MissusSmartyPants Personal Profile Style Article Volume 8 Week 3 January 16, 2013 Remember: only the last 4 weeks remain posted! What to Buy Now for Spring I would bet about now (mid-january) you d love to SAVE some money. I totally get where you are coming from...and that you probably don t want to go shopping right now--however, it s a smart time to go shopping because there are a multitude of awesome sales! It's January and that means it's the best time to save at the end-of-season sales. Spend a little and save a lot! When it comes to your wardrobe, sometimes you need to spend money in order to save money. In other words, in order to have a better wardrobe (more outfit possibilities) you need to PLAN a better wardrobe and by shopping right now you can get clothes you'll wear now and into spring--at the best prices ever.
The List of What to Buy Now for Spring 1. Basics. Hopefully you ve made a list of the wardrobe basics you still need. This month would be the best time to find one of those items you still need--at a deep discount, of course. Always replace or add in needed basics BEFORE adding other things into your wardrobe! Check the Wardrobe Basics list in your MSP Personal Profile to help you see what you might need, but here s a quick overview... Basics items include: cotton tees, fitted button-down blouses, basic v-neck sweaters, blazers, shaped cardigan sweaters, classic blazers, a winter coat (jacket, depending upon your weather), sheath dresses, LBD, A-line dresses/skirts and pencil skirts, dark denims, dress slacks... This semi-fitted classic shirt has a flattering mid-hip length! Perfect for wearing layered now and into the spring
Coldwater Creek Sateen No-Iron Perfect Shirt (petite, misses, womens) 2. STRIPES! Stripes are all the rage for Spring 2013! You can go wrong with stripes (unless you hate them, of course). Stripes can be dressed up or down and go with just about everything already in your wardrobe. Look for striped sweaters you can wear now...yet they ll be perfect for the cool spring weather too! Stripes are on-trend for spring...start looking now!
Below, this sweater would work well NOW with a deep raspberry or navy jacket... Yet, come spring it will work well with any of the softer pastel shades...
Easy Tonal Stripe Dolman (misses) Below, you can brighten up your current black or charcoal gray pants with this brighter sweater! Come spring, wear this same bright sweater with white pants or any colored denim.
Halogen V-Neck Cashmere Sweater on sale! (xs-xl in 3 pretty colors!) 3. Anything Green. Emerald green is the it color for this spring. Find your favorite green shade and wear it! Green goes well with so much...(style Tip: Keep the TONE and INTENSITY of the matching color the same as your green. For example, if it s a muted soft green match it up with another muted color equal in color intensity) BELOW: Low intensity outfit (on left)... High intensity outfit (on right)
Neutrals to wear with green: white, cream, stone, gray, brown, navy, black, silver. Colors to wear with green: dark navy, yellow, cadet blue, aqua, coral, orange, salmon pink, pinks in same tone...
Coldwater Creek Silk-Cotton Kimono Sweater (misses, womens) 4. Cotton V-neck Sweaters. These can be worn for at least three seasons out of the year! Talk about a versatile garment for every woman s wardrobe!!! (You could also ADD a colored cardigan to this list...or printed one, if you d like.) Layer them now...later in the season, wear your v-neck sweater alone or over your shoulders...
Once you have a basic v-neck in black or gray...how about one in your favorite color?
Pointelle V-neck Washable Sweater (misses, womens in 4 colors!) Lauren by Ralph Lauren Dolman Sweater (xs-xl) 5. Peplum jacket, blouse or jacket. This style continues to be on-trend into spring and the best part is it can be figure flattering for so many! A peplum is style that is skirted. Give this style a try...especially if you can find one sale. Don t skirt this skirted look...give it a try! This style helps define a woman s waist...
Coldwater Creek Stripe Peplum Ponte Dress (misses) Or try a peplum styled jacket...
Coldwater Creek Short Peplum Jacket (misses, womens) 6. Something in Lace. Lace is a fun trend to wear now and into spring! You can dress it up with classic slacks or dress it down with your most casual jeans for a unique-chic look!
Wear one of these pretty lace tops under any blazer or denim jacket... Lace Overlay Tank
CC Lace Top (misses, womens in 3 colors!) 1. Colored Denims. Have you given them a try yet? You can go bright or if you are a bit more timid about so much attention on your lower half...select a darker COLOR... Give the colored-denim look a try! Go dark, bright or light...
Natural Mini Bootcut Jean (petite, misses, womens in 2 lengths) 8. Pretty in Pastels. Yup, pastels will be a big trend in spring. Of course, not everyone looks good in these softer shades. Experiment around with the new colors coming out. If you can t wear most of them...you can add the pastel colors in with your choice of accessories.
This neutral soft mauve/pink color would work with just about anything now...and into the spring!
Max & Mia 'Big Dot' Sweater (xs-xl) The chambray shirt is a perfect on-trend layering shirt to wear now and into the spring! (Style Tip: Match this lighter denim shirt up with a dark denim bottom) Trouve Faded Denim Shirt Sejour Chambray Shirt (plus) DID YOU KNOW? January and July are the best months to find bargains on clothing...
Read these tips before you go shopping! MSP wants you to get the most for your money while getting the best clothing for your wardrobe. Write it out. Savvy shoppers (that s you) have a written list of what they need--and they stick to it. Most women need more quality BASICS so that they can create more mix-and-match outfits. A Smaller Wardrobe? Yes, it s true...fewer well-made quality basics will extend your wardrobe potential. You should be able to wear each item a variety of ways and/or several times a week. No one will know if you wear dark pants or skirts several times in one week (they ll only remember that bright pink zebra-printed blazer every time)! Do you have enough basics in your wardrobe??? Pick Your Color. You will save money if you base most of your wardrobe on one signature color. Select a color that you like and look good in. Then select 3 complimentary colors to mix and match with it. Now dressing will be a breeze because everything will easily mix and match with each other! Color coordinating makes shopping easier too.
X 3. To achieve the most wearable combinations of mix and match clothes--have no more than 3 interchangeable secondary colors in your wardrobe. You can base your wardrobe on ANY dark neutral, like chocolate brown, black, charcoal gray or navy. The colors you select should naturally be the colors that complement your skin tone, hair and eye color. Your main colors could be for example, black, tan and cream then to spice it up, add a red purse to one outfit or a large gold link necklace and bracelet to another outfit this is where your imagination comes in! You ll have fun when you mix and match your colors over and over again and create new outfits. Splurge or Save? Some of your basic pieces will be fairly inexpensive (for example, stylish tee-shirts) while others may be expensive (wool blazers, a designer purse, cashmere sweaters or a new winter coat). Remember with the basics: buy the best quality that you can afford. Also, remember to consider the cost-per-item (CPW) by the amount of times you wear it. For example, you buy a cashmere blend sweater (like the one below) and wear it 12 times in a season that you bought for $78.00. That works out to $6.50 each wearing. You know you will have this quality basic sweater for many, many more seasons to come making it even more of value season after season. So, if you have a basic piece that was expensive to purchase, but you wear it much longer than a cheaper version it actually ends up costing you less in the long run!
Nordstrom Cashmere Blend Sweater--now on sale! Speak Up! It never hurts to ask. If you find something on sale and the button is loose for example, or a small smudge of dirt is on it, go ahead and ask the manager for a better price. The stores will do ALMOST anything (let your imagination run crazy here if you d like) to SELL the merchandise!!! Now is the time to barter for an even better price, SYSter! (BTW, to all newbie SYSters at MSP...SYSter means: Show Your Style!)...now back to our regularly scheduled style article :) WHEN to shop. I ve already told you January and July are the best post-season shopping months for clothing. But did you know there is a better DAY to shop too? Well, there is. Shop on THURSDAY s...that is when the merchandise is fully restocked for the weekend and the sales staff is most willing to assist you! Thursday evenings are the best time and day of the week to buy clothing especially about six weeks after items arrive in stores. A better day and time to shop, who knew? Well, MissusSmartyPants did...and now YOU do! Smart shopping means buying ONLY what you really need. Make sure you get your BASICS covered first! Love, Leslie MSP Copyright 2006-13 LagTag LLC All rights reserved. This message may not be forwarded or reproduced in any format without the express written consent of MissusSmartyPants.com. Violators will be unsubscribed