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10 ELEGANTLY STYLISH TIPS ON HOW TO DRESS FOR A PARTY


How To Dress For a Party – the silly season is just around the corner so this ‘how to’ is more relevant than ever. In recent years there has been a return to elegant, sophisticated, and feminine dressing. There are a range of tips available on how to dress for a party, so knowing where to start can be tricky. Many parties around the Christmas and New Year period involve more dressing up than usual. Take a look at the following tips on how to dress for a party.

1. THE DRESS CODE

When choosing how to dress for a party, always check what kind of event it will be. Dressing for a friend’s get-together is going to be different to dressing for an office function. This is the first step in putting together a party-appropriate outfit.

2. THE SPARKLE FACTOR

The key to dressing elegantly is to add just the right amount of sparkle to your outfit. If you’re wearing a sequinned dress then keep your jewellery fairly minimal. Likewise, the plainer the dress, the more sparkles you might want to add in the form on necklaces and earrings.

3. TIMELESSNESS

You can’t beat old school glamour for an elegant party look. A little black dress, diamond studs, and patent pumps are the basis for creating a timeless party look. You can always update the look with trend-based accents.

4. WEAR COLOUR SMARTLY

Colour can play a big part in creating the perfect party outfit. It also helps set the tone of an outfit. If you’re wearing a neutral outfit, incorporate colour through accents such as a clutch or shoes. If you’re wearing a coloured dress, elegant jewel toned fabrics are a great option.

5. PERFECT IN PRINTS

A printed dress is a stylish option this party season. A geometric or abstract print is a monochrome colour is perfectly elegant. When wearing prints, keep your accessories fairly neutral and in block colours.

6. LE SMOKING

If dresses aren’t your thing, you can still look elegant and sophisticated this party season in a tuxedo style outfit. The Le Smoking look was made popular by Yves Saint Laurent and is still stylish today. Team a silk top with black cigarette trousers and finish the look off with a crisp white blazer.

7. DOWN TO THE DETAIL

When it comes to how to dress for a party, don’t underestimate the impact of the finer details of an outfit. The right bag, shoes, and jewellery can make or break an outfit. Give your party outfit a test run before the event to make sure that everything looks just right.

8. FLAWLESS MAKEUP

Nothing looks more polished than flawless makeup. While we can’t all be makeup gurus, it does help to be able to perfect the right kind of makeup that best suits your style. A little extra time and effort this party season will go a long way to setting off an outfit.

9. IT’S BETTER TO BE OVERDRESSED

There’s the old saying that it’s better to be overdressed than underdressed when it comes to how to dress for a party. In most instances I’d say that this would be the case. If you’re a bit overdressed, you can always quickly dress down your look by removing a bit of jewellery or mussing up your hair.

10. DON’T FORGET YOUR COAT!

If you’re party hopping, constantly slipping your coat on and off at each venue might become a bit of a hassle. Choosing a smart looking coat that matches your outfit is one way of being able to keep your coat on while still looking stylish.

If you’re unsure of how to dress for a party this silly season, then hopefully these tips will help you out. With a range of dress codes prevalent, this list of tips will hopefully be broad enough to get you through them all. What are your best tips for how to dress for a party?
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Hair Accessories for Red Hair













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Virgin bottom of landlines survey



Research into landline providers has shown that Virgin Media customers show the lowest levels of satisfaction, with 22% saying they are dissatisfied with the service, watchdog Ofcom has said.

The regulator also questioned customers on their fixed broadband providers, mobile phone providers and paid for TV services in the survey, which was conducted to improve consumers' access to information to enable them to make better-informed purchasing decisions.

It found that overall customer service satisfaction remained lower in the fixed broadband and landline markets, at 58% and 61% respectively, compared to paid for TV and mobile at 68% and 69%.

In respect of landline services, Sky customers reported the most satisfaction at 74%. BT was second with 63%, TalkTalk had 59% and Virgin Media had just 53% customer satisfaction. A total of 25% said they were neutral.

Sky's broadband services did not come out so high, however, with just 64% of its customers saying they were satisfied. But the company still came out above its competitors in the market, with Orange coming in second at 59%, BT and Virgin Media joint third at 57% and TalkTalk/Tiscali last at 55%.

Ofcom said that almost three-quarters (72%) of Orange, O2 and T-Mobile customers reported they were satisfied with their mobile phone service. Vodafone, Virgin Mobile and Three trailed behind, with 66%, 62% and 60% saying they were satisfied respectively.

Researchers also found that with regard to paid for TV customers, 70% of those using Sky said they were satisfied, with 62% of Virgin Media customers reporting the same.

The report came about after thousands of consumers were interviewed in September and asked to rate their customer service experience if they had contacted their provider in the previous three months. It covers customer service satisfaction for those providers with a market share of 4% or more.
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Microsoft pens agreement with Yahoo


It looks as if Microsoft wants a seat at the negotiating table if Yahoo decides to sell part or all of its business.

To gain better access, Microsoft has signed a non-disclosure agreement with Yahoo, according to a person familiar with the situation.

The DealReporter and The New York Times earlier reported the arrangement between Microsoft and Yahoo.

Yahoo's board has been mulling the company's options since firing CEO Carol Bartz in early September. The alternatives include selling Yahoo's Asian assets, such as the Alibaba Group in China, and auctioning off the company in its entirety instead of hiring a new CEO. Tim Morse, Yahoo's chief financial officer, has been interim CEO since Bartz's ouster.

The DealReporter said that Yahoo's board is scheduled to meet next week to discuss its next step.

Microsoft unsuccessfully tried to buy Yahoo in 2008 for as much as 47.5 billion dollars before walking away in frustration. Yahoo's stock is worth less than half of Microsoft's last offer of 33 dollars per share.

Yahoo shares fell three cents on Wednesday to close at 14.94 dollars. Microsoft's stock price dropped 32 cents to close at 24.47 dollars.

The New York Times reported that Microsoft is primarily interested in protecting its internet search advertising alliance with Yahoo if its partner pursues a sale or a dramatic reorganisation. Microsoft currently provides most of the search technology on Yahoo's website in return for 12% of the ad revenue generated from the results.

To preserve its business relationship with Yahoo, Microsoft already had explored contributing to a joint bid for Yahoo's US assets with some of the buyout firms that have been considering making offers. That list includes Silver Lake Partners, Providence Equity Partners and the Texas Pacific Group.

Alibaba CEO Jack Ma has publicly acknowledged that his company would like to buy Yahoo, but that could be difficult because of US government concerns about a Chinese business owning a US company that handles email and other electronic communications.
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8 BEAUTIFUL BUSTIER DRESSES



Bustier Dresses are great for the upcoming party season. Unlike strapless bandeau-style dresses, bustier dresses help create a much more flattering shape. The best thing about this style of dress is that the design opportunities are endless. You can choose styles that are party-glam or those that are more daytime appropriate. Take a look at the following beautiful bustier dresses.

1. TOPSHOP DRESS UP BANDEAU PROM DRESS

Price: $150.00 at us.topshop.com
This black and white dress has a bit of a froufrou design. It has a black bustier bodice with a full white net skirt. The ruching at the waistband softens up the divide between the black and white halves. Keep a black and white theme going and pair this dress with pearl jewellery and black peep-toe heels.

2. WILLOW PLEATED SATIN-JERSEY BUSTIER DRESS

Price: $995.00 at net-a-porter.com
This satin-jersey bustier dress has a Grecian-inspired feel to the design. It features a typical bustier bodice with underwire cups and hook and zip fastening at the back. The maxi-length skirt features all-over pleating and skims gently across the body. This dress would look great with a pair of cream sandals and a cropped jacket.

3. DOROTHY PERKINS PEACH BUSTIER DRESS

Price: $42.00 at dorothyperkins.com
Simple bustier dresses are great for styling up. This affordable dress has a structured bodice and full skirt. It also features a dotted net overlay and exposed zip fastening at the back. Work a youthful look and team this dress with a leather jacket, ankle boots, and plenty of costume jewellery.

4. DOROTHY PERKINS BEIGE BANDEAU PLEAT MAXI DRESS

Price: $63.00 at dorothyperkins.com
Longer-length bustier dresses tend to look particularly ethereal. This empire-line dress has ruched pleats around the bust and a full layered chiffon skirt. It also has an elasticated back. Style this dress up with rose-gold jewellery like a collar necklace and wide cuff bracelets.

5. ZUHAIR MURAD CRYSTAL-EMBELLISHED LACE COCKTAIL DRESS

Price: $3415.00 at mytheresa.com
At the very luxurious and decadent end of the scale we have this lace cocktail dress. It has a built-in bustier with a lace overlay. This dress features elbow-length lace sleeves, a pleat bow accent at the waist, and a softly pleated skirt. This dress would best be styled with simple accessories and jewellery.

6. SASS & BIDE THE BIRTHDAY PROJECT SEQUINED MINI DRESS

Price: $730.00 at net-a-porter.com
This colourful dress would make a fun party number. It has a boned bodice with sweetheart neckline, peplum waist, and sequin skirt. The colour combination of pale pinks and orangey red is refreshing. This flirty dress would work well teamed with nude heels and an oversized clutch.

7. TOPSHOP DRESS UP CUTOUT SPOT PROM DRESS

Price: $165.00 at us.topshop.com
Cutout details have been trending recently, and this typical prom-style dress features cutouts at the sides. It has a simple bustier bodice, full skirt, and black polka-dot overlay on metallic gold lining. Team this dress with a crisp white blazer, black ankle boots, and a pair of killer drop earrings.

8. TIBI APPLIQUÉD SILK-ORGANZA DRESS

Price: $1300.00 at net-a-porter.com
This ivory silk-organza dress is a beauty. It features a supported bustier, boning at the back, and hook and zip fastening. The midi skirt has a sheer overlay with appliqué and bead embellishment detailing. This dress would look great with a pair of metallic heels, minimal jewellery, and a patent clutch bag.

As you can see, bustier dresses are available in mini and maxi lengths, as well as everything in between. Simply choose a style of dress that can easily be incorporated into your wardrobe. Bustier dresses are ideal for showing off your décolletage. Which of these bustier dresses do you like best?
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Artists lose internet filters case



An EU court has ruled that internet service providers cannot be required to install filters that would prevent the illegal downloading of files.

The ruling is a blow to artists who had sought to have their intellectual property rights protected that way.

SABAM, a Belgian company representing writers, composers and editors, established in 2004 that users of an internet service provider called Scarlet Extended SA were illegally transferring files.

A Belgian court ordered Scarlet to install at its own expense a system to make that impossible.

But the Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled that this would require monitoring of all electronic communications of all of Scarlet's customers, infringing on their rights, and violated EU law.
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GIVEAWAY: SEPHORA $50 GIFT CARD




It’s time for round three in our giveaway contest for a Sephora $50 gift card! We want to thank all of our fabulous readers and Facebook stalkers…we are now up to 15,000 plus fans! So if you aren’t one of our facebook fans, well what are you waiting for, head on over so you can enter this awesome giveaway…
WHAT WOULD YOU BUY FOR A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER…




What would you buy for a friend or family member with your Sephora $50.00 Gift Card? Perhaps for a birthday or for one of the winter holidays coming up you would like to buy a new fragrance like CK One Shock for Him for that special guy in your life. It is said that the style of the guy who wears CK one Shock is energetic, sexy, and smooth, I think this might be under the tree for my husband this year!
HOW TO ENTER…



Wouldn’t this be a lovely gift for a new mom, Philopsophy Welcome Baby gift set featuring Hope in a Jar, Purity Made Simple, Pure Grace Foaming Bath and Shower Cream, and Pure Grace Body Lotion, all to help make the new mom feel more relaxed. Stalkers, for one entry to win this wonderful giveaway leave a comment below letting us know what you would buy for a friend or family member with your Sephora $50.00 gift card and please remember to let us know that you like us on facebook!
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9 FABULOUSLY CHIC TIPS ON HOW TO WEAR FAUX FUR


How to Wear Faux Fur is a question that will be on everyone’s lips this season. Whether you like it or not, faux fur is somewhat of a winter staple. With the northern hemisphere winter fast approaching, many fashion conscious women will no doubt be wondering how to wear faux fur this season. Take a look at a few tips on how to wear faux fur below.

1. LEOPARD PRINT

When looking at how to wear faux fur, you can’t go past the leopard print coat. Many high street stores have carried a leopard print design at one stage or another. Wear a leopard print coat with a vintage inspired dress, opaque tights, and Chelsea boots for an on-trend look.
2. CROPPED JACKETS

Cropped faux fur jackets are great for teaming with high waisted skirts and pants. A close fitting cropped jacket also looks stylish when incorporated into a slick, streamlined outfit. Wear a cropped faux fur jacket with leather look pants, a silk t-shirt, and statement jewellery for a chic nighttime look.
3. LONG AND SHAGGY

Make like a rock star and wear a shaggy faux fur coat this winter. Shaggy faux fur coats are also ideal for pulling together a bohemian inspired outfit. Team them with knee high boots, a floaty embroidered dress, and assorted crystal jewellery.
4. OVERSIZED

Channel your inner Olsen twin and wear an oversized faux fur coat. Not only will this look stylish, but it should keep you toast warm as well. The key to how to wear faux fur this way is to keep the rest of your outfit fairly streamlined. Strike the right balance and wear an oversized coat with skinny jeans or cigarette pants.
5. VESTS

A faux fur vest is ideal for slowing bringing fur into your wardrobe. A zip-through vest will also allow you to wear it open or closed. Create a hippie-luxe look and team a faux fur vest with a chiffon dress, or go for something a bit more model-off-duty and team it with a long sleeved t-shirt, skinny jeans, and ankle boots.
6. MULTICOLOURED

A multicoloured faux fur vest is an on-trend choice. This is a great way of incorporating some colour into a fairly neutral outfit. Take inspiration from the Isabel Marant fur jackets that were a popular choice with models and celebrities alike last season.
7. SCARVES AND STOLES

If a coat or vest is too much fur for you to handle, try a faux fur scarf or stole. Worn draped over the shoulders, this is an easy way of adding fur accents to your look. Create a textural contrast and wear a faux fur stole over a distressed leather jacket, or maybe even a heavy wool coat.
8. BAG CHARMS

Accessories are a great way of easing the faux fur trend into your wardrobe. A faux fur foxtail charm can easily be added to your everyday handbag. This is one such way to update your look.
9. EAR MUFFS

When it comes to how to wear faux fur, functionality is a big factor. While you want to look good in winter, you also want to be kept warm. A pair of faux fur ear muffs is one such way to beat the cold. Keep it chic and choose earmuffs in neutral colours such as black and cream.

From the faux fur jacket to faux fur bag charms, there are a range of ways to incorporate faux fur into your outfit. When looking at how to wear faux fur, keep it to one fur accent per outfit. What are your best tips for how to wear faux fur this season?
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12 TIDBITS ABOUT LADIES IN HOLLYWOOD WHO MAY INSPIRE YOU

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7 DELIGHTFULLY WARM AND STYLISH HATS FOR FALL




Warm hats are the must-have accessory this fall, and I’m so excited to start wearing them! I love all of the cozy cloches, funky fedoras, and fun floppy hats, and because there are so many styles of warm, stylish hats to choose from, there’s something to fit everyone’s fashion sense and noggin! Here are 7 warm, stylish hats for Fall… let’s see which you like best!

1. DOMINO FLOWER APPLIQUÉ CLOCHE HAT

Price: $66.99 at shopruche.com
How chic! This hat is the perfect blend of fedora and cloche styling, finished with a pretty black satin ribbon and flower. It’s neutral, so feel free to wear it with any of your fall or winter coats!

2. TRAIN STATION WOOL CLOCHE HAT

Price: $38.99 at shopruche.com
While this rich ochre color wouldn’t work with my olive complexion, it would look lovely on a girl with peaches-and-cream. Jealous? Oh yes! Wear it with your wavy hair down, and a light tan coat for an enviable vintage-inspired look.

3. ELLERY KNITTED BEANIE

Price: $32.99 at shopruche.com
A hat so lovely and cozy, the adjectives are all superlatives: coziest, prettiest, sweetest, loveliest! It’s made of soft acrylic, designed to stretch and fit, with the most adorable rosette detail… pair with pretty patterned mitts and keep warm all winter long!

4. ASHTON FEATHER FEDORA

Price: $58.99 at shopruche.com
Feathers are so hot this season, and this funky fedora is a fun way to rock the look and keep warm at the same time! It features an abbreviated brim (to show off more of your pretty face) and a puff of pretty plumage on the band.

5. GALE DAY FLOPPY HAT

Price: $34.99 at shopruche.com
Who says floppy hats are the territory of summer straw? Wear this deep purple floppy hat, made of warm wool, all winter long, and prove the summer-hat contingent wrong.

6. LELA CLOCHE HAT

Price: $64.99 at shopruche.com
I’ve never met a girl who didn’t look lovely in a cloche hat… they’re so flattering! And this one, in lush magenta, will flatter every skin tone and eye color, giving you a girlish blush while keeping you cozy.

7. ABBEY FLOWER APPLIQUÉ HAT



Price: $26.99 at shopruche.com
Who wants to be pretty in purple this fall? I do! And this sweet little wool hat is just the way to get the look. The brilliant pink flower on one side gives it just a pop of attention-getting color, and it’ll look so pretty with your plaid dress-coat!

Aren’t you all excited for Fall now, too, with all these adorable, warm hats to choose from? I love the fedora, and the cloches are so much fun to wear! Which of these warm little hats do you like best, and how would you wear it?
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5 FASHIONABLE CHRISTMAS GIFTS YOUR GUY WILL LOVE


My husband is the most difficult person to find the perfect Christmas gift for and I’m sure many other women have the same problem! What do you get a guy who has all the latest gadgets? Well I do love to buy him clothes that I like to see him in, but does he really want that for Christmas? Perhaps he can guide me by using StylePilot.com and we can find something we both agree on, here are 5 Fashionable Christmas Gifts Your Guy Will Love too from Style Pilot

LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BOYS – CHRISTMAS PRESENTS FOR THE MEN IN YOUR LIFE – FROM STYLEPILOTCOM…

Christmas decorations are all over the city again. You start with a mental list of all the shopping you have to do, to develop into the completely frantic shopping mode, which gives you a bit of a buzz and brings a lot of stress.

Although you don’t really mind a season filled with excuses to go shopping, it’s not as fun when you have to look for presents and worry whether other people will like your picks or not. For that reason, hinting has become acceptable, and takes a big weight off our shoulders. You know what to buy for some only because they’ve been sending out hints for the last few months. Excellent. You put it in your list, and go directly for it, allowing more time to try on shoes (yes, we know. Nobody takes that long to shop for Christmas presents, dear).

Shopping for guys, for example, can be quite boring. First, at the men’s department you won’t bump into a nice dress or a lovely necklace for yourself. Second, men won’t understand the effort you put into picking the right shirt or a really nice belt to replace that unacceptable disintegrated strap he’s been wearing. “Thanks, that’s nice” with half a smile is all you get, right?

Why don’t you lead them into shopping for themselves? Get the men in your life to try Style Pilot. It’s a brilliant online tool. They’ll set their DNA, which is uploading the information about their look to the machine. This includes colouring, height and shape (they might need help). The engine then shows what suits their body types, helping them make the right choices.

Log on, show them the website and let them pick their own Christmas presents. There’s a little locker where they can save what they liked and email it to you. You can even do it yourself and re-set the DNA information for each men in the family. Have a go atStylePilot.com and check it out. You don’t need help with women’s trends, but here’s a list of some things you might want to see the men you love in:

1. A WEEKEND HOLDALL BAG…



Whether he’s hitting the gym or just going away for the weekend, it’s better than the crinkly plastic number he’s been dragging since his teens.

2. POLO SHIRT…



Especially if he’s going away on holidays, and you’re dreading that faded t-shirt.

3. CHECK SHIRT…



Good for weekends and nights out.

4. UNDERWEAR…



Do we need to mention why?

5. CUFFLINKS…



Perfect for when you don’t feel comfortable buying clothes for them. Don’t forget they usually like them funny!

So ladies what are you buying your guy for Christmas, do you enjoy buying him clothes or do you need a little help in that department? Why not head on over to StylePilot.comtogether to see what you both like for him!
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8 STYLE TIPS FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASONS


Style Tips for the holidays are coming up ladies! Are you ready? Well, after you read the top 8 style tips that I have in store, I know that you’ll be ready for any and all things fashionable this holiday season! We all know that style tips constantly change, but this holiday season is full of cheer and fashion that will make you look beautiful this holiday season!


1. GLITTER GALORE

Let’s talk a little bit about glitter this season ladies! One of the first style tips that we are going to explore all revolves around making everything sparkle and shine. Glitter on your eyes, a shimmering top or even some crystal pumps will really set your look off and will make you completely in fashion!
2. LAYER UP

We all know that winter is freezing – so layer it up! While autumn is all about layering on sweaters and tanks, why not throw in a coat on top of a sweater? Mix and match it – I promise that you’ll stay warm and look totally fashion-forward!
3. RICH COLOR

This season is all about the color. While your Little Black Dress might look tempting, throw in a colorful belt to dress it up. I know this is one of the style tips that I’m going to incorporate into my everyday outfits!
4. BOLD MAKE UP

Don’t just dust on a bit of powder this season, really glam it up! This holiday season is all about bolding out your make up and making you stand out. Flashy eyeshadow? Red lips? Do it all ladies!
5. CHUNKY JEWELRY

Statement jewelry has been one of the style tips that I have followed all year, but for the holidays? It’s all about the statement necklaces, bracelets and even belts. Choose just one statement piece though and tone down the rest. It makes a huge difference ladies!
6. VELVET

The one thing that I love about winter is that velvet is back in style. Velvet is so, so soft, so incredible feeling on and so warm! So ladies, dig your velvet out of your closet and dust it off, because this season’s style tips are all about velvet!
7. TEXTURES

You don’t have to have an outfit full of texture, but a shirt, some pants or even a textured accessory like a scarf or belt, can really pull together a look. Just add in one textured item and I swear it makes all of the difference. For me – I always add in a textured knitted scarf to add in a little flare.
8. NO DENIM

Now, I’m not saying that you need to ditch all of your jeans, but retire them for a little while. Instead, go with slacks, black, brown or even beige. Pair it with a great top and you got a fantastic look!

Style tips for the holidays are not that much different than style tips for everyday. Just add in a little flare, a little surprise and make it fashionable. What are some of your favorite holiday styles ladies? Give it up!

Top Image Source: weheartit.com
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7 TIPS FOR BUYING DESIGNER ITEMS YOU’LL BE SELLING LATER ON


Designer Items you are planning on selling are going to go much faster if they look great and have all the authenticity documents – we all know that! But, what about the price? I’m sure all those fabulous designer items have cost you quite a bit and it’s only logical to expect to sell them for an equally good price. Right? Well, I have some great tips for you today, tips that will enable you to both love, enjoy and use your designer items while still being able to set a good price on them once you decide to sell them!

1. CHOOSE COLOR WISELY

Your designer items will find their buyer eventually, but if you really want to ensure high demand and, therefore, higher price, I’d suggest opting for colors that are always hot! Experienced sellers claim black Chanel bags can be sold for almost retail which is not the case with red, blue or even brown ones. Choosing light colors as well as metallic shades which easily fade is definitely not a good strategy because they tend to show signs of wear much sooner making it virtually impossible for you to make a good sale.
2. CHOOSE MATERIALS WISELY

Materials are also one of the things you’d want to have in mind in case you don’t tend to get emotionally attached to your designer items. Exotic skins are very sensitive and prone to peeling for no obvious reason, Chanel lambskin feels like a dream but wrinkles like the worst nightmare while satin can be stained easily. Oh, and some even say their lambskin Chanels have developed mold spores which is something you should definitely have in mind in case you’re living in an area known for its warm, moist climate. If you’re buying a Vuitton and you’re planning on using it quite a bit before sending it off to the next owner go for textured epi leather, instead of glossy patent. If you want a Chanel that will look brand new even after a couple of years of “civil service”, get your favorite style in grainy, almost indestructible caviar leather.
3. STORE YOUR DESIGNER ITEMS CAREFULLY

Both clothes and bags should be kept in their original packaging, away from pets, heat, water and other things that might cause damage. Don’t leave your light colored bags lying around, keep them stuffed with tissue paper and tucked inside their sleeper pouches when you’re not using them, and, if you don’t prefer original boxes, make sure the items are organized neatly, not piled on top of each other. Your extravagant clothing (yes, those dresses you’ll wear twice and resell after that) should be kept on a hanger, with a dust cover too.
4. DON’T THROW AWAY ANYTHING

Keep the tags, the original box, authenticity cards, care booklet, dust cover and pretty much anything that came with your designer items. In fact, when you’re keeping all that, you might as well keep the store receipt! You see, counterfeiters are not what they used to be which means that even fake designer items come with hologram stickers as well as all the necessary paperwork and that, my ladies, makes things really hard for the buyer. Counterfeit authenticity “accessories” aren’t as perfect as the real deal, of course, and that’s something buyer will notice. A recently bought item (non vintage) can’t sell good without authenticity papers because there’s always a chance that it is fake or stolen.
5. NO ONE WAY ALTERATIONS

Many potential buyers, collectors and owners think messing with the original design will make the item look fake and they would never buy a redesigned item. If you feel the dress/blouse/whatever would fit better if it was just a bit tighter at the waist, get it professionally fitted and tell the seamstress not to cut the extra material so that the garment can be returned to its original size. If the chain strap of your bag seems too long or too short for you, never change it for an off brand chain- take out or add a few links and return it back to normal once you decide to sell it.
6. NO DIY FIXING

This mostly goes for bags, shoes and jewelry so I’ll use what space I have to warn you to stay away from superglue, shoe polishes and other care products or actions that might ruin your designer items. If your bag needs to be cleaned, re-dyed or repaired take it to the boutique and they will send it back to the manufacturer. Most high end brands offer free repairs during the first year, so if you’re planning on selling your bag after 10 months or so, definitely use this free service before the sale.
7. CLEAN YOUR ITEMS CAREFULLY

Most sales assistants know which types of products work best for the brand and the item you own and will gladly both recommend and sell it to you – except Chanel, of course, because this house insists on those expensive in-house touch ups. Clean your jewelry with soft cotton cloth, follow the instructions for washing your designer clothes and test your new leather conditioner on a small area (bottom of your bag or the inside of the strap) before applying it on the whole bag.

Do you baby your designer items? Well, I think you should because you never know when you might decide to sell something! After all, every collector must downsize his collection of fab designer items once in a while, so remember these tips anyways, just in case you ever need to clear out your closet a bit, so that the new things can fit.

Top Photo Credit: weheartit.com
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Web cartoon clip to help save lives



A professor is counting on the power of the internet to promote a blood-clotting drug which he says could save up to 140,000 lives a year worldwide.

Professor Ian Roberts enlisted the help of his nephew, animation student Hywel Roberts, to come up with car crash victim Tran-man. A 40-second clip of Tran-man is being launched on YouTube and its Chinese equivalent, Tudou - to a potential audience of many millions.

The clip shows Tran-man with a hole in his side bleeding to death but is saved when given the blood-clotting drug tranexamic acid.

Prof Roberts says while the cheap, generic drug is available widely, doctors and hospitals around the world are not aware of its power - meaning thousands of road accident and trauma victims are unnecessarily bleeding to death.

"If all hospitals in the world gave trauma patients this drug, 140,000 lives a year can be saved," Prof Roberts, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said.

He added: "We published two papers in The Lancet medical journal last year but we realised that not enough doctors in Brazil, China and Russia have read about it. It's not being used widely in hospitals and even in Britain only a small fraction of the patients who could benefit were actually treated."

He said because it is a cheap generic drug with many manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies were not prepared to market it. "The drug companies, who can spend millions on marketing, could see the health gains but not the profit margins of a generic, off-patent drug," he said.

"It was clear that if doctors were going to hear about tranexamic acid it was down to us to tell them."

The cartoon clip will link viewers to the findings of the Crash-2 tranexamic acid clinical trial.

The trial was coordinated by Prof Roberts and involved more than 20,000 adult patients in 274 hospitals across 40 countries. Results published last year found the drug - given as a simple injection - was highly effective and had no adverse side-effects. It costs about £3 ($4.50) per gram.
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GETTTING TO KNOW ATUTUDES: TUTU’S FOR FASHIONISTA LITTLE GIRLS


Last week I stumbled upon this little Audrey Hepburn fashionista look alike on Pinterestand just had to share her adorable picture with our fans on Facebook. Turns out this stylized photo came from the makes of the beautiful tutu, Atutudes, and photographerAshley Concillio. I was in love and today we’re so excited to share more about Atutudeslovely little tutus and the woman, Kristal Lee, behind them

ATUTUDES: TUTUS FOR YOUR LITTLE FASHIONISTA…



Atutudes was born when my best friend, Jennifer, and I were planning her daughter Elan’s first birthday party. We were looking for just the right outfit for her big day. Not finding what we were looking for, we decided to do some research and see if we could learn how to make our own tutus. Once we learned how to make them, we were hooked! It was so much fun to create beautiful things. We thought, Why not try to make a career of it? There was very little start-up cost. We purchased the instructions, bought some tulle, elastic, and a few embellishments, and started to create. We used our own money out of pocket. We rented a booth at a local flea market for $40 for a weekend to see if we had something people would be interested in. We were received very well and knew we were onto something special. It was tough to give up weekends to sell at the flea market and to find room to store our items. Etsy.com has been such a blessing!



I took an online class by Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy (SARK) called Dream Boogie. While there I met a wonderful and warm woman named Dee from Craftbliss. Dee took me under her wing and nurtured me. She suggested I check out Martha Stewart’s Dreamers Into Doers Community. It has been one of the most wonderful communities I have ever had the pleasure to be a part of. I have met so many wonderful people who have encouraged me, taught me, and helped me to grow, both as a person as well as a business.


Photo Credit: GBK Productions (Pictured is Maria Canals Barrera of Wizards of Waverly Place)

While making connections on Dreamers into Doers I was spotted by Nikki Cutro of The Artisan Group and invited to join — I cried when I received the invitation. The thought that someone noticed my work was overwhelming, and then to think that it went to Hollywood this year was just too much! We recently participated in GBK Production’s 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Celebrity Luxury Gifting Suite. We are also planning to participate in the 2012 Golden Globes Celebrity Luxury Gifting Suite and the 2012 Academy Awards Celebrity Luxury Gifting Suite. We are thrilled to see what the future will hold.



Our potential to become well-known in Hollywood has garnered us many invitations from fabulous photographers and other vendors to collaborate. We recently collaborated withAshley Concilio-Photography through Adora Models on our Breakfast At Tiffany’s inspired photo shoot. Her daughter Milleigh was the model. They did an absolutely amazing job on our photos. The photos went viral on Pinterest in October and we could not keep up with the requests for that item for Halloween Costumes. We have been so blessed!
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GIVEAWAY CONTEST: 365 HANGERS GIFT CERTIFICATE


Holiday gatherings and parties are fast approaching and what would be nicer than winning a lovely gift certificate from 365Hangers.com so you can buy a new outfit or dress to impress your friends and family with! We are so happy to host this giveaway contest for our readers, we know how much you love designer looks for less…who wouldn’t!
FIND YOUR FAVORITE PIECE AT 365 HANGERS….





What would you buy with a $30.00 gift certificate from 365Hangers.com? You could put that money towards one of these beautiful dresses that would be gorgeous on you for a Christmas or New Year’s Eve party! From left to right you have the BCBG for $81.00,Theory for $79.00, and La Rok for $59.00. Or if you saw our previous post from365Hangers you would have seen the lovely lace skirt by Karen Kane that only cost $29.00, which would be free for you if you win this wonderful giveaway!
HOW TO ENTER…


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