sigh of relief when cute, ballerina flats became popular and flatter heeled boots made a strong comeback. I do agree that flatter shoes making a comeback was definitely a good thing for those of us who needed a break from those 4 inch stilettos. Well the break is partially over…flat shoes are still very popular, however nothing is more sexy than a pair of high heeled sandals. It’s officially spring time and a great pair of high heels is a lovely compliment to a spring dress.
Wearing high heels isn’t something that always comes naturally, and that is totally understandable. For those of you who don’t feel comfortable throwing on a sexy pair of high heeled sandals, you can advance slowly from flats to heels. If you’re a rebel that throws caution to the wind, you can start out with two inch heels until you get totally comfortable in them and move up to three inch heels and so on. If you’re a bit more cautious, you can start with a cute pair of kitten heels and go from there.
Don’t shy away from those high heels! Besides, this spring thicker heels are coming back so you can make your way down the path of stilettos much easier. Once you’re comfortable wearing thicker three inch heels, you will find it easier to transition into those super thin stilettos in no time!
Plus, you may want to step into something like these babies!
I saw these beauties on this fabulous blog called Haute Mimi. This is a wonderful blog that us clueless fashionistas can benefit from. Haute Mimi will definitely expose you to a wide variety of fashion and beauty tips.
I’m a writer and blogger that works in television and film production. I am a Clueless Fashionista dedicated to making fashion fun and easy to understand. If you’d like to learn more about me, visit my website www.ashiasims.com.
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