meta name='ir-site-verification-token' value='1860762106'> How to save money and look great while doing so: fashion
Showing posts with label fashion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fashion. Show all posts

Saturday, February 18, 2017

Only The Poor Shop At Thrift Stores?

                                      Only The Poor Shop At Thrift Stores?

Someone told me that "only poor people shop at thrift stores"  I looked at her like she was crazy because there are many wealthy people who shop at thrift stores.  Rich people stay rich by saving and cutting corners in other areas.  Of course, they can afford to buy new but why should they?  People have this idea that being well-dressed in expensive clothing will make them appear rich but what people can really see is, you don't have any savings and you are running up your credit cards for the latest fashions.

Many people who dress in expensive clothing are really broke. A friend of mines asked me whether or not I feel funny wearing clothing that someone else wore and I told her that when you shop at the mall you are trying on clothes people have tried it on and also clothes that were worn and returned.  Even if you shop online, you will be buying clothes that probably was returned for one reason or another.

I understand that everybody has their own preference and I get it but, by the same token, don't chastise me for my frugal choices.  Some people get upset when they find out that wealthy people are shopping the thrift stores but I feel that there are enough clothes and goods to go around to anyone who wants to buy them.  It is a great way to recycle and support your community programs.

I say "don't knock it till you try it"  People are often amazed at what I find at thrift stores and if you take a look on YouTube you will see many fabulous, well dressed Diva's flaunting their thrift shop finds.  You can even find many designer handbags there and sometimes new items are there too.

You can shop at these stores and save money and plan a beautiful vacation for you and your family.
Be smart in everything that you do.

Saturday, May 21, 2016

Lies And Myths About Plus Size Women.


Hello Ladies:  I have been a plus size women most of my life and over the years I notice and heard all the myths and lies that were told about us, so, let us look at these myths and bust them and you can even add some of your own if you can think of some.

                                     Lies And Myths About Plus Size Women

We eat all the time:  This is a myth because a lot of us in fact, do not have a big appetite.  Our bodies carry more weight or we eat sweets and carbohydrates that are not kind to our bodies.


We don't smell good:  I have heard this myth many times.With all the body weight, we know that we have to try harder to keep ourselves clean and fresh and we make it a habit to bathe both day and night.  We love to wear the finest perfumes and we smell divine.


We are lazy:  This is a myth because there are a lot of ladies who work, run businesses and take care of our families and we do the same things as a person of a so-called normal weight.  I have seen some thin people who are very lazy.


No Man wants to marry us:  Just look around and you will see many plus size women with husbands or boyfriends and some men specifically like a plus size lady.  Truthfully, you will see more "big girls" with husbands than smaller women.  Men like to take a woman out who isn't always complaining that she is on a diet.


We are desperate and will take care of a man:  This is a myth because we are like any other woman. There are women who put up with this behavior, but, I know a lot of women who definitely will not take care of a man and will demand respect from her mate.

  Some men automatically think that if you are plus size, you will be their fool and this is a misnomer.  If you mistreat us, we will get rid of you very fast.


We are sloppy and wear ugly clothes:  I remember a time when there was not a good variety of clothing for plus size women, but, times have changed and I am so thankful for this.  We love to look good and wear fashionable clothing too.

 So many retailers carry clothing in our size now, and we can also get our clothing online and we can look just as good as anyone.

We love clothing that accentuates our curves and in beautiful colors.
They think we are not smart because we are fat:  I have no idea who thought of this because a bigger body doesn't have anything to do with our intellect.

  A lot of us are very bright and if people would have a real conversation with us without worrying about our size, they would know that we bring a lot to the table ( No Pun Intended).
We should only wear black because black is slimming:  If I had to wear black clothing I would scream.

  I think that we can wear clothing in beautiful colors just like anyone and I also encourage it because black clothing can sometimes wash us out.

As long as the clothing has a good fit, we can wear it.
All of us are unhealthy:   If your weight is affecting your health, then you should try to lose some weight but I know some ladies who have no health issues at all, so, we should not be put in a box.

 There are ladies who are very healthy and you will see them strutting proudly with a big, beautiful, smile on their faces.

* I hope this post eliminate the lies and the myths and I am sure that there are a lot more.

Ladies, live loud and proud and don't let any one's perception of you, get in the way of you living your life to the fullest.

We are beautiful and we have value.  Let's show the world what we are made of!

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Should you delay some of your holiday purchases?

                                Should you delay some of your holiday purchases?



Shopping for the holidays can be fun but it can also be a big hassle because of the big crowds.  I plan on going to the mall with my family members to get a few things but i am mostly going to just be with family during this time.  This year has been really rough.

I saw a report on the news this morning and it was discussing some of the deals that will be available for Black Friday and to be honest with you, they are not all that great.  I went last year and it was more of a big build up for nothing.

Some department stores show sales of big televisions and other electronics and there are big savings, but, what these stores don't tell you; they are in limited quantities.  I am not the kind of person who will camp out overnight just to get a deal.  You can get better deals other times of the year and if you time it right, you can save a lot of money.

If you can wait until late February, you can get winter clothing at extreme discounts because the stores start to get ready for the spring, so, if you can wait until then, you can get multiple items for deep discounts.

If you can wait until the Superbowl, you can get your dream television for a much cheaper price and you can get the biggest screen that you want.

Delay getting that Computer, Camera and other electronics till February, March or keep searching online till you see the deal that you want.

Also, I think Cyber Monday gives you more discounts and it is a safer way to shop.

Happy Holidays to you all!



                                                       SashaMoniqueTalks


Saturday, November 21, 2015

How to enjoy holiday sales and stay safe.

                                         How to enjoy holiday sales and stay safe


The holidays are coming up and the most exciting part is the sales that are available after the holidays.  I am not a person who like crowds but i love shopping and you can get special items for your family during this time.  Over the years i have heard so many horror stories of people getting robbed or killed during this joyous part of the year.

We are living in a time where we have to look over our shoulder when we are out shopping.  One of the shopping malls in my area is high end in a very swanky town and the perception by people who are less fortunate is: "I will hang around and look for a target with money and high end goods and i will attack."  So, I am going to give you some tips to use during the holiday shopping season.

These tips will help to reduce your chance or being robbed:

  1. If you have an extra Car that is inexpensive and old, this is the time to drive it to the mall to do your shopping.
  2. Wear plain unbranded clothing to the mall.
  3. Do not flash large sums of money.
  4. Take your expensive watch and jewelry off before you go shopping.
  5. Before going shopping, buy some shopping bags that are plain so people cannot see what stores you are shopping at such as; high end stores.  If all fails, buy white garbage bags with handles.  People will think that you are weird, but, you will be safe.
  6. Do not go to the ATM while you are at the mall.  Get money before you leave home.
  7. Try to park your Car where it is well lit and try not to park in a garage.
  8. Do not entertain people who strike up an odd conversations with you.  Do not be rude but, try to make up an excuse to get away quickly.
  9. Do not use your expensive phone at the mall if you can help it.
  10. Go to the bathroom in groups.
The best tip there is:  Order all your gifts online.

Some of these tips may sound a little funny but it will help you to avoid these situations when out shopping.

If you feel that someone is following you. Go in the nearest store and stay there and call police.





                                                 SashaMoniqueTalks


Friday, October 2, 2015

How To Create Your Own Signature Style By Watching Your Style Icons.

I created my own signature style based on the fact that i am a plus size lady who is apple shaped and a lot of designers don't really cater to my shape.  I am extremely full busted which creates some clothing issues on its own.  People with my body shape don't look good in styles that are fussy or extremes in design.

So, i came to the conclusion that i would only dress in specific styles of clothing that accentuate my positive assets.  I like tops that softly skim my body and also empire waist dresses and tops looks great on me.  I like suits, but, when i buy a suit i have to have it altered which increases the cost of the garment.

In the winter, i like to wear pretty tops with cardigan sweaters and pants with cute boots.  I enjoy clothing, where i can remove a piece if i get hot and it is very versatile because i can easily change my look by just adding another shell under my sweaters.  

Simplicity in my style leaves me with no surprises when going to special events.  I love to wear blazers with pants and jeans and a crisp white blouse.

Once in a while, i will buy a piece of clothing that i am not sure of and when i do this and the piece fits my body perfectly, i will add this style to my arsenal of styles that i will wear frequently.

Now, To My Style Icons, That I Admire:

  1. Queen Latifah:  I love her style because it is very similar to mines.  I notice that the lines are in simple cuts, but, beautiful fabric.  On the Runway, i have never seen her look bad in anything she has worn.  Her clothes are tailored to her body shape and she is definitely the first person i would look to, when creating my personal style.
  2. Oprah:  She loves clean lines and clothing in nice colors.  When i buy her magazine, i anxiously look forward to seeing her cover, with her classically, stylish clothes.  She is not afraid of bright colors and she dress correctly for her hour glass shape. I love to see her in blazers and the cut of her pants are perfect for her body type.
  3. Wendy Williams:  I love the clothing that Wendy wears on her show.  She loves to wear wrap dresses and it accentuates her full breast and slim hips. She loves beautiful shoes and although she follows a particular style, it is always classy on her.  Wendy uses hair as an accessory to bring out her total style.
  4. My Mom:  My Mother has always had style her entire life.  She can look at an outfit in a magazine and she knows whether it would look perfect on her or would it need to be tweaked a little by taking it to a tailor to specifically form it to her body shape.  She loves to wear a nice sophisticated suit with pretty kitten heels.  She wears her skirts at a specific length and it always looks tasteful, but, really pretty. All her clothes are cut to accentuate her waistline.
  5. Julie Chen:  I love her style because it is simple but she is a lady who can wear white and look so fabulous in it. She wears a lot of rich looking fabrics and she just look regal in anything that she wears. Julie can really rock a sheath dress like no other.


To find your personal, signature style, look at various magazines and see what the celebrities are wearing and if there is one with your body type, just grab that style and make it your own.




Friday, September 4, 2015

Is Sewing A lost Art?

                                                 Is Sewing A Lost Art?

I was sitting and looking in the corner of my room at my trusted old Singer sewing machine that was given to me on my 16th birthday.  I was so happy to get this machine and I swore that I was going to make all the latest fashions but what I didn't know is that it takes great skill to become a seamstress.

I made some clothes but I was never good enough to create my whole entire wardrobe.  I consider sewing a great skill to have because if you learn how to do it, you will never forget how.

You must have a lot of patience because sometimes you can put a few seams together and if the fit is not right, you have to rip the seams apart and start all over.

There are not many school's teaching sewing anymore and I think that this is just horrible.

Sewing has become a lost art because a lot of stores are selling clothing with lower prices and the very last time I went into a fabric store, they were selling the fabrics and notions for higher prices. This made me feel that it wasn't even worth the time to sit for a few hours or a couple of days to put a dress together.

With a lot of people buying their clothes at the thrift store and the prices are so low, you just don't see a reason to sew but many times I have purchased clothing that I thought fit me correctly and when I got home, it didn't.

To get these items altered, would cost a pretty penny. This is a good reason to dust off my trusted sewing machine and learn the skill of tailoring.

I am getting the desire again to try sewing and really stick with it this time.  You would not believe, the sewing machine that I got at sixteen years old, still works perfectly.

I would love to see Grandmothers, Mothers and Aunts take out the sewing machine and teach younger girls and boys the skill of sewing and the pleasure you feel when you create your first outfit.

Sewing doesn't have to be a lost art, we must ask our schools to bring back Home Economics and also Machine Shop, this way our children will be well rounded and they may learn to love sewing.


What learning how to sew can do for you:
  • Teach you how to make beautiful, quality clothing.
  • Make clothing that is unique.
  • Chase depression away.
  • Instill self pride.
  • Give you skills that you can use for a career.
  • Alter clothing for you or others.
  • Create clothing that fit your size or shape perfectly.

Please leave a comment and let me know your thoughts on this subject and I would also like to know the first thing you created when you first started sewing.









Sunday, January 18, 2015

WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY DEPARTMENT STORE PRICES TO ACHIEVE THIS LOOK LADIES

BOHO CHIC
 

                A nice plain look that we can achieve on a budget.


I went to two very expensive stores and I saw these looks and I looked at the price tag and I was blown away at just how high the price was.

My Daughter and I both said at the same time" They must be kidding, we can get this look at the thrift store"
The first look is a style that is very popular in New York City and I have seen it in Chelsea.
The second look is a very nice sweater and a skirt but it is very easy to achieve this whole look for under 15 dollars.

This is one of the reasons why I thrift is because you can look in magazines or go to department stores and see if you can imitate this look on a budget.

My staple in my wardrobe is black skirts and black pants because you can create some really nice looks by mixing and matching blouses or sweaters.

My Daughter likes boho chic and she has many outfits that looks like the first example and she paid no more than $10.00 for the whole entire look.  Now, that is what I call a bargain.

Real style can be achievable by just having a little imagination when shopping at thrift stores.

Monday, August 25, 2014

RAINBOW SHOPS END OF SUMMER SALES

 

             
                        RAINBOW SHOPS END OF SUMMER SALES


Hello Ladies: Rainbow Shops is having their end of summer sales and what that means to us is; Bargains!  This is the best time to stock up on clothing for next summer and it is also the best time to find items that are convertible to wear in the fall and winter.

 What I usually do is; buy tank tops and tee shirts to wear under a cardigan or a jacket.  I look for sandals to wear next year.

You can buy all those cute dresses for about $7.00 and don't forget; Rainbow Shops have an online shop with nice clothing and the shipping is very reasonable.  This is the perfect time to stock up.
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