Fashion Cents - Look great on YOUR budget

Winter 1999/2000 - Look like a million on next to nothing

FEATURES this issue: Build a wardrobe on $200 Who's that model? What to do with a T-shirt #1 Blizzard blitz Save time looking great Fall fell right into place, but now cold winter rolls around, it's a holiday season for many, and you've got to be looking great for the big new year. Stressed? Don't be. You don't have to be loaded to turn heads even for the millennium. Take a look: this month we bring you our blizzard blitz - ways to match color and style to look perfect in winter weather. And would you believe you could build an entire wardrobe on $200? It's true, and you can build a show-stopping one in no time. We also begin our "What to do with a T-shirt" series, with a new idea each issue. You just might be surprised. And while you're doing it all, you can learn to get ready and beautiful faster - you can look great on YOUR budget. A wardrobe on 200? You're thinking, no way! But it's really genuinely possible. And it's not that hard. Think of the things you really can't live without : JEANS, SHIRTS, SKIRTS, SHORTS, DRESSES, SHOES, WATCH, SOCKS, UNDERWEAR, JACKET, SWEATER. Not necessarily in that order, of course. Let's say you need 2 pairs of jeans - pick em up at any discount store (Ross, TJ Maxx, Everything $10) for $10 apiece. Get a pair of pants while you're at it, another $10 or so. Shirts and tops? Any thrift store will give you steals of tops for $5 each. Get 4. We're up to fifty bucks. Shorts and skirts shouldn't be more than $10 each either. If you can find them for less, you're better off! Pick up 2 each. $90. Let's get the essentials out of the way. Get a pack of 6 underwear for $6 (try Walmart) and same with socks. Other underwear items, we'll budget another $18, to even it out. $120. Shoes? Never pay more than $10 except for tennis shoes, which you can get inexpensively too. Make it another $20. If you go thrift, these prices will come down. You don't really need 20 pairs do you? Just dress shoes and daily shoes. I've seen plenty of jackets for $5 but we'll say $20 for both a jacket and a sweater together. You can get great watches for $20. $180. That leaves you twenty bucks to spend on a gorgeous dress! What more could you want? Most of us don't need to make a whole new wardrobe, so this was just to demonstrate that it's not hard at all. Use your $200 a year to add all the new clothes and wardrobe items you want, or just get one really great item for $200 knowing it's one-of-a-kind. Even better, get a really great item for a lot less, and save the rest of the money for something else!!! Now, the next time you decide you need to get a new wardrobe, you'll be really ready. Who's that model? Everyone knows Christy Brinkley. To get er comfortable, All-American look, just grab a pair of your most comfy baggy jeans. Pair with a turtleneck sweater with the cuffs turned up. Make sure it's not too long or too big - a slim top will show off every woman's natural waist. Do your makeup naturally, light and with shades of pink, and let your hair down, making it sleek with your blowdryer or just a bit of gel. Grab your backpack, or your little backpack purse, and you're ready to go! What to do with a T-shirt - WRAP TOP Every issue, we're bringing you a new way to use a t-shirt. Surely you have lots hanging around (we sure do!). Make good use of them if you just don't have the heart to give em away. This time, we'll make a wrap-around top. This will require a little sewing, but if you hate that prospect, get some fusible web from any craft store, which lets you fuse cloth together with just a hot iron. You could try superglue too, but it may not last too long. You may have to change the measurements a bit to suit you, so try it on an old t-shirt you don't like first, if you can. Get an old t-shirt that is too wide for you. To make a sleeveless wrap-around, cut off the sleeves (save them) and sew or fuse in the edges. Now, cut the t-shirt straight down the middle, only in the front. Fold in each edge about a quarter inch and sew or fuse so you have a clean edge. Take a piece of ribbon, about 3 feet long and cut it into two pieces, one 1 foot long and one 2 feet long. Attach the shorter piece to the middle of the edge of the t-shirt that's on the right (when you're facing the t-shirt, attach to the edge that's on the right). Attach the longer piece to the center of the other edge. Now try on the t-shirt and measure where the edges end on your body, with the flap on your right (while you're wearing it) going UNDER the other one. Make a hole in the flap on top where the other edge meets it. Take off the t-shirt and make the hole larger and sew its edges if you want to. To wear your new wrap top, put it on, thread the longer string through and wrap it around your waist, then tie it to the other piece of ribbon. You have a stylish new top that fits just right! Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow! It may be a blizzard outside, but why keep the grays out there? Bring those wintry colors inside, and add a splash of your own, too. Some combos that look great: Try pairing grays with brights as well as light airy colors. Soft sky blue makes a beautiful pair with a pale gray. Go for contrast, so you wake up in the middle of dreary clouds. Of course if all else fails, remember this is the only season you can really get away with bright green and red! Look better faster. What? You spend an hour and a half in the morning getting ready? Are you insane? You could spend that time sleeping! Or better yet, shopping! If you spend forever blow-drying your hair every morning, or choosing what to wear, it's time for a new morning schedule. Do it better, and faster: GET UP. Once you're up, you're up. Take a minute to stretch. Then brush, wash your face, whatever. total: 5 minutes. Take your shower. Most people are fine washing hair twice a week, unless you are rolling in the mud everyday. Even if you have to wash your hair, don't repeat unless you haven't washed in a month. It usually dries out your hair. Just scrub and get through your shower - think of it as singing 1 short song. You can cut it down to 10 minutes, including washing your hair. What are you gonna wear? Check out the last issue to decide. Have it out the night before and just slip it on. 2 minutes. Plus 3 minutes for jewelry and socks and shoes. Makeup. Most of us don't need to be dressed for the Oscars at work. Even if you do, makeup should take no more than 15 minutes. For normal people, 5 minutes: eyeliner, and eyeshadow swept on, powder smoothed, cheeks rouged, lips can be done with liner and lipstick in one. No more than 5. 25 minutes and you have 5 minutes to spare! Eat your breakfast before you go, and top it all off with a smile. If you can beat that, you'll really have something to smile about! Copyright � 2001 rani. All rights reserved. Remedy Page | rani's Home Copyright 2001 rani All rights reserved. Fashion Cents is NOT affiliated with Fashion Cents stores. [email protected]

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