bettercloset.com

Is your closet hungry for great clothes? When you open your closet, is your wardrobe weak? It might be hungry for great pieces that really make you look great! Here are some signs of a hungry closet:

1) You don’t have enough basic pieces. Trendy pieces are empty calories – they may feel good now, but they don’t help you much in the long term. Too many trendy pieces and not enough classic pieces mean you can’t mix and match effectively to put together great looks.

2) You don’t have enough clothes. If you don’t have enough individual pieces to put together great outfits, your closet will go hungry.

3) You don’t have enough matching pieces. The easiest way to get matching pieces is to buy lots of basics in classic colors – true red, navy blue, black, white, khaki and charcoal look great with most skin tones and mix and match together.

4) You haven’t tried checking out your closet. An ignored closet is an unhappy closet. Dig through your clothes at least once a season and prune.

5) Your closet is filled with items you don’t wear. If there are clothes in your closet that you don’t wear, those items are just taking up valuable space. Get rid of those items and make room for cute summer dresses, a little black dress, and other pieces that will actually look good.

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.

When you’re flush, selecting evening wear can be a breeze – just whip out the plastic and pay for what you like. When times are tough, budgeting for formal dresses and special evenings out becomes more difficult. You may not even be feeling very festive if you are worried about money. While you may not be able to buy anything you like, you can still look fabulous on a shoestring budget. Here’s how:

1) Shop in your own closet. Start pulling out clothes from your closet and try them on in new ways. Pay special attention to clothes that are classic – the little black dress, for example, or that classic cocktail dress. What sorts of accessories can you use to transform these dresses into something great? A shawl or long coat can make your dress into something new and can save you a bundle. Look at dresses you haven’t worn in a while and see whether there is something you can do with the dress to give it new life.

2) Have a clothes swap. Trade clothes with your friends for new-for-you clothes or use online sites to swap for clothes you like. It’s free and good for the environment.

3) Shop smart. Look for discounts, shop consignment or check out online bargains to save considerably off retail prices. You can easily buy a simple formal dress for under $100 and jazz it up into something special. It does mean extra work, though, so shop early.

Cocktail dresses are formal or semi-formal dresses that come in all lengths but tend to stop just above the knee. If you have been invited to an event where a cocktail gown will be needed, go shopping with these style points in mind:

1) Length: Many cocktail dresses are above the knee, while tea length cocktail dresses stop two inches above the ankle. Ballerina length dresses reach the ankles. In general, the longer styles of cocktail dress are more formal and look great on women who are taller.

2) Shape: From a-line to classic tank-style dresses, you can find a cocktail dress in just about every shape and style. Ideally, stay away from extremes that are the opposite of what you are. If you are petite, for example, a huge dress can overwhelm you. If you are tall, a cropped dress will make you look even taller.

3) Details: Keep details – including beading and fancy collars – to an absolute minimum. You will get the most wear from your cocktail dress if you add pizzazz with accessories and fussy details will just aggravate you.

4) Fabric: Cocktail dresses come in silk, satin, chiffon, and many other fabrics. Touch and try on many different fabrics until you find the one that feels perfect. Keep in mind that soft, flowing fabrics are always more flattering that stiff or clingy ones.

5) Color: Darker colors and bright gem colors are popular during the winter while paler colors are popular in the warmer months. That said, though, always choose a color that is flattering to your skin.

In most places, the snow isn’t even flying yet, but this is actually the perfect time to think about spring – or at least some of the fun things you will want to do during spring. If you are heading to the prom in the spring, now is the perfect time to shop if you want to buy perfect cheap prom dresses. There are plenty of good reasons for this:

1) You’re shopping off-season by shopping right now. Stores want to create room for mittens, holiday wear, holiday gifts, hats, and other winter clothing. That often means that if you are shopping for clothes that are not part of the winter season, stores are often willing to give you a big discount.

2) You have lots of selection at consignment shops. No one is shopping for prom dresses right now, so formal cheap prom dresses are bound to be plentiful at consignment shops and second-hand stores, if you want to shop previously worn dresses.

3) Designers are already thinking ahead and planning fashions for seasons to come. Magazines plan their issues about six months in advance, which means that fashion magazines are now talking about what will be hot in Spring 2009. Check out British fashion predictions now – they tend to be spot-on and fashion forward.

4) You can take advantage of a good selection of classy evening dresses right now. Many stores are selling dresses for holiday parties right now. Selection of these gowns – which tend to be more glam than many actual prom dresses – is at its height right now. Check out the dresses you love and keep an eye on them into the New Year. During January, these holiday dresses will be discounted heavily.

5) You can start your plan. If you need to save money to buy your dream dress in the spring, now is the time to start putting money aside. If you want a custom-made dress, now is the time to select fabrics and a tailor.

The black tube dress is certainly not for the weak of heart. Styled after it’s close cousin, the tube top, the black tube dress is a strapless and sleeveless dress that is essentially a sheath of material that wraps around the body. The reason many women practically hyperventilate when they think of the little black dress is because in the 1990s and before this dress got a bad reputation thanks to some designers’ takes on it. Back then, form-fitting and unflattering short tube dresses made of cheap, stretchy material were the norm. Fine for 16-year-olds, this sort of look tends to make most women feel a little on the sleazy and undressed size.

Luckily, designers have smartened up and now the black tube dress is not something scary you wear to the dark club in the bad part of town. Today, nicer materials, unusual detailing and better, more flattering fits are the norm. There are even styles out there for the larger girl and the girl who likes a longer dress.

When shopping, consider looking for tube dresses that fit. Forget clingy stretch materials. If you have the slightest bit of healthy stomach, your curves will look like you’re hiding a shar-pei under there. Plus, wearing a little clingy dress anywhere but a club is often a little inappropriate – a teeny, tight tube dress just leaves too little to the imagination. If you need some help or inspiration, check out the pencil skirt tube dress (), the great Mossimo tube dress for plus sizes , or this great Nui formal tube dress (yep, there is such a thing).

Almost every woman knows that the “little black dress” or the LBD as it is sometimes known, is a must in a woman’s closet. Aficionados of the LBD claim that it goes with everything, never goes out of style, and can be worn just about everywhere. What people don’t realize is that there is not just one “little black dress.” Wander unsuspectingly into a store to find the perfect LBD and you will be hit with racks of them in every style, shape, and fabric. Trying to pick the perfect one is just as daunting as trying to find any other perfect dress. Here are some ideas:

1) Look at your current favorite dresses and evaluate the styles and cuts. Do you gravitate towards A-line dresses because they are the most comfortable? Do you like simple tank dresses? Choose an LBD in a style and shape that you like and that flatters your body shape.

2) Consider your best and worst assets. Do you need to wear a bra? If so, strapless black dresses may not be perfect for you. If you have a great pair of legs, though, you might want to look for a dress that falls at or above the knees to show them off.

3) Think simple. Each year, designers come up with the LBD redesigned with poufs, ruffles, bows and other trendy pieces. Stay away from these. Your little black dress should be like a blank canvas – completely neutral and timeless, something that you can dress up or down with accessories. If you buy a trendy dress – even if it black – it will inevitably be over before you even get it home. Think classic.

If you are lucky enough to find the perfect little black dress, here are some tips on how to wear it well:
Trendyswag.com on How To Stylize Your Little Black Dress

Retail for evening dresses? Many women who have found the joys of having custom dresses made for them say “never again.” While having a tailor whip off a formal dress for you is not for everyone, proponents claim that this is one of the best-kept secrets in the fashion world. Rather than hitting the stores and trying on a multitude of badly-fitting dresses in styles and colors you can’t stand, you simply find a fabric you love, come up with a look and drop by a tailor. A few fittings later and you have a custom-created evening gown.

First the good news. There are plenty of advantages to getting the perfect dress sewn for you:

1) You get a completely unique dress you can be sure that no one else will have.
2) You get a dress that fits you perfectly because it is created for your body.
3) You call all the shots – you get the exact dress you want in the style, color, and fabric you want. You can even indicate what stitches you want used, if it comes to that.

Now the bad news. You can expect to pay as much for custom-made dresses as you would for full retail – more if your dress is especially complicated. You also need to plan ahead in order to find a tailor who will do a good job.

If you decide to take the plunge, follow these tips:

1) Start planning way, way in advance. Talk to tailors and get recommendations for good tailors in your area. Consider having a simpler garment sewn – such as a skirt – in order to see what quality clothes your tailor can create for you.
2) Learn a little about sewing. Learn about different fabrics, stitches and dress styles. This will make it easier for you to communicate with your tailor effectively.
3) Shop for fabrics. Go into fabric stores and spend plenty of time browsing. Before you decide on a fabric, you will need to talk to your tailor to ensure that he or she can work well with the fabric that interests you. Not all fabrics translate into great evening dresses, so get professional advice before you buy yards of it. While at the fabric store, pick up the quality matching thread, zippers, hooks and other items your tailor will need.
4) Start looking for styles. Flip through books to get ideas for evening dresses or browse available patterns. Discuss what your tailor will need – some will need just a picture of a dress while others will want a complete pattern. If you can’t find a pattern that you love, you can always have a picture of a dress turned into a sewing pattern – several services online do this, although it will mean an extra expense.

Cocktail dresses and other fancy dresses can easily cost you many thousands of dollars, which just doesn’t leave much left over for anything else. Luckily, you don’t have to be afraid of paying full retail. There are a number of ways you can get great cocktail and party dresses for a steal:

1) Retail sales. Sales at your favorite stores are a great way to get good gowns and dresses at a reduced rate. The advantage of buying retail at a sale is that you still get great sales help.

2) Outlet stores. Many cities now have factory outlet stores where you can buy items that retail stores have not been able to sell. Here you’ll find dress styles from a season or two back but you will enjoy some sales help and great prices.

3) Used clothing stores. These do require some extra work, since you will find terrible bridesmaid dresses and some damaged dresses as well as some possible gems. For women who know what they are looking for and who have some shopping savvy, though, these stores can be a treasure trove.

4) Consignment shops. These stores buy back designer fashions from clients. Unlike used clothing stores, consignment stores are picky – sometimes very picky – about the merchandise they acquire, so that you don’t have to wade through racks of orange party dresses or torn cocktail dresses to find what you want. Since everything is previously worn, though, you will often pay less than you would if you paid full retail.

5) Sample sales or trunk sales. High-end stores and some designers have special trunk sales where they sell excess clothes and “sample” clothes that were used to sell an item to businesses. The discounts are considerable, so this is a great way to get new-ish cocktail dresses brand-new at a fraction of the price. Most trunk sales are not widely advertised, so you will need to do some digging to find sales in your area. Also keep in mind that sample sales and trunk sales are hard work. Expect a huge lineup, no organization, not too many sizes, almost no sales help and tons of people fighting for the same great dresses you want. Just come prepared and you could walk away with a great find.

When the leaves turn color, it’s time to start thinking about all the upcoming special events. From holiday parties to Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve, the winter months tend to be long on glitz. If you are getting invitations in the email, it’s time to update your party look. The stores are full of formal dresses right now, including full-length ball gowns for white tie affairs and cocktail dresses for semi-formal and formal events.

Unfortunately, all that holiday buying can mean that your budget is somewhat sparse. If this is the case, you need a good action plan to get your closet into holiday shape:

1) Look over what you have. Pull out last year’s finery, your accessories, and even dig out those party dresses from two years ago. Does anything need mending? If so, now is the time to visit the tailor. Get any promising formal dresses professionally cleaned so that they are looking their best. Classic dresses can likely still suit in a pinch this year, with updated accessories. Anything that does not look or feel great gets donated to charity right now. That karma will come in handy when you hit the stores.

2) Evaluate your likely needs. Pull out your calendar and look at your holiday schedule. What trips are you going on that will require formal wear? What parties do you anticipate? What sort of formal dress could you wear to each event?

3) Go window shopping. This is the fun part. Hit the stores to look at the new arrivals for the holiday season. Many stores will now have new stock and you will enjoy the best selection of formal dresses right now. Of course, most of the new arrivals will be at full retail, but looking will give you a good idea of which dresses you might want.

4) Get some retail support. Find out about upcoming store sales and promotions. Get friendly with the sales staff and ask them to call you if a particular formal dress you love goes on sale. Get on store mailing lists so that you will be aware of upcoming store events.

When the leaves turn color, it’s time to start thinking about all the upcoming special events. From holiday parties to Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve, the winter months tend to be long on glitz. If you are getting invitations in the email, it’s time to update your party look. The stores are full of formal dresses right now, including full-length ball gowns for white tie affairs and cocktail dresses for semi-formal and formal events.

Unfortunately, all that holiday buying can mean that your budget is somewhat sparse. If this is the case, you need a good action plan to get your closet into holiday shape:

1) Look over what you have. Pull out last year’s finery, your accessories, and even dig out those party dresses from two years ago. Does anything need mending? If so, now is the time to visit the tailor. Get any promising formal dresses professionally cleaned so that they are looking their best. Classic dresses can likely still suit in a pinch this year, with updated accessories. Anything that does not look or feel great gets donated to charity right now. That karma will come in handy when you hit the stores.

2) Evaluate your likely needs. Pull out your calendar and look at your holiday schedule. What trips are you going on that will require formal wear? What parties do you anticipate? What sort of formal dress could you wear to each event?

3) Go window shopping. This is the fun part. Hit the stores to look at the new arrivals for the holiday season. Many stores will now have new stock and you will enjoy the best selection of formal dresses right now. Of course, most of the new arrivals will be at full retail, but looking will give you a good idea of which dresses you might want.

4) Get some retail support. Find out about upcoming store sales and promotions. Get friendly with the sales staff and ask them to call you if a particular formal dress you love goes on sale. Get on store mailing lists so that you will be aware of upcoming store events.<-->