Tag Archives: Clothes

How To Clear Out Your Wardrobe.

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I have always wanted to be one of those women who wear matching underwear everyday, and are always effortlessly stylish. That is not me however, and I have decided being myself is much better. However, I am so busy that I have become obsessed with being organised and keeping everything in it’s place. I started with my wardrobe, and this is what I learned.

Take all of your clothes out of your wardrobe and try everything on. It can be quite overwhelming bringing everything out at once, so you can do half at once, or maybe just a drawer. Everything that doesn’t fit, put in one pile. Be realistic about this pile. Are you going to lose weight? Then put everything else into three other piles.


Keep

Unsure

Charity shop/Ebay/Recycle.

Get ride of stuff that doesn’t suit you, in poor condition and hasn’t been worn in 12 months.

Another good thing to do is have a one in and one out policy. Everything you buy something new, get ride of something old. Keep only a few old clothes for decorating or housework.

Things that need dry cleaning should only be in your wardrobe if you really love them or have money.

Put things that need alterations or mending. As well as shoes that need re-soled.

Everything in the keep pile should be put back in the wardrobe. Arrange the clothes by type, then colour. Everything in the get ride pile should then be put in another three piles (!) sell, give away, and recycle. Sell anything you think you can on Ebay or to a designer outlet, give away the stuff that you are not selling to charity (get gift aid so you can claim it against your tax.) All of the other stuff can be recycled, don’t just throw it away. There are charities that can recycle your old clothes.

Your maybe pile will probably make you indecisive. Ask a friend or a partner for their opinion, put all of the clothes in a bag and hide them away, if you don’t miss it after a few months then throw them out.

Get ride of things that don’t enhance your life.

Sales of sewing machines are up by 50%.

    Don’t buy something in the sale just because it’s cheap. You’re not ‘saving’ money, you are buying a problem.
    Know your body shape and what your comfortable in.
    Buy investment pieces.
    Learn from your mistakes.
    Take an inventory.
    Throw out cloths that you haven’t worn for 6 months.
    Find a style that suits you and stick with it. Have the courage to ignore what is fashionable and go for timeless elegance.

Organise your wardrobe. Buy some Vacuum sacks [£11.78 , lakeland.co.uk] to keep out of season clothes in and get some cedar or Lavender balls to repel moths.

Storage boxes are great and can be bought cheaply. These ones are cheap and can be stacked on top of each other As can hanging racks and hooks. Hooks Value Pack

Sewing kit. Learn how to sew. Take a class in dressmaking.

No wire hangers. They ruin clothes

Keep bags and accessories accessible. Stuff bags and shoes and keep them in their original packaging. Keep bags in the dust covers that they come with.

If you can afford a Hand-held steamer, get one. They are a great investment.

Fold knitwear, once horizontally and then put arms across the body for fewer creases. It will stretch if hung.

Dry-clean only clothes should be removed from packaging as soon as possible, as the chemicals can cause damage.

Get shoes resoled regularly. Buy the most expensive shoes you can afford and then look after them. Buy a shoe tree to keep them in tip-top condition. Wood Shoe Tree

Riding boats never go out of style.

Hang everything in the same direction.

Store clothes with acid-free tissue paper, to keep out moisture and damp.

If your leather shoes are too tight, heat them with a hairdryer and wear them with a thick pair of socks.


Some items of clothing that never go out of fashion.

A pencil skirt

Trench coat.

Plain court shoes

White Shirt

Good quality jeans.

Silk blouse

Pale, fuss-free underwear.

Sharp Blazer

Black Trousers

Little Black dresses.

Hang trousers upside down from clip hangers to avoid creases.

Got any tips of your own?

January's Magazines: Lady Gaga and Gwen Stefani Cover Stars.

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Lady Gaga takes the cover of Vanity Fair. She tells Vanity Fair: ‘I can’t commit to being an adult- I’m not ready.’

One of the main reasons I subscribe to Vanity Fair is the intelligent articles. I get my monthly dose of politics and economics. This month is no exception, there are brilliant articles to help you understand the economical crisis and a brilliant article on George F. Kennedy.

I really enjoyed Henry Aldord’s article on manners. It’s a sample from his book, Would it kill you to stop doing that?

  • Vanity Fair take Celine Dion out to lunch and she tells them she has over 3000 pair of shoes.
  • There is a brilliant article on Rick Perry, can he comeback?
  • Salman Rushdie on Lewis Carroll’s struggle to write his second book. ‘Follow that syndrome’ and how it helped him. Great piece.
  • The Japanese workers cleaning up Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
  • Rebecca Eaton, who has put her stamp on Downton Abbey and Upstairs Downstairs amongst others.
  • Michael Ovitz and his (alleged) failed takeover of IMG from the late Teddy Forstmann.
  • The wonderful Christopher Hitchens debates whether the phrase ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’ has merit.
  • The Queen and Prince Phillip in love. 16 pages on the blossoming of their love.
  • And P.D. James answers the Proust Questionnaire.

Marie Claire has Kelly Rowland on the cover. She talks Beyonce, men, music and admits she has cellulite.

There is a lot of clothes and shoes that will help you plan your wardrobe for next year, and lots of sparkly stuff for Christmas.

There is also a 2011 in review. Most magazines do this in December, watch out for Frosts.

  • Why famous men cheat, and does it sound like your man? Good article, and Lizzie Cundy tells Marie Claire how it felt when her husband cheated on her. Forgive and forget?
  • Four style savvy women share the party prepping secrets.
  • Janine di Giovanni goes in search of the truth about Aisha Gaddafi.
  • Should you tell your boss if your pregnant?
  • Matt Smith interview.
  • Who finds you the perfect date?
  • Jean Shrimpton’s Life story.
  • Amy Manson on the things she loves.
  • Future proof your looks.
  • Dakota Fanning’s beauty rules.
  • There is a very informative article on hormone problems, their symptoms and treatments.

Florence Welch take the cover of British Vogue and is interviewed inside. She tells Vogue: ‘I don’t think I’ll ever be polished. I’m integrally slightly scruffy. You know, you meet those women who are so cool? I’m striving for that so much!”.

  • In Vogue’s scrapbook there is a guide to flowers and their seasons and lots of floral dresses.
  • Sarah Lund from The Killing is interviews and asked about THAT jumper.
  • Women under siege, stories from women in Libya.
  • The new generation of female drummers.
  • Designing Duos.
  • Michael Kors
  • The Frieze Art; pictures and interviews from the art world’s fashion week.
  • Nomi Rapace interview.
  • Steven Spielberg and the cast for Warhorse.
  • Vogue’s great escapes. A brief history of Vogue shoots in foreign countries.
  • Three beauty hotshots show you how to par-down your make up bag.
  • Fast track your workout.

 

Glamour has X Factor’s Tulisa on the cover. She says ‘I don’t think I am anything like Cheryl, except we can both put a bit of volume in our hair’. She also says that she likes to ‘stick up for other women’. Which makes Frost like her. A lot.

  • Dermont O’Leary interview.
  • Don’t fear your fashion ghosts.
  • Get your dream job in 2012.
  • How to get blogged about.
  • The truth about food intolerance.
  • 3 Health problems you can fix yourself.
  • Can dating pro Matthew Hussey find you a man?
  • Tamara and Petra Ecclestone.
  • There is a good article on the rise of those awful pay day loan companies, beware of them at all costs!
  • Hollywood female stereotypes, a funny article by Mindy Kaling, writer of the US Office.
  • The truth about Hollywood stars selling their bodies when times get tough.
  • Give your closet a January detox with Danni Minogue.
  • Nicki Minaj interview and photo shoot.
  • How to get your s**t together. Sort out your wardrobe, make up bag, and everything else in your life.
  • Josh Duhamel interview.
  • The stars of 2012.
  • Your everything guide to skin.
  • Nicole Scherzinger on health and beauty.
  • The Devil in your diet: The low-down on sugar. Did you know that sugar has 4kcal per gram? There is also no difference between brown and white sugar.
  • 12 dinners for £50.

Tatler has Florence Brudenell-Bruce is on the cover. The girl that got away, Prince Harry’s ex tells Tatler that ‘one day everything will drop and I won’t be able to earn a living in my bikini’.

 

  • Free travel guide.
  • Rigby and Peller give Tatler their Mood Board.
  • What the recent overhaul of the royal succession means for the aristocracy.
  • Santa Sebag Montefiore launches a new skiing clothes line.
  • The Posh Commune.
  • Ella Hughes goes to an orgy.

  • Charles Gilkes and Duncan Stirling launch yet another party venue.
  • Quentin Letts sketchbook: Yvette Cooper.
  • Russian Billionaires at the High Court. Abramovich and Berezovsky go head to head.
  • Emma Freud reviews toasters.
  • Dafydd Jones on 30 years of chronicling the art crowd.
  • Writers on manners.
  • Joanne Lumley on her beauty routine.
  • Jo Malone on what she loves.

Gwen Stefani is on the cover of Instyle and is interviewed. Did you know she is friends with Angelina Jolie?

  • Where style starts: statement earrings.
  • Josephine de la Baume on her style.
  • Actors at the Toronto Film Festival.
  • Fashion insiders reveal what they cannot live without.
  • Tom Ford and Kate Bosworth. Tom has just launched a new make up range and Kate models
  • Instyle Shopping rules; jeans, vintage, lingerie, jewellery.
  • Instyle meets Jenna Lyons from J Crew.
  • Beyonce’s body rules.
  • Christmas Prep.
  • Megan Fox Up Close. Her beauty secrets.
  • Gizzi Erskine is In Style’s new columnist.

Christmas Ideas For The Men In Your Life

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Two great jackets you could buy for the man in your life for Christmas. They will keep him warm in January.

Duffers new men’s Alberta stadium jacket, Originally designed and produced
For Alberta college students in the 1930’s and adopted for various clubs and
gangs around that time.

The big D felt patch originates from lettermen who participated in sports
and received badges and medals for there achievements which where also
applied to their jackets.

This updated version has snap front studs and is insulated for cold-weather
wear and comes with a brushed cotton shell.

RRP £79.99 www.jdsports.co.uk

Duffer’s Skate Park Snorkel coat,

Although named with respect to the purpose built recreational environment
for skateboarders to ride and develop their skills, “Snorkel” is so called
because the hood can be zipped right up leaving only a small tunnel ( or snorkel )
for the wearer to look out of which is particularly effective in cold windy weather.
This knee length version has a fully detachable fur lined hood to protect the face.
It is lovingly stuffed with warm fiber wadding making the coat both lighter and
warmer. The outer shell is made of lightweight nylon and you will find extra warmth
from the polar fleece cuff lining.

rrp £109 www.jdsports.co.uk

Wendy's baby diary – baby scans

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Wendy’s baby diary – 26 weeks (5 months 3 weeks)

Pregnant memories

So much happens when you’re pregnant and I felt like I’d
remember everything but once you’ve given birth all you think about is the baby
and you start to forget cravings, indigestion, swollen feet, back ache and baby’s internal movements. So while I’m thinking about it I’ll record some pregnancy memories in this baby
diary.

Scans

Standard scan times are 12 weeks pregnant, then 20 weeks.
A lot of mums will only have these two
scans. We had more scans for personal reasons – I first saw Dillon at 6 weeks
old and he was just a heartbeat then.  Another
scan at 8 weeks and he looked like a little piglet, at 13 weeks like Skeletor
from He-Man, at 20 weeks like a normal baby and at 23 weeks we paid for a
private 4D scan at www.future-babies.co.uk  It was a great experience In some ways as his
grandmother-to-be attended and was able to see Dillon’s muscles and face as
well as his internal organs. We had a DVD made which was not very good – it was
recorded at double speed not real time so all his movements were too fast. They
also put music over his heartbeat recording so it’s not audible. And they got his
sex wrong.

A final scan at 32 weeks to find out if Dillon was breech
and by now he was so big you could only see half of his body on the screen at
any one time.

Off meat

For about 10 weeks of my pregnancy I didn’t eat meat –
red or white. The look, smell and taste of meat made me feel sick. There was
something about the dead flesh that repulsed me.  That was a short lived veggie experience.

Baby Swimming

Dillon had cried in the last two sessions but his 30
minute swimming lesson went much better this week and he was dunked underwater
3 times. We booked his lessons through www.babyswimming.co.uk
and my husband does the class. Quite a lot of dads have been ‘nominated’ to do
the lesson – for us it is a good opportunity for some father son bonding as the
swimming lesson is on a Saturday. Dillon is so tired afterwards he sleeps for a
good hour and we get to eat out while he has his nap.

BBQ

Speaking of eating out we went to a friend’s bbq at the
weekend and saw some friends for the first time since I gave birth . Even
though you know having children will change your life I don’t think you
appreciate how much, and when friends organise get togethers in the daytime you
say a silent prayer of thanks, as it gives both parents the opportunity to
attend.  Evening activities mean that one
or the other or usually neither of us get to go. There’s a big lifestyle shift
from being single to being in a relationship, to moving in / getting married to
having children – you get more familiar with four particular walls.

Clothes

Buying a size larger for the baby has backfired, he’s now wearing outfits that are falling off him. Babies are tricky!

© Wendy Thomson 2011

Wendy Thomson is the editor of www.femalearts.com an online publication
which promotes women in the arts and in business.

Amy Winehouse Was 'Physical Wreck' – Death Leaves A Trail Of Grief And Denials

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Amy Winehouse’s grieving mother has said that the singer was “a physical wreck” the day before she died and that her minders had to help her down the stairs. Janis, who suffers from MS, added that Amy was “completely out of it.”

The singer was apparently having weekly health check-ups and her doctor visited her 24 hours before her death but had ‘no concerns.” Her bodyguard, Andrew Morris, also checked on her in the morning, but when he returned in the afternoon, she had died.

After her funeral on Tuesday, Winehouse’s father gave fans her clothes, leaving one fan wearing a vest the singer owned. It also emerged that she was in the process of adopting a poor, 10-year-old, St Lucian girl.

Since the singer’s death, tributes have flooded in, and her family released a statement saying: “Our family has been left bereft by the loss of Amy, a wonderful daughter, sister, niece. She leaves a gaping hole in our lives. We are coming together to remember her and we would appreciate some privacy and space at this terrible time.”

Amy’s phone was apparently “routinely” hacked by members of the press, as were Winehouse’s parents, brother Alex and ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil, according to investigative journalist Charles Lavery.

Talking about the troubled Londoner’s attendance at rehabilitation centres, a source told Lavery: “The press knew where she would be, who would be there, what time, at any given time.

“They were able to be there too, to befriend her and actively encourage her, as if they had arrived by chance. That made better copy and, more importantly, better photos for the snappers both inside and waiting outside.

Ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil said that losing Winehouse has left him “inconsolable”, while Fielder-Civil’s mother hit out at critics who said he was responsible for the singer’s untimely, saying he had nothing to do with it.

Amy joins the ’27 Club’ – a list of famous rock stars who died at the same age  – which also includes Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Brian Jones.

Gemma Arterton's clothes struggle

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Gemma Arterton says it’s hard to find clothes that suit her curvy figure.

The stunning actress admits she sometimes struggles to find outfits that flatter her hourglass body and can’t just wear anything so often relies on Italian fashion house Gucci.

She said: “My shape means I can’t throw on an outfit. Gucci tends to design best for my hourglass figure.”

Gemma is also a fan of tailored jackets as they go with any outfit.

She told Britain’s Vogue magazine: “I wear my tailored jackets to death – Armani, Givenchy and Margiela.”

As well as wearing certain clothes, Gemma also sticks to the same perfume and make-up.

She said: “I do love a red lip – Nars Jungle Red is my favourite.

“My scents always have hints of Jasmine. Right now, it’s Balenciaga Paris – it’s floral, light and musky.”

Gemma has previously admitted she likes to keep her style simple.

She said: “For me it’s kind of simple really. I don’t really go for anything too embellished or fancy or frilly or girly and it has to be easy because I haven’t got time for anything that’s too difficult!

“I just like putting on a pair jeans and jacket and going, although I do like heels – I’ve got a passion for shoes, but I always end up wearing the one same pair of shoes. But it works with my lifestyle because I’m always running around so it doesn’t work for me to wear tight skirts and corsets, or whatever it is! Jeans are definitely the way forward.”

H&M Website goes transactional {Style}

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There goes all my free time. In a clever move from the Swedish super-brand, H&M are launching their transactional website from 16th September. At the moment, their website is a collection of well laid out look books and corporate information, whilst it’s inspiring enough and informative, when you finally find a store, the choice is so overwhelming and finding the garment you’re after seems like a mission worthy of a medal.

Subscribers to the H&M newsletter will get an exclusive preview to the online store, just one of the treats that subscribers get. So head on over and subscribe.