Author Archive: Aisling Ashbery

Before you toss your worn-out clothes in the trash, consider donating them to someone who could still use them.  Clothes with light to moderate wear or clothes that you have simply outgrown are great donation candidates.  There are many ways…
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There can be many advantages to shopping at thrift stores.  Seldom will you find a better price anywhere, and this can allow you to incorporate trends into your wardrobe without breaking the bank.  However, thrift stores are not clothing heaven. …
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Consignment stores and thrift shops are both second-hand retailers.  The difference comes in what you will be likely to find there, and how much you will pay.  In general, you will find higher quality items at consignment stores, but you…
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Vintage styles can be a unique way to show your personality, and vintage shopping is like a treasure hunt.  But if you’ve never tried to incorporate vintage styles or look for vintage pieces before, trying to start can be overwhelming. …
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When a family is looking for ways to cut costs, one obvious place to turn is the thrift store.  But are the prices worth the clothing that you can find there?  There are many advantages to thrift store shopping.  However,…
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For years, I tried folding sweaters the way my mother showed me – in half once and in half again.  Though I’m sure she was well-meaning, this method led to bulky sweaters that took up way too much room in…
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Though we think of clothing as a way to show self expression and project a particular image of ourselves, wearing clothing is also a way of performing a gender role. Women’s clothing has often been dictated by what was “acceptable”…
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The average person does not receive many invitations to a black tie event. That means that if one ever does appear in the mailbox, it can be a little bit unnerving. What are you supposed to wear to a black…
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Whenever you’re trying to plan a wardrobe away from home for any length of time, it’s easy to get a bit overwhelmed.  You’re not a fortune teller, so how will you know what to pack?  Stress and those little “just-in-case”…
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When dressing for an office party, it’s important to remember that even though it will be a more relaxed environment, the people you will be “partying” with are still your professional colleagues.  Wouldn’t it be hard to see your boss…
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It’s a common misconception of professional women that they need to “dress to disappear.”  Whoever started the idea that appropriate business attire is drab and meek was terribly misinformed.  In fact, it is perfectly fine to show femininity and personality…
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When temperatures rise, the clothing you see on the street seems to shrink.  But though showing a little skin can be a welcome reprieve from sweating under long clothes, professional men and women alike need to remember that comfort is…
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Is success in the workplace really dependant on what you wear? Well, yes and no. Some people are quite offended when someone suggests to them that they need to dress a certain way to create a professional appearance; they think…
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When a lady who likes being called a woman instead of a girl goes to any given mall, it can be a hassle trying to sort out which stores stock stylish but tasteful clothing for the mature woman and which…
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Choosing an appropriate ensemble to wear to a wedding has become something of an art.  It used to be easy, because weddings were fairly straight-forward and mostly similar.  Now, however, weddings are very individualistic and personalized to the tastes of…
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If you love the quality and style of certain brand-name clothing but hate the pain that comes in your wallet right after shopping in the brand stores, you need to alter your shopping strategy.  Many brand names do offer a…
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Putting together a suit for cold weather is all about thinking ahead. You can look just as polished and professional in your winter suit as you can in a lighter suit for spring or summer. The key is to know…
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A polished wardrobe is essential to creating a professional image. But today more than ever, it simply isn’t feasible to spend huge amounts of money on clothes for the office. If you don’t have the pocketbook to support a large…
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Kids are just plain hard on clothes.  Not only does normal play wear out clothing far quicker than any adult remembers, but you also have to deal with how fast kids grow.  If the knees of your kids’ jeans last…
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I love a day at the mall. From soft pretzels to shoe stores, it’s one of my favorite ways to spend a Saturday afternoon. And I always make sure to stop by Old Navy before I leave. There are often…
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If you’ve never shopped in a vintage clothing store, there are some basic rules of etiquette that you should know before you go.  Though not all items in a vintage store are priceless, many are unique and hard to find,…
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When clothing that’s considered €œfashionable seems to discriminate against plus-sized women in its very name (like calling a style “€œskinny jeans”), it can seem that there are no fashionable options available out there for plus-sized women.  Though it certainly may…
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Both men and women’s fashion have components that seem nonsensical. Why do women feel compelled to wear uncomfortable shoes that make them walk on their tip-toes all day long? And why do men feel compelled to wear a long strip…
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The term “business casual” is just ambiguous enough to cause women confusion when it comes time to pick out their Friday work outfit. Does it mean that you’re allowed to bum around the office in a hooded sweatshirt and jeans…
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Get the most out of your wardrobe by adapting your summer clothes for winter 2011. Practically all of your favorite summer pieces can find some sort of place in your winter wardrobe. Follow these tips for adapting specific summer pieces…
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