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Its Sale Season! 5 Quick Tips For Serious Shoppers

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year – yes, ladies, it’s Sale Season!! If you’re a serious shopper (and bargain hunter) like me, it’s time to get some real damage done (as in credit card- but remember, its a bargain!),  and hopefully set yourself up with some terrific pieces for the year ahead.

Here are 5 tips to get the best deals and have a blast doing it:

1. Be An Early Bird – The cardinal rule in shopping, whether it be for a designer sample sale or at your farmers market for organic veg.  My sister, who works nights, does her grocery shopping at 7pm and always ends up with the lousy produce.  Duh? If shopping for shoes especially, the size 7 and 8’s are gone in a flash if you aren’t early. So set that alarm early ladies, it pays.

2. Make Time – You need time and patience to do a good shop. Trust me, a frenzied trip to a sale on your lunch break is not a good idea.  Clear your schedule for a couple of hours of good, solid shopping time. And do go through the items with patience, no matter how haphazard presentation may be – remember, amidst the polyester there may be some cashmere.

3. Grab as You Go– When scouring a sale, grab items that take your fancy, then edit later.  If you hesitate and think that you can “come back for it later”, chances are it will be gone.

4. Dress Appropriately – Yes, you should always look stylish, but when I’m on a serious shopping trip I like to dress for ease in the changing room.  A pair of tight, skinny jeans, for example, is a nightmare to take on and off in the changing room, as are shirts with too many buttons or other fiddly bits. You want an outfit that is easy to throw on and off when trying on multiple items of clothing.

5. Be Resourceful -Be friendly to sales staff at your favourite shops and they are likely to keep you in the know – when new sales stock is coming in, what may be hidden in the stockroom etc.  Online is also a good place to hunt for bargains when you just can’t face the crowds any longer.  Some good options are:

Designer Warehouse Sales

Shop Bop

Secret Sales

Laugh Your Way To A Healthy Look

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laughter350x330You may wear the most fashionable of clothes, buy the most expensive accessories, and generally have the most attention-catching ensemble; but this doesn’t mean anything if you look all stressed and worn out. In my mind, a healthy look is the foundation of the true fashionista. Forget the washed out look that some people have been going after. Go for the healthy glow that no other look can beat.

But what if you’re way too stressed at work? What if you don’t get much sleep at night? How can you get a head start on chasing the effects of stress away?

Take the doc’s advice: laugh more, look better.

Laughter has short term benefits. It stimulates our organs, thanks to the increased intake of oxygen. It also increases the endorphins released by the brain – these are chemicals which make us happy. When we laugh, we also soothe the tension in our muscles, generally making us feel better.

Of course, it also has long term benefits. Researchers say that laughter may improve our immune system. How so? Laughter releases “good” chemicals, like the endorphins mentioned above and neuropeptides. In the long run, these may help boost the immune system. Laughter also relieves pain, improves confidence, and gives an overall sense of satisfaction.

Combine all these things together and you will definitely have a look that no designer clothing, shiny bling, and colorful make up can emulate. That, my friends, is what will set you apart.

Don’t Get Fooled By A “Skinny” Mirror

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collana01I am sure you have had your share of experiences with “skinny” mirrors. These are mirrors which are not thin or small in dimension, but mirrors which show you a reflection of yourself that is thinner or slimmer than is real. I see a lot of these mirrors everyday! The elevators in our building make me look slimmer. The mirrors in the office bathroom do the same. Needless to say, I like looking at myself in those mirrors.

The sad truth is that these reflections are not for real; they are illusions; and when you face a “REAL” mirror, reality sinks in. One of the worst things that can happen in this regard is when you go to a shop and try on clothes. I do not have conclusive proof about this, but I have a suspicion that some shops may have skinny mirrors.

Have you ever experience trying on a dress at the store and thinking to yourself, “Wow I look good!” Then when you come home and look at yourself wearing the exact same dress (less than an hour later) but at a different mirror, you get a whole different image? Of course, you can always return or exchange the dress, but I can just imagine how adversely affected your moral may be.

The bottom line: know the status of your body, feel comfortable in your own skin, and know what looks good on you. This way, you don’t have to be too affected just in case a skinny mirror gets you!

Photo courtesy of Adverblog

Whats Your Fashion Style?

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Now for the pressing question every gal’s gotta know. 

“What is your fashion style?“

Here are some of our favourite places online you can find it out.

Ladies Home Journal: 10 fun questions, asking you things like: “If you were to open a business, what would it be?”

I Village UK: This one from the UK promises to discover your “inner style”, questions like ” Your favourite Decade Is…” (the 1940’s-50’s was my definitely my favourite- everyone was so coiffed!).

Retro Runway: This one is for the younger gals. Are you stuck in a time warp? Find out at:

Celebrity Beauty Buzz: I admit, I’m a bit of a celebrity fan. How can you not look at what they’re wearing when they have access to the best designers, stylists and fitness trainers?  So are you a Gwyneth or a Gwen?

Celebrity Holiday Style: One more celebrity quiz – as its October tomorrow, the holidays are definitely creeping up.  Find out if you’re a Cate Blanchette or a Kate Hudson when you get into the season this year. Warning: this one is a manual one, so you have to add up the points yourself.  Hey, its good to exercise those grey cells too, ladies!

And a tribute to my all time favourite fahionistas, every girl should know which Sex In the City girl she is! In case you were wondering, I’m Charlotte :-).  But I wish I were Carrie!

Which decade are you? The 70’s!

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1970s:

Where do I start? How about I make a list of the words that come to mind: Hot pants! Platform shoes, jeans, bell bottoms, polyester, mini skirts, maxi skirts, Yves Saint Laurent, Charlie’s Angels, disco fever, cat suits, trouser suits, custom t-shirts, three piece suits, and the list can go on…

This is the decade in which my mother was in her twenties and when I was born. I have seen the pictures, and I have fit into her old clothes that still have a special place in her walk-in closet. I definitely like the whole ‘boho’ look that came out of the late 1960s and 1970s and admit to owning many clothes in that style, but I cannot imagine living during this decade. I’ll leave that look to Sienna Miller and Kate Moss.