Stop Wasting Time at the Mall!
Submitted by catherine on December 23, 2009 - 8:37 am
BY CATHERINE CASSIDY
As a personal stylist, I think it’s pretty ironic that I act
ually don’t really like shopping. What gets me through it is that I LOVE Fashion and making women look stunning.
And what really helps get me through it is streamlining the process so I can get it done as quickly and effectively as possible.
I’m giving away some great tools, so pay close attention!
Know your Stores
Have you ever noticed how the same stores can seem completely different? Meaning, you go into one Zara but it’s totally different than the Zara the town over you visited yesterday.
Allow me to explain. If a company is working intelligently, they don’t stock their store in Des Moines, Iowa the same as they do in Los Angeles, California. Even more, they generally don’t even stock two stores in the same city alike.
Basically, in order to maximize sales, store such as Nordstrom, BCBG, the Gap, etc. stock their stores according to the clientele and demographics of the area.
So, how can you know if you’ll be visiting the best store for your needs?
Feel free to call ahead and ask a few questions of the sales people:
( Bigger Budget = Higher Price Point Merch = Better Assortment)
(Meaning, A/B/C/D – companies label their stores and allocate assortment accordingly. Just as grades in school, these go from best to worst)
Plan your Route
Even if you’re going out of your way to find the best store, you should plan out your route.
Generally, I like to go to the furthest spot first and work my way back, but I’m also dealing with LA traffic. If that’s not a problem for you, you could always do the opposite.
Also, consider when traffic has it’s peaks and valleys. Here in LA, traffic starts to get worse by 2 pm on a weekday, so I try to get most of it in between 10 – 2. If you plan out your route and exactly the stores to hit this is perfectly possible. No dilly dallying! Don’t just wander in to ‘check it out.’ That’s only allowed if something specifically compels you and even then, check it out and get out!
That said, be very specific about the stores you want to get to. If something else catches your eye, make a mental note (or save it to your phone) and put it on your route for next time.
You also won’t buy things that you’ll never wear!
If you’re buying gifts or something for someone else, come prepared with some ideas – even if it’s a mental list. If it’s for someone else, don’t stress over finding the perfect gift. Simply start considering their personality and the things they like and I trust that some good ideas will come through for you.
As soon as you enter the store, take a look around and see if anything catches your eye. Maybe it’s a styled mannequin, a print, or a color. Whatever it is, use that item as a jumping off point for quickly walking through the store.
Personally, I’m a stickler for quality, so you’ll see me touching all the fabrics to see if I really like it. You’ll also see me picking up the item and quickly assessing whether or not I like it (considering print, color, stitching/quality, and cut). Really, don’t waste time hemming and hawing. Either you like it or you don’t!
Ask for Help!
Hand in hand with having a list, don’t be afraid to ask for help! The salespeople are comfortable with the layout of the store and intimately know the merchandise. Do you think that can save you some time? Not to mention some headache?
If it makes you feel any better, I even ask for help from salespeople when I’m shopping for a client for exactly that reason – they can lead me to what I want quickly!
If you really want to kick it up a notch, then hiring a professional to tackle all of this for you (or teach you how to) is what you should aim for in the New Year. A great professional will teach you all the tricks and tools along the way so eventually you could do it on your own if you needed to (teach a man to fish approach!). She will also give you spot on and honest advice to make sure you’re not only maximizing your time and style, but also your money.
Happy Shopping! (Seriously!)
U*Styled's Holiday Gift Guide
Submitted by catherine on December 18, 2009 - 9:06 am
BY CATHERINE CASSIDY
We’re here to help at U*styled and make the overall shopping
process fun and easy. Seriously, it’s possible!
Give the Gift of Style
Yes, you’ve heard it before (I wonder where? 
), but style and image are even more important now as more people are vying for fewer jobs. Help your loved one stand out from the crowd. First Impressions are everything!
Why not go in on U*styled’s Holiday Package? 2 hours to focus on career style plus a makeup application to complete the look.
Give the Gift of Love
Surprise your honey with with a special valentines package. Because really, there isn’t only one day to celebrate how much you love each other … and you won’t have to deal with the mad rush to restaurants.
On Valentines Day, 2010, Stella Cheung of Yoga Gals is premiering her creation of Yoga-atsu, a new method of combining yoga & shiatsu massage for couples. This is truly innovative. Learn more at http://yoga-atsu.com/
IF YOU SIGN UP BEFORE JANUARY 10, YOU GET 10% OFF.
One of my faves is LA’s BEST which creates after school programs for kids in public schools throughout Los Angeles. After school programs are so important to keep kids out of trouble and inspired to keep learning.
To support a kid in LA’s BEST, it takes:
· $7.50 / day
· $37.50 / week
· $150.00 / month
· $1,470.00 / year
Give yourself the Gift of Saving $
… while giving a Fabulous Present!
Check out the Resource Guide I shared a couple weeks back for great sites and sales to check out for great gifts at reasonable prices.
Give the Gift of Harmony
It’s always fun to find a new artist you like and I highly recommend my friend Wendy’s music. She has a beautiful voice and a great soul. Her music is so profound and I can say from experience that you won’t mind having it on repeat!
Give the Gift of Accessorizing
The easiest way to add style to an outfit … even if it’s just a tee and jeans (have I mentioned this before?). Some of my faves? Colorful scarves, costume rings, cool bangles and bracelets and jewelry that means something.
Scarves – Check out Madewell’s gift guide. They have this great plaid scarf that I love for picking up on the plaid shirt trend without the plaid shirt (that trend is definitely not for everyone)
Costume Rings – Kenneth Jay Lane has some of the best rings at reasonable prices. You can find it at Nordstrom, Saks, Intermix, etc. My brothers gave me one last year that I love and will never go out of style!
Cool Bangles – A cool bracelet can instantly add some edge or glamour to an outfit. Again, some of my favorite accessory retailers (where you can find a bargain) are Nordstrom, Saks and Intermix. Take advantage of the fact that they’re looking to move some inventory!
Jewelry with Meaning – I love Dogeared for two reasons. One, it’s that perfect simple necklace that sits delicately on your collarbone. Two, each one has a different meaning. So, the gift is doubly thoughtful!
Holiday Fashion 411
Submitted by catherine on December 1, 2009 - 8:57 am
|
BY CATHERINE CASSIDY
It’s the time of year where we all have a party of some sort to attend practically every other night (or so it seems). This makes the all important question ‘what do I wear?’ even more pressing (and possibly frustrating). To ease the pain, these tips should guide you through the trends while maximizing what you already have in your closet. The Trends:
Interpreting Them for YOU You can play it up or tone it down, depending on your preferences, style and the occasion. A sparkly top can make an otherwise basic blazer or cardigan pop a little bit which is perfect for the office holiday party. Even the sequin blazers in a dark, neutral color adds just a bit of pizzazz that you can either style with a classic touch or play it trendy by pairing it with a party skirt. And before you go out to buy a new piece of fur (or faux), dig around your closet (or your mom’s or grandma’s) because I’m sure there is some fur you can borrow. Fur for the holidays is about adding a bit of glam. And, of course, if you’re not in southern California, it’s meant to be functional as well! If you don’t have this in your closet, there are plenty of inexpensive options such as H&M and Topshop that will allow you to buy into the trend. Since this is a showstopper piece, it’s important that the rest of your outfit is relatively understated and complimentary. Keep it pretty much tonal, but definitely add some cool accessories. If you are looking for something classic, then there are some great jacket options that will carry you through future seasons as well. Look for a color that compliments your skin tone (or the always flattering leopard) and a fit that doesn’t hide your shape. Again, you would keep the rest of your outfit pretty basic. Another easy way to play with this trend (and hit another ongoing trend) is with an embellished headband. Always an fun way to play with your hair, this also adds another element to your outfit. Headbands aren’t just about getting your hair out of your face any more, they’re just as much another accessory as your purse is! Lace
What I love about the lace trend is that it’s really accessible for any age. And it’s so subtly sexy! (Another preference of mine – never overt, always subtly sexy!) Party Skirts And you can incorporate some tights into the look (why not in a bright color?) to downplay a short skirt and make it subtly sexy (there it is again!). Check your closet for something from a previous year that you can re-purpose for your new party skirt. Otherwise, this is a trend I would suggest you buy into because you can always find a use for a great party skirt! Bright Colors
If you’re still nervous about adding color or playing with color combos, I suggest dipping your toes into the idea by adding coor through accessories. Shoes, clutches, necklaces, earrings, etc. make for great ways to add color and play. Oh! An outfit idea! How about that LBD you have in your closet? What if we add a bright cardigan and nip that in with a shiny belt at the waist to be sure we maintain the structure and shape of the dress? It’s SO important to be true to your curves and not hide them! And now we’ve hit on a few trends with one outfit you already had in your closet! A Fashion Success! My final suggestion to you with your holiday style: take some time to play in your closet. Have fun trying new things! Take pictures and plan ahead. One less thing to worry about this holiday season! |
And, we’ve been seeing it for two years now. The tones have changed a bit over the season, but for the most part it’s been variations on the jewel tones that first entered stores in Fall of ’08. So, you should definitely have some color in your wardrobe you can incorporate into your party outfits!
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