Fashion Article: Score Big Savings On Your Signature Styles

It’s true that you can go fashion-forward without spending like a run-away Kardashian or a tabloid heiress.

Whatever your size or signature look, stylists insist on three fundamental rules of intelligent “wardrobe acquisition”: First, learn which colors look best with your hair, eyes, and complexion, building a collection of mix-and-match pieces in just a couple of color families, so that just about everything in your closet goes with just about everything else. Second, shop with some respect for the season’s trends, but focus primarily on fits, fabrics, and finishes that always flatter you. When you look carefully at Jacqueline Kennedy’s White House looks from 1962, you see they still would look stylish today. You want your signature look to have that same timeless elegance. Third, shop with consummate respect for “value,” a delicate balance of price and durability. While you may indulge yourself with a couple of gotta-have-it-now “disposable” pieces, you should expect most of your fashion finds to last for several years. Then, make sure you get the best price on all your style essentials, shopping strategically:

• Print coupons from upscale retailers’ websites. Especially if you are shopping for or with your style-conscious ‘tween or teen daughters, visit their favorite retailers’ websites before you head for the mall. American Eagle, Hollister, Delia’s, Forever 21, and Macy’s frequently have deep discounts or big dollars-off coupons for last season’s less-than-spectacular sellers or larger sizes of their most popular items. Unless you suffer extreme sticker-shock, do not shy-away from the designer labels on grounds of price alone. Many designers fashions are timeless, outliving lower-priced fads. Moreover, the upscale brands typically are better values, because manufacturers craft them from finer fabrics with more attention to detail in the workmanship. Coupon savings often bring the prices of those ever-so-important embroidered logos down to nearly the same price as the discounters’ knock-offs.

• Go to the coupon networks. Smartmoney.com sagely notes that the sudden proliferation of couponing websites actually has complicated life for bargain-hunters who are overwhelmed by an embarrassment of riches. They thoughtfully simplify the process by highlighting the top five most reputable, diversified, reliable sites; and they periodically update their listing to keep pace with trends in technology and corporate partnerships. To no one’s big surprise, Coupons.com and CouponCabin.com still top the list, and their offers apply at some of the country’s premier retailers—The Gap and J.C. Penney, for example.

• Shop major retailers online. The biggest retail chains often sell their overstocks via their websites instead of paying to ship them out to stores. Especially during peak clearance periods—after Christmas and during October when they clear both summer and back-to-school—Target and Wal-Mart especially clear-out seasonal fashions, selling of their plus-size fashions for up to 90% off their original prices and often offering free-shipping or easy in-store pick-up. When you follow the time-honored rules, shopping for classics in your best color-palettes, you can perfect your signature look for next to nothing.

• Shop the factory outlets. If you never have devoted a whole day to factory outlet shopping, you cannot imagine the bargains you will find. “The outlet stores beat thrift stores for price, selection, and value—and it’s all brand new stuff!” says Arizona State University co-ed Robyn Graham. Major designers and venerable old brands band together in outlet malls all around the country, selling one-of-a-kinds, seconds, and factory over-runs at up to 90% off. Even “spendy” brands like Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers, and Guess? offer “the good stuff” at affordable prices via their factory outlets.

• Get the best of both worlds: Shop Overstock.com and outlet.lanebryant.com. “The O” is a virtual outlet mall, offering name brand merchandise at reasonable, not always jaw-dropping prices; their biggest advantage comes from their assurance of low-cost or no-cost shipping. That, and the fact that they have almost everything in stock and ready to go—with “almost everything” meaning not only all your favorite clothing but also everything for your house, including houses. Outlet.lanebryant.com features plus size clothing from all of its allied brands, including Catherine’s and Fashion Bug, and it does offer the merchandise at jaw-dropping low prices with low-cost shipping and quick delivery. Caution: You easily can get lost in browsing both sites and forget to pick-up the kids at school; they are that spellbinding.

You can be both fashionable and frugal when you shop skillfully and strategically, using tools from the internet and time-honored tactics from professional stylists. Hard times call for hard choices, but you need not forego fashion as you do your financial forecasting. In fashion as elsewhere, “smart is the new rich.”

About the author: UK resident Mary Blanchard, a mother of three, understands the importance of cutting corners wherever she can. She loves online deals and finds couponcroc.co.uk a good gateway to discounts.

Plus Size 15% Off Sitewide Shabby Apple

Shabby Apple has a new line of dresses called the Mad Hatter line. The Mad Hatter designs has a Victorian charm and whimsical look reminiscent of the book Alice In Wonderland. Look for this line of dresses to be big sellers!

Click on the image below to visit Shabby Apple, and use the code HATTER for your shopping discount.

Torrid Top Sellers February 2012 Sale

Check out these Torrid.com Top Sellers and get some great prices using the coupon codes below.

Red With Black Lace Bow Back Dress

Red With Black Lace Bow Back Dress, $68.50, $61.65 with coupon code 1AF12OFF!

Black Lace Bed Jacket

Black Lace Bed Jacket, $38.50 $34.65 with coupon code 1AF12OFF!3320858

Fashion To Figure Grand Opening Charity Event

FASHION TO FIGURE TO HOST GRAND OPENING OF NEW CHERRY HILL MALL LOCATION

CHERRY HILL, NJ (January 12, 2012) – On Saturday, February 4, 2012, Fashion To Figure (FTF) will celebrate the grand opening of its long-awaited Cherry Hill location, which serves the greater metropolitan Philadelphia area and southern New Jersey. Guests are invited to shop and to take advantage of hourly raffle prizes, a DJ spinning all afternoon, and the chance to win a $200 shopping spree to FTF. All store guests will receive a gift with purchase, while supplies last. Members of the Cherry Hill Council and other local politicians will be on hand to assist with the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 PM. Ten percent of proceeds from the day will go to Team Fox, benefiting the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research.

Located on the second floor of the Cherry Hill Mall, the new store features trendy, up-to-the-minute women’s clothing and related accessories exclusively for sizes 12-26. FTF was founded in 2002 by the two great-grandsons of Lena H. Bryant, the revolutionary businesswoman and dressmaker who invented full-figure fashion more than 100 years ago. FTF’s new Cherry Hill location is the company’s first store outside of the New York area, marking the beginning of the brand’s national expansion.

Product assortment on hand the day of the celebration will feature the best of FTF’s spring 2012 styles with everything from basics to chic, cutting-edge styles. The store offers a wide variety of the coming season’s hottest trends, including shocking neon, retro-chic colorblock designs, and the sweet, sexy dress sure to turn up the heat for your Valentine’s Day rendezvous. Guests receive hand-tailored fashion advice from FTF Stylists, whose passion for full-figure fashion guarantees that guests leave with a feeling chic and confident. All FTF stores receive new stock daily, ensuring that guests can always find the new look that will turn heads.

Details: Saturday, February 4, 2012
Fashion To Figure
Cherry Hill Mall
2000 Route 38
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
Contact: Elizabeth Legris at elizabeth.legris@ftfstores.com or 646.825.4600 x8679

About Fashion To Figure (FTF)

FTF provides a trendy full-fashion shopping experience focused exclusively on women sized 12-26. At FTF, guests find the very latest in style at the very best prices in a chic atmosphere where every woman wants to shop. Each store receives new fashion daily, so guests can always find the new outfit to take their look to the next level. FTF Fashion Stylists provide personal service and help guests find the perfect fit. FTF is dedicated to making people’s lives better by providing the ultimate full-fashion shopping experience and was founded by the great-grandsons of Lena H. Bryant, the revolutionary businesswoman and visionary dressmaker who invented full-fashion over 100 years ago. Go to www.fashiontofigure.com for more information.

About the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research

The Michael J. Fox Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to achieving a cure for Parkinson’s disease through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the continual improvement of treatments for those living with Parkinson’s today. Parkinson’s disease, a chronic, degenerative neurological disorder that impacts motor skills and cognitive abilities, afflicts more than one million people in the U.S. and more than five million people worldwide. In 2009, the Foundation funded more than $39 million in targeted Parkinson’s research. For more information and to make a contribution, please visit www.michaeljfox.org.

Torrid 2012 Valentine’s Specials

Torrid has some great Valentine’s Day clothing available to make your romantic day or evening extra special. Get 10% off your entire purchase, see the coupon link code below.

Emily Pink with Black Trim Chemise, $38.00

Black With White Polka Dot Chiffon One-Shoulder Top, $38.50

Black Fishnet Pink Heart Thigh-Highs, $15.00

Get 10% off your entire purchase at Torrid.com – Use Coupon Code 1AF12OFF! Expires 2/15/12

Torrid’s Sweet Escape Spring 2012 Collection

Check out Torrid’s new Sweet Escapes spring collection! The spring look is bold stripes, colors and tropical prints, perfect for starting your year fresh in 2012.

Navy Sketch Dot Surplice Dress, $64.50

Black Rhinestone Bow Buckle Stretch Belt, $24.50

Summer Coral Cork Wedge Heels (Wide Width), $39.50

Introducing Torrid’s Sweet Escape collection: shop bold colors, stripes and tropical prints for a fresh start on the New Year!

Torrid’s Accessories Sale 2012 BOGO 50% Off

Torrid’s New Year’s 2012 sale features great accessories – buy one get one 50% off accessories and shoes!

Betseyville – Be Mine Again Quilted Cheetah Bag, $78.00

Delia Red Flower Suede Heel (Wide Width), $39.50

Black And Hematite Gemstone Ball Drop Earring, $12.50

Limited Time Only: Buy One, Get One 50% Off All Accessories! Save on jewelry, intimates, handbags & more. Shop Now!

Get 10% off your entire purchase at Torrid.com – Use Coupon Code 12AF11OFF! Expires 1/15/12.

Shabby Apple’s New Year’s 2012 Site Wide Sale

Check out Shabby Apple’s site wide sale, get 20% off everything at the store. Use code NEWYEAR at checkout for 20% off (excluding the Side Saddle Line).

Torrid’s Holiday Gift Guide 2011

Torrid’s holiday gift guide features their top selling items, including must have sweaters and boots. If you have finished your Christmas shopping remember you can still buy a holiday gift for someone special: YOU!

Find the Perfect Gift with Torrid.com’s Holiday Gift Guide!

Grey Velour Rose Hoodie

Chloe Black Suede Wedge Boot (Wide Width)

Red Puckered Cowl Neck Sweater

Lulu Cognac Knee-High Boot (Wide Width)

Get 10% off your entire purchase at Torrid.com – Use Coupon Code 12AF11OFF! Cannot be combined with other offers. Expires 1/15/12

Shabby Apple Deal Free Gift $50 Purchase

Shabby Apple is offering a special holiday gift to their customers and free shipping with any purchase over $50. Your free gift is the necklace pictured, the gift will automatically be added to your cart when you input the coupon code OURGIFT. Click on the gift banner above to visit Shabby Apple to get your free gift with purchase.