This was originally posted at another blog of mine (www.motheringtc.com) that I have deleted. I have combined all my blogs into this one for the sake of simplicity in my already busy life. Jen – 6/13/09.
Since I’ve come out of my first-baby, what-in-the-world-am-i-doing fog, I’ve started trying to get back into living instead of surviving. One of the things I’ve been trying to do is build a wardrobe on a budget since we now have only one income. It’s hard! I’m not talking about a closet full of clothes–I have that and STILL never have anything to wear. My closet is full of different sizes, bad colors, unflattering fits, and lots don’t fit my amble new nursing bust.
So I requested help in the form of newsletters from Missus Smarty Pants. I’ve only been subscribed for about 2 weeks now, but I can already see where she is going to save me money in the long run. Her advice is invaluable and inexpensive. Leslie will personally ID your body type and send you advice every week for an entire year for only $39.95. That’s less than $1.00 per week! Each week, she posts a lengthy article on a particular topic–one week she wrote a 14 page article about Jeans. In it, she described the different cuts, washes, waistline heights, how to best care for them, and also included a shopping guide.
Her other article is tailored completely to your body type and she reminds you what to look for in each different clothing type–Tops, Jeans, Jackets/Sweaters, Skirts/Dresses, and Shoes & Accessories. In addition, she goes shopping online and shows you 4 or 5 examples of what is in and will look good on you from an online store so you can buy directly from the newsletter if you see something you really want. I found several things in the first newsletter and one of them had even gone on clearance after she sent it.
She advocates buying quality clothes that will last & flatter, both in color and style. As part of the materials on her website, she also includes instructions for building a wardrobe–what your base pieces should be and then how to fill it out with accessories & fashion-forward pieces. She also has descriptions of the seasons and how to determine your best colors.
One of the things I found was that I knew a lot of it, but it was more of a gut instinct and not well articulated, so I didn’t stick to it. The other thing I found was that no matter what the make-up artists have to say, I am NOT a warm. I was able to determine that I am a winter & my gut instinct there was right, too. Now I have her guidelines in my purse. If it doesn’t meet the qualifications, it doesn’t come home, even if it’s free.
I am taking a stand. I will no longer be a slave to clearance racks & resale shops JUST because they are cheap. I love myself enough & my family loves me enough to have quality clothing that looks and feels good. Just not all at once:).
Missus Smarty Pants also has a free newsletter (available for preview here), as well as an online radio show Tuesdays at 2pm, and even a Yahoo Group! I’m on a quest to be the best that I can be! Will you join me?
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