DRESSING UP
Do ...
- Wear black for an evening affair if the event is black tie
- Do carry a small evening bag and dont overstuff it
- Do sew velcro on strapless bras and on your dress to keep everything in place.
Dont ...
- Wear a casual watch with very dressy clothes
- Wear a casual jacket over a fancy dress
- Wear anything too tight, too sexy or too see-through
- Wear comfortable shoes
- Upstage the bride in something that's too attention getting
BATTLING THE BUSTLINE
If you are large busted, skip:
- wide belts
- long necklaces
- big pins
And go for:
- Blouse that minimise:
- softly draped (but not oversized) styles in silk or polyester
- simple V necklines without pockets
- dark colours on top, light ones at the bottom
- a bright jacket over a dark top
TAMING THE TUMMY
If your hips and thighs are less than svelte , skip:
- Leggings
- Big patterns below the belt
- Narrow trousers
And go for:
- Loose-fitting trousers
- Long jackets
- Long flowing skirts
THE EXTRA: MAINTENANCE
Do ...
- Hem your cuffs and bear in mind that if you are tall, you can get away with a wider cuff.
- Treat your clothes with loving care and buy clothes you can afford to take care of.
- Hang woolens out for 24 hours after wearing them to air them out.
- Clip out labels from sheer blouses and bras
- Use liquid detergent when washing darks
- Dry clean and store winter clothes in the summer and vice versa.
- Bleach whites that are bleach safe
- Save time and iron only the cuffs and collars of blouses you are wearing under a sweater and jacket.
- Re-dye black jeans when they start to fade
- Keep white canvas sneakers white by soaking them in one part water to one part bleach.
Dont ...
- Try to wash something that says "dry clean only" unless you are willing to part with it for good.
- Re-hang clothes that are in need of repiars. Fix them first
- Hang sweaters
- Alter expensive clothes yourself, unless you really know you can.
Do ...
- Buy elastic waist pants and skirts they are more comfortable.
- Emphasize your best feature: Great legs? Wear short skirts above the knee.
- Create balance by wearing shoulder pants - they make your hips look smaller.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothes in soft, drapey fabrics
- Buy a supportive bra, everything will fit better
- Wear dark opaque hose or tights with short skirts
- Match hose to shoes for a slimming silhoutte
- Choose belts that match your pants for an unbroken line
- Opt for pinstripes rather than wide vertical stripes
- Treat yourself to a new outfit when you lose a few pounds
- Wear layers of streamlined knits, not bulky ones. They're universally flattering.
- Make sure you have one outfit that you know you will feel good in - even on "fat" days.
- Make sure your hemline suits your legs:
- If you love your legs anywhere above the knee is fine
- For heavy legs go below the bottom of the calf
- If you have heavy ankles, stick to longer lengths, but dont try to cover them since you only trip on your hem. Slip on a pair of matching opaque hose instead.
Dont ...
- Wear a skimpy dress unless you are sure that you look good in it - absolutely sure.
- Fall victim to the whims of fashion and wear ultra wide leg pants - especially if you are petite.
- Reveal too much when you wear leggings. Even if your rear end is super toned, always wear a top that covers it.
- Buy pants or skirts without checking out your rear view. And when you try on pants, always sit down in them.
- Wear big bulky clothes they will hide your figure. They also add pounds to it.
- Buy something a size too small to inspire you to lose weight. It's much more likely that you will never wear it.
Woolworths to open fashion brand stores across SA
Woolworths plan to open up to 18 Country Road and Trenery stores in South Africa over the next three years. The upmarket retailer, which expects to launch Australian fashion brands Witchery and Mimco in South Africa in March, planned to open up to 47 of these stores in South Africa over the same period, it said last week.
This major expansion is part of the Woolworths group’s plan to become the leading fashion retailer in the southern hemisphere.
"There is a huge opportunity for this business to own (the) southern hemisphere. We want to make sure that in being big we take the gain of economies of scale," CEO Ian Moir said last week.
Country Road‚ Woolworths’ 88%-owned subsidiary, concluded the acquisition of 40-year-old fashion retailer Witchery Group from Gresham Private Equity for A$172m (R1.6bn) in October. Woolworths will try to emulate the success it has had with Country Road and Trenery in South Africa, with Witchery and Mimco. The Cape Town-based group has ramped up its clothing procurement strategy, allowing it to shorten lead times, as it focuses on a quick-response model. The arrival in South Africa of global powerhouses like Zara, Topshop and soon H&M and Forever 21 has seen other local players including Truworths, Edcon and Foschini Group increase efficiency.
Woolworths can now get to the market in just five to seven weeks with more than 30% of its goods, where previously it took more than 11 months to get to market. "Our merchandise cycle is quicker than it ever was, we are faster to the market and we continue to trade in season," Mr Moir said. Along with more competitive prices, the retailer has invested heavily in new systems and established a merchant academy to train its buyers, planners, technologists and designers. It has also identified global "centres of excellence" in China, Bangladesh, India, Madagascar and Mauritius to drive innovation and differential product, aided by better relationships with suppliers. The group wants to continue to grow its fashion credibility, stretch its brand across various categories and geography.
"We can take Country Road kidswear into Woolies stores to give a complete tiering across our offer. So we have that good, better and best offer," Mr Moir said.
Woolworth’s classic or more mature customer would not be forgotten, the group said.
Looking ahead, Mr Moir said the demographic of the South African market was changing. Woolworths needed to attract younger black customers if it was going to continue being successful.
About 50% of Woolworths’ sales are now generated from a black customer base.
Woolworth s’ loyalty programme — WRewards — is proving instrumental as customer data allow the group to drive promotions, segment merchandise, plan the layout of its stores, and get shoppers to cross from one category to another.
Do ...
- Buy things that go with at least two other things you already own
- Shop in consignment shops
- Buy it if you absolutely love it. Next time it may not be there
- Take a friend along with you. Not only can she tell you how things look from the back, she can save you from yourself - "hundreds of rands" for that.
Don't be afraid to ...
- Check the sales racks in better department stores
- Say no to a sales person
- Spend a little extra for a classic item that you know will last
7 Deadly shopping sins ...
- Buying on impluse just because something is on sale
- Using a credit card when you can spare the cash
- Shopping without a list, even if it's just in your head
- Looking like a schlep when you shop. If you dont put some effort into your hair and makeup, you will feel like nothing looks good on you.
- Shopping with your husband. Why torture one another?
- Spending more than you should on trendy items.
