Looking your best is not all about buying expensive clothes. If you want to look stylish, think about accessories. Women's accessories can help you can reflect your personality and preferences without being outlandish.
Accessories can be great for defining your good points and minimizing the less favorable ones. They also can help you look more fashionable even without wearing fad or trendy clothing. Women's garments can be accessorized with jewelry accessories, a scarf, a purse, a belt, gloves, and women's shoes. All these items combined can make your outfits look charming and complete.
Tips for Women's Accessories
Choose accessories that coordinate with the fabric, colors, and textures of your clothing. Find accessories for women's clothes that will work with more than one outfit to stretch your budget. For instance, look for neutral-colored items such as hats, scarves, handbags, gloves, and jewelry so you can wear these with a number of outfits. Colors that usually go great with a variety of patterns include plain tan, white, blue, green, red, and black.
With basic women‚s accessories, try to follow the fashion trends. Look through fashion magazines to see what is trendy for the season and change your accessories as needed. You can great ideas on how to combine colors, fabrics, and patterns for a great outfit. Keep in mind that many fashion magazines go to the extreme when it comes to trendy women‚s clothing and accessories. There are some women‚s garments displayed in magazines that you would never dare to wear. So, choose those that you feel will look great on you for the occasion, and leave the others to the fashion models!
You might also be able to use your jewelry, shoes, or belts with different ensembles after you get some new ideas. Many clothing items for women can be interchanged with other pieces to create multiple outfits. So you might wear one shirt with two different skirts or one skirt with several different shirts. Then switch around your accessories to match.
Accessorize with Jewelry
Make sure your jewelry complements your clothing's neckline. If you were wearing an open v-neck blouse or sweater, then a lovely necklace would complete it. If you have a detailed neckline with fancy trim or stitching, try wearing a nice bracelet and eye-catching earrings.
If you have a complex necklace and bracelet set, wear it with something simple. A long necklace will draw the focus away from your neck and face if that's your goal. Avoid wearing earrings that bring all the attention to your ears; they should complete your outfit but not overpower it. A fancy or detailed handbag should be used with a simple, single colored outfit.
Be Trendy and Fashionable
Be sure to wear a variety of accessories; don't wear the same necklace with every outfit or the same scarf with every suit. Mix and match your accessories so your outfits will always be appealing and interesting.
Women's accessories can be fun to pick out and wear once you know how to shop. If you want a new look or need help getting started, pick up some women's magazines to discover what looks good with what and find the styles that you like. Then go through your closet and put together a new wardrobe with dazzling women's accessories to match. Use these accessory ideas to look your best every day!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Bargain Hunting for Women's Plus Size Apparel
If finding women’s plus size apparel is difficult, then finding clothing in large sizes at bargain prices is an even greater challenge. To get the best deals on plus size clothes, consider shopping online, at local stores, and through mail-order catalogs. The following are eight strategies for saving money:
- Look for a sale, clearance, or outlet section on the website of your favorite retailer. Occasionally, you can save up to 80% off original prices this way. If your retailer is owned by a parent company, also check the parent company’s website for a clearance or outlet section.
- Comparison shop for similar items at different websites. If you plan to wear an item only a few times or occasionally, perhaps you can purchase a similar but cheaper item.
- Always use a search engine to look for a coupon code your retailer may have. Many websites actually track these coupon codes along with expiration dates to help shoppers save. When filling out your order form online or in a catalog, look for an entry for “coupon code” or “promo code” and then enter a coupon code that applies. If ordering online, be sure to verify that you have received the discount for entering the coupon code.
- Go to the website of your favorite plus size retailer and sign up to receive e-mail specials. In addition, if the sign-up form offers a print catalog, request the catalog also. By signing up, you will receive notifications through e-mails and catalogs of any specials the retailer may be having. Note that you should sign up only with retailers that really interest you or your mailbox may become crammed with excessive e-mails.
- Buy clothing out-of-season or pre-season. Many retailers will offer steep discounts on out-of-season items.
- Buy machine-washable clothes. The cost of having to dry clean an item will make that item expensive in the long run. If you are not sure whether an item is machine-washable, be sure to ask the retailer before you buy.
- Visit local stores that carry plus size clothing and browse through their clearance racks. Some local retailers try to quickly rid their racks of excessive inventory to make room for the latest fashion.
- Purchase items that coordinate well with what you already have in your wardrobe in terms of styling and color.
Using the above strategies will help you save on plus size clothing. Dressing well should not have to be an expensive endeavor for the full-figured woman.
- Look for a sale, clearance, or outlet section on the website of your favorite retailer. Occasionally, you can save up to 80% off original prices this way. If your retailer is owned by a parent company, also check the parent company’s website for a clearance or outlet section.
- Comparison shop for similar items at different websites. If you plan to wear an item only a few times or occasionally, perhaps you can purchase a similar but cheaper item.
- Always use a search engine to look for a coupon code your retailer may have. Many websites actually track these coupon codes along with expiration dates to help shoppers save. When filling out your order form online or in a catalog, look for an entry for “coupon code” or “promo code” and then enter a coupon code that applies. If ordering online, be sure to verify that you have received the discount for entering the coupon code.
- Go to the website of your favorite plus size retailer and sign up to receive e-mail specials. In addition, if the sign-up form offers a print catalog, request the catalog also. By signing up, you will receive notifications through e-mails and catalogs of any specials the retailer may be having. Note that you should sign up only with retailers that really interest you or your mailbox may become crammed with excessive e-mails.
- Buy clothing out-of-season or pre-season. Many retailers will offer steep discounts on out-of-season items.
- Buy machine-washable clothes. The cost of having to dry clean an item will make that item expensive in the long run. If you are not sure whether an item is machine-washable, be sure to ask the retailer before you buy.
- Visit local stores that carry plus size clothing and browse through their clearance racks. Some local retailers try to quickly rid their racks of excessive inventory to make room for the latest fashion.
- Purchase items that coordinate well with what you already have in your wardrobe in terms of styling and color.
Using the above strategies will help you save on plus size clothing. Dressing well should not have to be an expensive endeavor for the full-figured woman.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Losing Weight
Fig 1
Hi All,
I have been pondering whether to write this article or not, I decided too because I am fed up with the mixed messages people are getting regarding being over weight on the internet.
You’ve seen the ads I was this size when I started and now after 2 months I am this size after applying, whatever the gimmick is as advertised.
I am overweight myself and I have tried all sorts of lifestyle changing diets and exercises. When you go on the internet, there is a lot of sensationalising of products that will do all the work for you and take off those pounds that are hindering your life.
I am not condoning or blaming all companies, as there are some good products out there to help aid you in losing weight.
The problem is that many people are in a situation like myself overweight, suffering from many ailments, such as heartburn, feeling queasy, but the worst of these feeling 24/7 bloated (fig 1).
I went to the doctor when I had been ill with the flu, only for the doctor to pinpoint the fact I look overweight, then all was concentrated on my overweight condition, “when did you last have a mini health check”?
Oh no here we go, “your blood pressure is abnormally high, let’s book you in to have a blood test and check your blood count”.
I only came in for a check for my flu symptoms! Now this doctor is publicising the fact that I am overweight and most of my illness is due to the weight.
The results are in and I am told that my blood pressure is a worry, but most of my blood count results were good. But the doctor told me to change my lifestyle and the food I eat.
But as a precursor anyone that is thinking of or going to have a lifestyle change should see your doctor first before you start. It is good to have a check like this to give you a history of your current condition.
The annoying thing here is that I changed my food habit and started exercising in a gym again. I started to lose weight and then, to my disappointment I started to put weight back on?
What was going on, I have cut out a lot of sugar based foods and cut down on my calorie intake, supplemented by my attendance at the gym. At that moment I became despondent and gave up!
Well what else could I do, I cut down on my food intake and train and my body is still no worse off and to cap it all I still feel bloated!
The moment of no return came when I needed to use my suit, I couldn’t believe it I have blown up like a balloon and I now can’t fit my suit, I don’t know what size I am I am fed up and I feel sick all the time.
I am virtually at am impasse! What the hell do I do, I am feeling my heart palpitations more and I know my blood pressure is high, what’s happening to me?
If I seek information on the website all I am surrounded by is the amazing use of diet pills, pills and more pills!
That was not good enough for me, I wanted to know why I was ill and why I was continually bloated to all proportions.
I found information about the production of food and what food additives side effects on humans are.
I also through research found out all the symptoms I was suffering from and why. In all I answered the question that NO ONE would admit too which is all foods we are eating have varying amount of chemicals and toxins in the form of additives and food colourings.
So I know now what can be causing my problems, my stomach feeling like an acid bath continuingly bubbling away and causing me nothing but discomfort. My question is how do I tackle this?
Again I have done research about this and found that in order for the many diets and gymnasium regimes to work I need to start my lifestyle change from within.
When you see on the Internet websites citing that you should workout and get a six pack to be fit, please shun this it’s pure bu****t? Sorry for the profanity!
When I here people telling me they measure a person’s fitness by the size of their six pack, I just shake my head in disbelieve!
To the many people out there who have given up and are disillusioned, fitness starts from inside out.
You will need to start by detoxifying your body. Now when I say detox I don’t mean buying rubbish products that have laxative ingredients in its content.
In essence you will need to start undoing what you have allowed yourself to put your body through. You will need to do a colon cleanse
This will entail flushing the digestive system of all the accumulated toxins that have built up over the years in your stomach.
Also to enable effective flushing you will also need to PH balance your digestive system as by now acid build up would be the main cause of your heartburn and queasiness.
To follow the routine of this takes 3 days to do a colon flush. When I did this I wanted to clean my system completely out, so I did the three days water fast.
Not all of you will have the will power to drink water; instead you can drink fresh fruit. Just to be on the safe side check with your doctor.
Remember this is just the beginning of your recovery, once you have finished your detox, you will really need to make drastic changes with the food you eat, because you will start to feel yourself again, your senses will kick in again and you will be more aware of what you eat.
Knowledge of the foods that affect us is what you need to know in order for you to make informed changes to your new lifestyle change to the food you will be consuming.
Now that you have made these changes, you will need to balance these changes with exercises at the gymnasium to help your body promote your body to maximise your metabolism to what it should be doing effectively.
N.B
Metabolism is the rate at which your body burns calories to sustain life. Your body burns calories 24 hours a day, everyday regardless of whether or not you workout.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
After Colon Cleansing, Exercise can aid weight loss?
There is a world epidemic of obesity and there is no sign of it abating. My personal view in this cites the food industry introducing various synthetic organic and non-organic chemicals.
Many of these chemicals are better known for causing weight loss at high levels of exposure but much lower concentrations of these same chemicals have powerful weight-promoting actions.
This property has already been widely exploited commercially to produce growth hormones that fatten livestock and pharmaceuticals that induce weight gain in grossly underweight patients.
My point with this information is that we are spending too much energy into the cause of obesity, when we should be looking into the resolution. There are many advertised solutions that are mesmerising people with the phrase “Amazing”.
This is an amazing product that can…
• Why are our bodies not reacting to the many diets that have been tried?
• Why are you feeling bloated all the time?
• Why do you feel full of gas?
• Heartburn burning acid is fermenting in your stomach
• Why are you constantly buying indigestion tablets?
• Feeling nausea and even a little sick after some meals?
All these questions can be compounded into one answer TOXINS? The only way to get the feel of your body back, is to go through a regime that will help to eradiate those poisonous toxins from your body, that have built up through all those years.
You need to go through a course of colon cleansing. It amazes me that we have a makeover, we cut and style our hair, and we have our nails done, but do nothing for our insides.
Fitness is judged from the healthiness with, but too much vanity is placed on physical attributes. Once you have cleaned your system, you will need to help reach your goal of losing weight constantly.
Through your new lifestyle change, you need to change the food that you eat, when you chose the right food it will energise and give you a new sense of well being.
You need a barometer to show that your efforts are making real progress. As below you need to combine food intake with an exercising routine that will work for you.
To lose weight, you have to burn calories at a higher rate than you consume for some time. But in reality for the majority of people using a Gym, time is at a premium so to carry out such advised exercise plans is not possible.
I think knowledge is vitally important to enable you to devise an exercise plan that can still be affective over a short period of time in the gym or if you have the space at home.
The combination of Aerobic and Anaerobic exercise will an overall workout that will keep the body confused and the fat burning process metabolism firing on all cylinders in your body.
Aerobic
Aerobic calories burns fat as your body breathes in oxygen. Low-intensity activities such as walking are mainly fat burning. However, as your body's need for energy becomes greater than your rate of oxygen intake, your body begins burning anaerobic calories.
The word aerobic literally means 'with oxygen' or 'in the presence of oxygen'. Aerobic exercise is any activity that uses large muscle groups, can be maintained continuously for a long period of time and is rhythmic in nature.
Aerobic activity trains the heart, lungs and cardiovascular system to process and deliver oxygen more quickly and efficiently to every part of the body.
Think of aerobic activity as being long in duration yet low in intensity.
Aerobic activities include: brisk walking, cycling, jogging, swimming, aerobic classes and cross-trainer.
Anaerobic
Anaerobic calories:
Burn glucose by converting a starch stored in your muscles known as glycogen. Since this doesn't require oxygen, anaerobic calories are used in very strenuous activities for short periods.
The accumulation of lactic acid as a by product of anaerobic activity produces a burning sensation in the muscle. This symptom means you are burning glycogen, not fat. You can't feel fat burning!
So it's pretty obvious that in order to lose fat to the maximum, you must concentrate on aerobic activities rather than anaerobic activities.
Anaerobic activities include, intense short period exercise: Weightlifting, sit-ups and knee-bends.
“A key benefit of anaerobic exercise is that it raises your metabolic rate higher than an aerobic workout and for a longer period once you are finished”.
Anaerobic and aerobic exercise each has their own pluses and minuses, but combining them nicely balances the two.
Aerobic exercise reduces stress, improves your circulation, burns more fat than anaerobic, but it decreases muscle mass.
Anaerobic exercise increases muscle mass, increases cardio capacity but doesn't burn a lot of fat.
By combining both, you will maintain muscle growth, improve bone density, optimize your cardiovascular system (stamina) and gain the fat burning benefit of both.
As a final thought, the more muscle fibre you have, the more calories you burn throughout the day as your body works to repair and maintain those muscle fibres, but as an after thought you need to implement rest periods to compliment both routines.
Many of these chemicals are better known for causing weight loss at high levels of exposure but much lower concentrations of these same chemicals have powerful weight-promoting actions.
This property has already been widely exploited commercially to produce growth hormones that fatten livestock and pharmaceuticals that induce weight gain in grossly underweight patients.
My point with this information is that we are spending too much energy into the cause of obesity, when we should be looking into the resolution. There are many advertised solutions that are mesmerising people with the phrase “Amazing”.
This is an amazing product that can…
• Why are our bodies not reacting to the many diets that have been tried?
• Why are you feeling bloated all the time?
• Why do you feel full of gas?
• Heartburn burning acid is fermenting in your stomach
• Why are you constantly buying indigestion tablets?
• Feeling nausea and even a little sick after some meals?
All these questions can be compounded into one answer TOXINS? The only way to get the feel of your body back, is to go through a regime that will help to eradiate those poisonous toxins from your body, that have built up through all those years.
You need to go through a course of colon cleansing. It amazes me that we have a makeover, we cut and style our hair, and we have our nails done, but do nothing for our insides.
Fitness is judged from the healthiness with, but too much vanity is placed on physical attributes. Once you have cleaned your system, you will need to help reach your goal of losing weight constantly.
Through your new lifestyle change, you need to change the food that you eat, when you chose the right food it will energise and give you a new sense of well being.
You need a barometer to show that your efforts are making real progress. As below you need to combine food intake with an exercising routine that will work for you.
To lose weight, you have to burn calories at a higher rate than you consume for some time. But in reality for the majority of people using a Gym, time is at a premium so to carry out such advised exercise plans is not possible.
I think knowledge is vitally important to enable you to devise an exercise plan that can still be affective over a short period of time in the gym or if you have the space at home.
The combination of Aerobic and Anaerobic exercise will an overall workout that will keep the body confused and the fat burning process metabolism firing on all cylinders in your body.
Aerobic
Aerobic calories burns fat as your body breathes in oxygen. Low-intensity activities such as walking are mainly fat burning. However, as your body's need for energy becomes greater than your rate of oxygen intake, your body begins burning anaerobic calories.
The word aerobic literally means 'with oxygen' or 'in the presence of oxygen'. Aerobic exercise is any activity that uses large muscle groups, can be maintained continuously for a long period of time and is rhythmic in nature.
Aerobic activity trains the heart, lungs and cardiovascular system to process and deliver oxygen more quickly and efficiently to every part of the body.
Think of aerobic activity as being long in duration yet low in intensity.
Aerobic activities include: brisk walking, cycling, jogging, swimming, aerobic classes and cross-trainer.
Anaerobic
Anaerobic calories:
Burn glucose by converting a starch stored in your muscles known as glycogen. Since this doesn't require oxygen, anaerobic calories are used in very strenuous activities for short periods.
The accumulation of lactic acid as a by product of anaerobic activity produces a burning sensation in the muscle. This symptom means you are burning glycogen, not fat. You can't feel fat burning!
So it's pretty obvious that in order to lose fat to the maximum, you must concentrate on aerobic activities rather than anaerobic activities.
Anaerobic activities include, intense short period exercise: Weightlifting, sit-ups and knee-bends.
“A key benefit of anaerobic exercise is that it raises your metabolic rate higher than an aerobic workout and for a longer period once you are finished”.
Anaerobic and aerobic exercise each has their own pluses and minuses, but combining them nicely balances the two.
Aerobic exercise reduces stress, improves your circulation, burns more fat than anaerobic, but it decreases muscle mass.
Anaerobic exercise increases muscle mass, increases cardio capacity but doesn't burn a lot of fat.
By combining both, you will maintain muscle growth, improve bone density, optimize your cardiovascular system (stamina) and gain the fat burning benefit of both.
As a final thought, the more muscle fibre you have, the more calories you burn throughout the day as your body works to repair and maintain those muscle fibres, but as an after thought you need to implement rest periods to compliment both routines.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Fitted Hats - More than a Fashion Statement
The urban clothing scene isn't complete without a collection of fitted hats. Fitted hats also known as a "fitted" are baseball caps that have no size adjustment. They fit snuggly on your head and have a much better appearance as there are no straps in the back. These hats are very popular among the young crowd and in urban fashion. They come in hundreds of styles and colors. Many urban outfits aren't considered complete without the wearing of a fitted.
Fitted hats come in various sizes but will still fit snug when you choose the appropriate size for you. The most popular hats are those displaying the logo of a favorite baseball team. Many times the team represents more of the location rather than the team itself. For example, the Boston Red Sox and NY Yankees are popular among those living in those cities. For those who do not live in the same city, the selected team hat is more a representation of a favorite team or favorite colors. Fitted hats are made by various manufacturers and one of the top ones is New Era.
You can find fitted hats in almost every shopping mall in America as well as specialized online shops. While many sporting fans still purchase these hats, they are still most popular for fashion more than anything else. The hats range in price, however, you have to beware of hats that are too low in price as there is a high chance of it being a knock-off. Knock-off hats are also made of poor quality and are likely to fade easily or fall apart.
It is not uncommon for someone who is into urban fashion to own several fitteds. They are also collectors items as some fitteds are produced in limited quantities or for special events. Some people own as many fitted hats as they do shoes. They are one of the top accessories for street wear and make as much of an impact to one's outfit as the right shoes do.
If you come across a limited edition fitted hat, it is wise to purchase two. One to wear and one to keep in your collection. Many times, rare and hard to find fitted hats can go for quite a bit of money on popular auction sites such as eBay. Fitted hats are also not limited to men and boys. Women and girls are also getting into the fashion trend by wearing fitted hats with their casual outfits.
You can visit many urban fashion forums and see exactly which fitted hats make the cut. These forums often have users post their photos wearing fitted with their favorite outfits. Other forum members rate the overall outfit and usually comment on the fitted hat as well. Fitted hats work for any age. You don't have to be a teenager to wear one and be in style. If you want to save money on a fitted hat, you can find very good deals on the internet. There is so much competition online that many online shops will lower their prices or have closeout sales.
Fitted hats come in various sizes but will still fit snug when you choose the appropriate size for you. The most popular hats are those displaying the logo of a favorite baseball team. Many times the team represents more of the location rather than the team itself. For example, the Boston Red Sox and NY Yankees are popular among those living in those cities. For those who do not live in the same city, the selected team hat is more a representation of a favorite team or favorite colors. Fitted hats are made by various manufacturers and one of the top ones is New Era.
You can find fitted hats in almost every shopping mall in America as well as specialized online shops. While many sporting fans still purchase these hats, they are still most popular for fashion more than anything else. The hats range in price, however, you have to beware of hats that are too low in price as there is a high chance of it being a knock-off. Knock-off hats are also made of poor quality and are likely to fade easily or fall apart.
It is not uncommon for someone who is into urban fashion to own several fitteds. They are also collectors items as some fitteds are produced in limited quantities or for special events. Some people own as many fitted hats as they do shoes. They are one of the top accessories for street wear and make as much of an impact to one's outfit as the right shoes do.
If you come across a limited edition fitted hat, it is wise to purchase two. One to wear and one to keep in your collection. Many times, rare and hard to find fitted hats can go for quite a bit of money on popular auction sites such as eBay. Fitted hats are also not limited to men and boys. Women and girls are also getting into the fashion trend by wearing fitted hats with their casual outfits.
You can visit many urban fashion forums and see exactly which fitted hats make the cut. These forums often have users post their photos wearing fitted with their favorite outfits. Other forum members rate the overall outfit and usually comment on the fitted hat as well. Fitted hats work for any age. You don't have to be a teenager to wear one and be in style. If you want to save money on a fitted hat, you can find very good deals on the internet. There is so much competition online that many online shops will lower their prices or have closeout sales.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
'It' bags are the classic cars of the fashion set
Handbags are the new shoes, the must have "it" accessory that has all the fashion-istas clamouring for the latest offering from popular designers. It's also a market that has more in common with the male-dominated world of classic cars than you'd realise.
Few of you will have missed the fuss a couple of months ago when Sainsbury's sold 20,000 "I'm not a plastic bag" Anya Hind-march totes for [pound]5 each. Within hours those same unbleached cotton bags were selling for in excess of [pound]150 on eBay. "Every girl has a handbag," says Christie's specialist Monica Turcich, "and every girl wants one. Women now want the 'it' bag and the one nobody else is carrying. They've always been popular and they are the section of our 20th-century fashion sales for which we get the most phone calls, but now they are doing particularly well because everyone wants handbags, whereas 10 years ago there weren't the 'it' bags like we have today, simply the classics."
Like cars, most of the more recent designer handbags which sell through dealers and auction houses make significantly less than their original retail price, losing value the second the initial purchase has taken place. That is good news for both collector investors and handbag enthusiasts, but there are some exceptions to the rule.
Last March Christie's sold a red Hermes crocodile skin Kelly bag for [pound]10,800, this had only been purchased in 1994 and was originally a bespoke product. The Kelly bag is the "holy grail" of the classic handbag world according to Turcich. "Chloe and other more contemporary bags are more driven by what's popular now, but for Hermes and Chanel's quilted bag, these are classics which never go out of style and are always useable." Kelly bags can be bought for [pound]600 and can often be sold on for [pound]1,000- [pound]2,000, which isn't bad for a bag which might have been bought back in the 1960s.
There's no doubt that most handbags are being bought to be used, it's not an investment market in the same way as many other collectables such as paul smith,Abercrombie and Fitch,dsquared etc, but again there are parallels to the car market. By buying a classic bag and looking after it, you are unlikely to lose money, rather see a steady gain with the added return of enjoying using it.
Hindmarch's "I'm not a plastic bag" bags are unlikely to make it to "classic" status, they are after all mass-produced cotton totes, but other handbags from her range might well do so. So far Christie's has-n't sold any Hindmarch bags, but Turcich says she wouldn't be surprised if they start turning up at auction soon and she wouldn't turn them away. "Kylie Minogue was pictured carrying a Chloe bracelet bag around a few years ago which sparked a fashion and now we are selling the same thing at auction."
There is a pristine one in the next auction which is estimated at [pound]800 to [pound]1,000 along with another Chloe handbag in the same lot. "I think Chloe has started the 'it' bag scene" adds Turcich, "I don't know how long it will take for them to become classics of their own, but I'm sure these will hold their value in five or 10 years' time. People just don't seem to have paid attention to the fact that handbags have become the new shoes in the last few years, there is now an appreciation of the design that goes into them. There are shoe designers that are artists and so too with handbags."
It's not always about big names, a few weeks ago Ms Minogue was at the shop of Tony Durante, a handbag dealer at Alfie's in London, and purchased a white raffia bag with a horse's head on the front for around [pound]200. Brightly coloured raffia bags are in at the moment because it's summer. Durante says that Kylie loved this particular bag because it was unusual. Buying it from a vintage fashion dealer she's unlikely to bump into another celebrity carrying one. Durante says that his customers are looking for this "unusualness" factor.
If you do want to retain the value in your handbag then you should go for one that is in excellent condition, is a good design and beautiful. Some "it" bags will undoubtedly go down in value as fashions change, but the classics should stay steady.
Few of you will have missed the fuss a couple of months ago when Sainsbury's sold 20,000 "I'm not a plastic bag" Anya Hind-march totes for [pound]5 each. Within hours those same unbleached cotton bags were selling for in excess of [pound]150 on eBay. "Every girl has a handbag," says Christie's specialist Monica Turcich, "and every girl wants one. Women now want the 'it' bag and the one nobody else is carrying. They've always been popular and they are the section of our 20th-century fashion sales for which we get the most phone calls, but now they are doing particularly well because everyone wants handbags, whereas 10 years ago there weren't the 'it' bags like we have today, simply the classics."
Like cars, most of the more recent designer handbags which sell through dealers and auction houses make significantly less than their original retail price, losing value the second the initial purchase has taken place. That is good news for both collector investors and handbag enthusiasts, but there are some exceptions to the rule.
Last March Christie's sold a red Hermes crocodile skin Kelly bag for [pound]10,800, this had only been purchased in 1994 and was originally a bespoke product. The Kelly bag is the "holy grail" of the classic handbag world according to Turcich. "Chloe and other more contemporary bags are more driven by what's popular now, but for Hermes and Chanel's quilted bag, these are classics which never go out of style and are always useable." Kelly bags can be bought for [pound]600 and can often be sold on for [pound]1,000- [pound]2,000, which isn't bad for a bag which might have been bought back in the 1960s.
There's no doubt that most handbags are being bought to be used, it's not an investment market in the same way as many other collectables such as paul smith,Abercrombie and Fitch,dsquared etc, but again there are parallels to the car market. By buying a classic bag and looking after it, you are unlikely to lose money, rather see a steady gain with the added return of enjoying using it.
Hindmarch's "I'm not a plastic bag" bags are unlikely to make it to "classic" status, they are after all mass-produced cotton totes, but other handbags from her range might well do so. So far Christie's has-n't sold any Hindmarch bags, but Turcich says she wouldn't be surprised if they start turning up at auction soon and she wouldn't turn them away. "Kylie Minogue was pictured carrying a Chloe bracelet bag around a few years ago which sparked a fashion and now we are selling the same thing at auction."
There is a pristine one in the next auction which is estimated at [pound]800 to [pound]1,000 along with another Chloe handbag in the same lot. "I think Chloe has started the 'it' bag scene" adds Turcich, "I don't know how long it will take for them to become classics of their own, but I'm sure these will hold their value in five or 10 years' time. People just don't seem to have paid attention to the fact that handbags have become the new shoes in the last few years, there is now an appreciation of the design that goes into them. There are shoe designers that are artists and so too with handbags."
It's not always about big names, a few weeks ago Ms Minogue was at the shop of Tony Durante, a handbag dealer at Alfie's in London, and purchased a white raffia bag with a horse's head on the front for around [pound]200. Brightly coloured raffia bags are in at the moment because it's summer. Durante says that Kylie loved this particular bag because it was unusual. Buying it from a vintage fashion dealer she's unlikely to bump into another celebrity carrying one. Durante says that his customers are looking for this "unusualness" factor.
If you do want to retain the value in your handbag then you should go for one that is in excellent condition, is a good design and beautiful. Some "it" bags will undoubtedly go down in value as fashions change, but the classics should stay steady.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Plus Size Women Dress Stylish Too
I have recently been to the Clothes Show London ExCel, where the feedback was overwhelmingly in favour of plus size women.
We had on display a lot of Boutique clothing which in description are one off designs, contemporary classics with a “twist”.
Many of the clothing were sparkling with Swarovski stones that added glamour to our outfits. Many women visited and all they could see was size 12 – 14.
The answers we got after a fairly long browse was “do you have this in larger sizes”, you know the answer to that, a disappointing NO. We had colour, style, but not the right size.
After the Clothes Show we decided to do some plus size pieces. There are many women out there who for me drive a vanity and style that’s missing amongst others.
I don’t understand why other stores and manufactures advertise plus size and the fact that they have large supplies of clothing.
But to the disappointment to a lot of ladies, what is offered is a load of drab looking lifeless coloured clothes.
For some reason when it comes to plus size, that maybe the case but where there are large sizes, there are less variety. When your choices are between beige and dark beige, you know you're in a plus sized store.
“I learnt a lot about the challenges faced by plus size women when it comes to lack of variety”.
I know there are many women who see clothes in the mainstream that they like, but for some reason, they left out the creativity for plus sizes and ingeniously created the dullest creation of clothes, making it either a one size fits all or confusion to max with the size coding.
I know there are many women who see clothes in the mainstream that they like, but for some reason, they left out the creativity for plus sizes and ingeniously created the dullest creation of clothes, making it either a one size fits all or confusion to max with the size coding.
It’s about time Boutiques like us should break from the pack and create something a bit special, a bit daring, full of life with pastel colours, but most of all the Avant-Garde of all plus size clothes, to compliment one body.
Can you comment on the above as your input is important to know that we will be producing the right style and feel to the garments that we want to create.
This can only be achieved by learning from your comments whether they are negative or positive as they matter very much.
Thanks
Kevin
SOVA
Kevin
SOVA
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