Wardrobe recycling tips for a tough economy

fashion — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:45:47 +0000

(ARA) – In harsh economic times, fashion is a luxury often sacrificed to save money. Even with many boutiques and department stores advertising sales, it is difficult to justify spending money on clothing when the cost of food and living is rising steeply.

This is why now, more than ever, is the time to get creative and make do with what we already have in our closets. With inexpensive additions and easy adjustments to items currently in your wardrobe, you can refresh your clothing without emptying your wallet.

Jennifer Shaw, senior design director for the Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. brand offers these simple solutions for spicing up your wardrobe on a budget:

Closet Dive
Pull out old tops, sweaters and blazers you haven’t worn in a while and work them back into your wardrobe rotation. Fashion is cyclical, and you never know when something will come back in style again.

Add Accessories
Inexpensive costume jewelry adds sparkle to a basic black top. Try colorful statement necklaces — the bigger the better — in bright colors or naturals like cork or wood. Funky vintage brooches and bauble rings also steal the show.

Belt it Out
Clothes too big and baggy? Change the shape of a frumpy old sweater by adding a thin belt around your waist. This will liven up the sweater while complimenting your figure.

Layer it On
Extend the life of a summery blouse or sundress throughout the year by layering a cardigan sweater on top and opaque tights or skinny jeans underneath. Pairing with leather boots and a patterned scarf will also help change the season of your summer clothes while still keeping you warm.

My Boyfriend’s Back
Borrow clothes from the man in your life for a fresh look that is comfortably slouchy and undeniably sexy. Pair a men’s v-neck undershirt with cuffed jeans and a chunky necklace for an ultra-feminine accent.

Head-to-Toe Chic
Forget your flats, wearing a cute pair of shoes with a small or medium height heel will instantly lengthen the leg, flatter your figure and add style and glamour to any outfit.

“The key to lasting style is to start with a fitted, basic pair of jeans in a clean, dark wash,” Shaw says. “Jeans with a boot-cut leg opening look great on all different body types and the cut is classic and timeless. Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. jeans are fashionable, comfortable and best of all — affordable.”

Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. jeans are available at Walmart and Kmart stores and online for women, men and kids. All styles retail for under $25. Visit www.signaturebylevistrauss.com for more information.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Back-to-school Fashion Tips for Parents

fashion — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:55:22 +0000

Back-to-school Fashion Tips for Parents

Keep Kids Looking Great on a Budget

(ARA) – How much will you spend on new clothes this fall? According to the U.S. Census, Americans spent $7.5 billion on back-to-school shopping in 2007, or roughly $140 per child. With prices everywhere on the rise in today’s economy, Americans are looking for ways to get more for their money from brand names they know and trust.

Shopping for back-to-school clothes is a proverbial tug-of-war between parents and their kids. Parents want great value from outfits that will last throughout the school year, while kids mostly just want to look “cool.”

From adjustable waistbands to shoes that are two sizes too big, parents are constantly looking for ways to stretch their back to school purchases so boys, especially, won’t outgrow their clothes too quickly.

In Spring 2008, Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. conducted focus groups involving 11 and 12 year old boys and their parents to find the driving factors in buying new jeans for fall. They have to be in style, fit well, and come in a variety of colors with functional details like zippers and cell phone pockets. More than anything else, parents just want to buy what boys like and will actually wear.

“If parents buy jeans their kids will ‘grow in to,’ chances are the jeans will sit in the back of their closet and be forgotten,” says Christine Chun, manager of consumer insights at Levi Strauss & Co. “Boys want to be accepted by their friends and classmates, and this means finding jeans that are stylish and fit well.”

Taking the results of the focus groups to heart, Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. designed boys’ jeans for fall with the durability parents are looking for, and the styles boys want too. Carpenter and loose fit jeans with sturdy construction, a comfortable baggy cut, and secure pockets for carrying anything from rocks to mp3 players are now available at Walmart, Kmart and Target stores. Parents will like the price too; all jeans retail for $15 to $18 each.

Girls on the other hand, tend to care more about what’s in fashion right now, not what will last throughout the year. This can pose an even greater challenge for parents to keep their daughters in style without buying a whole new wardrobe every season. In conjunction with purchasing back to school supplies, which according to the U.S. Census Americans spent over $2.3 billion in fall 2007 at stationary stores, new clothes in the fall are often the only option that fits the family budget.

“A parents’ best bet for girls is to buy a classic five-pocket style jean you can dress up,” says Claire Raiklen, licensing manager at Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. “With cute, feminine details like back pocket stitching, bootcut or flare leg openings, and other unique embellishments – girls will love them and they won’t go out of style.”

Girls jeans are available for under $20 at Kmart and Target stores. Parents can also purchase jeans for themselves for under $20, in traditional straight and relaxed fits for men and fashionable wide-leg trouser styles for women. For more information on Signature by Levi Strauss & Co., visit http://www.signaturebylevistrauss.com/.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Fashion Savvy - Fashion, Beauty, & Style » budget

Wardrobe recycling tips for a tough economy

Back-to-school Fashion Tips for Parents