The case for convertible clothing.

While packing for my trip to Beijing, I came across a common packing issue...

How will I fit 15 days of clothing into a suitcase and be able to bring back souvenirs?

That's when I decided it break out my trusty sewing machine and make a convertible dress.  If you are not familiar with the popular convertible dress, here are some examples from Jersey Maid.

The Jersey Maid Etsy Store


I love that it will not be obvious to anyone looking at my vacation pictures that I am wearing the same dress. Even better, the material I picked out dries quickly and does not wrinkle, so I can wash it at night and it will be dry in the morning. Add a T shirt and it becomes a skirt. Add a blazer and the dress is great to wear to work. Or mix it up with an over skirt.

Henkaa Blog

Henkaa sells not only the dress, but also accessories such as a lace or chiffon skirt to dress it up or down. Check out their blog for other ideas on how to style a convertible dress.

Are you ready to try to make your own convertible dress? Check out this great tutorial at Sew Like My Mom.
Little Red Infinity Dress Tutorial

Help! I have nothing to wear... how to shop your closet

Have you ever stood in front of your closet and discovered you dont have anything to wear?  It happens to all of us.  Instead of running to the mall for this season's hot trend, take a step back and learn to shop your closet.  

Step One:

Pull everything out of your closet.  Sweaters, coats, panties, socks.  Everything.

Step Two:

Organize all your items into piles.  One pile for dresses, another for pants, etc.  Don't concern yourself with seasons.

Step Three:

Try on all your clothes.  

Does it fit?

Take a good look at the fit.  Would you want to run into your ex holding hands with your arch nemesis while wearing this outfit?  If not, it probably doesn't flatter your body.  Sadly, if it's too small, then it will probably have to go into the donation pile.  If it's too big, you can always bring it to a tailor, which will not only would make your clothes look high end, but it's cheaper than buying new clothes.

Is it stained, torn, or outdated?  Can it be fixed?

We all have that "lived in" T shirts we have had since High school.  But if you wouldn't wear it in public, why keep it in your closet?  Some items can be fixed easily (hole in seam, broken zipper, etc).  A good tailor can perfectly darn a hole in your favorite pants. If the clothing is not able to be saved, it can always be recycled.  Google "clothing recycle" to find a location near you.

Step Four:

Return all your clothes to the closet with the hanger facing backwards.  By doing this, you will be able to see which items you wear the most and which items you hardly wear.  My rule of thumb is if I have no worn it either once a year for seasonal/specialty items, or once a season for year round items, then it goes into the donation pile.  

Step Five:

Enjoy your clothes.  Now your closet is filled with items that look great on you.  Dont be afraid to mix and match to create new looks for this season.

Let's hang out! How to have fun with friends on the cheap.

I love spending time with my friends.  But meeting up for drinks, buying pizza, and going to the movies adds up.  Let's face it... People don't like to talk about money.  Very few people are going to tell their friends that they cannot meet up at Starbucks because they are living paycheck to paycheck. So what is a fabulous woman to do?

With a little creativity, you can have a great time.  Here are some ideas!

Host a pot luck dinner

Bake homemade cookies

Board game night

Rent a movie from the library

Find free meetup events

Go to a lecture

Poker night

Be a tourist in your city

Put together a puzzle
Organize a clothing swap
Learn a new hobby


Just remember, your true friends don't care about how much money you have, they just want to spend time with you.

Book Review: Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg

I'm single, work as a nurse, and do not have a "go getter" personality like Sheryl Sanberg.  I grew up in an upper middle class family where my brother's received books like The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, while I was told "You can love a rich man just as much as a poor man."  I even fell into the trap of choosing a career based on what my now ex fiance thought would be best for our family.  I am the type of woman Sheryl is trying to reach out to.

Backed up by anecdotes and statistics, Sheryl brings the difficulties women in the work place face in today's market.  She gives advice on how to interact with  coworkers with out falling into the categories of "selfish, bitchy, not a team players," ect., a common side effect of being a self reliant woman.  She also gives great advice on why a woman should continue to work after having children and how to make it work.

My only complaint about the book is there was more focus on dealing with males than with females.  In my experience (and many other individuals), it's your fellow female coworkers that try to bring you down... They do not want to see you succeed and will be the first to gossip about you "staying late with the boss." Until this mindset changes, I don't think women will succeed.

What do you think?  Have you read Sheryl Sanberg's book? Do you feel that women have the same opportunity as men?  Do women help each other get ahead in the workplace, or do we bring each other down?  What can you do to change?

Disclaimer:  I received this book as part of the Amazon Vine Program.

Welcome

I love fashion. My ideal mental holiday is perusing the new arrivals at Saks. There is nothing like the feel of beautifully cut Chanel pants or an Alexander McQueen dress.

BUT WAIT!!!!

Before I can take home that beautiful Burberry Trench, I need to pay my rent.... and buy food.... Did I contribute enough to my Roth IRA this paycheck? How can I afford both?

I will teach you tricks on how to have a beautiful wardrobe and a thriving bank account.