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Fun dresses are great for your school wardrobe. Miles ahead of basic jeans, simple dresses in classic shapes and colors are very flattering. Dresses are also ultra-feminine and flirty. Great dresses hide all your problem areas while making you look sophisticated.

For back to school, look for casual dresses in cotton, linen, or synthetic fabrics. Stick with classic, simple shapes and solid colors. This will make your dresses easy to dress up or down. With basic dresses in solid colors, you can add cardigans, blazers, jackets, and look great. You can make them look classy with a blazer for a part-time job interview or dress them down with a cardigan for a study date. Pair them with leggings for an everyday look – you’ll keep everything modest but still look very feminine.

Dresses make you stand out in a crowd. Paired with great shoes and fun accessories, dresses look flirty and never stuffy. They show off your legs and can make you look slimmer. Try on a few dresses on your next trip shopping and look for a dress that can help you expand your wardrobe this fall. Look for A-line styles, wrap dresses, and casual tank dresses in casual fabrics and styles. These three dresses are flattering, flirty yet subtle, and versatile enough to have a great impact on your wardrobe.

Now that fall fashions are packed into your favorite stores, it’s time to start considering your back to school, fall wardrobe. In addition to coats and pants, you will want to add some terrific dresses. Summer dresses are on sale right now and are perfect for the first few weeks of class, when temperatures are still mild and you can hold onto the flirty summer look of dresses a little bit longer. Why dress like a guy when you can look fabulous in a casual dress that also flatters your shape?

Simple, basic dresses can also take you through the year. Pair them up with a cardigan and great shoes for colder days and transition easily into evening with some great accessories and heels. For everyday, dresses look great with leggings. Dresses can also look great with a purse or a big bag of books. Dresses even make getting dressed in the morning simple – all you need is your dress, shoes, and a few accessories and you are ready to go.

Your fall wardrobe would not be complete without some formal dresses for those parties and fall events. Buying a simple formal dress now – maybe a little black dress – will also mean you’re ready for those holiday parties, which are closer than you think!

Looking to expand your summer dress wardrobe? Now is the perfect time – many formal looks from spring are at discount and now that autumn is coming, many retailers are offering great sales on their summer dresses to make room for back-to-school fashions. Here’s what to look for as you start shopping:

1) Formal dresses in solid, metallic colors. Red carpets lately have been filled with classy formal dresses that are high on shimmer. Many celebrities are wearing blush and soft colors in metallic fabrics, although a few are opting for bolder hot pink colors that flatter darker skin tones.

2) Ethnic print summer dresses. Bold, multi-colored prints that look as though they hail from exotic locales are all the rage this summer. These dresses also look great with the hippie slouch bags that are hot this summer.

3) Printed swing dresses. Casual summer dresses in bright patterns featuring swing or a-line skirts are trendy right now and perfect for staying cool on hot days.

4) The little black dress – with a twist. Fashion-forward celebrities are embracing little black dresses that feature either cut out shapes or sheer skirts that show off toned legs. These dresses are lighter and more fun than the more formal little black dress, and are perfect for fun summer events.

5) Red one-shoulder dresses. These are popping up at award events everywhere. They really make summer evenings red-hot.

Hello Gorgeous!

In honor of BetterCloset.com’s first birthday (we turned one on September 1) we are offering FREE shipping on ANY purchase from now through October 31, 2009! We would like to thank all of our Better Clients for your business this year.  We hope to continue to serve you in the future fulfilling your every dress desire!

From Cairo to Chicago and Sao Paulo to Seattle we have had a blast working with all of you picking the perfect prom dresses, selecting the most elegant evening gowns and finding the better Little Black Dress to steal the show at any cocktail party.  Thanks again for a great year!

To obtain free standard shipping use the code BCFree09 at checkout.  As always, happy shopping!

Xo,

BetterCloset.com

Stores are making room right now for fall fashions, which is amazing news for you. You can now buy great dresses for less. It’s time to stock up your closet without spending a fortune. Here’s how:

1) Go online. Lots of people are heading to the mall, but online stores and retailers need to move their summer stock, too. With online stores, the perfect dresses are delivered right to your door – without you having to fight the crowds at your favorite mall. You can shop at any time, the selection is infinite, and online retailers often have better deals, since they have smaller overhead and can pass on the deals to you. If you want that perfect dress at a low price, start by checking out online retailers.

2) Make a list, check it twice. Before you shop, check out fashion magazines and online stores. Which dresses do you love? Make a list, then make a list of upcoming events and situations where you’ll likely need a dress. Are you going to a wedding, attending summer parties, or planning for a holiday season with lots of parties? When you shop, keep these events in mind. You never know when you’ll find the perfect summer dress for that big event.

3) Check out the top-line stores first. Check out high-end stores first, because you can often find amazing deals on quality designer dresses. You don’t want to spend your money on lots of cheapies if you can have an amazing dress you will love forever/

4) Check the sales racks and then discount stores. All stores have sales racks that are well-stocked with women’s dresses right now. Discount and outlet stores, though, are also getting in new stock right now. Don’t forget to check these stores out.

Attention all Summer Brides! Shopping for the perfect dress for your wedding can be a challenging process.  With the caterers, the guest list, invitations and the cake, taking time to find your dream wedding dress can be difficult.  To help you keep your cool while planning this most special day in the hottest of seasons, we have a few tips to share for finding the best summer wedding dress.
1. Consider a wedding dress with lightweight fabric if your ceremony will take place during the day. Every moment will be captured on camera and though Mother Nature may have different plans, melting in your dress is not an option.  We suggest dresses made of chiffon, organza, georgette, voile, cotton eyelet, and cotton organdy. 
2.  For evening ceremonies, the air will be cooler and you can afford a wedding dress with more layers; such as a ball gown or princess style. Keep in mind, hot summer nights are a given in the later months of summer, so don’t dress in too heavy fabrics.
3. If your ceremony takes place on a beach, consider the length of the dress.  You don’t want a sandy train or dirty skirt; consider a cocktail length wedding dress.  The more casual styling is appropriate for the beach setting.
4. The latest trend in destination tropic setting weddings is to wear a white wedding sarong as your wedding dress.  Imagine a flower pinned in your hair with your feet in the sand; this is the epitome of wedding-beach-chic.

Dresses are generally very flattering for a woman’s body, but in order to get the most impact, you need to dress for your body type. A long ball gown may look fabulous on a tall, willowy model, but that does not mean it will look great on you. Here are some tips for choosing dresses that look right on your frame:

• If you’re petite, you are under 5′3″ and have a slim, small-boned frame. Huge, billowy dresses will be too overwhelming for your figure. Your best bets are dresses with vertical lines and v-necks. These make you look taller. Wrap dresses can look really good.
• If you are over 5’8” you are tall and look bets with bias-cut that feature straight skirts. These dresses play up your figure and make you look glamorous. Long boots and long lines make you look wonderful. Look for dresses that end just around the knee, since very long or very short dresses will make you look towering.
• If your hips, stomach, thighs and lower body are larger and your shoulders and bust line are smaller, you are pear-shaped. When choosing dresses, look for styles that will fill out the top and restore balance to your body. Scoop necks and boat necks on dresses are flattering styles for you. Look for dresses that are a-line to disguise the hips and lower body.
• If you have a boxy, slender, boy-like shape, you can add some curves by looking for dresses with cinched waists and some shape. Stay away from clingy fabrics and severe styles. Dresses with soft, feminine details are also a good option.
• If you have an hour-glass shape, you have a small waist and a well-proportioned and balanced upper and lower body. Your body shape does not need any correcting, but you might want to play up your great shaped with dresses that hug your curves and your small waist.

Yesterday, we talked about the pieces that need to be in your wardrobe to make your clothes healthy. However, there may be other health dangers lurking in your closet. Many closets in fact contain a brew of toxic chemicals and known carcinogens. Check your clothes storage areas for these offenders:

• Traditional mothballs. The classic mothballs that give off that famous “mothball smell” are actually very toxic. They contain Napthalene, which is dangerous for you and any pets you own. If you use these, get rid of them at once and switch to natural alternatives. Wash and air out any clothes that have come into contact with the mothballs and air out your closet very thoroughly before you move your clothes back in.
• Cleaning chemicals. If you use a traditional dry cleaner, you are bringing toxic chemicals into your home. Look for a dry cleaner who uses wet cleaning or liquid carbon dioxide methods. At the very least, when you do visit your dry cleaner to pick up items, remove the plastic wrap and air the items outside or in a well-ventilated area of your home (not the bedroom) for a few days before placing the item back in your closet. Also, read the labels of any detergent, fabric softener or air freshener you use on your clothes or in your closet. Switch to gentler brands or “green” brands.
• Dust. Clean out your closet regularly and remove any carpeting on the floor of your closet to make it easier to clean.
• Mold. Black mold can grow unnoticed behind all your clothes, and it can hurt your lungs and ruin your clothes. Periodically clean out your closet to ensure that you don’t have a mold problem. If you do, find a new place to store your clothes.
• Waterproofing materials. Water- and stain- proofed are treated with chemicals and these chemicals become trapped and concentrated in your closet. Get any waterproof and stain proof items out of your bedroom closet and preferably to a well-ventilated location.
• Pesticides. Never place shoes worn outdoors in your closet. Always remove your shoes at the door and keep them there. As you wander outside, you pick up dirt, pesticides and other potentially harmful stuff on your shoes. If you have carpeting, those chemicals can stay in your home for years if you wear your outdoor shoes inside.
• Shoe polish. Any shoes that have been tidied with shoe polish should be kept out of your closet and in a ventilated area. Even natural shoe polishes contain harmful ingredients.

An ailing closet is one that does not yield outfits when you need them. It may look like a full closet, but if half the time you feel you have nothing to wear, your closet is not doing its job. Part of the problem is that it may be filled with things you don’t wear, items that not longer fit (either your body or your lifestyle) and things you don’t like. Here’s a shopping checklist of items you must have in your closet to create a healthy wardrobe:

• Good foundation garments. You need bras that actually fit you (most women wear the wrong size, so get professionally fitted), pantyhose, tights, panties that are invisible under your clothes, and some va-va-voom lingerie that makes you feel incredible. If you have outfits that need special underwear (for example, a strapless dress requires a strapless bra) you need to add those foundation garments to your list.
• A classic suit in black or neutral color. Ideally, buy a suit jacket with matching pants and a matching skirt so that you have more options. You can wear the item as a suit or toss the jacket over jeans or other pants. Even if you don’t work at an office, a suit is a “must” investment, since it takes you from interview to semi-formal events easily.
• The little black dress in a classic cut. Look for a style that flatters your body but look for the simplest dress in that style you can find so that you can dress the dress up or down as needed. You should be able to wear this dress casually or to more formal events, so look for fabrics that are classic.
• Jeans. Try on tons of jeans and find a pair or two that look fabulous. Have the hems altered if you need to. You can wear jeans with jackets, sexy tops, casual tops, business tops. You can wear them out to clubs or to casual lunches or out running errands. Find jeans you love and ones that look fabulous.
• Tops. You will need a business shirt, a flirty evening shirt, a formal shirt (such as a silk blouse), a casual shirt (a white blouse is perfect) and a sweater.
• Jacket. Look for a jacket that is black or a neutral color and looks great with your wardrobe. Look for something above the ankle or shorter. Classic trench styles or longer coats work very well.

Depending on your lifestyle and specific needs, you may need to add items to this wardrobe. However, these basic pieces will at least get your closet off the critical list.

Visit Paris for a few days or weeks and an alarming pattern emerges – everyone looks amazing and elegant, with a stylish, casual style. Start chatting up a few of the locals and an even more alarming fact emerges: many women in the stylish city have less disposable income than the average North American, but tend to live and dress better. The effortless, elegant style can be yours, though. Here are the secrets of that certain je ne sais quoi:

• Buy classics rather than following trends. The most stylish women of history  — Grace Kelly, Coco Chanel, Jackie Onassis, even Gwyneth Paltrow – did not simply follow fashion. They often chose simple, classic pieces and set their own trends rather than trying to fill up their closets with items that are current in the moment.
• Think quality, not quantity. Rather than buying six blouses made cheaply and that will look frumpy and worn in a few months, buy one or two that are made from quality materials and are well constructed. They will last much longer and look better. The problem is that many of us are not brought up to recognize quality. If this describes you, visit several upscale stores and look closely at top-end clothing (even if you can’t afford it). You will quickly see the difference between poor quality and high quality. Don’t panic, though – quality clothes are available at discount, but you need to be able to recognize them when you see them. Learn first, shop second.
• Buy strategically. Don’t just buy something because you feel like it or you like how it looks. Consider your life – where you go, what events or occasions you attend – and create a list of items you must have to make your life work. Tuck this list into your pocket and when you shop focus on the items you need.
• Buy clothes that do double-duty. Simple wardrobe basics in classic styles and colors go far. A simple dress suit, day dress, formal dress, and a few skirts and tops will see you far and you can dress them up with accessories and other pieces.
• Consider building your wardrobe around a few colors. This will ensure that you can put together more outfits.