Advice to Shopping Online for Clothes

Online Shopping for Fashion Clothes

Online Clothes Shopping

Not sure it will fit?
People contemplate whether or not the size and fit of each piece of clothing will be exact.
Because the standards of clothes sizing are confusing, many of you are resigned to walking the high street, from store to store figuring out what which dress will fit!
This mixture of the unknown makes it annoying that you establish one fit at a store, only to find that going to another store armed with the knowledge that you are a size 12, to find out that the clothes you are trying is size 14 that fits you?
Shopping for clothes online has one major setback, clarity in clothing sizes!
 Women's sizes are not standard, most women are aware of this hence the sore feet and countless circuit laps around the shopping mall, building up a dossier of information as to what store, stocks their clothes in their size.   
There are so many guides out there that advise about sizing!
There are no hard fast rules about this no matter what is said about it, it’s all down to the manufacturers description and instruction of how their garments are supposed to fit?
 Online shopping should be hassle free if the information provided is viable and useful for you to make your mind up, but instead most people doubt and are worried as whether to commit to something that they are unsure that will fit them!
Clothing manufacturers tell women they have standard sizes but women know this is as untrue as "one size fits all!

 Guide to Online Shopping for Clothes

Clothing Size

What have the clothing industries standardisation rules of sizing done!
Since it's inception from the 50's Nothing?

Times have changed since the definition of women's fashion clothes, sizing of the 1950's; and no one within the British clothing industry has made any effort to change the fact that men and women have physically changed?
Instead The United Kingdom has an existing standard for women's clothing BS 3666:1982, however this is rarely followed by manufacturers as it defines sizes in terms of hip and bust measurements only within a limited range.
This has resulted in variations between manufacturers and a tendency towards vanity sizing. Instead what has happened in the fashion industry is that Europe has become more aware of these changes and so has adopted to these the changes of measurement sizes and as a result we now have more of women's fashion Boutiques on the high street from Europe. Size ten in clothing for instance, gives a different fitting with the style you choose? Confusing?
Size ten in a designer fashion clothes will not be the same looking on women of size 14?
Retailers don't make women's fashion clothes to compliment people of different body shapes?

 

British Standard Clothing Sizing

This table shows the sizes as given by the British Standard.
British Standard 3666 - 1982 size designation of women's wear

 

Learn to measure yourself

Measuring for Online Clothes

 

To find your correct size you must learn to take your measurements correctly. This may mean a painful few minutes with a measuring tape, but the results will be worth it.
Use the charts and instructions on the clothing sites you visit to calculate your information and then select the right sizes for your current measurements. It's the best way to ensure that you'll get a perfect fit every time.
• Difficulty: Easy
• Time Required: 2-5 minutes
• What do I need:  a Friend for best result, Tape measure, Pen, Paper, all to be done in front of a mirror and your back to a wall?
Where do i start?
• Make sure you measure yourself in your underwear!
• Before making any online purchases, always check with the merchant's size charts and   fitting tips.
• Check the method and instruction used by SovaCollection. From the fitting chart are measurement tolerances that give you a confident realist picture that tells you if you will fit into the chosen garments!
• As long as you have taken measurement of yourself, you not only have information about yourself, but it will give you a better vision as to whether you will fit into other websites clothing with similar size chart listings.
Fitting methods and measurements might vary slightly from one online merchant to another.

 

3D Body Scanning

Andrew Crawford, Director of SizeUK
Most High Street names in women's clothes - with the exception of a few, such as Primark - use the results of a National Sizing Survey (SizeUK) to analyze the average shape of their core customers, and then cut their clothes to fit.
Andrew Crawford, Director of SizeUK, said: 'SizeUK enables retailers to understand the distribution and overall size and shape profile of their target customers, to improve the sizing and fit of their garments and maximize the percentage of their target customers that can fit their clothes.
UCL is the leading UK 3D body scanning centre. Andrew Crawford serves as Director of the UK National Sizing Survey which measured 11,000 subjects using 3D whole body scanners to automatically extract 130 body measurements from each subject. This research was supported by most of the leading UK clothing companies. It involved collaboration with my colleague Professor Bernard Buxton, Jeni Bougourd of the London College of Fashion and Andrew Crawford of Bodymetrics. (The DTI state that SizeUK received more media coverage both nationally and internationally than any other project they funded.)
Subsequently Andrew was advisor to United States Sizing Survey (SizeUSA - collaboration with Dr. David Bruner of TC2) and also currently advising the Thai Government on a national sizing survey. I serve on the European Sizing Co-operation (a consortium of the largest European clothing companies) which is interested in standardising clothing size labelling in Europe, and in a pan European Sizing Survey.
I also collaborate with the Institute of Child Health (Dr. Jonathan Wells and Prof. Tim Cole) on the use of body scanning for healthcare applications such as epidemiology, the screening of children for obesity and growth defects.

 

Tips about Clothing Fabric Shrinkage, fabric bleeding

Typical website advice about wash care advice
The best way to avoid clothes that may shrink, fabric bleed, after washing a dress or top is to make sure you are check up on the fabric label of the garment you are interested in.
Dry Cleaning only is the best way, although depending on the make of the garment, it may not be feasible to do so, such as some evening dress embellished garments with crystal stones that will damage due to dry cleaning.
As a whole with dry cleaning you get a professional finish, Dry cleaning will keep most clothes from fading.
If you are looking for a fabric that will not shrink, you can look for rayon blend or a polyester blend, certainly spandex, Spandex may shrink in dry cleaning though.
 If it's 100% cotton, it will shrink.
As a general rule, almost anything can be washing machine cleaned, if washed correctly, even wools and cashmere, which will shrink if, dried improperly.
Some fabrics will lose their "softness" (silks, cashmere) when washed as opposed to dry cleaning, in which case always read the instructions on the label  for wash care of these items.
Always seek the advice of a reputable Dry Cleaner and you can also seek the advice at the link laundering & dry cleaning symbols.

 





Dry Cleaning & Hand Washing





 

Top Tips New Year Sales deals

When silly season arrives at the beginning of the year, mad crowds, and sore feet?? To save all the aggravation follow a few of our tips to stay ahead of the game, but mostly save the tiring trek around town having to miss out on those bargains?
 

Tip no 1
Call your favourite store - the best bargains always seem to get snapped up in the first few days so call ahead to you're your selected store and find out if they still have what you want.
 
Tip no 2
avoid impulse buying, do your homework and find out the marker prices, from all the catalogues, and other stores on-line?
 
Tip no 3
if it's going cheap for a reason haggle - look for the clues which give away which items the stores most want to get rid of and then haggle?
 
Tip no 3
Large electrical appliance stores sometimes use a price code to secretly tell staff which product models need to be sold as a priority to make way for new stock. The key to this code lies in the last digit of a price.
If the price ends in an eight for example £19.98, it usually means the particular model has been discontinued by the manufacturer.

If the price ends with seven, the item is usually clearance stock, so ask for a further discount. Even if the goods are discontinued they'll still be under warranty.
Remember?

Don't just grab items because you think it's a bargain?
Last years shoppers bought at least 580million worth of electrical gadgets which ended up collecting dust?Know your rights
You can return sale goods? No matter what stores may tell you? Signs that say "No Return on Sale Goods" are illegal and shops should reimburse the amount you paid, not the lower price it dropped to later in the sale. When you pay sale goods, your legal rights are the same as when you pay full price?
 
This comes under the consumer statutory rights?
 For more information ConsumerDirect
 
Are you sure it's a bargain?
Don't presume sale goods are always cheaper. As long as they have been a higher price for 28 days within the last six months, stores can get away with saying they are reduced. The other loophole they exploit is that goods might have been at the higher price only at another branch such as their flagship Oxford Street store.
Finally Keep within your budget and if you think you will be going over budget, then speak to your Bank Manager beforehand to arrange a sensible credit limit?

Womens Fashion Colour Match Your Skin Tone

Skin tone comes in three categories, warm, cool and neutral

Jewellery Test

To understand what skin tone you have, there is a little test that you can do. To get a good idea, you must sit in front of a mirror with plenty of daylight around you.

This method is relying on your self judgement, but to get a more realistic answer, you need to compare yourself with jewellery, silver or gold.

If you find upon looking in the mirror that you are suited to silver, then you are likely to fall in the bracket of cool undertone.

If however you look at yourself wearing gold that you are suited, then you will fall into the bracket of a warm undertone.

The Vein Test

The universally method used is the vein test is good way to determine your skin tone. In daylight open and close your fist like a ball, a couple of times, to invoke raising your veins to the service in which you can examine your inner wrist. You should be now being able to visibly see what colour your veins are?

Veins that are mainly blue indicate cool tones, while green veins are a hint that you are warm toned.

If your veins are a mix of blue and green, it could be a sign that you are neutral toned. Very fortunate!

Compare with Celebrities

Below are some visual ideas from the world of Womens fashion that these celebrities surround themselves in, of which you can compare yourself too:
Example of Peach warm, fair to medium complexions - Renee Zwegweller, Tilda Swinton

Example of Pink cool, fair to medium complexion - Keira Knightly, Kate Winslet

Example of Yellow warm, fair to medium complexion - Cameron Diaz, Elle Macpherson

Example of Olive warm, medium to deep complexion - Peneoply Cruz, Halle Berry

Skin Tone Warm

Hair Colour – Brunette, Red and Blonde

Eye Colour – Brown, Green, Hazel

Skin Tone Cool

Hair Colour – Blonde Brunette

Eye Colour – Blue Violet, Grey

Skin Tone Neutral

Hair Colour – All colours

Eye Colour – All Colours

Skin Tone Warm

Colours complimentary to warm skin tone such as gold, beige, sage green or bronze. Softer tones are good like, peach, apricot or yellow.

Other colours that go well with warm tone are earth colours, rich golden browns and golden blond shades as well as auburn. Also you can use olive-green, yellow, brown, red ochre (shade of brown) & raw sienna (yellowish-brown) and raw umber (natural clay earth brown).

You will need to avoid any hair colour that has the word ash in it, also extreme hair colours like jet black, white, blue or violet.

Skin Tone Cool

True colours such as the range in Jewel tones, such as emerald green, amethyst purple, ruby red, topaz yellow, sapphire blue, tourmaline green, turquoise blue, pure black, pink.

In addition to these colours you can wear icy tones colours like light blue, light pink and light green.

Icy is very light, clear and cool, icy is NOT pastel, soft and not warm.

As a cool tone skin you should avoid colours such as beige, orange and gold.

Skin Tone Neutral

Fortunately this is a tone that benefits from being in the middle of all colours will look good whatever as indicated above.

Most neutral skin tones will favour one way or another depending on the individuals overall colour tone.

So while a warm colour may look ok on you, on the other scale if chosen a cool colour may look fantastic.

Selecting the right colours based on your skin tone can add so much to your overall appearance. But this is an overall appearance of eyes, lips, hair and of course a Womens fashion sense. The right colour can add an appealing appearance to your overall being, with a complimentary complexion. Whilst on the other scale, choosing the wrong colour foundation and fashion clothes can leave you looking un-balanced with your skin tone and the clothes you wear.

Womens Fashion Colours

Fashion colours are great to see on the runway by aspiring models, the beautiful tones and shades that differing material styles shimmer and shape by various designers.

The colours listed can be part of your wardrobe, part of your outfit and just as the models strutting their gait down the runway, you too can done the same colours and feel free in knowing that those colours will make your skin glow, will balance your overall ambience of cosmetics, hair and lips to give an overall picture of the new you.

Aubergine

Bright purples can be tricky, but muted aubergine is becoming universally accepted. It’s midway between warm and cool, so it suits warm yellow-toned skin, as well as cool blue-toned skin.

This shade looks corporate enough for work.

Grey

Dark grey is a fashion undertone shade of colour. Accentuating to the body, but still doesn’t make you look arid or pale in contrast.

Dove grey is gorgeous on warmer skin tones, and not as harsh as pure white. Grey tops look great with a red or pink lipstick to brighten up your look.

Red

Scarlet red, wow! Make a statement, red is the colour of passion, aggression and power, to be worn only by a handful of women.

But true red, which sits in the between tomato and cherry, is surprisingly flattering. Your best bet with red is probably a scarf or jumper, as such a strong colour on your bottom half can make you look larger.

Turquoise

Dark aquamarine shades. These colours work because they are the precise opposite to the pink in our cheeks, which, by contrast, they enhance; giving women a healthy glow. Red hair looks great when worn with greens and blues.

Putty Pink

The palest of putty pinks. This tone accentuates the natural glow in our skin, unlike pastel pink which only flatters certain complexions. This shade of pink also mixes easily with darker colours – perfect for a work blouse under a suit

 

Sunscreen effects on melanin

Melanin is the substance that gives the skin and hair its natural color.People with darker skin; tend to have a higher amount of melanin.

By contrast, those with less pigment have lighter or fairer skin colouring.

Melanin absorbs UV and is thus a natural sunscreen, and is probably the reason that dark skinned people have a tenth of the skin cancer rate of fairer folks.

When fair skinned people are exposed to the sun, this stimulates melanin production in their skin, thus giving them a 'tan', but along the way causes lots of skin damage.

The two most common forms of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, are found largely in fair skinned people.

Tanning and burning are caused by ultraviolet rays from the sun. These rays cannot be seen or felt, but penetrate the skin and stimulate cells containing a brownish pigment called melanin.

Melanin tries to protect the skin by absorbing and scattering ultraviolet rays. People with dark skins have high amounts of melanin and have greater natural protection from ultraviolet rays.

Blondes, redheads, and people with fair skins have less melanin and, therefore, burn more quickly.

As melanin is stimulated by ultraviolet rays, it rises to the skin’s surface as a tan. A tan is damage to the skin but may provide some protection against future sun exposure.

Individuals with dark skins such as olive, brown, or black are not immune to burning and skin damage caused by careless exposure to the sun.

Darker skin does offer more protection than light skin against sunburn and skin cancer.

Sunscreen Made Simple

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, and lets you know how effective the sunscreen is at blocking out the sun’s rays – called UVB and UVA rays. The higher the SPF, the more rays are blocked out.

contrary to popular belief, it has nothing to do with long you can stay in the sun without re-applying – in fact, no matter what SPF you’re using, you need to put more on at least every two hours.

Pale - you have very pale skin, burn easily and find it difficult to tan. You probably also have fair or red hair, and possibly freckles. If this is your skin type, then unfortunately you’re most at risk of developing skin cancer! You shouldn’t head to the beach without applying a sunscreen with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 30, and skin experts say you shouldn’t leave the house without factor 15 on your face, even in winter. There’s no point in even attempting t tan – the only safe option for you is a fake one.

Fair - you also have fair skin and burn with too much sun, but you do gradually tan. You most likely have fair to medium hair and blue or brown eyes. Unfortunately, you’re more likely to develop skin cancer than almost any of the other skin types. You need to choose SPF 30 sunscreen if you’re planning to spend time in the sun, and at least SPF 15 for everyday use. If you absolutely have to tan, opt for somewhere between there.

Medium - You have light olive skin and tan reasonably easily, although you do burn if you spend too long in the sun. You probably have brown or green eyes. Even though you can tan, you’re still risking skin cancer every time your skin burns. Prevent this by applying sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 for everyday use.

Olive - You tan easily and only burn if you spend hours in the sun without protection. You probably have brown eyes and dark hair. You may think your tanned skin makes you exempt from skin cancer, but be warned – you’re still at risk. Use SPF 15 sunscreen if you’re planning to spend the day at the beach.

Brown - Your skin is naturally brown, and you have dark hair and brown eyes. In the sun, your skin darkens further, and you only burn if you spend absolutely ages in the sun. It’s unlikely you’ll develop skin cancer caused by the sun, but you could still face major wrinkling if you don’t use sunscreen. You can afford to go for SPF 15 or lower.

Dark - You have black skin, black hair and dark brown eyes. Your skin gets darker in the sun, but only burns after extreme exposure. People with your skin type rarely develop skin cancer caused by the sun, but it’s worth using sunscreen anyway to protect you from premature ageing. Sunscreen with SPF 15 if you intend to spend the day in the sun, or even lower for everyday use, will work best for you.

Tips for Avoiding Skin Cancer

• Stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm – if you have to be outdoors, head for the shade
• Wear at least SPF 15 sunscreen and reapply every two hours – understand that a higher SPF indicates that it provides stronger protection, but not for a greater length of time, so no matter what SPF you use, you’ll still need to reapply at least every two hours
• The higher the SPF, the better the sunscreen is at protecting you from skin cancer and ageing. Make sure you’re using one that safeguards you against not only UVB rays, but also UVA – an often-overlooked type of ultraviolet light that scientist say does just as much damage
• Apply sunscreen everywhere – don’t miss your ears! And apply generously as you would a moisturizer – research shows that most people only put on half as much as they should
• Wear sunglasses and a hat to protect your face, neck and ears – sunscreen alone may not be enough to safeguard these delicate areas. Realise that sunscreen does not protect you completely on its own, so if you’re spending hours in the sun, throw on a loose, light-coloured t-shirt too
• Avoid sun beds, and resist the urge to sunbathe
• Remember that self-tanning products, tanning moisturizers and tanning oil do not contain any UV protection at all
• Whatever your skin type, don’t let your skin burn
• Don’t forget that harmful UVA and UVB rays can still get through the atmosphere and burn you even on a cloudy day
• The sun’s rays are especially damaging to children, so make sure kids are protected with sunscreen, hats and clothes at all times and keep babies out of the sun altogether
Some people argue that a high SPF will cut out too much Vitamin D, which the body needs. However, for fairer skinned people the skin cancer risk outweighs the benefits, especially since you can also get Vitamin D through your diet, according to the British Skin Foundation. They recommend sunscreen with a lower SPF to darker skinned people, who are more likely to develop Vitamin D deficiencies.
If you notice any worrying changes in your skin, or if a mole changes colour or shape, contact a doctor, who will refer you to a dermatologist if necessary.

Annexed

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin caner It can be destructive and disfiguring.

The risk of developing BCC has increased for individuals with a family history of the disease.

With a high cumulative exposure to UV light via sunlight, or in the past, were exposed to carcinogenic chemicals, especially arsenic.

Treatment is with surgery, topical chemotherapy, X-ray, cryosurgery, or photo dynamic theory. It is rarely life-threatening but, if left untreated, can be disfiguring, can cause bleeding, and produce local destruction (e.g., eye, ear, nose, lip). Basal cell skin cancer almost never spreads; but, if untreated, it may grow into surrounding areas and nearby tissues and bone.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) - Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common caner of the skin (after basal cell carcinoma but more common than melanoma). It usually occurs in areas exposed to the sun, and can generally be treated by excision only. Sunlight exposure and immunosuppressant are risk factors for SCC of the skin. The risk of metastasis is larger than with basal cell carcinoma.

Black Womens Fashion Eye For Colour

Make up for African American skin tones

Decades ago, cosmetics were mostly aimed at a fair-skinned market, leaving African American women with few resources. The foundations and powders that were available at the time often left women with darker skin with an unattractive, ashy undertone. However, in recent years, the cosmetics market has exploded with products geared toward women of all shades, no matter how dark or light the skin

African American women have a wide range of skin colours, from very fair to very dark. Makeup that looks good on light skin may not complement dark skin well, and vice versa. Plus, for the most flattering looks, women should take note of their skin's undertones, whether they're warm or cool. A lot of makeup mistakes can be avoided if you know whether blue, silver and lavender are your colours, or if you should stick to peach, gold and bronze.

Depending on your particular complexion, you might look great in Beyonce's makeup colours or you might look better emulating Gabrielle Union.

Whether your skin is shaded like Pam Grier or Whoopi Goldberg, you'll look radiant and beautiful if you first identify the undertones in your skin.

Black Women ranges of skin tone complexion

Rich ebony complexions usually have cool, almost blue undertones

Brown and caramel complexions have warm golden undertones

African American women who fall on the warm end of the spectrum will look fantastic in these colours:

Peach

Gold

Bronze

Orange red

Brown

If you're more of a cool complexion, stick to:

Blue

Purple

Silver

Pink

Blue red

If your skin is very dark and you've always shielded away from deep lipstick colours, you don't have to.

You can try a neutral look with a lip colour that closely matches your skin and top it with a light coat of clear gloss.

With such natural lips, you can put the makeup focus on your eyes.

Women with cool complexions can wear silver or charcoal eye shadow, while warm women can sport bronze eye colour and a couple of coats of deep black mascara for maximum impact.

Lipstick colour range for Black women

Choosing lipstick colours can be arduous at the best of times; to simplify this process requires you to be knowledgeable of your skin tone and complexion. The black skin tones range from light to dark and with this is a spectrum of colours running from light to dark. So with this in mind applying what your complexion is compared to the colour scale will help in identifying the colours that will suit your colour tone. You will be better armoured with what colour ranges with enhance your lips to the fullest.

Light – this is the lighter complexion of black skin tone, the following lipstick colour range will look good on you:-

Pale pink

Peach

Taupe

Red

Medium - medium skin toned women will look good in the following lipstick range:-

Red

Medium to deep pink

Bronze

Magenta

Medium to dark brown

Dark – This for dark and lovely rich skin tone

Deep red

Fuchsia

Magenta

Chocolate Brown

Bronze

Now that you have an idea of the colour ranges you now need to experiment at your Cosmetic Boutique store where there are testers. The colours are not tied down to lighter skin or dark skin, it’s just a guide. You may be pleasantly surprised how a colour range that belongs to a light tone or dark tone skin can actually embellish a look of beauty.

Black Womens Fashion

Black or brown tone skin with yellow or golden undertones

Choose bold primary colours

Black

True white

Blue reds

Royal blues

Fuchsia

Lemon yellow

Hot pink

Blue greens

Icy or cool-toned pastels

Emerald

Yellow

In general lighter skin tone women should avoid faded colours such as faded red or faded orange, it will look ok on you but , but you should venture a better range of colour spectrums.

Olive medium tone skin with yellow undertones

Choose bold primary colours

Black

True gray

Navy

Icy cool pastels will bring out the best of your features

Avoid shades of soft yellow, rose, mauves and soft pastels; they'll make you appear of a sickly yellowish hue or complexion.

Kids have a choice in Clothes - Family Tips & Advice

Children regardless girls or boys are dominated by consumerism? TV is a big part of the family, whether we like it or not, and more to that the games console is just as bad. Many years ago, this was not the case, well not altogether true? The only time parents would cringe was at Christmas time? It was a period known as us against them, consumer against retailer, well retailer plus children against parents? You might describe in depth of you disapproval, your "taut" stance, and your governance?

But all this is just a token gesture in the eyes of the warrior child? Because in the end, you gave a good account of yourself, but in vain? Because the onset is; Children will always be the victors?
Back to the future and the size of the war retail machine has increased so much aided by the spider web of the media, no use trying to wriggle your way out of it because we are swamped in it's consumer quick sand and the echoing voices from afar in your ears forever ringing and repeating the deafening screeching noise of "I want that", "can I have that, can I, can I “My best friend Mike has got Nike boots, can I have them? Janine has got the full set of Barbie house and friends, can I have it?
At one time you were safe in the knowledge that power belonged to you, you can choose you can dictate for a while.

Not anymore those good days have gone? to be replaced by a 3yr old sizing themselves up in a mirror or walking in those brand new expensive shoes you have just bought from the shoe shop; Trying to emulate you? Whether they are 3yrs old or 5yrs old, these kids self awareness has evolved much earlier than you think and the "dawning" of consumer madness already in them and flourishing?
Family Tips & Advice
Buy socks all the same colour. It will be less aggravating when your washing machine eats one, and you can't find a mate.
*Buy solid colour clothing items that can be layered and worn with a variety of other pieces. They can be worn more frequently without people thinking you are wearing the same item again.
*Avoid trims and other decorative elements that make the piece of clothing harder to blend with other pieces, and again, more noticeable when worn.
*When buying knitted items, look for strength and durability. The fabric should be more dense than loose, and the stretch should be limited.
*Keep away from trendy items if you want the piece of clothing to last several years and be passed down to another child.
*Look for clothes that can be enlarged as your child grows. Generous hems can be let down. Creases in the hemline can be removed with a little vinegar and a warm iron. The same is true for sleeve lengths with simple sleeves.
*Elastic in the waistband is easily adjusted and fits longer. It is also more comfortable. That is why you see most toddler clothes in this style. Use this when you can on casual clothes for older children. The same is true for adjustable straps for jumpers, overalls, play suits, etc.
*If you can, buy clothes slightly larger than your child. They will quickly grow into them and last longer.
*Don't go shopping without a list. Go through your children's clothes and see what they need. Write it down, and keep to it!
Your children have colours that they like, and look good with just as you do. Look through some catalogues with your child and talk about clothes. It may not be your favourite subject, but a little knowledge may help you avoid "buying mistakes" that sit in the wardrobe unworn.
Starting School
Whether your child is returning to school to start a new year or whether they are going for the first time, there are plenty of things to get organised and prepare for. Even children who love school may feel just a little anxious before going back so reduce any possible stress by being completely sorted and not leaving everything until the last minute.
Are you ready?
Have you thought of and bought or booked the following?
• Uniform
• Sports kit
• Shoes
• School bag and games bag
• Booked school lunches
• Lunch box and flask
• Snack box
• Waterproof coat
• Allergy details for the teacher
• Pens, rulers, pencil case etc
• Haircuts
• Getting together with another child in the same year before the start of term

Preparation
In the first few days your child will face new places, people, rules and relationships. This can be both exciting and frightening.
You can help by familiarising your child with their new environment before school starts:
• Make at least one visit to the school before your child's first day. If possible, arrange to show your child around their new classroom and
Meet their teacher. Take a look at where they'll leave their coat and lunchbox and show them the toilets, playground and hall.
• Talk about each place as you visit it. For some children just looking will be enough. But others, who learn more rapidly through hearing, will
Benefit from your descriptions.
• Find out about the daily routine from the teacher and let your child know what to expect. For example, many schools start with reading on the mat, the daily register and so on. Knowing what's coming next will help your child make sense of their day.
• Lastly, for your own reassurance you could ask the teacher what strategies he or she uses to settle the children.

Plan ahead
If the school has an evening for new parents go along and take note of all the items your child will need on their first day.
Shop for uniform and other equipment early - you're more likely to find things in the right sizes and you'll avoid the crowding of the last week before term starts.
Make the shopping trip into a special event for you and your child and emphasise they're choosing their grown-up school clothes.
The countdown
If your child's in holiday routine - staying up late and rising late - then one week before term begins change their schedule. Gradually bring their bedtime back to a time suitable for school nights and introduce more regular eating habits with meals at set times.
You may need to get into the term-time habit too. Write a list of all the things you'll need to organise, such as dinner money, snacks and lunches, gym clothes, reading folder and painting coverall. Stick the list to the fridge and tick each item off as you sort it out.
Involve your child in getting ready for their first day. The evening before term starts you and your child can work together to lay out their uniform, bag and snacks.
Last of all set your alarm early for the first day - even the most organised parents and children need extra time to get ready for the big event.
Your emotions
your feelings will guide your child's emotions. If you approach your child's first day with confidence that they'll be fine, using positive words about school and loving attention, their anxieties will be reduced.
Saying goodbye at school may be very emotional for you. But try to send your child off with a smile and a wave along with the reassurance that you'll be there to collect them later. Remember even distressed children settle very quickly once you're gone, so make your leave loving but brief. If you're particularly worried, most schools will be receptive if you want to phone in later to check your child is ok.
The end of the day
do make sure you're a little early to collect your child (This goes without saying?) at the end of the first few days - even a few minutes late can seem an eternity to a waiting child. Your child will probably be tired and hungry so a healthy snack and some quiet time, with or without you, will be just what they need after school.
Listen to your child. They'll probably talk about their day in their own time so avoid pressing your child, but do give them opportunities to talk to you.
Confidence building
By the time they reach school age, children develop an established sense of self-esteem. A child with high self-esteem has the confidence to try new things and make friends. A child with low self-esteem has a tougher time in all these areas, and needs extra help from you.
Maintaining your child's confidence
It's still vitally important for you to keep working at building your child's confidence throughout these years, especially as school life and friends may give it a sideways knock.
Suggestions
• Believe in your child and show it - let her know she's a worthwhile, lovable individual.
• Give praise and positive feedback - your child measures her worth and achievements by what you think of her. "Well done, that was hard, and you managed it" is music to young ears. Reassure your child that it's OK to make mistakes and that it's all part of growing up.
• Practise active, reflective listening - listen carefully, repeat what you've heard to make sure you understand and give positive prompts to encourage your child to continue.
• Acknowledge your child's feelings - and help her express them verbally.
• Criticise behaviour, not your child - it's very easy to fall into this trap, but too much criticism tells your child she's a bad person and is causing things to happen because of her own stupidity. This is very damaging if it goes on for a long time. Be clear that it's an action you're angry about or behaviour you don't like.
• Respect your child's interests, even if they seem boring to you - take a genuine interest in your child's friends, and what's happening at school, and comment to show you're listening.
• Accept any fears or insecurities your child expresses as genuine - even if they seem trivial to you, don't just brush them aside. If your child says "I'm useless at maths" say "You're obviously finding maths a struggle, how can I help you?"
• Encourage independence - encourage your child to take chances and try new things. Succeeding gives a huge boost to confidence, and sometimes your child will need to learn by her mistakes.
• Laugh with your child - never at her.
• Focus on your child's successes - swimming, music, whatever she can succeed at.

Are you helping or hindering?
"I told you so" You've warned your child she shouldn't walk across the carpet carrying a cup full of milk and her dinner. She does it anyway, but trips and spills it. It's tempting to say: "Now looks what you've done. I told you that you couldn't do it." Comments such as this make your child feel even worse than she does already for failing at something. Instead, try to give support by saying something like: "Oh no, you tried, but it didn't work.
Never mind. Next time you could carry them one at a time."
Talking about your child It's not only the critical things said directly to your children that can undermine confidence. If your child overhears you tell someone that "she's got two left feet" or "she's so clumsy" they might think you really believe this and feel it can't be changed.
Putting yourself down Things you say about yourself can damage your child's self-esteem. Children learn a great deal from copying adults close to them. If you overreact to situations or pressure, your child may worry that you really can't handle life's challenges. This won't set your child an example of a positive, optimistic attitude to life and how to handle problems.
Thoughtless remarks Think before you speak and choose your words with care - it's very easy to say something without thinking, then wish you hadn't. "You're so clumsy" or "Don't be stupid" can be said in an irritated moment when the cereal is spilled or an innocent question is asked. Too many negative remarks like this can result in children believing they're useless or stupid.
All the following can damage a child's confidence:
• saying you don't love them
• saying you wish they'd never been born
• insults or unkind remarks
• deliberately ridiculing things your child does or feels
• cruel teasing and sarcasm
• endless nagging
• aggressive shouting and swearing
Say "sorry" if you get it wrong
none of us are saints and we all sometimes say something and immediately regret it. If this happens, it's best to admit this to your child. Say: "I should never have said that. It was an unkind thing to say and I don't mean it. I'm just tired." Then have a cuddle and make up.
Bullying
Teasing, some fighting and falling out with friends is a normal part of school-age relationships. But if one child is constantly dominating another, this
Creates a bully-victim relationship Bullies and victims may be unconsciously drawn to each other. Bullying is a big problem for many children.
Parents need to be alert to signs their children are involved in bullying.
Bullies and bullied are both victims
A bully may:
• Tease or hit other children
• Demonstrate a lot of angry behaviour or displays of temper
• Defy parents or teachers
A victim may:
• Find it hard to join in with friends
• Be taken advantage of or teased by other children
• Show some helplessness or be easily upset
• Be timid, shy or different in some way
If you think your child may be a bully
• Teach him or her about respecting other people's rights - don't just assume your child will know this. Constantly stress how others feel, and
How important it is not to do things that make other people feel bad. Try to teach your child to treat others as he or she would like to be treated.
• Have firm rules that don't accept mean or nasty behaviour towards others.
• Teach your child to negotiate. Use role play to teach him how to ask for things he wants rather than forcing his will on others.
• Keep a record of bullying incidents. This will help to identify whether anything in particular is causing your child stress and setting him off.
• Don't use bullying tactics at home to make your child do what you want.
• Make sure you're positive about your entire child's good, cooperative behaviour.
If you think your child may be a victim of bullying
• Explain that bullies are children who may be upset or sad, perhaps because of unhappy events at home.
• Tell your child it's not his fault and explain that no one deserves mean treatment.
• Use role play to teach him how to handle incidents, examples include not showing you're bothered or upset by teasing, saying firmly you
Don’t like it and walking away.
• Explain there's no shame in just keeping out of the bully's way.
• Listen and talk, take the time to listen to your child's worries about the events in his day.
• Be alert to when things seem to get worse - you may need to intervene.
• Build self-esteem by finding activities your child can be good at.
• Always praise your child, especially for acts of courage.
• Don't overprotect your child; it may only make him feel more vulnerable and helpless.
• Is your child dominated at home by siblings, for example? If so, maybe he's used to being treated like a doormat.

What forms does bullying take?
• Verbal - calling names, sarcastic remarks and put-downs
• Physical - hitting, pushing
• Psychological - deliberately excluding from a group, spreading malicious stories
• Threatening - demands for money or toys

Summary
Most bullying takes place in or near schools. If the bullying is serious, you may need to report it to the school. Most schools have a bullying policy and should take clear steps to do something about your complaint. If you're not satisfied, go to the school governors or to your local education authority. If the bullying is very serious, some parents opt to move their child to a different school for a fresh start, or decide to educate at home.

All year round tips & tricks

So you have just started to recover from the Christmas break disappointment of having to miss out on buying a popular present, having to greet the New Year with the ceremonial promise of the coming year's resolutions? Only to find out that your friend has dropped a word in your ear to tell you that they've just found an irresistible bargain at the clothing boutique for a cheap price and guess what you're too late to get there because it was a week ago that the sale started and so on??

When is this nightmare going to stop, Christmas, New Year, oh when will this ever stop?? Why are other people finding these bargains, whilst I find out via the magazine, paper, and media, only to reach to the store to be told ALL SOLD OUT???

Why do some shops place ads, fully knowing that the item you gazed your eyes on, you've set your mind on, will never be bought by you, because it was never available in the first place, no point in queuing, no point in being at the door first, because after the mayhem of getting to the item, it's gone, yes gone?? What you need to do is get clued up, wise up your shopping technique and get smart?? Instead of waiting till last minute to venture out, why not utilize the information below and plan a course of action well in advance for once??

January
Retailers cash in on New Years resolutions to exercise and get organised, so there are bargains on fitness equipment and office supplies.

February
Shops cut prices on boxes of chocolate a few days before Valentines Day to shift stock that's going out-of -date. Winter clothing also gets its biggest mark-downs now.

March
The first signs of spring means there are price reductions on gardening items, as well as holiday luggage.

April
This is when people are thinking about putting their homes on the market, so DIY stores encourage home-owners with mark-downs on paint and wallpaper.

May
Watch for bargains on white goods around the bank holiday

June
As the weather improves, retailers try to boost television sales with markdowns.

July
The summer sales are some of the best of the year. Summer clothing gets drastic price-cuts along with barbecues.

August
With summer warning, there are often bargains on out door furniture, with the summer holidays heading to a close. Retailers also offer bargains on school supplies and uniforms.

September
Sales abound on summer items such as lawn mowers and grills.

October
The newest toys for Christmas are hitting the shelves so shoppers can snap-up great deals while retailers make room for the latest crazes.

November
To cash-in on our desire to show off a sparkling home to Christmas guests, vacuum cleaners go on sale.

December
Yule-tide decorations, foods, cards, and toys get drastic markdowns as soon as Christmas is over.

The Dressy Androgynous look

Power Dressing - Androgynous Fashion Look 2007 - 2008

These days we're getting lazy with our work-wear. There isn't that many occasions which require we wear a full tailored suit with crisp shirt anymore. Most jobs today only require we look smart, which no longer means formal - a pair of black trousers and a neat top will usually suffice for the boardroom and some of us may get away with donning smart jeans or even (shock horror) a pair of flats to the office.
We've well and truly pushed the boundaries in the workplace, asserting our rights to wear skirts of all lengths, colourful tops and pretty shoes - but whatever happened to power dressing? With city slicking ladies leading the trend for fashionable work-wear, suits have quite simply become dull and promptly ditched in favour of more glamorous work-wear.
But a new kind of power dressing has emerged in recent months providing a stylish alternative to the classic work suit. The androgynous look has been keeping ultra-feminine fashion in check on the catwalk, seeing a trend towards nipped tailoring and bold, brash statement dressing - changing the way we dress for the office forever.

Whilst following all the current trends in the office is fun and fashionable, it also breaks the boundaries between work and play and like it or not, unless you work in the fashion industry, your boss will appreciate the smart and serious look rather than the ultra glam girl persona you may lead out of hours!

Power dressing may sound scary but it isn't if you carefully balance your look. Sometimes you might want to look fierce in front of colleagues and at others you might want to appear part of the crowd, so why not match your look to your work mood and start making big impressions through your clothes now that's power dressing.

Whether you've tried to win over a stubborn client or wanting to impress the rest of your colleagues with your ideas, the key is to choose clothes that ooze confidence. Feel confident as well as look it by choosing slimming styles that you feel comfortable wearing. Power dressing demands a fearless attitude which you'll never convincingly achieve if you don't like what you see in the mirror in the morning.

Choose trousers if you're unsure of baring your legs and leave the killer stilettos at home if you fear toppling over in the boardroom. Combine subtle pinstripe, slim leg trousers with pointed heels for a feminine, slimming look. Always wear high heels but opt for a chunkier heel rather than a stiletto for stability and a perfect, confident walk.
Pick jackets and blazers that are nipped in at the waist to create flattering curves and choose bold colours to wear underneath- weak pastel shades are the power dresser's major fashion faux pas; beige is anything but brave - choose an ambitious red or empowering orange.

If you're not sure about colour, embrace monochrome which is big business this season. Experiment with tailoring that features white lining and pinstripes, or simply add chic to a black suit with a thin white belt or bright crisp shirt.
Never wear anything too detailed or patterned when power dressing (you want to be bold - don't let your clothes steal the show). Choose straight, classic tailoring, smart, high-waist pencil skirts or trousers and find a style that you feel most confident and comfortable in.
Always keep accessories to a minimum choosing silver jewellery for subtle sparkle and a subtle leather tote or handbag to finish your confident, empowering and fashionably fierce look.

 

The Dressy Androgynous look

 

The androgynous look is a fun way to dress for work if your dress code forbids denim. You won't need to go all out to pull the look off as single elements of the trend will be just as effective.

 

 

Definition of Androgynous as used in fashion

As a 'look' of a female resembling a male. Popularized by actress Diane Keaton in the 1970's movie Annie Hall, and copied as fashion apparel. Kate Bosworth and Amanda Peet recently went androgynous at New York Fashion Week.

 

 

 

Celebrities & Fashion

Kate Bosworth and Amanda Peet embraced the menswear inspired fashion trend at the Rag Bone Runway Show in Bryant Park yesterday.

We love hearing all of our favourite celebrity fashionistas weigh in on the spring 2008 designs, and Kate had nothing but praise for Rag Bone's new line, saying, "I loved it! The clothes were easy to wear, effortless, chic".

Each piece you could match with something else [you own]. It was great." We all know how great Kate is at mixing and matching outfits. 

 

Fashion Update - Overview

We at SovaCollection have noticed the shift in trends since the 80's that during the period of time fashion has been the fundamental time portal into the culture, popular art and the feeling of that given age. Whether you liked what was popular in mainstream at that time, it still left its mark forever embedded in people's memories.
Fashion as a whole is a "personal mode of expression", which was denoted by the hysteria of that time shown by the media, or by music that was popular at that time. We saw this as far back in the eighties, where the mode of feeling was innovative and experimental.