Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
We all spend our time in our houses so we’ve got to spend it in the best way. If we’ve got children we also need to keep our house clean and toxicfree. Media are talking about bio-house, bio-engineering so it seems that now we are all living in a non-bio environment. Too less I heard about bio-furniture.
A real piece of ecological furniture should have 100% materials ecological: recyclable and possibly recycled wood and toxic free paint (water based). Trees are the world’s only renewable structural material, let’s use them. The pack took 3 weeks from the order to arrive in America shipped directly from Italy, well packed and with well explained instrutions. My husband helped me mounting the wardrobe and the two beds. We found a ready to mount wardrobe with screws and all pieces needed. I ‘d like every single piece in my house to be part of an ecological forniture. I spent a fabulous weekend with my family.
Searching around the web I found very few articles about this topic. It seems that Europe forniture industry has more care rather than American one. So I found an italian firm called Mazzali producing bio-forniture like wardrobes, beds, bedsides tables. I’ve ordered from the e-shop two beds for my son and me and a wardrobe, pure italian style and toxicfree, hoping we’re just in a better future. I was a bit suspicious but I’ve got to admit the material’s high quality standard. You need to know how to distinguish what is pure ecological from what is not. Is not enough for a piece of forniture to have the label “recyclable”.
Tags: Changing, From, Start, Wardrobe, World
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Saturday, August 1st, 2009
When you get to a certain age it slowly starts to dawn on us ladies that over the years we’ve probably accumulated more clothes in our wardrobe (not to mention the spare bedroom’s wardrobes, every chests of drawers in the house, all the bedside tables, the attics, under the bed, kitchen drawers and even in the garage) than we could possibly wear in a year. And yet we never have anything to wear!
If that sounds like you then follow these few basic guidelines and not only will you suddenly have tons of space in your home for important things like the grandchildren’s letters and pictures, but you will also have a streamlined capsule wardrobe and always something nice to wear.
Firstly – be ruthless. Sort through your clothes and throw everything that you haven’t worn in the last year in to the charity shop pile. If all the four seasons have passed and you haven’t worn something then it is extremely unlikely you are going to wear it ever again. Don’t hold on to anything that’s too small in the (vain!) hope that you will slim in to it one day.
Next, sort out the remaining clothes in to different colours. How many colours do you have? Most people over forty should stick to a basic palette consisting of a few colours that they know suit them. If there’s a little top or blouse standing out on its own because it’s lime green, or custard yellow then are you really sure the colour’s you? If not, then bung it in the charity pile!
Anything that’s torn or a bit dirty then put into a rubbish pile, as however nice you look in something there is nothing worse than stains or bursting seams.
Now you have the start of your ideal capsule wardrobe. The next step is to check that you have the 10 or so essential clothes items that every woman, no matter what her age, should have. These are the clothes it is worth spending a little more on – spend wisely and they will form the basis of your outfit every day, whatever the occasion.
These include well fitting underwear, a versatile silk scarf or pashmina and beautifully cut separates that you can mix and match. Ensure you have a tailored jacket or blazer that you can dress up or down and invest in a cashmere or wool coat in a classic colour and cut as it will go with everything and last you years and years.
If you don’t already, next sort out your wardrobe in to winter and summer clothes. Now’s the perfect time to pack away all your summer skirts and linen dresses. Take a little time to fold them properly, place tissue paper in between, and remember to pop in a little sachet of lavender, and you’ll be rewarded next year with a summer wardrobe that’s ready to go as soon as the sun comes out.
Finally colour code your clothes. Some people advise hanging skirts and jackets and so on together but I would recommend that you put similar colours together. Not only will this look much nicer it suddenly becomes so easy to find things. If you haven’t the space to hang everything, put similar tops and jumpers together in to clear boxes so you can see what is inside or label them on the outside.
All this will only take a couple of hours or so and it’s well worth the effort. You may never say you have nothing to wear ever again!
Tags: Capsule, Create, perfect, Wardrobe
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Sunday, July 5th, 2009
A new year approaching always gets me thinking about New Year’s resolutions . One resolution that is easy to make, keep and practical is to resolve to update and amend the contents of your wardrobe. This not only makes you feel good; after all you can give the unwanted clothes to charity, but it also allows you to evaluate your clothes and make room for the coming seasons purchases.
The best way to start is to take everything out of your wardrobe and put it all on the bed. Make several piles of clothes: those that you wear regularly, those for special occasions, those that you haven’t worn in the last two years and those that don’t fit you.
It is those that don’t fit you that are the easiest pile to sort out first. If they don’t fit you now, they are unlikely to fit you in the coming year. therefore the best thing to do with them is to donate them all to charity. If you can’t bear to do this have a clothes swap party with your friends – that way others get to wear your cast offs and you never know you might end up with some new clothes yourself.
The next pile to deal with is the ones that you haven’t worn in the last two years. Look at each piece of clothing objectively – is it something that is still fashionable? Does it suit you? Or is it something that you bought on a whim in the sales? Remember if these pieces are in good condition you may be able to sell them at a second hand shop or a car boot sale.
After going through these two piles ruthlessly – you should have freed up a fair amount of space in your wardrobe. the nest thing to do id to look at the remaining piles of clothes. Are they all in good condition, presentable and fashionable? Also look and see if there are any items in you core wardrobe that are missing. Do you have that ever important little black dress? Have you got a suit that will be useful at many miscellaneous occasions?
This will help you to evaluate what is missing and therefore you will know what to aim for when it is time to fill in the gaps – And what better time than now?
Tags: Resolutions, Wardrobe
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Friday, June 26th, 2009
It is not unusual to plan a basic wardrobe that takes you from day to evening and from casual to formal occasion and coordinates to extend the range of use of each piece. Jewelry is, of course a wonderful accessory to this wardrobe and your basic jewelry wardrobe needs some planning. Some of these pieces will be chosen to complement your basic wardrobe, others to fit within your own personal style and others to be up-to-date statement of fashion. When you buy pieces you will wear frequently, buy the best quality you can afford.
Chains
A classic gold or gold-filled chain is a lifetime investment that can be worn in many ways for many years. When you chose a gold or gold-filled chain, be sure the clasp is strong, properly sized and of the same metal so it doesn’t change colors or wear out early. For a basic versatile chain, you can find a narrow box-clasp or push-release clasp that will allow you to use it for pendants with smaller bails.
If a trendy layered look using different sizes, shapes and metals in your chains suits your style, a more inexpensive fashion jewelry option may be a good alternative. These chains can be used singly or in groups and either braided or twisted for a unique look.
Earrings
While you probably can’t go wrong with post earrings in diamonds, pearls or gold balls, you may prefer another option. You might opt for a one inch simple or decorated hoop earring that is still conservative enough to wear nearly anywhere, but give you a little more movement and works within your own style. These conservative earrings will be appropriate at a job interview, a wedding or a trip to the zoo. You will get a lot of mileage out of a good classic pair of earrings and wear them with a variety of outfits..
If you want to wear some of the new cluster earrings, you might get a fashion jewelry pair and if you have problems with base metals and your ears, you can either wear them for a short time or put some non-allergenic ear wires on them.
Bracelets
Bracelets are a good accent with nearly any outfit. A chain in either silver or gold (or both) adds a little sparkle. A bangle bracelet is a classic, but if it is too big, it can make your work awkward. A cuff can be a stunning accessory when it is wide or a subtle accent if it is narrow. Layering your chain bracelets with cuff bracelets gives a more edgy look. An interesting artisan made bracelet can be a great addition to your jewelry wardrobe if it is in classic rather than faddish stone choices.
Pearls make a timeless statement of elegance, and these days cultured fresh water pearls are an affordable option to salt water pearls. A simple strand of pearls with pearl studs can be worn for formal and work occasions. The new floating pearls strung on a thin chain is a youthful but still elegant look. Fresh water pearls come in colors from traditional white to black, pink and other colors.
Matching jewelry sets can be a valuable addition to your jewelry wardrobe. Two matching pieces such as earrings and a bracelet or a necklace and earrings look great, but more than two is just too much
Once you have your basic pieces, you can add more pieces that suit your style or pieces that suit the current trend to your jewelry wardrobe. Mix and match your jewelry in a wide variety of ways to create your own look.
Tags: Basic, Jewelry, Wardrobe
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Thursday, June 25th, 2009
Wouldn’t it be grand if we had endless funds to spruce up our
fall wardrobe? Well most of us don’t but not to worry. Here’s
some help to build your fall wardrobe on a budget.
First off forget the designe names. Yes they’re great if you can
afford them but if not take their ideas and then go shopping.
There are plenty of similar after market designs that are very
close and won’t break the bank.
Items such as blue jeans, pheasant skirts, v necks, and wool
sweaters can be purchased without the designer name. Also watch
for some great sales as the stores begin to already bring in
their winter stock. This time of year you can save anywhere from
30% to 50%.
Looking fresh and stylish is important and when you get to save
good money you don’t feel so bad about tossing an item that’s
starting to show its wear.
You can also save plenty on shoes by watching for sale or
shopping at a shoe warehouse. The shoe warehouses have plenty of
style choices you just might have to hunt a little bit to find
your size. Well worth the time for the savings!
Most important is fit and comfort, and of course you need to be
certain they’ll work with your wardrobe. This season the wedge
continues in popularity. Slip ons are also still very popular
and we are seeing imitation fur linings this season. Nice and
cozy and still very classy! If you shop carefully you can add
several pair for the price of one pair of designer shoes.
Lastly you can save a whole lot of money on your jewelry.
Costume jewelry is affordable and the selection is great. If you
stick to costume jewelry you can buy pieces for the fall season
and not feel bad because you spent too much and they are out of
style by next year.
There are many good online store with very reasonable prices.
Don’t forget to have a hunt through your old jewelry as well -
you might be surprised at what you find that has made it back
into style. Large clunky jewelry continues to be instyle as well
as wood and bone jewelry. Color is making a big statement this
year. Bold is beautiful this season!
If you need to get some ideas for the spring season – this
months women’s magazines have some great articles and examples.
Vogue, Elle, and In Style are all full of excellent fashion
pages.
So don’t fret, you can look like a million dollars on a shoe
string budget with a little creativity and hunting! Make your
fashion statement
Tags: Budget, Build, Fall, Wardrobe
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Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009
It is tough times for our disposable income. Our hard earned cash is being pulled in so many directions and many of us women are finding that we are unable to spend on fashion this season – as much as we might like to!
So what can we do to bring some new life into our winter wardrobes without breaking the bank?
Well, when the going gets tough, the tough get smart! So read on for some key tips on how to update your wardrobe for this season without breaking the bank.
The first reassuring fact for us all this season is that there are no ‘new’ fashions this season – all the key looks this season are trends we have seen before – so we can go back to our wardrobes and re-invent, re-style and accessorise many items in there.
Winter coats
If you are in the market for a new winter coat this year, there are a couple of areas you need to give some thought; firstly, do you want your coat to make a colourful statement? If so, you will find fashion colours along the high street, in particular, purple or red will give you the dramatic, eye-catching look you are after.
Secondly, if you are looking for a winter coat which is a little more of an investment, choose a neutral shade such as Charcoal Grey, Chocolate Brown, Camel or Pewter. You can then so easily team it with a brightly coloured scarf, gloves and hat to bring it alive.
For those of us who are bringing our trusty winter coat out of the cupboard, give it a fresh look and have it professionally dry cleaned – many of us forget to freshen up our outerwear each year but our coats take a battering with the weather, hanging on backs of doors, thrown in and out of cars etc. Then, you can inject colour, for example, with a purple scarf, purple leather gloves etc and you will have instantly brought your look right up to date.
One of the key trends this season is a tartan. A fabulous way to update your winter coat is to add a tartan corsage. It will give a new dimension to the coat itself and create interest for your style. You’ll find them at various high street stores or online Scottish websites for authentic tartan. But why not have a go at making one yourself?
Dresses
Even though as I write this, the temperature has plummeted to -1 degrees(!), in general we are seeing less of a difference in our seasons. This is showing through the fashions and if you take a look at the party dresses in the shops for this season, you will see how spring like they look.
So, take your wrap dress you wore throughout spring and summer, team it with some funky coloured high denier tights and add your long boots. You’ve created yourself a new outfit with existing items from your wardrobe! If your dress has short or three quarter sleeves, why not think about wearing a long sleeved t-shirt in a complimentary colour, underneath. Not only do you keep warm that way but you also achieve the trendy layered look with ease.
Purple
Many of us will have Christmas parties to attend in the coming weeks. You will no doubt have an outfit lurking in the wardrobe which can be re-invented for this occasion. By simply adding a purple accessory such as a bracelet, shoes, necklace or clutch bag, you will give the outfit a stunning new look.
Make-Up
We often are so keen to buy new clothes and update our look that we forget that one of the easiest ways we can do this is through our make-up. Selecting and wearing a new eye pencil in a different shade can transform our look. Make sure you receive advice from your local Style Consultant on your best shades.
Knit
In my work as an Image Consultant, while out personal shopping with clients, I have noticed many woolly, soft scarves in fantastic seasonal colours such as purple and red. However, many of my clients, instead of rushing out to the shops to purchase one of these accessories, are instead, picking up their knitting needles and creating their own! So, don’t be afraid to do the same – you may well find that all your friends want one of your creations too!
Buttons
Knitwear is a continuing trend this season. So why not re-style last year’s cardigans or sweaters? You can do this very easily with changing the buttons on an existing cardigan. For example, I recently removed the coloured buttons of one of my old cardigans and replaced with more glamorous buttons. They were very inexpensive, took just a few minutes to sew on and completely transformed the look of the cardigan. It can now not only be worn with jeans but with the glamorous buttons, would compliment any party dress.
There are so many things you can do to give your wardrobe an updated look without breaking the budget. I have tried to give you some ideas to start you off but you could always consult your local Style Consultant for more ideas.
Tags: Beat, Credit, Crunch, Update, Wardrobe
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Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009
Winter is always a busy time of the year. Like everybody, you too look forward to celebrate Christmas, New Year and Valentines Day with gaiety. However if the biting cold of the exteriors affects you, your festive celebrations may go for a toss. So keep your wardrobe ready much before winter sets in.
To be in fashion during winter can be quite challenging. The right kind of winter fashion apparel can help you win many admiring gazes.
Some interesting ways to ready your winter wardrobe are listed below.
The most important item for your winter wardrobe is a coat. Choose a coat that goes with everything. It must be of good length and color. With a good coat you can not only keep cold at bay but also look fashionable.
Buy a classically designed wool blend suit. A neutral or black color pant is best for cold and can match any colored shirt. Choose evening dresses which provide more coverage than the summer ones.
Your winter wardrobe is incomplete without winter pants. Always have two types of thick tight fitting denim jeans. A pair of black trousers and khaki must also be kept ready.
Buy warm clothes like blazers, blend sweaters, wraps or pashmina scarves. A scoop neck, v-neck, or boat neck cashmere sweater gives you plenty to choose from.
Accessories like brightly colored hats, scarves, purses, gloves and even mittens must also find a place in your wardrobe. Keep a large purse to carry extra winter items such as lotion and gloves.
Apart from heeled shoes, always have a pair of boots. The boots must rise to just below the knee and can be worn both with skirts and pants. They should be tight to the leg to give a warm feeling.
If you believe in clever layer dressing to beat the chill you can have favorite key pieces from your summer and spring collection. Keep your classic long sleeve button shirts, T-shirts, tights or stockings, classic skirts and brightly colored camisoles ready alongside your blazers and sweaters.
Make sure you buy quality clothes for your winter wardrobe. They will last longer and also serve the purpose. So go for cashmere or Merino wool for sweaters and 100 percent wool for dress pants.
All these together help you beat the cold and at the same time help you make your personal winter fashion statement.
Tags: Choose, Clothes, right, Wardrobe, Warm, Winter
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Monday, June 15th, 2009
First impressions count whether we like it or not.
And how you feel about how you look matters even more because a confident positive attitude will create a positive flow of energy around you.
Imagine two identical yous. You come into a room and there you are. What do you think about your image, your clothes, your general demeanour? Are you delighted with what you see? Do you look comfortable in your skin?
Find three words that describe what you see.
What were your words: comfortable, stylish, approachable, sexy, smart?
If your words weren’t so positive it could be time for a change.
How do you want to feel inside your clothes? Find three words that you would like to be able to use about yourself all the time.
Step 1: The Big Picture
There are many roles we live out: worker, lover, mother, father, sports person, clubber, gardener and we tend to have different clothes to fit each role.
What are your roles? Identify them.
Are there gaps in your wardrobe? Is there anything that’s missing? Do you have an imbalance in your wardrobe? Does your wardrobe reflect your current roles?
Step 2: Subtract
When you go through your wardrobe you can be ruthless – look at each item of clothing? What role does each item belong to?
With each item ask yourself the following questions:
Do I ever wear it?
Does it fit and suit me?
Do I love it?
Does it satisfy my three key words?
If it does not fit these criteria just ask yourself: Why do I still own it? Is it time to throw it out?
Step 3: Add
You’ve gone through and got rid of the items that don’t serve you. You may not have very much left in your wardrobe but what you do have will be the things that reflect who you are.
You are half-way there.
Now its time to add to what you love and build yourself a wardrobe that makes you feel a million dollars.
Create the image that you want for yourself. When you feel good you will look good and ooze with confidence and charisma.
1)What are the gaps in your wardrobe?
2)What would you really love to wear but have never owned
3)What colours and styles suit you?
4)What clothes would really suit your personality and inner style?
Now you can begin to build yourself a style that you feel at ease with. A style that reflects who you are.
Less is more: it’s not how much you have it’s what you do with what you’ve got! For lots more free information and help visit: http://www.beclutterfree.co.uk
Tags: Clear, Create, Image, Love, Wardrobe
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Tuesday, June 9th, 2009
A large majority of men rarely think of organizing their wardrobe. We all sort of cling to the old die hard “dig and find” method. Despite the fact that it takes longer to find anything, organizing that old closet just doesn’t sit very high on the priority list. In fact, it often times makes it to the “I’ll get to it some day”, or the “I’ll get around to it” lists. There is hope for us closet neglectors though, and surprisingly it’s not rocket science. If the initial set-up is done right, it is fairly easy to develop a system that will make your life much easier.
Organizing your wardrobe in reality comes to personal choice. Whether you prefer your pants to be stored on the right or the left doesn’t matter as long as you are creating a well thought-out system that is easy to keep up. Stick to the K.I.S.S. (Keep It Stupid Simple) method. If you have no idea where to start, then this article is right for you. Below are a few general tips on how to organize your wardrobe. Use the tips that work for you. Use them to customize a system that works best for you.
First, start by completely emptying the wardrobe top to bottom. Clean the storage area as is required. Chances are that clumps of dust have piled up over the years in the corners. Empty your wardrobe completely and use a vacuum to get rid of all that dust. Next, sort all the things out that you no longer wear. If you are a pack-rat, this might be quite difficult. If this is the case then follow this general rule of thump: If you haven’t worn something for at least a year, give it, or throw it away.
Now that you have limited the amount of clothes, organizing them will be much easier. When organizing your wardrobe make sure to put the clothes that you most frequently wear in the most accessible area. Start by thinking about different clothes for different seasons. If it is summer, store all your winter clothes in a separate storage bin. Once again you have narrowed down the clothes to organize. Next, look at all smaller items such as socks and underwear. Sort through all the single socks, and put the ones together that still have a matching pair. All small pieces that are part of your daily attire should be stored away in an easy accessible drawer.
The remaining clothes should be sorted by function. Work clothes such as suits, shirts, and neckties should be stored separately from your casual clothes. Make sure you don’t hang your suit jackets too tightly, and keep your neckties away from any sharp edges. Your dress pants should be hung to prevent wrinkles. If you have multiple suits, keep matching pants with each jacket.
Your shoes are best stored in an adjustable shoe shelf that you can place in the bottom of your closet. Just as with your clothes, sort your shoes by their function. Dress shoes should be on one side, and casual shoes on the other. Store your shoes toe-in first to allow easy access of a pair with one hand.
Tags: Organize, Wardrobe
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Monday, June 8th, 2009
With the new year, it is time for a new image. Time to streamline your wardrobe so that everything fits and flatters you perfectly. Make those I-have-nothing-to-wear days history. Pare down your wardrobe ruthlessly and throw out anything that does not make you look amazing.
Set aside a day, or two to try on every item of clothing you own.
Does it look good on you?
Yes? Keep it.
Maybe? Throw it out.
No? Throw it out too.
Okay, you need not throw them into a bin. You could give them away to someone who might appreciate it more all sell them to a second hand store.
Take stock of what you have left? You would probably be left with very few items if you have gone through your wardrobe thoroughly, with a critical eye.
Before you shop for the latest Spring/summer styles, stop. You do not want to fill your wardrobe with more clothes that do not flatter you. What looks great on your best pal could very well look awful on you.
Spring/Summer 2008 fashion is elegant. From simple cuts to tiered dresses. Colors range from black, white (classics every season) to tan to mint green and pink and purple. No must wear color or must wear shape or strict skirt length. The only rule is to wear something that makes you look fabulous and that is the attitude you should take when revamping your wardrobe. Vertical stripes are hot this season which is a boon for anyone who could use their slimming effect.
Study the clothes you are keeping. The ones that make you look great. Does any particular color dominate?
Speaking about color, do you know which colors really flatter you?
The right colors make a world of difference. A simple dress in your color can make you look radiant, but the exact same dress in a different color that clashes with your skin tone could make you look sickly. Choose your colors carefully.
Do you look better in cool colors or warm colors? If there already is a particular color, like electric blue or gold or peach that makes you look particularly wonderful, make that the basic color in your wardrobe and get at least a skirt, a pair of pants, a top and a dress in that shade. Then search for other colors that complement your chosen color and which make you look amazing.
When you buy clothing, do not look at the size alone. Size is but a number, conjured up according to the whims of the fashion houses. You don’t have to be a size zero to look gorgeous. You do have to wear clothes that fit your actual size and which flatter your figure type if you want to look your best.
Measure the widest part of your hip and the largest part of your bustline. Are your hips larger than your bust or is your bustline larger than your hips?
If your hips are larger, you are bottom heavy or pear shaped.
If both are about the same, plus minus an inch, you have an hourglass figure.
If your bust is larger than your hips than you are top heavy.
This fact alone determines what types of outfits you should go for if you want to look your very best.
If you are bottom heavy, you can get away with padded jackets. Printed tops, frills on the top and any details that draw attention to the top half of your body is desirable. You might want to wear something dark a plain to visually shrink your hips. Bubble skirts, pleated skirt or anything that draws attention to your hips would only make them bigger and make you look disproportionate.
If you are top heavy, you can wear any type of pants. You can even get away with a full skirt or pleated one. By the way, many models are top heavy, so yours is a very desirable figure type. Then again watch what you wear on top. If your bust is big, you could wear plunging necklines or clothes that show off your cleavage so you would look sexy and not fat.
If you have an hourglass figure, you’ve got the ideal figure and can get away with most outfits.
Tags: 2008, MakeOver, Wardrobe
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