Guru Goddess

Though style and comfort may appear to be a contradiction, it is possible to dress stylishly and still be comfortable! Thanks to innovations from designers like Stella McCartney and Donna Karan, women no longer have to force their bodies into stiff and tight clothes with unnatural shapes.

By using new fabrics and unique lines of construction, designers are now creating magnificent garments that fit and flatter the body without any of the sharp uncomfortable lines of the past that made a woman feel more like a mannequin than a person.

Some of the most stunning designs from recent runway shows are ones that incorporate fluid fabrics with distinctive draping techniques to create beautiful garments that incorporate comfort and style. Out with the corsets and girdles – comfortable style is finally available for every woman!

Look for the latest styles that are made in easy, fluid fabrics that flow over the body. The stiff fabrics of yesterday are typically uncomfortable and difficult to adjust to the body’s movements. Rather walking around in uncomfortable – sometimes scratchy – clothes, opt for softer fabrics that glide around the body and adapt to your motions, draping your figure rather than squashing it.

New styles and lines of construction mean that clothing is fashionable and up to the moment, and with the variety of choices available for styles and fabrics these day, where pretty much anything goes, there is no reason to be uncomfortable in your clothes ever again.

Even tailored clothing is being made in softer, more attractive fabrics that fit into busy lifestyles flawlessly. Many of these fabrics are wrinkle-resistant and require practically no ironing. Stylish, comfortable, and easy to care for…what more could a woman want? Women should never sacrifice comfort for style and with the current advances in fabrics, design and clothing construction; it is not even a problem.

Flip through your favorite fashion magazine or visit the ladies’ section at a department store and you will find examples of stylish clothes that actually feel good to wear. Forget about squeezing into tight, scratchy clothes – now you can look stylish and feel stress-free at the same time.

A humble black yoga pant for less than $20, combined with black shoes, flats or heels, can help you look stylish and comfortable at the same time, and can be dressed up or down with a longish lack tunic top as well. Just add accessories, attitude and flair, and enjoy. Now that is a recipe for comfort and style.

415 words

Everyone wants to look fashionable and wear stylish clothes, but that can be a challenging task, especially when you’re on a budget.

For the cost-conscious, major overhauls to your wardrobe are out of the question, but there are simple changes you can make that can subtly change the effect of your clothes and outfits, and give your wardrobe a fresh new look.

Add a few unique accessories that emphasize color and shape, and you may be surprised at the change that slowly becomes apparent. Great accessories don’t have to be expensive and sometimes can be found in the most surprising locations. The best place to start is within your own closet and drawers – there may be the perfect accessory waiting to be discovered! A fast way to change the feel of an outfit is to turn your collar up. This accentuates your face and creates a nice line down the throat and the center of the body. To give it a slightly retro flair, turn the collar up and force the tips down a bit.

A tremendously useful accessory that doesn’t cost much is the humble scarf. Buy several in different colors and patterns as well as sizes, and you can use them as belts, headbands, accessories for bags, or just to wind around your neck. Scarves with mixes of unusual colors look especially stylish against black outfits. Use a long one to wrap around your neck and leave the ends free with one in the front and the other in the back. Shorter scarves can be used to tie around ponytails for a stylish yet cute touch or tied around the handle of your bag for a flash of color. Longer ones can be tied around your waist.

Earrings are another fabulous way to change up your look without spending a lot of money, and are one of the single best ways to create a mood for yourself. Choose a sparkly, dangly pair for a night out, and smaller, but color-coordinated ones for work.

Gold or silver accessories add a touch of elegance to any outfits.

Handbags and shoes are another way to dress an outfit up or down, and add a bit of stylish flair.

375 words

We’ve all seen the headlines. These days, more and more people are  living on a tight budget. While men and women alike enjoy shopping and appreciate having a nice wardrobe, they also want to be able to maintain some semblance of a budget in the process.

If you’re one of them, there are some tips that you should keep in mind when you head off shopping to expand and broaden your wardrobe.

Before purchasing a piece of clothing, try to think of at least two pieces that you already own that you can wear with it.

Don’t be haphazard with your purchases. You might see something on a shelf or rack and find it appealing, but if you don’t have anything that goes with it, it will just sit in your wardrobe. Avoid impulse purchases at all costs.

You might also consider shopping online to get some ideas as to how to mix and match your current wardrobe, with one or two all purpose pieces.

There is nothing worse than the impulse buy you regret, or the purchase that a salesperson talked you into. 

While a particular item may be attractive, some items really do not enhance your wardrobe, or your appearance.  Those skinny jeams may look great on someone who is skinny, but be realistic—it may be the fashion, but if rolls of flab are sticking  out from under your belly top you might want to go from something a bit more classic. Or at least do a few more sit ups. 

When it comes to developing a wardrobe that is full of good value clothing you will be able to wear over and over again, it is important that the pieces that you select to include in your wardrobe compliment one another.

As you go about shopping and as you eye a piece of clothing on a store rack or shelf, don’t run off and purchase that piece unless you can be sure you have several things to match it, plus, it really is the bargain you think it is.

By shopping in a careful manner, you will be able to develop and create a truly fantastic and versatile wardrobe.

In addition to allowing you the ability to expand your wardrobe with compatible matching pieces, this manner of shopping also assists you saving money along the way. You end up avoiding impulse buying, and thus spending money on items that you will not be able to wear with any frequency because you do not have other items that match or compliment it. Or items that are so trendy they will be outdated soon, or so obvious that people will notice how often you wear it.

Remember, you can never go wrong with basic black, and a whole number of colors to go with it. But the more simple your wardrobe, the better. It will also save you time in trying to decide what to wear every morning!

494 words

Many people in the 21st century find themselves struggling with their weight. Over the long run, a healthy diet and regular exercise is vital to obtaining of maintaining an ideal weight.

However, as a person works to reach a reasonable weight, he or she may be looking for ways to look thinner or slimmer. Your clothing choices and fashion decisions can assist you in appearing slimmer.

When it comes to selecting clothing items that will assist in giving you a slimmer appearance, consider adding monochromatic or single color outfits to your wardrobe. It does not separate you from top to bottom and thus call attention to either. That’s why the little back dress is so successful-any woman, any shape and size, can look god in it. For men, you can never go wrong with a dark suit, so long as it is the right weight and fabric for the season.

In addition to black, as you go about selecting monochromatic outfits for their slimming effects, other dark colors work nearly as well, such as blue, dark brown, or charcoal gray. Darker colors assist you in presenting your body — even it if is a bit out of shape.

You do not need to rule out all lighter shades and hues when it comes to choosing monochromatic outfits. However, when it comes to using lighter colors — particularly pastels — you need to pay close attention to how a particular color actually makes you appear. In addition, lighter colors tend to make you look larger and more noticeable.

A dark suit with a pinstripe will make you look thin, but beware the double breasted jacket. Any vertical stripe will also make you look thinner, but avoid wide panels of color, and definitely avoid horizontal stripes, whether top or bottom. They will make you look very wide.

Always match your shoes to your outfit to give yourself a longer legged look.

If you are a lady who is a bit heavy on the bottom, instead of wearing tight bright pants, try something dark with a bit of give in the fabric, or with a nice drape to it. Just make sure it is not so large that you look like you are wearing clown pants. A good yoga pant can go long way forward fashion and comfort.

By coordinating your wardrobe and by using monochromatic colors in your outfits, and avoiding stripes. you will be able to maintain a slender, slimmer appearance. You will feel better about your look and about yourself.

430 words