Women like nothing more than to indulge in a spot of retail therapy. There is something about buying a new pair of sparkly shoes or a gorgeous handbag that eases everyday life’s stress. We use shopping as a stress reliever, as a social activity, and even as a hobby, but what happens when our money dries up and we can’t afford to indulge anymore? The recession has seen the amount of disposable income we have available plummet, meaning there is less money floating around our bank accounts to spend on the latest fashion must-haves. Here are a few ideas for saving and shopping smart, and look you’re very best.
1- Use money-off vouchers
Who doesn’t love a good bargain? Using a coupon is a sure-fire way of getting one. Before making a purchase, see if you can find printable vouchers or voucher codes for your favorite fashion retailers—you could bag yourself a discount, a 2-for-1 or free delivery for very little work. The best thing about vouchers is that they’re free. Print off the latest coupons and keep them in your purse so you can stay spontaneous.
2- Customize your own clothes
You can buy plain T-shirts, jeans, bags, etc., for very little—remember you usually pay for the design. If you feel like unleashing some of your creative energy, then why not experiment on clothing. Head down to your local craft shop and buy some ribbon, buttons, sequins—whatever takes your fancy, and decorate a plain vest, bag, or anything else you can think of. The result will be a design that no one else in the world will have, and it will be a lot cheaper than buying the manufactured equivalent.
3- Dress up outfits with stunning jewelry
Most girls have a dress that they would never be without—it fits perfectly, the color goes with your coloring, and it makes you feel like a million dollars. You’ll no doubt want to wear it over and over again, but how do you keep it fresh? Team your dress up with some colorful tights, skyscraper heels, or some vintage jewelry to add a different dimension to your outfit. The vintage trend is red hot now, so keep an eye out for some classic vintage pieces that will either spruce up an outfit you already have or could be used as a feature piece.
4- Bargain bins
Many times they’re filled with little gems that will really set off an outfit. A bargain “bin” will most likely be a large basket filled with miscellaneous items such as tights, socks, umbrellas, purses, among other things. These are usually end-of-line items that the store won’t be selling anymore, so they’re likely to be heavily discounted.
5- Sign up for newsletters
All good retailers have an online presence, whether their website or their Twitter or Facebook account. If they have a newsletter or subscriptions list, be sure to join it as you’ll be the first to hear about any new lines/competitions/discounts they may have on the horizon. It is also worth following or liking them on social networking sites as Twitter or Facebook. These are excellent portals for companies to launch competitions. Many offers will be exclusive to fans or subscribers.
When you put on earrings, do you ever think about whether it will slim your face, lengthen or widen it? If you recall, just last week, I wrote a post about WWD’s article from 1928 that mentioned tips on jewelry’s effect on different face shapes. While I gave you 3 tips for necklaces, I only …
Smart Shopping Tips
Women like nothing more than to indulge in a spot of retail therapy. There is something about buying a new pair of sparkly shoes or a gorgeous handbag that eases everyday life’s stress. We use shopping as a stress reliever, as a social activity, and even as a hobby, but what happens when our money dries up and we can’t afford to indulge anymore? The recession has seen the amount of disposable income we have available plummet, meaning there is less money floating around our bank accounts to spend on the latest fashion must-haves. Here are a few ideas for saving and shopping smart, and look you’re very best.
1- Use money-off vouchers
Who doesn’t love a good bargain? Using a coupon is a sure-fire way of getting one. Before making a purchase, see if you can find printable vouchers or voucher codes for your favorite fashion retailers—you could bag yourself a discount, a 2-for-1 or free delivery for very little work. The best thing about vouchers is that they’re free. Print off the latest coupons and keep them in your purse so you can stay spontaneous.
2- Customize your own clothes
You can buy plain T-shirts, jeans, bags, etc., for very little—remember you usually pay for the design. If you feel like unleashing some of your creative energy, then why not experiment on clothing. Head down to your local craft shop and buy some ribbon, buttons, sequins—whatever takes your fancy, and decorate a plain vest, bag, or anything else you can think of. The result will be a design that no one else in the world will have, and it will be a lot cheaper than buying the manufactured equivalent.
3- Dress up outfits with stunning jewelry
Most girls have a dress that they would never be without—it fits perfectly, the color goes with your coloring, and it makes you feel like a million dollars. You’ll no doubt want to wear it over and over again, but how do you keep it fresh? Team your dress up with some colorful tights, skyscraper heels, or some vintage jewelry to add a different dimension to your outfit. The vintage trend is red hot now, so keep an eye out for some classic vintage pieces that will either spruce up an outfit you already have or could be used as a feature piece.
4- Bargain bins
Many times they’re filled with little gems that will really set off an outfit. A bargain “bin” will most likely be a large basket filled with miscellaneous items such as tights, socks, umbrellas, purses, among other things. These are usually end-of-line items that the store won’t be selling anymore, so they’re likely to be heavily discounted.
5- Sign up for newsletters
All good retailers have an online presence, whether their website or their Twitter or Facebook account. If they have a newsletter or subscriptions list, be sure to join it as you’ll be the first to hear about any new lines/competitions/discounts they may have on the horizon. It is also worth following or liking them on social networking sites as Twitter or Facebook. These are excellent portals for companies to launch competitions. Many offers will be exclusive to fans or subscribers.
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How to Choose Earrings for Your Face Shape
When you put on earrings, do you ever think about whether it will slim your face, lengthen or widen it? If you recall, just last week, I wrote a post about WWD’s article from 1928 that mentioned tips on jewelry’s effect on different face shapes. While I gave you 3 tips for necklaces, I only …