Petite women’s fashion

The fashion industry has at last acknowledged that we are not all a perfect size 8 and 5 feet 9 inches tall. They now offer ranges to suit the taller lady, those with a fuller figure and the more petite amongst us.

Petite ladies fashion ranges are cut with the smaller lady in mind. Adjustments are made to the trouser and skirt length, the waist positioning and the sleeve length. Even if your favourite fashion shop does not offer a dedicated petite range just stick to these golden rules and you’ll ensure you are a fashion hit.

Choose a skirt length than falls just above your knee, mid calf lengths will make you appear shorter. Jackets should be fitted and finish at the waist. Avoid long sleeved shirts, unless you are confident that the sleeves will look great turned up, shorter sleeves are more flattering. Tunic tops should be avoided at all costs, choose pretty fitted tops in pale shades. Vertical stripes will flatter, horizontal stripes widen and bold patterns will swamp your petite figure. Happy shopping.

Choosing the perfect evening dress

Choosing an evening dress can be a daunting experience for any occasion but it can be made much worse if the occasion is a works ‘do’, Here are some basic rules that should be observed for choosing an evening dress for any occasion:

•    The fit – it is essential that the evening dress fits well, no matter what the designer name is if the dress is ill-fitting it will look awful. To ensure a good fit be honest and perhaps seek a second opinion when choosing the dress. Ensure the dress fits perfectly and it will look great.

•    Know what looks good on and stick to this style – it is great to be fashionable and trendy but only if the style suits. It is also very good to personalise a particular look with accessories, jewellery or make-up.

•    Be sure of what the event is and dress accordingly, is it a cocktail event, or a sit down dinner event, is it going to be indoors or outdoors, or even on water.

•    Know your budget- Budget for the whole outfit, including shoes, accessories, jewellery, make-up and perhaps even a hair appointment;

•    Lastly, be aware of the current fashion trends and if purchasing a new dress go for something that is appropriate for the occasion and suitable for you and your body shape.

For spring there are lots of very pretty feminine evening dresses in the shops, and there are styles suitable for formal events or more casual events. Damart are also a popular retailer for beautiful evening dresses.

The in vogue colours range from metallic to pretty pastel pinks, but the you would have to be very confident to carry off the more eye catching cuts and colours, after all nothing is worse than feeling uncomfortable at a formal event. For a works ‘do’ it might be best to avoid anything to revealing or too sheer, there is always the classic little black dress or even if the weather is nice a white dress linen ensemble. This spring accessories are bold but should not be overdone. Remember a shawl or pashmina is always useful, especially when the weather is as unpredictable as it has been of late.

How can you get the most out of designer clothes sales?

It is possible to find designer clothes at reasonable prices even buying directly from the designer. Most designers or design houses have their own websites to publicise their ranges or even sometimes to sell their garments. With careful research it is possible to optimise the best buying times for designer clothes sales because many designers will announce their sales on their websites, the sale items may be available to buy online or there may be a calendar of dates when the designer’s outlets will be having sales.

It is also possible to buy designer garments when high-end retailers are having annual sales, the current economic downturn has witnessed an increase in sale items and designer garments have been sold with up to 90% off items. It is also possible to pick up designer clothing from specialist designer internet sites where designer garments are sold at reduced prices. Outlet Parks have large numbers of designer retailers in close proximity to each other, these retailers may sell off end of range items or last season garments but may also have current designs at greatly reduced prices. Very often these shops will shift garments that the other shops in the line could not sell.

The internet is an excellent source for buying discount designer clothes and is especially useful for buying children’s designer outfits. It is possible to buy bundles of clothing that includes designer garments for very small amounts of money, it is best to look for bundles of clothes by age. High street shops are also an excellent place to buy designer garments at very low prices and it’s especially worthwhile to wait for the sales periods to get extra discounts and bargains on your favourite designer clothes.

It is possible to get discount codes that will be accepted on certain internet sites, the codes will perhaps give free postage or a percentage off the total checkout price, very often the discount codes will also apply to sale items. Many retail outlets will have end of season sales, these sales are used to clear stock before the arrival of the new seasons designs, by careful shopping it is possible to pick up designer items that can be worn the next year by perhaps buying clothes that are for an older child or buying items that can be put away to the next season. Careful research into when sales will take place and a good itinerary of what is needed can result in purchases of designer items for very little cost.

The Internet is a vast retail resource and with careful shopping around it is possible to get really good bargains, there are many sites that specialise in selling reduced price designer goods, these sites often have sales themselves. Avoid impulse buying and only buy what is needed so that sale shopping can be maximised.

Timeless, novelty or designer – you decide

Cufflinks can add a touch of class to any outfit and have done so since the 1800′s. Many people choose cufflinks and ties for weddings, birthdays, christmas & anniversaries as they make an ideal present and can be personalised to suit every individual taste.

However the dilemma appears to be when does a cufflink rank as designer timeless classic or novelty. The question certainly cannot be addressed by the wearer, as is so often the case beauty is in the eye of the beholder I guess is the order of the day here. One mans meat is another’s poison and so on. At the end of the day, the question is are cufflinks still a timeless addition to a mans attire? Nowadays a mans wardrobe tends to be paired down to a more relaxed feel, and only the very formal look quite right in cufflinks, anything less tends to look a bit too novelty.

So if cufflinks are going to be a feature of your wardrobe, look for timeless elegance, and not the nearest ball & chain style – they really are novelty and not designer!

I don’t need a special bag to make me feel special

What is the appeal of a designer bag? Who really cares? Of all the things I could possibly spend my money on I think a designer handbag would be way down the list. I have plenty of original bags, though I generally run around with my gym bag. My bags are mostly from high street stores, but at least they are not fakes.

I know it is lovely to match a handbag, shoes etc to a stunning outfit but how many of us in the real world wear the stunning outfits on a regular basis? Yes, I buy the occasional very special outfit for say a wedding or christening and usually accessorize but even then I don’t think I have ever been able to run to a designer bag. I am not saying I wouldn’t love to have a designer bag but I just can’t afford one so I have learned not to miss what I have never had.

Gucci, Prada, YSL, Chanel, DKNY – aaahhhhhh! Do I sigh longingly after these? No, not really, I only ever read Hello in the dentist’s or hairdressers so I am not really up on what is hot and what is not. I am a mother of three children, dress in an up-to-date but practical way and perhaps I am a bit of a yummy mummy but I don’t need a special bag to make me feel special. Designer jewellery – now that’s another story…