Tip #96: Accessories

Adding accessories to your wardrobe is the cheapest and easiest way to spruce things up and make you feel good!!

WHAT IS AN ACCESSORY?

• Jewelry
• Hats/Headbands/Hair Accessories
• Belts
• Scarves
• Handbags
• Sunglasses
• Shoes

WHAT ACCESSORIES CAN DO FOR YOU:

• Draw attention to your assets
• Pull attention away from your trouble spots
• Give a variety of looks to a single outfit
• Make a garment look expensive
• Revive or update classic clothing styles
• Relate different items of your outfit to each other
• Define your personal style

GOLDEN RULE IN ACCESSORIZING:
DON'T OVERDO IT!!!!  That's when the look falls apart and "ridiculous" comes together.

• Choosing a focal point (only one statement piece at a time).
• Choosing between large earrings and a large necklace, or any other pieces in close vicinity.
• Refraining from exactly matching your accessories to your outfit or to each other (the vintage owl pendant loses its charm when you pair it with an owl bracelet and owl ring).

Pay attention to your body shape, what works with the outfit, and how much is too much, you can't go all that wrong :)

Tip #95: A Basic Fashion Tip Everyone should know!

Looking truly sexy (versus trampy) involves knowing what to bare - and what to keep under wraps.

Choose ONE (and only ONE) body part to show off.

• If it's cleavage, don't show your legs - wear a long skirt, or pants.  
• If you want to wear a short skirt or shorts, stay covered on top.   
• Tight pants? Do NOT wear a skin tight shirt.

Tip #94: ShopAtHome.com MAJOR Cash Back until August 21st

As most of you know, I LOVE  www.ShopAtHome.com!!  What's NOT to love about getting a check in the mail once a month for spending money I would have spent anyway.  Because I visit www.ShopAtHome.com first for EVERYTHING I buy (including travel), I get an extra check that I spend on me :)

ShopAtHome.com is celebrating 10 years with MAJOR cash back increases.  Here are few biggies:

• Walmart... 13% Cash Back!
• Walgreens... 14.5%
• Target.... 13% Cash Back!!
• Sally Beauty... 17%
• Old Navy... 13%

Shop until August 21st and get these awesome cash backs AND coupons (and Free Shipping in most cases).

Tip #93 : Long Skirts are Back!!

The Fall 2011 runways at New York Fashion Week were absolutely inundated with long skirts: some narrow, some loose, some with high waists, some belted, some gathered, some wool, some printed, some to the ankles and some to the floor.

It’s a refreshing length and can flatter a lot of people when it’s done right.  Personally, I am VERY happy to see that the long skirt is back.  It is very forgiving of leg imperfections (of which I have many).

Define the waist.  The pictures below show a cinched in waist that helps accentuate the hour glass figure.  Fur is big this season.... wear a fur jacket (or any kind of jacket) over the skirt making sure that the hem line stops just at or below the widest part of your hips.

Tip #92: Slash Back-to-School Spending

Avoid paying retail for back-to-school items...

Start at Home..... you might be surprised by how many supplies are already in the house. Send the kids on a scavenger hunt; whoever finds the most items on the lists gets a prize.

Leave the kids at home... if you can!  You are more apt to avoid impulse buys if your daughter isn't there begging for a Justin Bieber notebook.

Shop Tax Free... Visit www.taxadmin.org/fta/rate/sales_holiday.html to find out about which days to shop tax free.  Virginia is August 5-7.

Get Classics for Free... Download books for no cost. Try gutenberg.org.

Make one trip to shop at a store that price-matches... Staples, Office Depot and Office Max all have price-match policies, meaning if you see an advertised price on a certain item, any of the three businesses will honor that figure (including instant rebates). So pore over the circulars, then save gas money.  Even better, shop during the tax-free weekend.

Hold out for the Fall Sales... No one needs 10 new fall outfits on the first day of school. Transition summer clothes by layering until stores start discounting... which usually starts in late September.

Swap before you shop... Clothing exchanges are fun to do with your friends.  Or try a website like zwaggle.com.  Also consider selling old sports equipment and instruments and using the credit or cash to buy the next size at usedsports.com.