Fall Shopping 101

Hello Lovlies!

Fall is here, which means NEW WARDROBE! SHOPPING! FABULOUS FALL FASHION! As exciting as it is, shopping can be a little daunting. While we would all love to have an unlimited budget, this is usually not the case. Here are some fall shopping tips that will help you make the most of what you have, the most of your spending money, and create the most looks!

1. Before you shop, assess your closet. We all go through the "I have nothing to wear" moods somedays, but it's important to honestly assess what you have. Pull every piece you own out, and try it on. Have a top you never wear because it doens't fit? Get rid of it! Try on all of your clothes to eliminate ones that don't fit. Have some fall appropriate clothing, but it feels old? When you're in the mood for something new, it's easy to feel the urge to shop. My advice is to take all of your pieces, and try to find at least 2 new ways to wear them. You may need a simple accessory to make somthing feel new, or you may find awesome new combos using things you have! Also, don't discriminate against your summer wardrobe! Maybe you can use some of the tops as layering pieces, and throw tights under your shorts so you don't freeze. Really make the most of what you've got.

2. Find your inspiration. After you have assessed your closet, decide on what you want and need to buy. Look on pintrest and in magazines for inspiration. It's better to get inspired and get an idea of what you're looking for, rather than just taking your money and heading out the door. Having an idea of what you want will eliminate impulse purchases and purchasing a bunch of things you don't totally love. Make a list of things you are looking for before heading out. It doesn't have to be a specific item from a specific store on your list, but write down the types of items you are looking for.

3. Make sure you have your bases covered. Before you start buying a bunch of quirky pieces that are difficult to match, make sure you have your basics. Some things I consider basics for fall are : dark wash, well fitting skinnies, leggings,  tights, comfortable/fairly practical boots, and a good jacket(i,e leather).

4. Shop around. My technique when I go out shopping is to browse shops, try on pieces that I like, and come back. I usually don't purchase the things I like in a store until I have browsed the store I want to that day. This is best because you may find similar pieces at other stores that are either a better deal, or you like more! Make a mental note of what you like at each place, then decide and go back to purchase.

5. Keep your reciepts, and be aware of return policies. I know, sounds obvious, but some of us figure we can return things with simply the tag, etc. While most retailers have similar policies, keep your reciepts, and familiarize yourself with each stores indiviual policy. I have known people who have purchased items without trying them on, and got them home to realize they didn't fit. To make matters worse, they couldn't return the item (sale items, etc). It's a good idea to try things on when you are there, or at least find out if it is returnable if you don't.

I hope you found these tips helpful! Do you have any tips that I missed?

X's and O's,
Amanda

Wedding Things: Bridal Beauty Part 1

Hey Pretties,
As alot of you may know, I am getting married very shortly! I would like to share with you some of my tips for wedding planning success. So this is the first post of the series "Wedding Things".

First of all, I want to inform you that I will actually be having 2 weddings. The first in May here in Germany, and another in the United States in a few months. This first one is not going to be large or extravegant whatsoever. Here in Germany, you actually HAVE to have a civil wedding in a Standesamt ( US equivelent to the courthouse) in order for it to be legal. You can have another later in the day at a church, if you are religious. In the US, you just need an officiant, and your ceremony can be wherever. Because I am not religious, we will only have a ceremony in the standesamt, and a small reception at our home. Although my wedding won't be big (this one, anyway), I have aqquired an abundance of knowledge that brides may find helpful!

So today we are dicussing bridal beauty, specifically the dress and accessories. First things first : your look on your wedding day is no place to comprimise. This is the most important day of your life, and you want to look and feel your most beautiful. This is a once in a lifetime event. It won't happen again, and you don't get a do-over. You will reflect back on this day forever, and it is important to be able to look back and be satisfied with the day- not remembering how you would have chosen a different dress, etc. Your look doesn't have to be extremely expensive( maybe a friend can do your nails, etc.), but it is not a place to skimp. My future mother in law told me that the dress she wore on her wedding day wasn't the original one she had picked out, but she chose it because it was cheaper than the one she wanted. And guess what? Her wedding was 27 years ago, and she's angry about it. She wishes she would have just gone for the dress she really wanted. So you defintely don't want this regret years later.

How do you find the right gown? The initial thought of dress hunting is almost more dreaded than it is exciting. I mean, you want it to be perfect. But where to begin? Firstly, I would set a dress budget, and be realistic about it. When you go to the bridal salon to begin looking, tell the associate helping you what your price range is. This way, she can give you gowns to try on that you can afford. No sense in trying on a $3,000 dollar gown and falling in love  with it when your budget was $1,000. That will only be disappoiting, and tempt you to maybe cut back in other areas that are also important. So before you head out that door, know how much you want to spend, and stick with it. Don't let pushy sales people or family members talk you out of it, either. You're bound to hear " but it's your WEDDING DAY! It's once in a lifetime!" Yes, it is. And that dress will only be worn once, too. You don't need debt or hungry guests because you had to have the designer gown.

Secondly, it doesn't hurt to look at styles before you go shopping. Look online for inspiration, and research good styles for your body type, etc. However, don't let this discourage you from certain styles while in the actual store.  Maybe a mermaid dress wasn't really suited for your body type, but who knows? You might just find one that looks fabulous on you in the store. Don't knock anything before you try it on. You will likely be suprised. Alot of brides find dresses that look less than pleasing on the hanger, but end up wearing those as their dresses. Be open minded, and remember: rules are meant to be broken. Typically, true white looks better on darker skin tones, while off-white better compliments pale skin. I have extremely pale skin, and my dress is a true white, and it looks great.

Another suggestion I have is to be realistic about your body when dress shopping. It's probable that you will need some sort of altering, even if it's small alterations. Your wedding gown is a piece that you need to fit you absolutely perfectly. Your wedding gown should look made for you. So a word to the wise: don't buy a dress that is a size smaller because you plan on losing weight. You will have sveral fittings before your wedding to make sure the dress fits perfectly. But you should maintain your weight. That being said, I wouldn't purchase a dress until you are at the size you'd like to be for your wedding. It's easier to take a dress in than to let it out. Be realistic about your body, and remember: your groom loves you as you are!

And finally, let's talk accessories. It is almost impossible to wear a bra that matches each pair of underwear you own everyday. But your wedding is a time where you should match. I personally reccomend wearing a corset under your gown in white or cream. It really enhances the way the dress looks on you. However, if you do not choose this route, make sure to have a bra fitting to make sure you have to right size. Buy a pair of pretty panties to match. And again, don't have your dress altered without the right bra. Have a fitting before alterations with your undergarments, accessories, and hair, veil, and shoes. This way, if you want a different accessory or need a new hair do, you have time to figure it out.

Dress shopping was a fun experience for me. I am in love with my dress! A side note: don't forget to factor in alterations to the final cost of your dress. I hope this was helpful! I will have another Wedding Things post here shortly! Happy dress shopping!
X's and O's,
Amanda