The Glass Slipper Blog

Savvy Sale Shopping

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After we’ve polished the last of the turkey off in sarnies and waved our relatives goodbye, it truly becomes the most wonderful time of the year. The January Sales. And there’s no better place to find a fashion bargain.

At least they were called the January sales but now there are pre-Christmas sales, post Christmas sales. All of these are retail tactics to clear stock through. You think you’re getting a bargain but some stores will have allowed for a markdown, so they still make profit. As household income is getting squeezed, you will want to get as much for your money as possible. However, be warned, it is easy to get seduced into buying items you simply don’t need and may only wear once. Here’s our tips for savvy sale shopping:

1. Matchmake your wardrobe: before you hit the shops survey your existing clobber. Make a note of your favourite pieces and think about what items you could buy to revive them e.g. with your favourite winter jumpers

2. Target your shopping tour: if you’re looking for specific items, do some research before you go out and prioritise visiting them first. These websites list the sales and level of discount offered, if it’s big bargain’s you’re looking for: Latest January Sales, January Sales

3. Flex your wardrobe: most of the clothes in the sales will be Autumn/ Winter fashions but given the weather in the UK, you could wear some items well into Spring. Consider buying colours that would suit either season, cream, neutrals, fawn or even the lovely ochre colours that have been in shops recently.

4. Ignore the ticket: don’t be swayed by the % discount, look at the actual cost. 70% off is a super discount but not on an item costing £50.00 that you’ll never wear.

5. Shop early: although some of the best bargains can be found later on in the sale period, it’s normally the dreggs of the stock.

6. Be wise, buy wise: the sales is the perfect time to invest in a big ticket item such as a pair of leather boots or winter coat. Don’t purchase anything too on trend, go for classic. It may seem boring but the item will see you through several seasons if good quality and well cared for. Some of the more exciting trends are here to stay such as animal print and faux fur.

7. Bust your budget: set yourself a budget and have fun shopping for as many ensembles as possible within it. Cost saving is very rewarding!

It’s probably one of the few days we dress up for lunch in our own homes. There’s something about Christmas Day that makes us want to glam up and there’s nothing more chic than a dress. If you can brave the shops, there’s some pre-Christmas sale bargains to be had. Reward all your hard work, go on, you deserve it…..

Christmas Mass: it’s an early morning for mass goers, so something smart, low key but easy to plonk on in the morning will be just the ticket.

Coast Rapunzal Dress was £115 now £79

Smile please: you don’t want to be snapped opening your gifts in an old t-shirt and saggy tracky bottoms?

Marks and Spence Lace detail night dress £18

Lunch with the in-laws: why not pick a chic dress you know will impress your mother-in-law but with a kind outline hiding the extra mince pie or three.

Warehouse drawn floral dress. Was £65 now £40

The Queen’s Speech: Liz isn’t the only one that can do bling on Christmas Day! Add a little sparkle to your festive outfit.

Oasis Hollywood Tunic was £65 now £40

Wii are family: dressing up doesn’t mean you have to sit out the fun and games.

Phase Eight Zebedee Dress: Was £85 now £69

Nightcap: after a worn out day of talking, eating and unwrapping, chill out with your favourite nightcap in a cosy knitted number.

‘Tis the time of year to dust off your party dresses and get glammed up. If parties make your heart sink because you feel you’ve got nothing to wear, fear not. Here’s our guide to the best party frocks and how to wear them to turn heads.

One-shoulder Dresses

These take attention to the shoulder area and away from the hips – “Hooray,” I hear you cry!

As this dress makes a stunning statement, you need very little to dress it up other than a fab pair of earrings.

You can even cheat by wearing something that gives the illusion of a one-shoulder dress such as this Whistles dress.

Rachel Gilbert at Net a Porter	Dorothy Perkins	Whistles

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Kind Regards,

Nina Cooke

Want to read more? Click here to visit our Archives!

One of the most frequently asked questions from our clients is how to layer their clothes. Not only is layering hugely practical for our multi-faceted climate, but it can also add great depth and interest to your outfits.

If you want some personalised one-to-one advice on your wardrobe and what to wear, call us on 0845 045 0858 or email us at info@theglassslipper.co.uk and we’ll be happy to help.

One of the most frequently asked questions from our clients is how to layer their clothes. Not only is layering hugely practical for our multi-faceted climate, but it can also add great depth and interest to your outfits.

If you want some personalised one-to-one advice on your wardrobe and what to wear, call us on 0845 045 0858 or email us at info@theglassslipper.co.uk and we’ll be happy to help.

Here are our Top 10 Tips on how to layer with style:

1. If you’re going to layer with a vest top, don’t stick to just black and white. Luckily, vests and camisoles are available in a huge variety of colours at all different price points. Use them to add a pop of colour to your outfit – they’re a brilliant way to try out new colours. Just make sure they’re in flattering colours that suit your skintone and hair and eye colour.

If you’re going to be shedding layers, make sure the straps of your vest are wide enough so that you don’t feel self conscious.

And think about the bra you’re wearing with your outfit. It’s fine to have the straps on show if they’re a lovely colour or a pretty print, but keep frayed or grey straps out of sight!

If you’re wearing a higher neck top, try layering that with a bright or contrasting colour peeking out underneath the bottom of your top – it adds a nice point of interest. This can create the illusion of a low slung belt. It’s also a useful way of adding length to tops that you feel are too short for you.

Dorothy Perkins	Therapy @ House of Fraser	Jigsaw

Click here to read the entire article.

Kind Regards,

Nina Cooke

Want to read more? Click here to visit our Archives!

Summertime’s arrived (so the clocks say), and the invites have started dropping on the doormat. It could be a wedding, a day at the races, a landmark birthday, an evening at the opera, a graduation ceremony, or perhaps another important family event.

These are, of course, all wonderful occasions that you’re looking forward to attending, but do you have that sick feeling in the pit of your stomach and a feeling of dread that just won’t go away? “What on earth am I going to wear!?”

The first thing to do is to check the dress code for the event to get an idea of what is expected and what other people will be wearing. You may not have the perfect outfit hanging in your wardrobe ready to be whisked out and accessorised, so you may need to start thinking about a shopping trip. Don’t leave it until the last minute, you’ll only put yourself under more pressure, and end up panic buying.

Take a deep breath, have a think about the sort of oufit you’d like to see youself wearing, and collect some pictures from magazines that appeal to you.

The outfit you choose should be more fun than your work wear, smarter than your weekend wear, and more grown up than your going out gear – all this without losing sight of your personality or turning into a dreaded frump!

The other thing you might want to consider is this. Buy an outfit and accessories that become investment buys ie. those you absolutely adore because you love how good you look in them, but also can wear in different ways with different pieces on different occasions so you know you’ve spent your money wisely.

Oh, and I nearly forgot to mention, the outfit should fit you perfectly, be the perfect style for your bodyshape and the perfect colour that make you look radiant and glowing.

Feeling stumped? Then read on for our take on How To Nail That Outfit For That Special Occasion (Part 1):

Click here to read the entire article.

Kind Regards,

Nina Cooke

Want to read more? Click here to visit our Archives!