High street Shopping Tips
Before you head off for the high street there are some simple principles that to consider.
Watch out for colour ways
A garment in one colour can look cheap; but in another colour, look classy. There is a great lesson in choosing your colour carefully. Generally, muted tones look significantly more expensive, particularly in Autumn/Winter.
Don't go for a bright colour if the material is dodgy. You may get lucky and pick up a bright emerald green satin dress from TopShop, however that will only work when the material is half decent. There is nothing worse than cheap bright polyester material clinging to your body. That looks rates way up on the style disaster scale! We suggest that the brighter the colour tones you choose, the deeper into your purse you should dig!
Know the colours that suit you most
Knowing which colours suit your complexion will add pounds to your look because the colours you choose will add vibrancy and boost the natural colours of your hair and skin tones. Having your colours done is a middle class affectation and it is unnecessary to dig deep in your pockets to pay £100 during these lean times. There are some brilliant colour me beautiful books that can be found in libraries and bookshops and websites that will give you some simple clues to work out your colour spectrum. Colour Me Confident: Change Your Look - Change Your Life!
If you have no time for books, we have a simple and straightforward method. Sit in natural light with a mirror and put lots of colours against your face. Particularly focus on comparing bright and muted tones, white and cream and gold and silver. Work out whether you are better suited to warm tones or cool tones. There will be simple clues. For example, when I wear black close to my face it emphasises the dark circles under my eyes and the deep lines around my mouth, whereas when I wear chestnut tones it emphasises my freckles and green eyes. These differences are subtle and it might take some time for you to train your eye to find colours that enhance your look. There will be tops in your wardrobe that you have never worn because the colour isn't quite right. These will help to confirm the colours that suit you and the ones that don't. Once you feel you have come to a conclusion about your colours, ask a trusted friend to help you in this colour quest to give their honest opinion as to which colours really work for you and those that don't.
Once you have worked out which colours suit you, don't throw away your wardrobe but concentrate on buying in accessories that will cheer up your look. Pay particular attention to the colours and tones of accessories and clothes that are close to your face. So pause for thought when buying:
Roll necks
Scarves
Large earrings
Necklaces
High necked blouses
Label Alert! Don't buy clothes or bags that wear the labels
Cheap labels, cheapen the look and make you look mainstream. Some shops like Primark are really good at not labelling their products on the outside. Watch out for Zara, River Island and Per Una because they love to use you as a free advert.
Never buy in store outfits
Next and M+S promote an whole outfit mentality. FCaNK thinks that this is style mistake. Our advice is to pull together a look from a lots of different sources otherwise you will be replicating the look of the high street store. Which leads us onto...
...Don't forsake your own style
Inject your own style, however quirky. This will make you feel and look fabulous without splashing the cash.
Mix up your fashion sources
Balance your wardrobe with investment pieces, High Street and vintage clothes. Mix up your fashion sources - High Street with designer with vintage with something from Granny's drawer. You will look great and be completely unique!
Don't be a slave to the latest trend
A girl friend always looks gorgeous and has impeccable taste in clothes. She told me her secret. She always tries to purchase just one or two original and funky Fur Coat items a season. That way she doesn't spend her money on rubbish quality clothes and retains her quirky style, season after season.
Be aware of your body shape
Being savvy in high street stores means you need to take a good look at your body and train yourself to follow the laws of your body shape religiously. There are plenty of body shape pundits out there like Gok Wang or the age old Trinny and Susannah. Don't waste your money on dresses that don't flatter your legs or will look better once you have lost weight. Work with what you have got and ignore the temptation to force yourself into the fashion if it's not going to do you any body shape favours.
Check out Trinny and Susannahs The Body Shape Bible: Forget Your Size, Discover Your Shape, Transform Yourself: Forget Your Size Discover Your Shape Transform Yourself
Choose fabrics and textures that celebrate your shape
Big Boobage
Big Boobs hate high necked clothes that make your sumptuous hillocks look like a bookshelf. Also avoid thick, chunky jumpers that increase the size of your top half. Rather, choose fineknits, low necked, deep V, plunging neck lines to emphasise your hilly attributes. The fact that many of us small breasted women would be saving for a boob job should give you an indication that boobs are a wanted commodity and you've got yours for free!
Petite Boobage
I use breast pads in a padded bra just to reach a AA cup. My miniatures need frills and activity. Chunky knits, frills and high necks were designed for the likes of me and I am grateful for them!
Check the labels
Use our labels guide to verify the life expectancy of your garment. Always wash your clothes according to the manufacturers instructions otherwise the garment's life expectancy will be halved!
Shop with a conscience
Find out about the ethical stance of the store you are shopping in. Just because the clothes are cheap does not mean that the shop is unethical but it is really worth getting access to this information. This information will change regularly and so to get a most recent update visit http://www.ethicalconsumer.org. A great book that accompanies the website is The Good Shopping Guide: Certifying the UK's Most Ethical Companies and Brands
Plan your shopping trip
Work out what you need BEFORE you walk out your front door. Take a look at your wardrobe. See what needs replacing, ie, last year's t-shirt may need to go to charity and be replaced by a new one. It is also a good idea to take a look so that you can see what is going to co ordinate with your new purchases! Scanning your wardrobe also ensures you don't double up. A good book to take a look at before venturing into the shops is The Shops
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