Dressing up for spring

Spring is a confusing time fashion wise. What should you wear outside when the weather is so unpredictable? How can you keep warm and still look good? It is all too easy to feel that the sun will never appear, and fall into the trap of thinking that dull weather means wearing dull clothes to match. However, it is possible to choose practical outdoor clothing that will keep you warm outdoors, and still look stylish. There is no need to either hide away in dark tones, so that you blend in with the grey skies, or shiver in bright but flimsy clothes more suited to the summer.

The ever-popular raincoat is absolutely perfect for the variable spring climate. Obviously, it is designed for wet weather, but also keeps out the cold. The raincoat, however, combines practicality with style. For that Parisian touch, accessorise with a beret (best avoided if it makes you look more like Benny Hill than Audrey Hepburn). Black is always stylish; try swapping the belt for another, contrasting one (if you buy a belt for this purpose, take the coat with you so that you can be sure that the belt will fit through the loops). A plain raincoat can also be jazzed up with colourful accessories, such as gloves, but you could consider a coat in a different colour, such as bright red, which would certainly cheer up a dull rainy day.

There can be cold winds in spring, and this is where scarves come into their own. Not only are they useful as a fashion accessory, but also add a practical touch. If by some miracle the sun comes out, they can be easily removed and stored in your bag, without taking up much space. Avoid the heavy winter version; instead, choose a lighter alternative. These are fabulous for a stylish spring outfit, as the variety of scarves available is endless. They can also be very inexpensive, which means that you can have a small collection without spending a fortune. In addition, scarves are a versatile item and can be tied in many different ways, or even used as a belt.

Hats are also a great way of keeping warm and are a much underrated accessory that deserves more attention. Most people can find a style to suit them, and it is well worth going to a hat department and spending some time trying on different styles to see what suits you. At the other end of the body, boots still have their place in the winter wardrobe. Wear with fitted trousers or jeans on days when it looks like rain, or under wider-legged trousers on dry days. If knee-length boots are too warm for your legs, ankle boots will still keep your feet dry on rainy days.

Childrens winter wardrobes

At last it has arrived in real style, winter that is. It kind of lulled us into a false sense of security as it was so mild in September and early October but the arrival of snow in late October certainly awakened our senses, and numbed our fingers and our toes. When my children return to school in September I take the opportunity to kit them out with their school uniforms and their winter clothes. For my family this shopping trip includes the purchase of the essentials of uniform, winter coat, school shoes, wellies, hat, scarf and gloves, a few long sleeved tops and warmer trousers. I also purchase new underwear for the children, including thermal vests and socks.

Because we normally have a relatively mild but usually very wet Autumn I usually buy my children their school shoes and a new pair of wellies. This allows them to enjoy the wet weather by being able to jump and splash in puddles but still keeping dry. I always buy them a good quality Winter coat, warm and waterproof so they can run around outside but stay warm and dry. I encourage my children to play outside as much as possible even in the cooler and wet weather, if they are well wrapped up they will not feel the cold.

As the winter draws in I update my children’s’ wardrobes and buy them warmer clothing and perhaps a pair of winter boots to keep they warm going to and from school. With the present economic climate I try very hard to buy good quality but reasonably priced clothing. I must admit I have been able to buy reasonably priced children’s clothing by avoiding brand names and shopping more in the supermarkets and less upmarket retailers. I have been able to buy very good and fashionable clothes, my daughter is now seven and is becoming more fashion conscious so I at least have to buy good looking replicas of the more expensive styles.

All things considered we have a relatively mild Winter, we get a few very frosty periods and perhaps the occasional few days of snow so overall we don not need really expensive Winter clothing. We can purchase clothing that is perhaps a little warmer for certain times of the year but I find that layering the clothes works best. I do buy a few heavier jumpers and cardigans but the children usually wear t-shirts or lighter tops under the jumpers. Because we are now more financially aware I am trying to get as much wear out of all the clothing I buy and usually adapt it to the weather conditions, I can no longer afford to buy my children clothes because I would like nice new clothes for them, I try to extend the life of the clothing and only buy when they have grown out of the item or it can no longer be worn. However I have not cut back on the essentials, I have just reduced the number of essentials to the absolutely necessary.

Feel good winter thermals

The recent weather this winter of snow storms and freezing rain has done little to turn those credit crunch frowns upside down. The snow was good for a day, maybe you got a day off work and built a snowman but once the snow has started to clear and it turns to ice and slush then the fun is lost.

The cold weather has only really just begun and the bitter wind is biting hard. Wrapping up warm is essential and you’d be a fool not to. Gloves, hats and scarf’s are all essentials but have you ever thought about wearing thermal underwear?

Thermals are great at keeping you toasty warm, they are often made of a lightweight and thin material that can be worn underneath you ordinary clothes without you even noticing that you have them on. The difference that they can make is extraordinary and most defiantly noticeable. The level of insulation provided shines against that of just a regular long sleeved top or t-shirt.

Damart is a name that is synonymous with thermals and they have been supplying high quality thermal underwear made from the insulating material Thermolactyl for over 50 years. They are also selling a limited edition pink thermal vest that supports the Breast Cancer campaign so you can feel extra special in your new Damart thermal underwear.

Thermals have other benefits other than keeping you warm; they can help lower your energy bills if you wear them around the house as they allow you to turn the thermostat down a bit. They can also help with your blood circulation as keeping warm improves the circulation to your extremities.

Enjoying the snow and the cold weather is best when you continue to stay warm, so get some thermals and get back out there.

How to find the perfect skirt

Finding the perfect skirt is always a difficult task and sometimes can prove disastrous. There are so many different types of skirt to choose from that just opting for jeans can seem like the easy route out of any dilemmas but shying away from skirts will deplete your options when it comes to what to wear. The easiest way to shop for skirts is to know the right skirt length for your leg:

For ladies with long, toned legs then a mini is the best option. If you have big thighs and skinny calves then opting for a knee length skirt will give the illusion that your legs are slim all the way up to the top. For the smaller more petite ladies out there, wearing a mid length skirt will maximise the look of your leg length without making you look anyway out of proportion. Ladies with no curves should go for a tulip skirt to give volume to their hips whereas the curvy girls should go for pencil or an A line skirts that skim the hip and flair out at the knee.

Wearing different tops with your skirts will create different outfits that can be worn over a couple of different seasons such as a floral skirt worn with a colourful cardigan and heels is great for spring but could be worn with a polo top and sandals in the summer. Maximising your skirts life is a great idea to get as many possible different looks from it.

Shopping online for great deals on skirts is the best way to shop as the credit crunch worsens. There are many great online shops that can help you complete the perfect look, Roman Originals has a great range of long skirts on sale as well as offering an evening wear range. If you’re looking for more of a designer approach to skirts then Koodos.com is a great place to start.

Wearing the right footwear with your skirt can drastically change your look entirely; wearing a pair of sandals instead of short heels can change business dress into a more fun affair. Accessorising with funky or stylish belts can complete that perfect stylish look that gets you the attention and compliments you deserve.

Once you have the knowhow on buying skirts that will look great on you then you can diversify your wardrobe and enjoy a richer variety of outfits and start to become more adventurous.

How often do you find yourself saying “I have to get away from it all”?

I would recommend that you get up, get yourself dressed in the proper outdoor gear, and go for a walk outside.

The charity “Mind” published a report that shows more than about 9 in every 10 individuals who took part in their ‘green’ exercise program noticed a difference in their mental state of wellbeing.
The study says: “Ecotherapy is a natural, free and accessible treatment that boosts our mental wellbeing. Whether it’s a horticultural development programme supervised by a therapist or a simple walk in the park, being outdoors and being active is proven to benefit our mental health.”

A 30 minute walk outdoors can boost your mood, and help you feel energetic and revitalised. Research found that the serotonin levels in the brain are altered. Since Serotonin is the link identified to depression, by lowering it, you improve your mood and feelings of well being. Endorphins combined with proteins are also released from the brain and spinal cord when walking. This then acts on the nervous system and reduce pain, again to improve the mood.

In one particular study, it was shown that the body temperature increases, which in turn may have a positive influence on the brain chemicals.

Thirty Minutes of brisk walking is evident. However, it is believed that by taking that outside and enjoying your environment could help you maintain your good health and mental wellbeing with little to no drug treatment, and even prevent the symptoms from recurring! Although walking outdoors is not a replacement for professional treatments, it is highly complementary to the conventional methods.

And just in case you need more motivation, here are other health reason why it would be a rather good idea to take up walking:

• Walking increases your lung and heart capacity to supply oxygenated blood to your system, thus improving Pulmonary and Cardiovascular fitness.

• Bone density can be increased through walking especially for the lower back and hips. Since walking is a weight-bearing exercise, it strengthens the muscles. This can prevent osteoporosis and minimise the chances of hip fractures as we grow older.

• Walking creates a healthy body, but apart from that it also keeps our brains functioning at its optimum best. By walking outdoors and being stimulated in a positive manner you reduce the chances of mental deterioration. This in turn can help you dealing in a combat against diabetes, heart disease and strokes.

To get the best out of your walk, it is suggested that you walk at a steady, brisk pace. Should you feel a bit uncomfortable, slow your pace down a bit, and breathe in deeper. Start of slowly if you have not done any exercise for a long while, and build up gradually.

Also, a rather important and often overlooked piece of advice is to make sure wear the correct gear! Outdoors clothing is vastly different from indoors, and thus, you should kit yourself in warm, comfortable and durable outfits.