'On-Trend' for Fall

I happened to turn Good Morning America yesterday right as they started talking about putting together a capsule wardrobe for fall. I've heard the term - capsule wardrobe - but I wasn't really clear on what it is, so I settled in to watch.

They took six basic pieces, mixed them and matched them, and created an entire wardrobe good for everything from work to a casual night out with friends to date night. Overall it was quite interesting and has me thinking of going through my closet - which has way more than six basic pieces - to see what I can mix, match, and coordinate. It would be extremely handy when it comes to packing for a trip. (We just traveled to Utah at the end of September, and even though I packed quite a bit less than I normally do when we drive, I still took way too many clothes.)

I can't say that I was a huge fan of the outfits they came up with for the GMA story. I really did not like that sweater (especially not belted over the dress) or the robe coat (and I would never pay even close to the price these pieces all sell for), but it did have me thinking of some of the pieces I already have in my closet and how I can combine them. Of course, I have a pair of black pants (or 2 or 3 or 4, who's counting?), a white blouse, and I even have a red blazer - 3 of the pieces used in the story. The one outfit I did like was the first one that combined those 3, except I think those pants are too short. But, I can do that! (with the pants I have that are actually long enough)

Apparently, red blazers are 'on-trend' this fall so I really should pull mine out and see if I can wear it at least once.  (with my leopard print shoes, which are 'on-trend' too - wow, I am going to be so stylin'!) Of course, since I spend most of my time at home and don't go out if I can help it, I'm not sure exactly when I'm going to be rocking my 'on-trend' outfits - but it will still be fun to see what I can come up with.

Not that I usually worry about fashion or what's 'in style'... In fact, there are many times I look at the clothes in magazines or even the weekly store ads and wonder who decided that looked good. Nobody is dumb enough to wear that, are they? But if you ever go out in public you know there are people who will apparently wear absolutely anything.  I find myself wanting to ask them if they have a mirror in their house - because they could not have looked into a mirror and believed for one minute that they looked good enough to go out in public...

Perhaps they just went shopping and picked up some of these new fashions available at your local Target. Oh my, what in the world are they thinking?

Who's ready to be 'on-trend' for fall?

Spice Up Your Clothes with Patches

Are you looking for an easy way to give your clothes a little extra personality?  With options from embroidered patches to satin, taffeta, or laser cut labels, clothing patches are one of the quickest ways to make a splash.   Patches can be placed on shirts, jackets, or jeans. It's really up to you what direction you want to go and what you want to say.

Here are some of the ways patches can be used:

Root for a Cause
Unique patches are ideal when you are supporting a cause. Whether you are standing up for a charity, an organization, or someone you love, you can give everyone involved a patch that represents your cause. You can also make patches a part of a fundraiser that will raise awareness while also increasing donations.

Promote Solidarity
When you want everyone to stand together, patches are an excellent way to demonstrate solidarity. When everyone has an eye-catching patch, you can make a powerful statement. Design your patch to fulfill your needs with a logo, graphics, and colors that work for you.

Make a Fashion Statement
Think patches when you are looking for some fun with your clothes. You can throw them on anything, choosing patches that are discreet, or going big to really make others notice your distinctive sense of style.

Enhance Your Uniforms
If you own a business and require uniforms, consider using patches to make sure everyone sees your logo. It is a great way to brand yourself. Even if you don't have a uniform, you can give all of your employees a jacket that includes a patch in order to spread the word about your company. It is an effective option to thank your employees as well when you give them a company coat.

Make Patches Work for You
Only you know the best way to use patches in your life. Whether you want it for your sporting event, your business, or personal use, you need to consider how patches can make a difference. Dress up the simplest clothes with a stylish patch. Say it your way with the patch that you have designed. Remember someone special or an important event in history. With patches, it is really up to you as you make the most of them. Choose what you want and your patches can be customized to work for you.

Choosing a Summer Purse

When it comes to finding the right purse for summer, there are many different things to take into consideration. Size, color and strap length are often the most important aspects of a purse, followed closely by material and price.

Size is truly a matter of preference when it comes to a good summer purse. You should take into account what items you need to carry with you and go from there. If you can't live without your iPad, then you'll want a purse that is big enough to fit it comfortably, as well as your keys and other personal items. If you want to carry as few things as possible, a clutch purse might be a better choice.

Materials are items often fiercely debated in the purse world. Many choose to carry only cloth purses, while others swear by leather. The length of the strap is another preferential item, though some swear by having at least a shoulder length strap, to help you keep hold of your purse in case of an emergency. Many believe that clutches should be reserved for parties and environments that you feel the most comfortable in.

Color is something that will speak to each and every person, but there are a few colors that stand out as summer favorites. Teals, corals and yellows are all popular summer colors, along with minty greens and soft purples. Coral purses for summer at LuxuryLane.com are some of the best around, offered at a great low price for their high quality.

Stylish Legwear is No nonsense

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of No nonsense for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
 
I recently received some No nonsense tights and leggings to try.  I used to wear No nonsense panty hose all the time, but then I pretty much stopped wearing panty hose at all.  My style has been pretty much bare legs and sandals in the summers and long skirts or pants with socks and boots in the winter - and that's just when I'm dressing up a bit.  The rest of the time I like my jeans and sweaters.

The leggings I received were a denim color, so they were kind of like wearing jeans - only a bit dressier, and they tucked into my boots so nicely.  I kept hearing in my head, "Leggings are not pants" so I wore a long top with them, one I've had for a while but haven't worn much.  It was a very cute and comfy outfit, and I'll be wearing it again.

The tights I received are a black lace net openwork design.  I haven't had a chance to wear them yet, but I've been thinking I need to wear them with a shorter skirt and boots, so the pattern can be seen.  Either that or a long skirt and ankle boots.  Either way, the tights should be seen, right?

I'm thinking something like this - above the knee dress and mid-calf boots:

I'm also wishing I hadn't gotten rid of my black velvety jumper, because I think that would be nice with these tights.  I like the solid dress or skirt with the patterned tights, but I think it's OK to mix and match patterns and textures nowadays.  I'm just not sure how to do it.

I just learned that fashion expert Jill Martin has teamed up with No nonsense as Brand Ambassador and Style Expert and that she'll be sharing style tips and educating women like me on how to wear the latest trends that include tights and leggings like I received as well as all the colorful tights offered by No nonsense, as featured in the following video:

Be sure to Like No nonsense on Facebook and follow No nonsense on twitter to get all the lastest tips and information.  I know I will!  I can use all the fashion help I can get.  Maybe I'll figure out how to mix those patterns after all.

No nonsense tights and leggings can be found at food and drug stores and most retail stores.  They're an easy and affordable way to update and change out any look.

Save Money on Back to School Fashion

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bealls for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

When the kids were little, we could do all their back to school shopping at Goodwill, and they were happy.  Then Beth started Middle School, and she started to think she needed name brand clothes and the same kinds of jeans, tops, and everything else that 'everyone else' was wearing.  Last year's fashions from Goodwill were no longer acceptable.  Which, of course, meant that back to school shopping was going to cost more from then on.  She didn't get as many new clothes, either.

Cory's main fashion requirement is Converse shoes and lots and lots of t-shirts.  And he loves his ties.  Sure, some college students go to class in their pajama pants, but the boy likes to dress up and look nice.  He's learned to look for good deals on all his clothes - partially because he grew up with me, and I'm really cheap, and partially because he's spending his own money now.  I think mostly because it's his own money!
Same with Beth.  Even though she doesn't need back to school clothes now, when she does buy clothes, she likes to find the best deal.  That means always checking the clearance racks at stores and looking for good deals online at sites like Bealls. They've got some really cute stuff and offer savings like free shipping on orders over $50 and $10 off orders over $50 with code 10MORE, so it's a good place to find those must-have back to school fashions and still manage to save some cash.

Splurge or Steal?

Good Morning America periodically has this segment where they have models wearing similar outfits.  One model wears the pricy designer version, and the other model wears a less expensive version of the same look.  Then the audience and the models have to guess which is the Splurge and which is the Steal.

First of all, what they classify as a 'Steal' is still more than I'd ever want to spend on an outfit.  For instance, the Floral Printed top with white denim outfit pictured here is a 'steal' at $188.  For one outfit!  Granted, it is cheaper than the $1,436 price tag of the more expensive outfit, but still.... And if someone is actually buying and wearing the expensive clothes, I have to wonder what she or herstyler are thinking!

Because, second, I usually like the less expensive outfit better - even if it still costs more than I'd ever spend.  I can't figure out why anyone would spend so much money on something that doesn't even look as good.  I don't know if it says I'm not fashionable or if I'm just instinctively cheap.  Probably both.  I don't get caught up in brand-names or the latest fashion, and I love shopping at Goodwill or from the clearance racks at Kohl's, Walmart, or Target - and often those are too expensive for my tastes.  Kohl's does have some cute tops in the stores right now that I'm hoping will make it to the clearance racks and down to a reasonable price.  We'll see.

If you didn't see GMA this morning, which one do you think is the more expensive outfit?  Which one do you like better?

What's Your Summer Style?

It was sunny and fairly warm today, which has me thinking about summer.  Also, Good Morning America mentioned this list of the Top 10 Summer Style Trends and said that ponytails are in this summer.  I've got that covered!  My hair is practically always in a ponytail of some kind - because I just can't do anything with hair in my face.  I know there are people who leave their hair down, but I don't know how they can stand it!  But let's just pretend I'm doing it to be trendy, shall we?

I've got some of the other items on the list covered, too.  I love my below the knee skirts and dresses, and I've got the denim shorts, too.  I might even have some coral or pastel nail polish, and if I don't I can get some.  Pretty toes are a great way to be stylish for summer.  Cross-body bags I'll have to pass on - those only work for the flat-chested girls.  A strap between the boobs just isn't attractive, no matter who says it's trendy!

No equestrian apparel made the list, but there are several more Summer style trends listed.  Did any of  your favorite summer fashions or accessories make the list?

Review and Giveaway: Jon vanDyk Bow Tie from Tiecoon.com

Cory was very excited when he opened the package from Tiecoon.com yesterday.  I think he was instantly in love, calling the bow tie inside amazing and the most gorgeous tie he'd ever seen, or something to that effect.  He does look quite spiffy in it, don't you think?
 

He posted the above picture to his facebook wall and immediately got lots of positive comments.  Who knew it was so cool to wear a bow tie?  What's even cooler is that the great collection of pre-tied, handmade bow ties on the Tiecoon.com (cool name, huh?) site are only $5 each - so they're really reasonable.  The one we received was the Designer mens Bow tie with colors of grey, gray, red, and with polka dot woven design, and it really is gorgeous.  There are plenty of other colors and patterns to choose from, as well as solid black.   You can shop by pattern or color, or just browse them all.  All the bow ties are pre-tied, so they're easy to wear and have enough length to fit necks up to 20".

If you don't like bow ties, Tiecoon.com also has Jon vanDyk neckties - all for $5, extra-long neckties for $8, and silk ties for $10.  Jeffrey used to wear a lot of ties, and now that Cory likes ties, we have looked at ties in the stores, so I know these are good prices - and these are some good-looking ties, too.  They're also 100% guaranteed for any reason.

Giveaway: Sponsored by Tomoson.com

If you'd like a bow tie of your own, you're in luck.  Tiecoon.com has agreed to give 1 bow tie to each of 2 lucky winners.  They will pick the pattern and color for you.  To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment letting me know who you want the bow tie for.  Easy, huh?  For an extra entry, you can tweet about this giveaway with a link to this post, once per day.  Be sure to come back and leave me a comment so I know you did!  Contest ends 11:59 CST on January 18.  Good luck!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com and the Tomoson weekly featured sponsor Favorite Wigs - Shop Name Brand Wigs at Low Prices! Large Wig Selection of Forever Young Wigs, and other Quality Wigs. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Nursing Uniforms at Affordable Prices

With all the time we spent at the Surgery Center and the hospital this week, I had plenty of time to notice the nursing uniforms.  There was once a time when nurses were expected to wear all white - white shoes, white stockings, white dress, and that white nurse's cap.  One nurse we talked to said she knew of at least one administrator who would love it if nurses still dressed that way.  Our nurse was quite happy that particular administrator didn't get her way!

Nowadays nursing uniforms come in all kinds of colors and sometimes patterns too, and allow nurses to express their own personalities and individuality while still being practical, professional, and comfortable.  And if they are expected to wear the traditional white?  There are many fashionable and professional Scrub Sets available, from white twill dresses to 2-piece skirt suits.

Finding Cheap Nursing Scrubs that last and look great is not always easy, but NursingUniforms.net might just make it a bit easier.  They offer 'The largest selection of Nursing Uniforms in one place' and are committed to providing the highest quality, durable, comfortable products at everyday affordable prices. They have knowledgeable, helpful customer service representatives, 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week shopping at their online store, and a 30-day money back satisfaction guarantee.  And Free Shipping on orders $100 or more.

Quality Clothes at a Discount Price

If Beth didn't have to work, she'd probably live in jeans. In high school, it's important to have the right jeans, or so she says. Before she got into Middle School, she was happy with the clothes we bought at Goodwill, but then it just wasn't good enough to buy Discount Clothes. She had to buy her clothes from a real store, or she wouldn't be popular enough, or other kids would make fun of her, or something. Kids can be so picky and judgmental.

Luckily, Beth hasn't gotten completely hung up on brand-name, designer jeans, and if she can get a good-looking pair of Cheap Jeans, she'll be happy. She has found some she really likes for around $25 a pair, so that's not horrible, but I'll have to send her a link to Heavenly Couture. They have high quality designer Teen Clothes, and nothing costs more than $17.95. Right now all the jeans are on sale for $13.80 - so she could almost get two pair for the same price she's been paying for one.

I checked out some of the jeans, and found a pair or two I'd like. I really like the white pair here, but Beth would probably rather have a nice blue denim. Definitely not the new skinny jean, but Heavenly Couture has those too, in case she ever changes her mind about them. She'd also probably like this cute denim skirt - only $17.95.

If you have a teenager who just has to dress in the lastest styles, you'll want to check out Heavenly Couture, too. Designer clothes at up to 85% off retail. It's hard to argue with that. Besides the jeans, they have dresses, tops, sweaters, skirts, loungwear, shoes, and accessories. Forget the teenagers. I'm shopping for me!

A Successful Style

It will be time to start shopping for school clothes soon - after the kids get paid for their work at the fair, of course. Now, what the kids, especially Beth, think is fashionable or "in style" is not exactly what I might like. I guess if they're paying for their own clothes, they can buy what they like, within reason. Eventually they'll learn about true style and timeless fashions. Of course, it seems that, even for grown-ups, styles change. Constantly. When Jeffrey and I went shopping this past weekend, I noticed some shirts and ties. It made me sad that he has gone away from wearing a shirt and tie all the time, for work and for church. Sure, those golf shirts are ok, but there's just something put-together and sexy about a man in a shirt and tie. He even had the pocket square that he could fold to go with any of his ties. It wasn't nearly as nice as these, designed by Peter Belisi, though. I love silk!

I just read about Belisi's start in fashion, and noticed the part about his investing extra money in his tie collection. That ended up leading to his business and his success. It makes you wonder. How much does style have to do with success? Quite a bit, I'd say. Now, if I can get my husband to start wearing ties again.