Love Your Laundry Part II: Fabric Primer

Posted in clothing, quality, value, how to, How to spot quality, quality, tips and tricks, value by kyleen228

One of the most frustrating parts about shopping is understanding fabrics and how to care for them. In our new world of fast fashion, a lot of manufacturers of cheaper clothing automatically recommend to hand wash and hang to dry their garments. This is to prevent them from being held accountable when the fabrics perform poorly in a washing machine. In my experience, the only time you should have to hand wash a garment is if the fabric is cheap or it has embellishments like sequins, grommets, and embroidery. But, to safely NOT follow the manufacturer’s washing instructions, you need to understand fabrics. That is what this blog post will help you to do.

The following information was adapted from: https://www.masterclass.com/articles/28-types-of-fabrics-and-their-uses. This website will give you a comprehensive list of fabrics, but I am going to just focus on the the most common ones you will have to deal with when caring for clothing.

Cotton: This fabric is made from the cotton plant. According to the masterclass listed above, “Cotton is primarily composed of cellulose, an insoluble organic compound crucial to plant structure, and is a soft and fluffy material. The term cotton refers to the part of the cotton plant that grows in the boil, the encasing for the fluffy cotton fibers.” These fibers are then spun into a yarn and woven into fabric. The cotton fibers are uneven. In better cottons, the fibers are combed which removes the shorter fibers and makes the resulting fabric softer. Cotton can be machine washed and dried, but it will shrink so unless your garment tells you the fabric is pre-shrunk (washed and dried before production), you will need to take care to prevent shrinkage. I usually recommend hanging it to dry and then using a machine dryer for a 10 minute permanent press cycle to remove any stiffness in the fabric. Cotton is durable, soft, and breathable. It is always a great choice in clothing.

Georgette: This fabric can be made from silk or from Rayon, Viscose and Polyester. Obviously, the price of the Georgette will reflect which source fabric was used. Georgettes are often crinkled, sheer and have a non shiny finish. Care of georgette will depend on the source fabric. If silk was used, you will need to take greater care in laundering. Synthetic fabrics like Rayon, Viscose and Polyester can often be machine washed, but Rayon will shrink so you need to be aware of that possibility.

Jersey: This fabric is a soft, stretchy knit fabric that is made from cotton, cotton blends and synthetic fabrics. Sympli, as an example, uses Jersey that is made with polyester. The fabric can be light to medium weight. Jersey can pill and snag. For this reason, it is not recommended that you wash it with zippers, velcrow, items with grommets, etc, as these can catch and snag the fabric. Sympli recommends their jersey be washed in cold water in the machine and then hung to dry. Because jersey is wrinkle resistant, it will usually dry wrinkle free.

Linen: This fabric comes from the Flax plant. It is known to be strong and lightweight and breathable. It is often used in clothing for hot and humid places because it allows air to flow through and helps regulate the body temperature as a result. Linen should be washed in lukewarm or cold water and gently dried. It is important to use medium heat when drying your linen.

Modal: This is a, “semi-synthetic fabric made from beech tree pulp that is used primarily for clothing.” It is a form of Rayon but is stronger. You will often find Modal in fabric blends, and it is considered a high end fabric because it is soft and luxurious feeling. It is important to point out that Modal is more expensive than cotton or viscose.

Polyester: This fabric is man made and originates from petrochemicals, including coal and petroleum. It is durable and doesn’t shrink, making it very useful in clothing. It is often blended with other fabrics, as it can be used to strengthen more delicate fabrics. The big downside to polyester is that it is not breathable and can become smelly when it absorbs sweat. Polyester can be blended with other natural and more breathable fabrics to help with this. It also acts to stabilize fabrics that are prone to shrinking when it is used in blends.

Rayon: This fabric, like Viscose, is a semi-synthetic fabric that is made from wood pulp. It also requires chemicals which keep it from being considered a “natural” fiber. According to Who, What, Wear, “one of the most common types of rayon is viscose rayon, which has a lot in common with cotton. It’s breathable, moisture-absorbent, and a popular choice for casual and athletic wear. It also shows up in dresses, blouses, and outerwear. Secondary types of rayon include modal rayon (typically made from beech trees) and lyocell (seen in everything from denim to dress shirts).” This website also notes what we all have experienced in that Rayon is not durable and machine washing can cause it to shrink, loose its shape and bleed https://www.whowhatwear.com/what-is-rayon/slide4. As a result, clothing with Rayon or Rayon blends will often require hand washing and line drying.

Satin: The word “satin” refers to a weave and not a fabric, just like twill. Satin is elastic, soft and silky with a beautiful drape.

Silk: Silk comes from the fiber produced by Silk Worms to make their nests and cocoons. It is known for its strength, sheen, and luxury. It is often used in formal attire.

Spandex: This fabric name is interchangeable with the words “Elastane” and “Lycra.” It is a synthetic fiber that is used to add stretch to clothing. It can also be blended with other fabrics for this same purpose.

Tweed: Tweed is usually made of wool and is woven into a stiff and durable fabric that is characterized by warmth. This fabric is usually used in jackets and slacks, particularly suits. It is typical for this fabric to be made with different colored strands that are woven to create different patterns.

Twill: The word “twill” refers a weave rather than a fabric. It is characterized by a diagonal pattern. They usually have a darker side and a lighter side. It is durable fabric that is not see through. Twill is typically used in denim and in chinos.

Velvet: This fabric is known for its soft and luxurious feeling. It is shiny and soft and is often used for dressy fabrics, especially those for holidays. Velvet can be made from Cotton, linen, wool, mohair, and synthetic fibers, but it was first made with silk.

Viscose: This fabric is part synthetic and part natural. It resembles silk because of the wood pulp that is used in its creation. This wood pulp gives it a very similar look and feel to silk. It is often used in clothing items that might have been made from silk like blouses and dresses, but it is much less expensive.

I hope this has helped to demystify fabrics for you to some degree. Understanding fabrics helps us to know how to care for them properly so they last a long time. It helps us choose fabrics based on the environment we will be in and the level of care we are willing to be subject to. It also helps set our expectations of how fabrics will perform. Additionally, when we comprehend the pros and cons of certain fabrics, we are able to understand the fabric blends that we often find and how those blends might perform in our day to day life as well as in the laundry.

Typically, less expensive clothing will be made of synthetic fabrics, semi-synthetic fabrics or fabric blends whereas more expensive clothing will have more natural fabrics or a greater quantity of the natural fabric in the blend. For example, if you have a Rayon/Cotton blend, the fabric will likely be more durable than a Rayon/Viscose blend.

Personally, I have a cold water dirty clothes basket and warm water dirty clothes basket. My only clothing that goes into the warm water basket is underwear, pajamas, yoga wear, denim jeans, sweatshirts and tee shirts. Everything else gets washed in cold on delicate and hung to dry. If the fabrics dry stiff or wrinkled, I put them in a permanent press cycle just to soften the fabric and release the wrinkles. I always put a 1/4 of vinegar into my washing machine. Not only does it clean the machine and act as a natural softener, it also helps set fabric dye so I get less fading of colors.

If you’d like more information on this topic, you can watch me live on Wednesday, May 10th at 6 p.m. Mountain Standard Time for a live video on this topic. Watch that video here. If you miss the live video, it will be added to my YouTube channel as well.

23Feb2018

What is Wardrobing?

Posted in clothing, dressing for work and dressing for an interview, how to, tips and tricks, travel, travel clothing, value by kyleen228

For those of you who might not be familiar with the term, wardrobing is a method of mixing and matching your clothing to maximize the number of unique outfits you can create with the smallest number of pieces possible. It is how you shop, travel and dress like a boss! The concept is simple really, but perhaps no one has ever taught you how to do it. That is the purpose of this blog post, and my live video coming up on Saturday, February 24th at 10:15 mountain. You can listen in on the video by joining our Fashion Crossroads Fashionistas Group Page. I’ll be giving away a Treska necklace at the end of the video. To get entered to win, just comment on the video while it is live by telling me something you like or even asking a question.

Wardrobing is the art of combining bottoms, tops and cover-ups in multiple ways by layering the pieces and adding accessories to change the look. I’ll be using Sympli to demonstrate this tomorrow, so let me use some of their pieces to show you how it is done. Take a look at the pictures above: Let’s call the leggings on the left picture 1 and the cropped top on the right is picture 4. Assuming the model is wearing pants (and not leggings) in picture 3 and 4 and the white top in pictures 3 and 4 is the same top, how many outfits can you create with these 6 pieces?

Playing Jeapordy music now…..

How many outfits did you come up with? Let’s see if we found the same number…

4 outfits as pictured
Dress over leggings
Dress over leggings with crop top
White top under dress without leggings
White top under dress with leggings
White top under dress with smock over top without leggings
White top under dress with smock over top with leggings
Black crop top under dress without leggings
Black crop top under dress with leggings
Smock over dress with leggings
Smock over dress without leggings.

That’s 14 outfits with 6 pieces. Now, imagine we added into the mix a tunic and a jacket, like the ones pictured below. I’ve demonstrated the concept, let’s see how many more outfits you can come up with?

Honestly, just adding the jacket over the outfits creates another 5 possibilities. If you put the tunic over the dress and leggings, you get another 2 possibilities. The tunic with the leggings and the pants, another 2 possibilities. Now, with only 8 pieces, you have a possible 21 options. And we haven’t even discussed adding a few accessories like a kimono, a couple of scarfs and a few necklaces, and a belt. This adds an at least 15 more outfits. It’s like a puzzle, and it is a heck of a lot of fun to see how many combinations you can create. This is wardrobing, and it is a handy little tool when you need to stretch a work budget, pack for a two week trip with a carry on, or just simplify your closet.

Want to see it in action? Join me tomorrow, and I’ll show you how it’s done. Be sure to join the group prior to the start of the video so you can watch.

Sympli

2Aug2017

What Is Cost Per Wear and Why Should I Care?

Posted in clothing, quality, value, how to, quality, tips and tricks, value by kyleen228

cost per wear I’ve been in this business my whole life. When I was three, I was here at the store sleeping under racks while my parent’s worked late into the night re-modelling. I started working at the store when I was thirteen, and worked my way up the chain from the stock room to now being co-owner. Over the years, much has changed in the clothing industry. One of the most significant changes is the “throw away” clothing epidemic. Does the word “epidemic” hit you as too harsh? I’m not sure it is, and let me explain why.

I have customers tell me stories about how their mothers and grandmothers shopped at our store when having at least one “good” dress was expected. It was their Sunday best, and they knew they would have to spend a little more, but that dress would have them looking their best when they wanted to “put on the dog,” so to speak. The ideology was that when you wanted to look your best, you never settled for inexpensive or poorly made clothing.

Those generations calculated the value of an item of clothing on cost per wear. This term provides you with the amount of money it costs you each time you wear the item, and it is a great tool for demonstrating why it isn’t always better to buy inexpensive clothing that you know you will have to replace in a year or less. For example, let’s say you spend $60 on a blouse that is from a good brand that has a reputation for quality. Any quality item of clothing will last you at least 3 years if you care for it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If you wear it 2 times per month and expect it to last 3 years, then the cost per wear is $2.50. Here is how I came to that number: 2 wears a month X 12 months in a year = 24 wears in a year. If the top lasts for three years, you will have 72 wears. $60 divided by 72 wears = 81 cents per wear. Now, conversely, let’s say you spend $20 on a top that is cheaply made that will likely only last about 6 months if you wash it in cold water and hang it to dry. Using the same formula, that top will cost you $1.67 per wear (12 wears in 6 months / $20 divided by 12 = $1.67). So you can see that it actually costs you more to wear the cheaply made top than the more expensive one.

There is a false perception that when you spend more money on clothing, you are just paying for the name brand. The reason certain brands cost more is because they have earned a reputation for quality. That reputation comes from a consistent use of better quality fabrics and better construction. These two together translate into clothing that stands the test of time.

I was fortunate to watch how this mindset transformed one of my employees. When she first came to work for us, she was in her late twenties and had completely bought into the throw away clothing mentality. She told us, “I never spend a lot on clothes, and I don’t expect them to last. When they fall apart, I don’t feel badly because I didn’t spend that much to buy them in the first place.” Over time, she began buying our brands. She started to see how better quality fabrics and construction really do make a difference in the way an item looks and feels on the body and in how it holds up to repeated washing and drying. Being financially savvy, she also started to see that she was actually spending less money on clothes by buying better quality. It was the cost per wear epiphany. After working for us for the last several years, she has come to understand that there is a reason some clothing is more expensive and that that expense is not arbitrary but directly tied to quality.

Our grandmothers knew what they were doing. They understood that a good dress made them look their best because it fit properly and had quality workmanship. They also knew that spending a little more was necessary to accomplish this end. Have some fun calculating the cost per wear on some pieces in your closet. It is really eye opening. It is also a great buying tool.

26Jun2017

Behind The Scenes: Treska

Posted in beauty, color trends, fashion, how to, Jewelry, personal style, product review, trends, value by kyleen228

After being a women’s clothing store manager and owner for eighteen years, I was so excited to get to see the behind the scenes process of one of my favorite jewelry vendors – Treska. On a recent buying trip to Dallas, Texas, my mom and I had the opportunity to tour Treska’s warehouse and get an up close perspective on the jewelry making process. We also got to shop straight from the warehouse shelves – we were like two kids in a candy store!

The process Treska goes through to design their jewelry is meticulous and time consuming. First they begin with inspiration. I found this inspiration board outside the bathroom (probably because that is the place everyone would see it multiple times a day). It was such a great example of how an idea blooms into something tangible. Take a close look at the items included on the board. You can see how it represents themes, colors and textures for a group of jewelry. This particular design is playing off earthy wood textures and the soft tans and pinks in sea shells. What a beautiful combination that represents the soft pinks and neutrals so popular in fashion right now. It also appears this group might have some feather accents as well. Won’t it be fun to see the finished jewelry that arises from this inspiration board?

Even more fun than the board was meeting Treska’s chief designer. She was a Bohemain mama, dressed in colorful cottons and a graphic tank and seemed right at home in a jewelry design office. She took the time to show us some of the pieces they were currently working on and how every necklace begins in a box as a conglomeration of colors and textures that are then formed into a unique necklace.

While we were in the design room, we also got to see a Treska employee doing appoxy on some pieces. This process requires hand painting metal pieces with a cue tip to create a patina look. As you can see in the picture, each one is done by hand.

Once a design is finalized, two master copies are made. One is then sent to China where Treska has their necklaces assembled. A production sample is sent back, approved by Treska, and then that sample is used by the Chinese to make the individual necklaces which are then shipped to the United States. It’s quite a lengthy process requiring Treska’s designers to work ahead. While we were there, they were working on Spring 2018.

Outside the air conditioned design room, the warehouse sprawled. There were rows and rows of shelves with boxes of beads and bobbles. Readers, I am telling you, there were hundreds of thousands of beads. It was mind boggling.

As we made our way back, we came to more shelves with completed necklaces available for sale. This is where all the fun began! Up and down the isles we wandered, grabbing necklaces, earrings, and a few bracelets of beautiful Treska jewelry.

In the end, we came home with a whole bag full of Treska priced with a special discount just for you! It is out and on the floor, so you will want to hurry in to get the best selection!

28Apr2017

What is A Shirt Dress?

Posted in beauty, clothing, dressing for your age, dressing your figure, fashion, Jewelry, personal style, product review, tips and tricks, travel, travel clothing, value by kyleen228

Buy this in store or online at http://Fashion-Crossroads-Inc.shoptiques.com

One of the big trends in dresses this year is the shirt dress. Although it can take a few forms, a shirt dress is an elongated shirt.

My favorite version of this style is the button down, like the one pictured to the left. What makes these little beauties wonderful, is you can open them up and wear them as a long vest or keep them buttoned and wear them as a dress. The versatility of style gives you more bang for your buck.

The high low hemlines (shorter in front and longer in back) are still popular, giving these dresses some interest at the bottom. It’s trendy right now to wear a “shoe boot” style shoe with dresses. I’m not fond of the heaviness of an actual shoe boot with a dress, but there are many styles of open toed sandals that mimic the look of a shoe boot without feeling so bulky and weighty on the foot. The one the model is wearing in the picture above is a good example of this. We have similar styles in the store that accomplish this same look, like the ones pictured here from Yellowbox. Don’t hesitate to wear suede in the summer.

Buy this in store or online at http://Fashion-Crossroads-Inc.shoptiques.com

The other style of shirt dress is a pullover style. Again, it looks like an elongated collared shirt, but it doesn’t open up with buttons and thereby can’t be worn as a vest.

This style is usually offered as a mini dress, making it harder for everyone to wear. If you don’t feel comfortable wearing a short dress, don’t hesitate to add skinny ankle jeans or even leggings with this style. It will still look just as cute.

Again, you will want to pair this style of shirt dress with a “shoe boot” sandal to keep it really trendy. Otherwise, a great flip flop and hat could make this the perfect summer run around town look. It would also be a wonderful vacation item, as you could use it as a dress and swimming suit cover up.

It’s snowing here today, but writing about these dresses makes me long for warm summer days. I know they are just around the corner! Give one of these styles a try this year. I think you will love how you look!

1Nov2016

How To Wear A Poncho

Posted in fashion, how to, personal style, product review, tips and tricks, trends, value by kyleen228

One of the funnest things about fall is the opportunity to exchange a coat for a poncho. Because these little wonders come in many different forms, I thought it would be helpful to begin with a definition. A poncho, in the most traditional sense, is a blanket with a slit in the top for your head. Their purpose is to keep the body warm and protect it from the rain. They have been worn by Native American peoples of the Andes for centuries.

Fashion has taken the idea of a traditional poncho and expanded upon it. Often times, wraps (a garment made from blanket or sweater material that you simply wrap around your shoulders) are also called ponchos, even though they are really not. A true poncho will require that you pull it over your head to wear it. Also, modern day ponchos sometimes have sewn in sleeves or snaps that you can use to create a sleeve. These are helpful because they keep the poncho in place on your body, preventing it from sliding around.

ponchos

Ponchos looks great worn over a collared shirt, as they usually have a round neck or v-neck design that pairs well with a collar. Because they are usually flowing and loose, they look best paired with skinny jeans or pants. I also really like them worn with skinny jeans tucked into tall boots, as this style produces a slim leg to balance out the extra fabric of the poncho. It is fun to wear them with an outerwear scarf and hat; ponchos just seem to lend themselves to that cozy, sit on your front porch on a cold day with a blanket and warm beverage kind of feeling.

The major downside to a poncho is that it doesn’t work very well worn under a coat in the same way a normal sweater would. As a result, they can really only be worn on days when its cool but not cold. For those of you in warmer areas, a poncho might be the only coat you need all season. For us here in Wyoming, we have about a two month window in the fall when we can wear one. Despite their limited use, however, they can be worn during this season each year, so they are a worthwhile investment.

Since we are firmly in poncho season here in Wyoming, I wanted to encourage my blog readers to try out this fun style this fall. You will feel fashionable and trendy with one on – I guarantee it!

13Apr2015

A Brand You Can Get Behind – Sympli

Posted in clothing, dressing your figure, Fashion, heroic women, personal style, quality, shopping with friends, value by kyleen228

One of my great pleasures as a women’s clothing store co-owner is the ability to choose the brands that our stores carry. We always look for quality and value, but it is a special treat when the companies we choose also have a mission that lines up with our own – to empower women. Sympli is just such a company:

This picture shows how Sympli can work for women of different sizes and body types. They have the latest fashion trends in classic year round pieces that work for casual or dressy wear.

“Thirteen years ago, Jan Stimpson, the owner/designer, [ of Sympli] found herself frustrated with the narrow ideals propagated by the fashion industry and this dissatisfaction gave rise to a vision: create an innovative line of clothing that will celebrate the diversity of the feminine figure. Thus, Sympli was born: a collection of high-quality, basics that uses a “fit formula” (including snug, relaxed and tunic) to complement and enhance all body types. Thus allowing women of all shapes and sizes to achieve a similar look. Today, the line has evolved to include exciting novelty pieces that allow women to flawlessly mix and match over 300 designs and 30 colors to build entire wardrobes catered to their unique sense of style. Working mothers from our community make up the majority of our workforce; working to their own schedules, they manage fluctuating workloads, whilst maintaining strong family Lives. They inspire us.”

Having sold this line now for a little over a year, I can tell you they have achieved their goal. Sympli is a line that flatters any figure from size 2 to 20 and beyond. They have recently added Sympli Grand which offers plus sizes as well. The travel knit fabric used to make their clothing is 12 oz, 3 oz heavier than other companies who use the same fabric. You can feel the difference when you take an item off the rack. The weight of the fabric helps it flow and drape rather than cling. It also means the tunic styles are not billowy but rather fit in the right places while allowing extra room in the places most women carry their weight.

Once women try this product on, they are hooked. We carry a large selection of Sympli but the company also offers the ability to customize their line, choosing snug or relaxed fits and customize-able necklines and sleeve lengths. This gives the customer the ability to choose the elements of their tops and bottoms that flatter them in a huge array of colors that compliment their complexion.

Sympli comes in an amazing array of beautiful colors

I’ve also been impressed by the longevity of the product. We have customers that have had Sympli pieces for 8 years and the black is the same black as the brand new pieces in our store. Best yet, care is a breeze. Wash your Sympli by itself or with other Sympli pieces inside out in cold water and hang it to dry. They dry quickly and without wrinkles or stiffness.

Perhaps what makes Sympli special is that it is designed by women for women. No one knows our bodies better than us, and no one feels the frustration more than us when styles seem to cater to the young and thin. I especially love the fact that Sympli employs women who hand sew the product in their homes. You can count on quality workmanship with this product as well as have the satisfaction of knowing you are supporting a company that supports women.

This week we are celebrating Sympli at Fashion Crossroads. All week long, anyone who tries this product on or purchases it, will be registered to win a FREE Sympli item to be given away on Saturday. We will also have our Sympli representative in the store Thursday night for our Trunk Show and Friday and Saturday. Charlotte has been with the company for over ten years and knows the line inside and out. She is excellent at being able to suggest styles that will flatter any body type. We will be taking special orders Thursday through Saturday.

Don’t live in Casper? No problem. You can also purchase Sympli on our online store at http://Fashion-Crossroads-Inc.shoptiques.com. Any online orders taken this week will also be entered to win the free item. You can get more information about our Trunk Show happening this Thursday night at https://www.facebook.com/FashionCrossroads/events. The Trunk Show is a great time to come in and learn about the line while you enjoy wine and appetizers and hanging out with other women who love fashion!

17Mar2015

How To Care For More Expensive Clothing

Posted in beauty, clothing, Fashion, quality, tips and tricks, value by kyleen228

One of the most important things we do in our stores is help our customers find the perfect clothing lines that will suit their fashion needs and lifestyle. I make it a point to end the sale with a few tips on how they can care for their purchase so it will last. One of the things I find myself saying over and over again is beware of the dryer. The simple and unfortunate truth is the dryer is not your friend when it comes to better clothing.

The high heat of a clothing dryer is the culprit in many a washing disaster. Heat will fade your dark colors, shrivel your rayon and cotton, melt your embellishments and twist your lace. The problem is, we all like the convenience of being able to wash and dry our clothing. If that describes you, follow these simple tips to help keep your clothing looking its best.

1. Turn your dark colors inside out. Washing your dark clothing with a quarter cup of vinegar will prevent color running. Drying your dark items inside out will help prolong your color. To preserve your black the best, try hanging the item to dry and then putting it in the dryer for a short 5 to 10 minute cycle to release wrinkles and soften the fabric.

2. Turn your embellishments inside out. If you have sequins, beads, stones, grommets, etc. on any of your clothing, you will want to turn the garment inside out so the embellishments do not rub on other clothing. This friction causes your embellishments to loosen as well as damages the other items in the dryer.

3. Invest in a large lingerie bag. Wash and dry all your more delicate fabrics in a mesh lingerie bag to prevent them from rubbing your other clothing and causing pilling.

4. For most sweaters you will want to wash them in a delicate cycle (or hand wash) and lay them flat to dry. You can put them in a short drying cycle to soften if they feel stiff.

5. Never dry your bras. I’m sure I am not the only one who has taken out a knotted mess when I forgot to remove my bra before throwing my clothing into the washing machine or dryer. Always wash your bras in a lingerie bag that prevents twisting and hang them to dry. They will fit you much better and last much longer if you do this.

When in doubt, wash your clothing on delicate in cold water and hang to dry. Your better fabrics will love you for the extra care and reward you with a long life and many years of great style.

29Oct2014

Necklines and Hemlines are Key

Posted in clothing, dressing your figure, Fashion, personal style, quality, value by kyleen228

Necklines and Hemlines Are Key
One of the big mistakes women make in trying to stay young is wearing necklines and hemlines that are too revealing. Dressing past 40 should be about flattering your figure. Choose balance. If you are wearing a skinny jean with a boot, don’t wear a tight fitting top too. Choose instead to “balance” the figure revealing jean with a top that has a bit more volume. If you are wearing leggings, make sure your “uh hums” are covered by more than just an inch of fabric. Tunics should come to the middle of your thigh in the front and the back. If you have great legs, show them off with a skirt that comes to the top of your knee, not the middle of your thigh. The point is, you can still show off your figure, just not all at once.

Talking Trends

When How You Look Really Matters

Category Archives: value