Wishing you a very Happy New Year
Make it the year you finally take control of your wardrobe so that everything inside is something that you feel good in and love to wear.
You bought the clothes so you must love wearing them, right? If only this were true. We all tend to hang on to clothes and accessories that we seldom, if ever wear. All they do is take up precious space in the wardrobe so that all the clothes end up squashed together making it difficult to find anything.
It may seem daunting and you may groan when you open those wardrobe doors but having a good clear out will leave you feeling rejuvenated. Promise yourself that before the Spring fashion hits the shops you will have got rid of all those clothes you never wear. Look upon it as giving your wardrobe a detox. By getting rid of clothes you never wear it makes space for something new and having a tidy wardrobe will make deciding what to wear so much easier as you will be able to see at a glance what is actually in there.
Top tip
There never seems to be enough space in my wardrobe for my shoes so I was delighted to come across a company selling storage for shoes.
The flexi shoe rack can be adjusted to fit all your shoes from ballerina pumps to winter boots.
The shelves can be moved to accommodate any size of shoe or you can use it for jumpers, bags or whatever you store in your wardrobe.
It comes in a selection of colours with prices starting at £29.95 for a 10 shelf pack.
Buy from www.flexishoerack.co.uk
Sales Shopping
We all love a bargain the bigger the reduction the better we feel. But all too often that fantastic bargain ends up never worn at the back of the wardrobe. All too often we are influenced by the money we think we are saving but are we?
Here are some tips and advice on how to make the most of the sales.
Make a list
You don’t go to the supermarket without checking what is in your cupboards and making a list. If you just go and shop without really knowing what you need you end up with a lot of food yet nothing to cook for the tea.
Shopping at the sales is the same. Without knowing what you need you are more influenced by the bargain rather than whether you actually need the item. Have a quick check in your wardrobe to see what clothes are getting a bit worn or beginning to look a bit shabby. Do the same with shoes and accessories. Once you have a list of what you need you will be more focused when you hit the shops.
Wear Layers
It may be freezing outside but the shops will have the heaters on full blast so wear a jacket that is easy to carry around or if you are at a mall leave it in the car and wear a warm jumper instead. Avoid wearing a polo neck because you will ruin your hair and make up if you are continually taking it off to try on clothes. Wear a pair of comfortable shoes as you will probably spend far longer out shopping than you think and the last thing you want is blisters.
Handbag essentials
A brush or comb and a small canister of hairspray so that you fix your hair if it gets disheveled. A lipstick and some blusher as changing room mirrors can be very cruel and make you look washed out. A touch of blusher and a some lipstick will bring you to life. A face spray to cool you down and keep your skin hydrated and some perfume as busy changing rooms have a smell of their own. A couple of plastic bags are also handy as many stores are now charging for bags.
Know your rights
If you buy something and decide later that you don’t like it the store has no legal obligation to give you a refund unless the goods are faulty. However many stores will do so as a goodwill gesture. Always check when buying what the store’s return policy is as it is sometimes different during the sales. If you find that what you bought is faulty when you get home and it did not say so on the sales ticket it is the retailers responsibility to sort the matter out not the manufacturers. If for some reason you lose your receipt an alternative proof of purchase will be needed such as a credit card bill or a bank statement.
For more information check out www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
Internet shopping
The regulations are slightly different when buying over the internet. You have a cooling off period of 7 days from when you actually receive the goods. Check out the company’s refund policy before you buy as you may end up having to pay to return the goods.
Sales are to be enjoyed but try not to get carried away and buy on impulse unless you know you can have a full refund if you change your mind. The last thing you want is to get home and try on the item and think, ‘What on earth was I thinking of buying this?' You want your wardrobe to be full of clothes you feel happy wearing, not full of mad impulse buys that are seldom worn.
Website of the month
Sometimes it is the little stocking filler that become the most used Christmas present. This year it was the mini handbag torch that I bought my daughter.
Just a bit bigger than a credit card the handbag torch is really useful if like me you find the inside light in your car too dim to see properly, or if you are always searching in your handbag for your house key.
It costs £10 from www.agiftfromthegods.com
The same company sells a variety of gifts for women including these wellies at £20.
How nice to see something so practical look so pretty.
What I am loving this month
Over the winter our skin suffers extremes in temperature, we go from the dry hot environment of our home to the freezing cold outside. Your normal skincare range might not be enough so to give your skin a moisture boost I recommend using a skin oil alongside your normal skincare regime. I am using Clarins Blue Orchid for dehydrated skin and my skin is loving it. You can also get one for dry skin or oily skin. £31 from all Clarins beauty counters
In the news
A quarter of women say fitting into an old pair of jeans would feel better than sex. The survey by Special K also found that 35% of the women surveyed admitted to owning a pair of 'trophy' jeans that they could no longer get into. They hung onto them in the hope that one day they would lose weight and be able to wear them again.
'Women hold a deep attachment to that one pair of jeans which they know they look and feel great in,' said Laura Bryant from Special K.
'They use them as a benchmark and a great motivational tool when slimming and it doesn't matter how old the pair is. For women achieving their goal of fitting back into that one special pair of jeans is one of the great pleasures in life.'
Book of the month
No More Clutter by Sue Kay
Written by psychologist Sue Kay the book is full of practical solutions to having a clutter free home.
It costs £6.96 from www.amazon.co.uk
For more tips on decluttering check out Sue's website www.nomoreclutter.co.uk I especially liked the Birthday Challenge where you take your age and find the same amount of items in your home to throw out. This will probably be a lot easier for a 25 year old to do than a 55 year old. She also advises that you balance the flow of things entering and leaving your home. In other words every time you buy a new item of clothing, throw something old out or if it is in good condition then take it to a charity shop so someone else can have some pleasure from wearing it.
Quote of the month
'I like my money right where I can see it...hanging in my closet.'
Carrie Bradshaw
What Can I Wear? ebook cd gift cards
If you are looking for an unusual present for a female friend or relative then take a look at my cd greetings cards. On the cd you will find my book What Can I Wear? which is beautifully illustrated and full of easy to follow ideas to help you create a wardrobe full of clothes you love to wear. There are tips on skincare, make-up, colour analysis, clothing, hairstyles and much more.
'If the shoe fits'
'Especially for you'
'With Style'
'Shopping Heaven'
The cards with the cd book inside cost £5.99.
'A smile is always in style.'
Lilian
Last Updated: January 15, 2010