Practical Tips for Shopping for Your Child on a Budget

When you’re on a budget, buying new clothes for your child can be difficult. Chances are good that your little one grows out of clothes in a hurry, and needs new ones regularly.

Outfitting your child in cute clothes that fit properly doesn’t have to cost a lot. There are ways you can keep your child clothed during growth spurts while sticking to your budget.

Shop Wholesale

Wholesalers will sell clothes at a discount rate, so they cost less than they would at your typical department stores. They sell the same types of clothes and brands you’d find at your local department store, but for a great deal less. Many of these stores will even let you order online.

Shop at Second-Hand Stores

While your child is going through a growth spurt, you may want to think about buying clothes from a second-hand store, such as the Salvation Army. These stores keep plenty of kids’ clothes that are in good condition in stock. When you shop at some second-hand stores, you can even bring and donate the clothes your child has outgrown and get a receipt for a tax-deductible donation.

Save on Holiday Fashions

When selecting holiday outfits for your child, you can save money by buying from discount stores. For instance, your child’s costume will be the most important item you buy at Halloween. No doubt your trick-or-treater has already picked out a character to be. Now you just have to find the best costume to fit that dream at a price you can afford. There are several discount costume stores that can fulfill your child’s Halloween fantasy at a reasonable price. You can find children and even baby costumes at these stores.

With the right strategies, you can save money on your child’s clothes.

Taking Fashion Cues from Reality TV

September 23, 2010

Image by Vivianna_love via Flickr

 

With the wide array of reality TV shows exposing you to which fabrics, cuts, fits and colors to avoid, staying fashionable is as simple as turning on your television. Luckily, you don’t have to be scrutinized as your every fashion choice is critiqued. Others who allow themselves to be highlighted as the guinea pigs on reality TV fashion shows give you an opportunity to sit back and learn from their mistakes.

The Fashion Choices of the Unsuspecting

Oprah hosted many episodes related to fashion choices. Unsuspecting women were approached in the malls and on the streets and asked if they could be advised on their fashion choices. Ill fitting bra straps that dug into the breasts, old jeans and outdated fashions were just a few of fashion mistakes made by women who were rushing through their lives without time to heed their clothing choices.

A Fashion Self-Assessment

As you watch reality television, you can ask yourself these same questions in the privacy and comfort of your own home. Do your undergarments fit properly? Are there visible panty lines or bra strap lines? Do your jeans fit properly? Are your jeans a current cut or from decades ago? While you may not choose to buy a pair of skinny jeans as an older woman, you might choose to avoid jean cuts that are pulled too high up on your waist as was the fashion decades ago.

Whether you are watching The Bachelorette, What Not to Wear or another reality TV show, pay close attention to the fashion mistakes and triumphs of show participants to carve your own fashion path.

 

 

 

 

The Original Supermodels

Linda Evangelista 

Image via Wikipedia

The term supermodel is generally used to describe a model who has achieved a high level of international fame and fortune. Such models are generally only referred to with his or her first name, as that is all is required to know who the person is on the fashion scene. The term supermodel wasn’t a popular term until what are now known as the original supermodels hit the fashion scene in the early 90s.

So who are the original supermodels? The group of original supermodels consists of Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, and the lesser known Tatjana Patitz. These five women gained fame and notoriety when they all appeared in the film clip for the George Michael song Freedom. In the film clip they walked the runway, creating an image surpassing the “top model” image they already had. This, couple with Evangelista’s famous quote, ”we don’t wake up for less than $10,000 a day” fuelled the worlds interest in what we now know as the supermodel.

The original five supermodels were quickly joined by several other well-known top models that were as equally beautiful and famous. Claudia Schiffer and Kate moss became just as well known as the original five. As the years went by and the original supermodels started to age gracefully, a new wave of supermodels gradually started to drift in. Faces such as Eva Herzigova, and Helena Christensen progressed the brand of the supermodel forward into the 2000s.

These days the supermodel click consists of names such as Heidi Klum, Tyra Banks, Giselle Bundchen, and the many beautiful girls of Victoria’s Secret.

 

Manage Your Spending And Still Look Great

When it comes to looking put together and fashionable, many women spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars on their wardrobe and looking fashionable. However, if you wish to look fashionable and still save money, there are ways to save and look great.

Many women turn to magazines and coupon clipping to save. While that is a good starting place, there are other ways to save money while still looking fashionable. Scout for sales times, such as door buster and midnight sales. Oftentimes stores will give huge discounts for those who shop at those sales. Another way is to sign up for a store’s personal sales card. They will email you coupons and sales times.

An increasingly popular trend is to search online for coupons or sites that offer coupons. Coupon sites save you the hassle of clipping, and they often give an even bigger discount to those who join their sites. You can find top designer clothing and accessories online for great percentages off at places like www.offers.com. These places give you coupons for all sorts of things and provide a great way to save money and time by purchasing with these coupons.

You can find items identical to those in style, but are much cheaper since they come from a different company. You can look almost the same as those models wearing the latest styles by copying the look of the outfit without spending hundreds on the label. Coupon sites give huge sales and savings to new members and returning members as well, and they are a great way to save.

Celebrities & Fashion: Making a Statement in Two Ways

Destiny's Child

Cover of Destiny's Child

In a world obsessed with looking good and sporting the hottest fashions when each new season rolls around, celebrities are breaking into yet another arena — fashion, of course! Serena Williams has her own line of fashionable athletic wear, as does her sister Venus. Jay-Z is known for his line called Rocawear, which has various fashions for men, women, and children. Sarah Jessica Parker had her own clothing line called “Bitten,” which sold at Steve & Barry’s chains before they became defunct. It’s hard to look around and not see a clothing line developed by a celebrity.

Fashions in the United States have changed vastly over the years, with some of them making reappearances in recent years. Celebrity fashion trends, though, have always remained popular, no matter what they consist of.

Everyone knows Beyoncé Knowles. She’s famous for being a member of Destiny’s Child, and her extremely successful solo career, with number one hits such as “Irreplaceable,” “Beautiful Liar,” and of course, “Put A Ring On It,” a song parodied in a classic skit with Justin Timberlake on Saturday Night Live. Beyoncé has her own perfume and is also part of the force behind Dereon clothing, established in the fall of 2004.

The clothing line has grown in popularity over the last few years, especially with teenagers and the younger crowds. Dereon clothing offers something for every female body shape and is one of the most popular fashion lines in the United States. From tops and bottoms, jumpsuits and sets, and jewelry and other accessories, women would be hard pressed to find something that doesn’t fit her unique sense of style.

Popular Fashion Themed Reality TV Shows

There’s a reality TV show for everything. There’s show for cooking, weddings, losing weight and even how to use coupons. However, despite the popular nature of reality TV shows the most popular theme for reality TV is fashion. There are over a half dozen fashion reality TV shows on the air on any given day.

finale of fashion show

Image via Wikipedia

Here is a look at some of the most popular fashion themed reality TV shows.

America’s Next Top Model

While not directly related to fashion, America’s Next Top Model follows 15 to 20 wannabe models on their journey to become a runway model. The show will often take beginner models in turn them into high-end fashion models by the end of the show. Not only does it show the models but many of the top name designers and fashion labels are also featured on this reality TV show.

Fashion Runway

Fashion Runway follows dozens of wannabe fashion designers. Every week they are given a challenge and made to create an outfit that meets the guidelines for their model. The winner of this reality TV show is given a fashion design contract and many well-known fashion designers have come from this show.

What Not to Wear

What Not To Wear takes an ordinary individual who has terrible fashion sense and treats them to a fashion surprise. They are given fashion advice, have their existing wardrobe trashed and given $5,000 to shop in New York City. By the end of the show this individual is sporting the latest fashion that looks great on them and had their life completely transformed because of the show.

No Fuss, No Muss Vacation Spending

As our lives grow more stressful, vacations have become almost a necessity. Unfortunately, they can also be expensive. Taking some time to write a complete budget–including all those extras that come along with traveling–can help you stay on track. Using a prepaid card like the Reach Card prepaid visa is the best way to ensure you stick to your budget.

Clothing and Luggage and Tours! Oh My!

First thing’s first – determine how much money you can comfortably spend on your vacation. Use that figure to help build a better budget. Don’t make the mistake of just including the big ticket items in your budget. Airfare, hotel fees and rental cars are expensive; however be sure to include money for meals, souvenirs, luggage, toiletries, clothing items and ‘mad’ money. By developing a complete budget, you are far more likely to remain on track and come home from your vacation well rested and not stressed out because you spend too much money.

Now You’ve Got Control

Remember, even the best laid plans can fall apart if you don’t pay attention to them. Consider using the Reach Card prepaid visa during your next vacation. A card like this is one of the best ways to control your budget. You can easily load the money you want to spend on the card and rest comfortable with the knowledge that you can’t spend what you don’t have. It is effective budget control and you can easily add money in the event of a true emergency.

Don’t ruin your trip by spending too much money. Use a Reach Card prepaid visa to ensure you stay on track.

Christy Turnlington Burns: Not Just Another Pretty Face

Christy Turlington was born in Walnut Creeek, California in 1969. She is of Salvadorean and English descent. She was discovered at age fourteen while riding horses in Miami, Florida. She began modeling part time after school until she graduated, then moved to New York. Christy is best known for her lucrative contract with Calvin Klein from 1987 until 2007. She has also been the face of campaigns by Chanel and Maybelline. Christy is known to be very friendly and professional to work with. She has been featured in videos such as George Micheal’s “Freedom” video which also featured Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford, and Tatjana Patitz. Christy has been featured on the cover of every major fashion magazine and has also appeared in several photobooks. She posed nude for a PETA anti-fur campaign in 1993. Christy retired from the runway in 1994, but continued to do printwork.

Christy is also a business woman and a works with several charities. In early 2000, she became a partner in a skin care line, and she has partnered to design two clothing lines from Puma, an active wear line, and a yoga line. Christy is an avid supporter of CARE relief agency and Product Red. She is also a anti-smoking activist
due to her father’s death of lung cancer.

Christy has been a practitioner of yoga all her life and has written her own book about it. She went back to school and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Religion and Eastern Philosophy in 1999 from New York University. In 2009, she went back to school again to work on her master’s degree in public health at Columbia University. In 2003, Christy married actor/director/writer Ed Burns in San Francisco. She currently resides in New York City with her nusbnad and their two children.

Living the American Designer’s Dream

Fashion design is an interesting profession. Like other industries that feature creative minds, such as music and the visual and performing arts, it can be difficult to become a successful designer. However, some have found a number of pathways to living the American designer’s dream.

Many people are aware of the major success stories. With the popularity of reality television, it makes perfect sense for reality television shows to translate to an area that is as visually appealing as fashion design. Project Runway is the popular example here, which features a number of successful American designers – win or lose.

Getting started on this goal isn’t as difficult as you might think. The best way to begin is to look at educational prospects. Even if you have a full-time job, you can peruse the accredited online degrees that are offered in regards to fashion. You could pursue a fashion-related degree in design, or management, both representing great opportunities in the industry.

Look into other areas that will bolster your foundation when living the designer’s dream. Maybe you can get a position related to fashion as you study, which is certainly made easier with online education. Even writing a fashion blog that could develop a readership over time – showcasing your insights, and even fashions – could bolster your resume.

Living the American designer’s dream can be accomplished. It might be a difficult journey, but there are many opportunities in the fashion world for a successful career. Perhaps you may find a route to becoming a fashion designer. Get started if you are serious about your career aspirations in fashion.

Fashion Trends for Children 2011

Though it might not be surprising to those in the know, many of the fashion trends that are hot for adults also tend to trickle down to children’s fashion. Of course, in most cases, it is seen a little differently in children’s clothes than in adults, but the same influences are there.

This year is not different than others in this respect. Bright colors are the go to for this spring, whether you are a man or woman, adult or child. Bright on bright is all the rage for children’s fashions. For example, finding a bright orange shirt with bright blue accenting is going to be a popular option this year. Along with this, the 70′s trend that is permeating the adult fashions is also hot for kids. Peasant shirts and fun designs are in this spring, and when you add the bright colors to this as well, you are sure to show that you are in the fashion know how.

The “prep” look is still in for boys, with a bit of a twist. Again, the brighter colors are making a show. Adding in a little bit of casual is important with this look. In the past, the prep look has been almost uptight in its showing, but this year, it gets a more laid back revision. With brighter colors it is a more fun look for many kids. This is something that the fashion designers have seen as a way to try to get the kids more into the look than in the past.

Making sure that your kids are in style is important for many parents. Many times this is simply as easy as watching the fashion trends for adults. Looking at the children’s fashions this year, this is more obvious than in the past. You can’t go wrong with bright colors and 70′s styles this year, both for kids and adults.