Monthly Archives: November 2023

Gift Guides: Safe Gifts For The Acquaintance

Posted in Buying the perfect gift, clothing, clothing, quality, value, fashion, Gift Guide, how to, tips and tricks, value, women's clothing tips by

My fourth and final gift guide to finish off this month’s series is Safe Gifts For the Acquaintance. After covering Sentimental Gifts For The Tenderhearted, Bougie Gifts For the Diva, and Practical Gifts For the Pragmatic, I have saved this one for last because, honestly, it is the hardest.

Buying for someone you barely know is probably the most head scratching, self doubting, truly difficult gift to buy. There are just so many land mines to avoid. If you are considering buying clothing and/or accessories, here are my top six tips:

  1. GET THE RIGHT SIZE: Make sure that you quiz either the person you plan to buy a gift for or someone that knows them well, so you know their size. The answer will likely be a size range such as a small to medium or a size 10 to 12. Shop at a store where the person helping you knows how the items in the store fit. Do they run big or small, for example, so you have the best chance of choosing the correct item. For example, if the person you are buying for is a small/medium, I would likely choose something that runs big in a size small or small in a size medium.
  2. CHOOSE A FAN FAVE: There are a few clothing items that have widespread appeal, but one that does is sweater cardigans. I know very few women who don’t like them. They are ideal for an extra layer in winter but can still be removed if needed. They work very well to change up a wardrobe, allowing women to wear an older top and bottom. By adding a new cardigan over the top, it refreshes and updates an older look. Additionally they are forgiving in fit and are more likely to work for a variety of women and sizes.
  3. PRINTS ARE PERSONAL: I love prints and am in no way dissuading you from choosing a printed item, but be very aware that prints are quite personal. I usually recommending paying attention to whether the person wears prints, and if she does, what types of prints she wears. Typical prints are floral, paisley, southwestern, plaid, Camouflage, geometric, animal, and abstract. If you can categorize the prints she wears into a few of these categories, it will really help in choosing a print she will like.
  4. CHOOSE THE RIGHT COLOR: Research shows that most women choose an item by color first and then look at fabric, style and price. Getting the right color is essential. Again, this can be made easier by some careful observation. What colors does the woman you are buying for seem to gravitate to. Look at the last few years of pictures or check out her Facebook and see what she posts and what colors she wears. Generally, if you stay in the same color family, you will be fine.
  5. CHOOSE VERSATILITY: Especially for someone you don’t know very well, it is always better to go with something that is toned down and easy to pair with many things. Mixed metal accessories are a great example here. Because these necklaces and earrings combine gold, silver, copper, and bronze, you naturally cover all of your bases so you don’t find yourself having to choose gold OR silver.
  6. MAKE SURE IT IS RETURNABLE: Even the most conscientious gift giver gets it wrong sometimes. Get a gift receipt, and be sure the item is returnable after Christmas. With a gift receipt, the recipient of your gift will know the store you purchased it from and how to return or exchange it.

Giving clothing as a gift is thoughtful. It takes time and effort to choose the right item, and this effort communicates “you matter to me.” Yes, it is easier to give a gift card, but it is so much more personal to give an item that required you to really consider the person and what she might like.

You can get more information on this topic as well as see examples when you watch my live video tonight at 6 p.m. MST. You can catch that video here: https://www.facebook.com/FashionCrossroads.

Gift Guides: Practical Gifts For The Pragmatist

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So far this month, I have covered Sentimental Gifts For The Tenderhearted and Bougie Gifts For The Diva. This week is all about those practical people in your life. They are not fussy; they like gifts that make sense; and they need to see the value in the gift. Here are my top 6 suggestions for buying for the pragmatist.

  1. FOCUS ON THE BASICS: When thinking of buying clothing for a practical person, I think focusing on basics that can be mixed and matched with other things is one of the smartest ways to shop for them. Whether you are buying a dressed up casual style that she can wear to go have breakfast with her friends or a business casual look that she can wear to work, get basics like blouses, slacks and sweaters. Consider the three images above. Each look is made up of classics that can be paired with other things. Black slacks, colored denim, blouses, cardigans and a denim jacket are all work horse pieces that will go a long way in any wardrobe.
  2. STICK WITH NEUTRALS: A pragmatic woman will never ask for a lime green purse. Instead, her accessories will be focused on some basic neutrals like tan, brown, black and grey that can be mixed and matched with many things. She will be the one who chooses an accessory for its ability to work with just about any outfit (solid gold or silver) rather than the pop of color accessory that works with only a few looks. Thus, when buying for a practical woman, choose neutral colors and basic styles.
  3. CHOOSE SOLIDS OVER PRINTS: Prints are more limiting because you have fewer items you can match them back to (the colors that are included in the print, for example). A pragmatist wants the most bang for her buck, so she will likely choose solids over prints. This goes for blouses, sweater cardigans, handbags, and accessories. When buying for a pragmatist, buy something that has universal appeal.
  4. KEEP IT SIMPLE: Practical women are generally not fussy. They are not the Diva who is comfortable having attention drawn to herself. They usually prefer to blend in rather than stand out. For that reason, choose simple designs. The classic button down blouse, for example, is an excellent choice. It is versatile, functional, and simple. The classic work cardigan is another great choice. It does not have zippers, ruffles, trim, embroidery, etc. It is a basic sweater that can be used over many things.
  5. MAKE IT EASY TO CARE FOR: In as much as the practical women appreciates simplicity in her clothing style, she appreciates it in her life as well. When buying clothing for this type of person, be sure it can be easily laundered at home and has the quality to last over a long time. This is not the hand wash and lay flat to dry girl. The pragmatist might lay flat to dry, but she doesn’t want to have to hand wash it TOO! Push the EASY button for this person! She will appreciate it.
  6. BUNDLE YOUR GIFT WITH USEFUL ACCESSORIES: To round out a clothing gift for the pragmatist, you might add a journal, a planner and a pen, a book mark, etc. In the same way you should choose clothing that is useful, choose other gifts with the same three words in mind: versatile, functional, and simple.

For more ideas on buying for the pragmatist on your list, you can watch my LIVE Wednesday Wardrobing Video tonight at 6 p.m. MST. I will be showing examples of clothing, handbags and gift items that would be appreciated by the practical people in your life.

Gift Guides: Bougie Gifts For The Diva

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For my November Wednesday Wardrobing Live Video and Blog series, I have been covering gift guides for the hard to buy for people on your holiday list. From the sentimental, to the pragmatist, to the naturalist, these gift guides will not only help you understand what to buy, but they will also give you some options in a variety of price ranges.

Last week, I focused on Sentimental Gifts For The Tenderhearted. The gifts I choose to include in this gift guide have that “ahh, you are so sweet” factor that the sentimental among us will love. If you have one of these dear hearts on your list, you definitely need to check out last week’s blog post which I have linked for you above. You can also see my live video on this topic on my YouTube channel here. Additionally, I modeled some of these gift suggestions in our Live Sale last Saturday and created a collection of some of these gift ideas here.

This week, I am focusing on Bougie Gifts For the Diva. If you have a diva in your family or on your gift list, you already know it. While a true diva is a bit self-important, we can have a bit of diva in us without being an unpleasant person. At her core, a diva is a lover of luxury. This DOES NOT mean she is snobby; it simply means that she appreciates the finer things. Most divas I know, me included, would rather have one really nice thing than ten cheap things. Thus, when you are buying for a diva, buy the best quality gift you can afford.

Five Tips for Buying For A Diva:

  1. She loves luxury fabrics: Diva’s can spot a fake, so don’t even go there. These gals love the real deal, so splurge on leather, suede, Cashmere, Wool, 100% Cotton, etc. If you are buying sheets, buy the highest thread count you can afford. If you are buying a cotton top, buy the best quality Cotton available. If you are buying leather, buy the best quality leather you can afford. I think you get my point. Your diva will not only be able to tell the difference, she will appreciate the higher quality that you chose for her.
  2. She is particular about how she look so buy the brands she loves: Divas are as meticulous with themselves as they are with others, so don’t go out on a limb. She likely already has a whole host of brands that she buys from again and again. Stick to the brands you know she already loves because how they fit makes her feel great. More than likely, the brands she loves are more expensive because higher quality brands just fit better. The fabric is better; the construction is better; the styling is better. You get my drift. I always encourage my customers, and especially my divas, to choose their own gifts and then put them on layaway. That way, they can send their spouse or significant other in to buy items off of layaway. Family members and friends can spend what they like and have the confidence to know their diva loved one is going to be overjoyed with the gift.
  3. She appreciates quality: Not all goods are created equal, and a diva can find the flaws. Divas will notice little details like the fact that the handbag you bought has genuine brass zippers and hardware. She will notice the fact that the plaids on those pants match up at the seam. She will notice the extra little details that better brands take time to perfect like trim, seams, buttons, lining, etc.
  4. She likes to take care of her high quality items: Divas are great people to buy nice things for because they will take good care of those things. She will want all the accessories she needs to keep her quality items in tip top shape. She will want the suggested leather conditioner for the purse you bought her. She will want a great jewelry cleaner to keep her jewelry sparkly and beautiful. She will appreciate that the high quality handbag you chose comes with a dust cover. She will want the conditioning spray for the hand painted item your purchased.
  5. Divas like a complete look: Your diva doesn’t stop with her clothes when she puts an outfit together. She will want the whole and complete look, including the shoes, jewelry, and handbag, to match. Thus, buying high quality accessories to match what she already has in her closet is a great choice. For example, if you notice she has a lot of red in her closet, buying a red handbag would be a thoughtful gift that will help her get that complete look. Likewise, buying a piece of jewelry that she can use multiple ways is also a good choice. I always recommend our Myka line because it is convertible and she can pair the pendants and chains up according to the outfit she is wearing that day. Another example would be buying a nice genuine leather jacket or belt that she can pair up with things she already owns.

Hopefully, these five tips have given you some ideas about what to buy for the diva in your life. If you want more information on this topic, watch my live Wednesday Wardrobing video tonight at 6 p.m. MST. You can see that on my Facebook Business Page. I will also be featuring my collection of gifts for the diva during my Saturday Live Sale on Saturday at 9 a.m. MST.

Gift Guides: Sentimental Gifts For The Tenderhearted

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Ah the sentimental type. The dictionary definition of the word “sentimental” uses adjectives like tender, nostalgic, emotional and affectionate. If this is not you, having to buy a gift for someone who might be described as tenderhearted can be a BIG challenge. Not to worry! In this month’s Wednesday Wardrobing Series, I am going to give you lots of ideas for those tricky people on your holiday shopping list.

Tenderhearted people want gifts that touch their emotions and let them know you actually thought about them when you purchased the gift. Any Christmas present that says “I see you” will make this person’s holiday very special. And, if it is a gift she can wear and/or use every day, all the better. The tenderhearted person will think of you every time she sees that item and be reminded that you care.

Here are my top 5 gift giving rules for buying the prefect sentimental gift for the tenderhearted:

  1. Choose a gift that she can use or wear: Because a sentimental person is inherently nostalgic, you will want to pick a gift that she will use often. Examples of this include: jewelry, devotionals, candles, a sweater with a sentimental saying or icon, a fragrance, and something for her car. The more she sees it and uses it on an everyday basis, the more the gift will come to mean over time. Consider the picture of Kendra Scott necklaces on the bottom right at the top of this blog. Choosing hearts, crosses, her initial, or even a necklace that says “mama” are all examples of items she could wear that would remind her of your loving gift.
  2. Choose a gift based on something that is happening in her life right now: Sentimental people often wear their emotions near the surface, so if she is feeling discouraged, challenged, or stressed, giving her a gift that encourages her to keep pressing on will be very encouraging. Some examples include: inspirational signs, coffee mugs, books, etc. Making bundles is a great idea here. Consider the picture at the top left of the blog which includes a sign, candle and coffee mug all with encouraging messages. Giving these gifts with a nice package of coffee or tea (and of course taking the time to figure out her favorite brand is a must), a pretty dish to set her coffee mug on, and a little hand written note of encouragement will make the heart of a sentimental person sing.
  3. Choose a gift that solves a problem in her life right now: Similarly to option number two, you could go beyond just speaking to an issue and actually providing a solution. For example, if she is exhausted from life, buying her a cozy pair of pajamas, a wonderful smelling candle, some bath salts and a great lotion says, “I am giving you permission to relax and here is everything you need.” Or maybe she needs a night on the town so you gift a lovely new outfit, some perfume, a pretty necklace and a dinner gift certificate.
  4. Surprise her with a gift she did not ask for: Being a sentimental type myself, I can tell you that the gifts that mean the most are the ones I did not ask for but that show me the gift giver was really thinking of me. I may want a lovely lamp for my office and have that down on my list. Were I to get something that I didn’t ask for and that demonstrates the gift giver not only knows me but sees what I am going through and how I am feeling, it would mean more to me than that pretty lamp. I know it is hard to go out on a limb when buying a gift, but for the tenderhearted, this is just the type of gift that means the most.

For more ideas of gifts and gift bundles for this person, please watch my Wednesday Wardrobing Live Video tonight at 6 p.m. on my Facebook Business Page.