Clothes Shopping Tips for the Recession

By Kiera Clark

Is the state of the economy cramping your style? If so then check out these recession-busting clothes shopping tips!

I am the ultimate bargain shopper when it comes to clothes. Half the fun for me is finding an amazing steal. Some people spend away their money so quickly on a few clothing pieces. This article will hopefully give advice on stretching the buck to accommodate a whole wardrobe. The key is knowing when the best times to go hunting for a bargain are.

Watch for end of season sales. End of season sales can give you amazing deals. The only drawback is they might not fit the coming season's weather. If this occurs all you have to do is incorporate the item into your wardrobe. For example: end of winter you will find lots of long sleeves for dirt cheap. Well Spring is the next season not summer, which means more rain and the occasional freak snowstorm. Also in the evening it will be nice to have some long sleeve shirts or sweaters to throw over a T-shirt. Just be intuitive while you're shopping the racks and think creatively. This will ensure a money-saving and more unique wardrobe.

Take advantage of the bad economy. Due to our shrinking economy many stores are offering great promotions and huge sales, in order to make ends meet. Though the economy going down is definitely a drawback, the sales can be used to the advantage of shoppers. Check out your local malls and see what kind of deals are being offered. You might be able to snag some "just in" clothing items for the price of last season's!

Shop with a thrifty eye. Be on the lookout for a great sale and check out the markdowns. The first thing I do when I enter a clothing store is peruse the clearance racks. I almost always can find something I like (or even love) for great prices. Don't just buy the item because it is on sale, but make sure you will wear it first. You won't be saving money in the long run if you're buying a clothing item that you will only wear once. Be smart and don't go over your budget.

Overall you don't have to spend a fortune to dress stylishly. Check online and in ads for coupons to save even more. Remember you don't always need the "it" brand. You can usually get almost the same item for half the money from other, less common retailers. If you follow these steps you will be shocked to see how much money you end up saving.

Good luck and happy hunting!

Kiera Clark lives in Alaska. She enjoys playing soccer, skiing, and spending time with family and friends.

Modest Petite Fashion Guide - Spring/Summer 2009

By Traci Wennerholm

Here's how Petites can wear what's hot off the runway this Spring and Summer.

Finding modest spring and summer fashions can be difficult. Finding modest petite fashions during the spring and summer can be even harder. Many retailers have opted to stop carrying petite lines, or only carry petite lines for order over the internet. This season carries some of the hottest blends of bold black and whites, metallics, and deep sea colors filled with beautiful aqua and turquoise hues. And as you've pored over fashion magazines, perhaps you've grown a little frustrated thinking some of these fashions are cute, but couldn't be worn on you.

Not true!

This guide will go over some of the spring and summer trends, teach you how to incorporate them into your look, and show you where to go to find them.

Black and White
Black and white came back again this year. So keep that cute black and white shirt you bought last summer and use it again this year. However, while florals took over the runway last year, most of the black and white styles seen this year were patterns, and black and white bold combinations. But if you bought floral last year, keep it around. It will still work and will look great another year. On your petite frame, you'll need to consider your shape when picking the perfect black and white color combination:

• If you consider yourself a rectangular shape, create the illusion of a smaller waistline by wearing a black belt. Or choose an outfit with a black band that fits just below your bust line.
  
• If you consider yourself more triangular (smaller on top with wider hips and thighs) wear a black skirt, pants, or bottom with a white shirt or blouse. This will slim down your bottom half and draw more attention to your top half.
  
• If you consider yourself top heavy with smaller hips and thighs, consider going with the opposite. You will want a black shirt or black and white combination shirt with white pants. This will even out your body proportion and give you the appearance of a more even shape.

Neutral Tones
Another combination you'll be seeing a lot of this spring and summer are neutral tones. While some cringe, others cheer the arrival of neutral toned clothing themes. Cream and sand colors are especially popular. If you are petite, wearing these colors can sometimes present a bit of a challenge. If you choose to wear these colors, follow the same dressing guidelines that you would for the black and white combinations. Wear cream colored pants and a darker brown top, or vice versa. Or wear a light or white blouse with dark brown trouser or linen pants.

Beach Inspired Colors
Another popular look on the runway was the arrival of beach inspired colors. Turquoise, aqua, and marine hued tones were seen everywhere. Most of these hues were seen on chiffon or jersey fabrics and inspired flowing looks. If you're petite, oftentimes wearing a flowing chiffon dress probably isn't the most flattering. Instead, dress it up and give definition to your shorter frame by adding a belt over the dress or tunic style shirt.

Yellows and Metallics
Yellows and metallics are also coming back for a second year. While fun, elegant, and flirty colors, those who are petite can easily over do these trends. When wearing yellow, shy away from wearing a lot of yellow. A yellow bathing suit, shirt, or skirt may be too much. Instead, stick with a yellow pair of shoes, a handbag, or a bracelet. A small amount of yellow will draw attention away from your smaller frame.

Metallics should also be worn much in the same way as yellows. Metallics can look overwhelming on a petite frame. So it's also suggested that petite frames stick to shoes or a handbag when wearing this style. Golds and silver metallics tend to be the most popular metallics to wear, but different metallic hues are popping up.

Now that you've learned how to wear the runway looks on your smaller frame, where can you go to buy these looks? And most especially, where can you go to buy these looks in petite sizes?

Kohl's
One place to look is Kohl's. They offer a large selection of petite styles. They now offer the Vera Wang Petite collection. Her style adds a romantic charm to many of today's popular looks and is also affordable and stylish. Check out the stylish black pleated top by Apt. 9 for petites. This flowing pleated top is only $17, and looks great when paired with white pants, a skirt, or sand colored khaki pants.

ModBe
If you're shopping for a bathing suit, look at places like ModBe. They offer great online bathing suit shopping guides as well as suggestions for what suits will fit your shape and size best. The '09 swim guide will be out shortly, but if you're heading out for spring break and are starting to look for a suit make sure you take along these handy tips from ModBe designers. Consider v-neck tops, hip length tops, above the knee hemlines, halter swim tops, and brief cut bottoms. Finding a suit with fabric that is cinched together in the middle is also flattering on a petite top. It gives your top side a fuller look and draws attention away from your bottom area. One look that was popular with many petites last year was the Gold Halter. It mixed contrasting light and dark neutral colors in a flattering petite fit.

JC Penney
If you want a good selection of tops, pants, and dresses consider JC Penney. JC Penney has revamped their styles to include a lot of looks that appeal to the tastes of younger generations. Consider the black and khaki dress with cute tie for spring. It easily slims the waistline and draws attention away from wider hips and thighs while incorporating the modern style and look of black and white contrasting color combinations.

If you are petite I hope this guide helped you to find modest, fashionable clothing that fits your smaller frame.

Time to Clean Out Your Closet?

By Sarah Rance
Is your wardrobe stuffed with items you never wear? Well it’s that time of year to clean out your closet!

First things first. Get two bags:

1. one for toss
2. the other for consignment or donation

Shoes
I love shoes. I have over thirty pairs. But some times it’s good to let go of the shoes you know you won’t wear.

• Have a cute pair of shoes but they are just too small and you never had the strength to toss them? It’s time to cut the umbilical cord. Toss or donate.
• Your awesome pair of Nike tennis shoes but the sole is falling apart. Toss.
  
• A pair of flip-flops but one of their straps is broken. It’s time to toss those.
  
• Any shoes you KNOW you’d never wear but just never took the time to get rid of them or felt bad for throwing them away. Toss or donate (I’m giving you permission).

Tops
Possessing a lot of tops isn’t a bad thing. But let’s say you don’t wear half of them. How much space are you using with those unnoticed items? Also, you could donate them to people who actually WOULD wear them or take them to a consignment store and earn credits or even money.

• Cute, comfortable, and all the rest but there’s a stain. Unless you can cover it up in a non-awkward way, toss it.
• You LOVE this shirt but it’s too short. Sometimes you can layer those shirts, but other times, it looks like you’re trying to hold onto a childhood shirt and it can look awkward. Toss or donate.
• Have had the shirt for years but never have worn it and it just sits unnoticed in your closet. Toss or donate.
• Everything is fine except the armpit-mark. You don’t want to walk around knowing that you can’t lift up your arms because you have a noticeable and embarrassing stain under your arm. You’ll feel uncomfortable and stiff. It’s time to toss that shirt.
• The shirt is too small and you tell yourself you’ll lose weight THEN you can wear it. You should probably let it go. It isn’t worth having. Toss or donate.
• Long sleeved but doesn’t reach all the way to your wrist. You can roll them up to make the quartered sleeved shirt. Otherwise toss or donate. Same goes for jackets and sweaters and pullovers.
• If the shirt has a un-repairable rip, button missing and you don’t have the extra, or it's just old and out of style. Toss or donate.
  
• When shirts have rips near the bust it looks awkward. Those just toss!

Bottoms
Jeans are probably the hardest clothing to shop for. Different sizes vary in a large mass. 7’s feel like 5’s where 9’s feel like 11’s. A good way to find jeans is to first figure out your size comparing to that certain store. Personally, I shop at Target for jeans because I KNOW my size there. But if I go to Wal-Mart, for an example, I might be a completely different size according to their products. Find your size according to the store.

• If you can’t pull the jeans above your thighs, that’s the sign they are too small. Or if they’re skin tight and hard to move around in and aren’t comfortable. Toss or donate.
• Ripped where skin shouldn’t be exposed. TOSS!
• Just the cutest pants in the world. But they stop at your ankles. Either you can roll them up or trim into Capri’s, or make into Bermudas. But otherwise toss or donate. (Please don’t wear high waters!)
• Short shorts? Toss or donate.
• The skirt is just too short. Or the skirt is supposed to be long but stops at your ankles. (Again, don’t keep things that may look like you’re still holding onto your childhood clothes.) Toss or donate.
• Never wear the skirt? Toss or donate.
• Have a “busy” skirt and never can find anything to go along with it? Toss or donate (don’t let those items crowd your space).
• If the skirt is tight around the hips and when you bend over you expose too much skin, those you don’t want. Toss or donate.

Dresses
Usually girls like to keep dresses from the past and such, which isn’t a bad thing. But sometimes those things just need to be let go of. Maybe some other girl can enjoy a new dress that you grew out of. Who knows.

• Too short? Toss or donate.
• If you have a hard time putting it on because it’s so tight, that’s a good sign of "good riddance". Toss or donate.
• Zipper broke? Button missing? Ripped? Unless they can be repaired, time to say bye-bye. Toss or donate.

Feminine Articles
What I hate the most about digging through my drawer to find a pair of socks is all the stuff I CAN find. I have found some things that I never knew I had and things I can’t believe I still had! Time to clean out the ol’ sock drawer.

• Holes in the sock? Simply toss.
• Missing the other pair of sock. Toss (don’t donate just a sock).
• Never wear the pair of socks? Toss or donate.
• An out-grown bra you’ve forgotten about. Toss or donate. (I’d suggest to just toss.)
• Holes in your underwear? Eww. Time to get rid of those and get new ones!
• Then whatever else you can find and KNOW you’d never use, toss or donate.

Soon, you’ll be looking at a closet with lots of extra room. Also you can find items you DO need. Remember, don’t hold onto things with a tight grip but with an open palm. Don’t be afraid to let go. You never know who will enjoy your donated items.

I give all my old clothes to younger girls in my church and find pleasure looking at them in MY clothes! It’s such an awesome feeling to know those girls found pleasure in what I found pleasure in. It gives my heart a warm feeling.

Sarah Rance has lived most of her life in a rainy town in Washington. She enjoys outdoor activities, traveling, and loves Cuties and strawberries. Sarah has a big family and loves spending time with them. She is also in the process of writing a movie and hoping to get it filmed in the summer.

Individuality is "In" this Spring

By Sheralyn Pratt
If you’re poking around for the latest trends, you’ll discover something quite unusual.

Right now most of the “in” looks were created not by designers, but by people just wearing what feels right to them. And the current media fashion darling who graces the Spring 2009 Spring fashion issue of Vogue would be none other than our First Lady, Michelle Obama.

So in addition to individuality, modesty is in because Michelle Obama likes to dress modestly.

Following her cue, I will bet that fashion magazines will shoot for classy and elegant this year. Knee-length skirts, floor-length formals and narrow-heeled shoes will be all the rage.

Why? Because that’s what Michelle Obama feels comfortable in and, like Jackie Kennedy before her, she makes her style look good enough to shape the fashion industry as a whole.

But unless you’re a woman in your 40’s, you don’t want to copy the First Lady’s style outright. Michelle Obama is her own individual, and so should you be!

A quick look around shows cases of individual style triumphing everywhere. Whitney Port wore her own crocheted flower head wrap on the reality TV show “The City” and suddenly everyone’s jumping on the bandwagon, including the cast of Gossip Girl. Suddenly it’s cool to crochet!

Beyonce’s titanium robot glove is probably not going to catch on any time soon, but it is still her concept and design, and I can promise she doesn’t care whether you like it or not.

As much as the experts and magazines want you to defer your fashion choices to them, this year is the year to dig deep down within yourself and find the look that fits you so well that others walking by will want to copy it.

There are a few ground rules, however:
Frumpy, grunge and ill-fitting are definitely not in. As a rule those things are never in and make even billionaires look like they’re homeless, but this next year, with the First Lady as our spring mentor, what you can look forward to being in is:

• Modesty— no plunging necklines or hiked up skirts
• Strength— Spring Vogue cover shows a fully-covered Michelle, baring only her solid deltoids
• Tailored— complimenting fabrics of varying textures

Accenting Michelle Obama’s classy, third-wave feminist fashion canvas is the national recession we find ourselves in. This means happy colors are in. Blacks, browns and muted hues are not the way to go. People are looking for sunshine and happy news, so happy colors are going to be the rage. (Look at Glamour Magazine's Top 10 Best Dresses at the 2009 Golden Globes. Happy colors, all! And notice the lengths of the dresses.)

Also, the economy means that homemade/recycled looks are going to have new charm—like Whitney Port’s crocheted head wrap.

Modest, happy and handmade are in! So consult your inner fashion diva, because this is the season for you to start a trend!

Sheralyn is an author who lives in Park City, Utah where she freelance writes between writing novels. She is currently working on her 5th novel.