Okay, I’ll admit it. I’m the kind of person who is always looking for an excuse to incorporate a little sparkle into my ensemble. So, I naturally get pretty excited when this time of year rolls around. Why? Because the holiday season is the perfect opportunity for you and your wardrobe to shine. Literally. Need some ideas? Read on and I’ll share my secrets to shimmering stylishly!

Now as we all know, a little glitter goes a long way. Therefore, it’s my opinion that the best way to get some glitz into your outfit is through accessories. Here are a few items that are guaranteed to glam up your holiday look!

Scarves

A statement scarf like this sequin wrap from Macy’s can shake your outfit out of its winter blues. This shiny wrap works as a shawl over your little black dress for an office cocktail party, or as a casual scarf with jeans and a cute sweater for a more informal holiday gathering. An accessory that shines in different scenarios? Now that’s what I’m talking about!

Belts

You probably already know that a skinny belt can help define your waist and pull almost any outfit together. Add a little glitter to those qualities and you have a holiday accessory that’s unstoppable. This rosegold belt from J.Crew gives you a pop of shimmery color without overpowering the rest of your ensemble. If you’re not into gold, they also carry this gorgeous belt in silver!

Rings

An oversized ring is a fun way to add some bling to your holiday ensemble. The best part is that it doesn’t have to be an expensive piece of jewelry to be eye-catching. Check out this shiny trinket from Forever 21!

Shoes

Put your best foot forward this season in some sparkly high heeled shoes. If you want to be adventurous, try a pair of red glitter pumps like these, from AdultCostumes.com. They’re festive and fabulous! But if you’re feeling a little less bold, black glitter heels can also give your holiday outfit that dose of glitz it needs.

Handbags

This quilted metallic cross-body bag from The Gap is just what you need to pull your entire holiday look together. It’s practical, affordable, and of course, it has the whole shimmer factor going on. Wear this purse to any holiday get-together, from casual to formal!

One little warning before I go: I probably wouldn’t wear all of these sparkly accessories together. You don’t want to blind people. But adding one or two of these items to a holiday outfit is sure to make you stand out. Have fun and shine on!

These tips were brought to you by Eileen Sather, who works for an online costumes company, full of fun accessories and adult costumes. Eileen’s favorite color is glitter.
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By Evan Fischer

Although you have to spend a lot of time wearing outfits for work, you don’t necessarily want to drop a ton of dough on that portion of your wardrobe.  But if you work in an office setting you need to adopt a professional demeanor that includes specific garments (it’s definitely not acceptable to show up in your comfy jeans or sweats).  And unless you want to wear the same outfits day after day, you’re going to have to fill some of your closet with clothing that is office appropriate.  So here are just a few tips and tricks that will help you to save when you buy the clothes required to help you keep your job and even move up in the workplace.

1. Spend where it counts.  The basic foundation for any work wardrobe is the suit and women’s suits often come in three-piece options (blazer, skirt, slacks).  This is great because it gives you the basis for several different looks.  And since you will be using these pieces quite a bit, it pays to invest.  Instead of wasting money on several cheap garments that will soon need replacing, spend a little more on two or three really nice suits and then get them tailored.  A good suit is the staple of your wardrobe and it can last a long time if you treat it right.
2. Opt for basics.  Mixing and matching is the name of the game, so always look for pieces that will work with your existing foundation.  Luckily, most suits are neutral, which means you can add a splash of color and pizzazz with tops or accessories.  But you should always have basic pieces like a crisp, white oxford (tailored, not loose), a pencil skirt (even curvy girls can wear this classic), and a trench coat (neutral is traditional, but if you want to pop, opt for one of the many colorful trenches now in style).
3. Get timeless pieces.  It can be tempting to grab whatever is trending now, but if you want a work wardrobe that will outlast the current season you should skip the flavor of the fashion month and go for pieces that are timeless.  Shop for your figure and look for pieces that never go out of style (like straight-leg trousers, fitted tops, and structured jackets).  That way you won’t have to replace everything next year.
4. Shop discount stores.  While you can certainly opt for department stores for a few pricy items, there’s really no need to overspend with so many stores aimed at delivering the goods for less.  Outlets like T.J. Maxx and Ross can give you a crack at designer labels for a fraction of the cost and Kohl’s and Target offer complimentary tops and accessories at far less cost.  So check out these options before you drop the Jacksons at your local department store.
5. Accessorize accordingly.  Jewelry, shoes, handbags, and even a brief case would fall under the category of accessories, and these are a necessary part of any woman’s complete work wardrobe.  But they can definitely be expensive.  However, you don’t need a fancy leather briefcase, diamond jewelry, and Christian Louboutins to look fabulous at the office.  You can get the look for less by going faux.  Costume jewelry and faux leather accessories can help you to show your flair for less (and often, with less harm to the environment) and most people won’t be able to tell the difference anyway.  Plus, you can follow seasonal trends with accessories when you’re spending $30 on a handbag instead of $300.  As for shoes, you may spend a little more here, but by opting for comfort and classic styles you can wear them for years to come.

About the Author:

Evan Fischer is a freelance writer and part-time student at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California.
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By Maggie

A few weeks ago I had the good fortune of being asked out on a first date (hold your applause, please). These dates are hard to come-by as a recent college graduate—the boys are still immature and the idea of actually taking a girl out is laughable to them—or so I tell myself. So you can imagine my excitement when I realized I had secured the illusive first date.

Staring into my closet the night before the big day, this excitement quickly faded into panic. What was I supposed to wear? I wanted to look good, but not appear that I was trying too hard. I wanted Prince Charming to find me attractive, but I wanted to keep my outfit rated PG. And I had thought getting the first date was tough….

After putting on a small fashion show for my roommate and a successful first date, I decided it would be my gift to womankind to prepare a few “looks” for typical first dates scenarios. So if you’re the lucky lady pondering your fabulous first date outfit, fear no more. Read on for some outfit inspiration for fall and winter dates!

Outdoor Festival

Dressing for this fun first date is sometimes tough due to Mother Nature’s unpredictability during the fall and winter seasons. Whether you’re going apple picking or to a beer tasting, you can’t go wrong with try a pair of colored jeans or cords, like these rust colored jeans from American Rag. These riding boots from Top Shop are a perfect example of proper footwear. On top, wear a long-sleeved sweater underneath a faux fur vest—this J Crew sweater and H&M vest are a fun, inexpensive examples. Add a pair of retro wayfarer sunglasses and an across-body bag, like this adorable satchel from Mod Cloth.

Dinner and Movie

Heading to a movie after dinner keeps this date fairly casual, so leave the heels at home and opt for a pair of flats, like these ballerina flats from Zenggi. Add dark skinny jeans like these Citizens of Humanity and a sexy blouse like this sheer top from H&M. Stay warm in a trendy jacket like this waterfall blazer from Top Shop and accessorize with a small bag similar to this one from Handbag Heaven and a pair of oversized sunglasses. He’ll have a hard time paying attention to the movie plot with you sitting next to him!

Dinner and Drinks

Dinner and drinks is a great excuse to play dress-up! Keep in mind that this is a first date though, so keep it classy and don’t reveal too much. This black fitted dress from Alice and Olivia is perfect—it hugs your body without exposing too much skin. Take a hint from this Dorthy Perkins blazer and add a colorful cropped jacket. Simple heels like this pair from Zappos and a little back shoulder bag like this classic bag from Handbag Heaven are great accessories. Top the outfit off with a pair of fun cat eye sunglasses like these from Sunglass Warehouse. Go make him swoon!

Remember to smile and be confident. You look fabulous! Now let your irresistible personality do the rest of the work!

Guest author, Maggie is a writer living in Indianapolis, IN. Not surprisingly, she’s a shopping fiend and loves writing about her passion for fashion
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A lot of women don’t realize how hard it is to find fashionably cute clothes when you’re only five foot two. When shopping around at the regular stores proves to be frustrating and full of too large and too long outfits, or sold out stock, forget the shopping trip and look online.

Online there are thousands of options for fashionable petite clothes that not only look great, but are reasonably priced. Looking for that slimmer, taller look? Here are some tips to keep in mind when shopping for petite clothing: First of all, make sure your clothing fits well. Fit petite clothes are extremely important. Bulky and flowing clothing can easily overwhelm a petite frame.

Pick out jackets and vests that have a v-shaped neckline; this gives you a longer, leaner look. A shorter bust line can be enhanced if you buy petite clothing tops with embellishments in the bust area. Don’t buy shirts that expose too much of the bust especially halter tops since it adds a “weighty” look. Avoid wearing short skirts and go for longer skirts to help with a slim long look. Pencil skirts are great for petite women.

If you want to wear a fuller skirt keep your height in mind. If you are shorter, then avoid detail at the hemline, if you’re taller than a little embellishment is all right. Shorts are important to wear to the knee, at the knee, or even below the knee. If you are wearing slimmer shorts flatter shoes are great. If you’re wearing wider less fitting shorts dress it up with a pair of pumps. Long pants are great this fall because they can give your frame a tall effect. Make sure the bottom of the pant leg is touching the top of your foot. Also, keep in mind the width of the cuff, if you have a wide width it will give a wider look.

Wear all dark colours. Wearing dark bottoms with a brighter top can break up the vertical line and make you appear shorter. Wearing all one dark colour produces a slimming, taller effect.

For accessories have a few pieces rather than a lot. You can wear bigger jewellery items; just make sure that you are not overwhelming your whole frame. For hats, choose smaller, slimmer brimmed hats that fit, rather than overwhelm your head.

Finally, for shoes, lean more towards pointy toed high heel shoes this adds height and a very slimming effect to your body. If you don’t like the pointy toed look, you can wear round toed shoes, but again, choose heels and a soft round toe since round toed shoes tend to give a heavier look.

Open shoes work very well with a petite frame. Also make sure the shoe colour is dark, keeping with that long, lengthening look. If your shoe has a great colour, or fun pattern, tone down the rest of your outfit and accessories so it doesn’t overwhelm your frame and focuses on your amazing footwear.

Author Profile:

So-Sensational is a fashion website showcasing Petite clothing, posh frock and plus size clothing. Your entire favorite brands all in one place and hand-picked for you. To view So-sensational petite clothing please visit the website – http://www.sosensational.co.uk/

By Sarika Periwal

For several reasons, female hair loss can be more problematic than male hair loss. Because issues relating to body image and self confidence can be intertwined with the way that a woman’s hair looks, a woman who undergoes hair loss will be particularly anxious to find out how to cure hair loss. The solution may be in her hands, and experts recommend several natural remedies that may help a woman arrest loss of hair.

A Healthy Diet

Making dietary alterations to include more nutrient rich foods can ensure that the hair gets the kind of nourishment that will at least improve the situation and prevent further hair loss. Very often the underlying reason for hair loss can be nutritional deficiencies.

Some experts recommend that foods containing healthy and essential fatty acids such as those found in fatty fish, nuts, olives and so on can help control the situation if not actually cure it.

Iron deficiency; even mild anemia or a Vitamin B12 deficiency can contribute to hair loss in women. Here, iron rich foods such as brewer’s yeast and broccoli can be a solution.

Dietary Supplements and Herbal Cures

Sometimes it could be dietary supplements such as Biotin that could provide the hair loss solution that women seek. Certain herbal remedies such as Saw Palmetto are also seen to be effective as a hair loss solution and can be as effective as pharmaceutical medications for hair loss.

How to Cure Hair Loss the Right Way

It is important to consult with a doctor about the right supplement after detecting the root cause of the hair loss. Often it could be a hormonal imbalance and not a nutritional deficiency that causes the problem. So it is important not to self medicate and to consult with a doctor for the proper dosage of medication to take.

For instance zinc supplements in higher doses may actually cause hair loss, so a person who is on any kind of medication or supplementation already has to be very careful about what they use. A drug interaction or contraindication due to a preexisting medical condition has to be ruled out before using any treatment for female hair loss.

Many kinds of hair loss are caused by hormonal changes that women undergo naturally at some points in their life (pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and menopause are such periods of normal hormonal transition for women). Many of these will resolve themselves but many do need treatment. Again the proper treatment and dosage has to be monitored by a trained professional rather than the woman herself. Self medication should be avoided since this can sometimes actually exacerbate the situation.

And finally genetic limitations that result in hair loss may be something that may be resistant to any treatment. Rather than pursuing other hair loss remedies that could have potential harmful side effects, the situation should be accepted and other solutions found.

Author info:

Sarika Periwal writes to promote natural remedies for a healthier you. Most health conditions can be managed and treated effectively through home remedies. Try some recipes for improving hair growth and stopping hair loss.
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