It's a Recession...damn

Is it possible to stay fashion forward without spending the mortgage money? Of course! You just have to start seeing more red. Clearance tags! I hit the sale isle, rack, or bin most places I go...especially for the jewelry! The way I see it is all of the clearance stuff was hot once. There's a good chance it will either be hot again or I can revamp it.

Clothes are tough though. You cannot buy just because it's on sale. You need to be sure the items fit in your waredrobe. Now some t-shirts can be an exception. T-shirts are t-shirts when it comes to the ones I workout in, hang around the house in, and sleep in. I can always use a few new ones because it's an item that doesn't last me long. After numerous trips outside to garden, clean the car, clean the house, or sweat through a workout they have done their duty. They aren't an amazing find for me. Why would I spend a considerable amount of money on them? It makes more sense for me to snag a buggy full of them when Target discounts them to a couple dollars and change. A t-shirt bulk buy and a new blouse, dress, pair of pants or jeans, or skirt are completely different shopping adventures. Those key items are as important to shop for discounted as if you are shopping current season's Versace. Don't waste your money on a pile of crap. Shop like it's money worked hard for that's to be well spent. Come on it's a recession...damn!

Now some places are worth diving in the heap, but some aren't. My major two that will always have me perusing their sale sections are The Gap and Old Navy. Everything in those stores goes on sale eventually. I'm not big on Banana Republic, but it could be the same. (Disclaimer: I think Banana Republic has beautiful clothing, but it doesn't fit really my life, currently. I think The Gap really defines my personal style, but Old Navy typically has such fun pieces and discounted basics.) The other major draw to these stores is that you have 14 days to get a price adjustment after you buy any item. So you can get any item on sale for around half off, typically within about 30 days of first seeing it in the store, then hold your receipt and go back on your next shopping trip, and get even more money back to invest in your new, tried on and perfectly fitting, items.


Another of the best finds at higher end discount stores is jewelry, second only to clothes. So often people don't consider purchasing jewelry at Target, Wal-Mart, KMart, etc. Because of this, great pieces of jewelry end up quickly going to the clearance section. I love this. Often I want to buy an odd piece of jewlery to match that one particular outfit to go to that one particular event to impress everyone in that one particular crowd. I can't always run to the local jeweler, but I can run to a discount store (Target's my fav!). I can buy a pair of $2 earrings and a $3 necklace without feeling bad. I can figure out how to wear it with other things later, revamp it, or store it away for the next outing. And just like Glad storage, if I lose it I can get over it. So go ahead future party girl and do all the stupid stuff you want because if you come home missing an earring oh well. Toss the other, or better yet break it up into something better. Then wear it to the next shindig as a brooch, pendant, or charm!

I think these rules apply across many a discount retailers shopping sections. For instance, it's the same thing with household decorating items. I like to accessorize my place with the same creativity as I accessorize an outfit, but $40 for a pillow is not my thing. Instead I avoid the temptation of the full price isles and hit the clearance section. I end up with beautiful half priced, or more off, pillows, towels, sheets, and bed and bath odds and ends. All of this without feeling like I missed out on something or impulse buying.

It's even a good idea to start in the sale section. You'll probably finish in the same place.

The MAXI Dress

I love the MAXI dress, the town gown, the sundress, etc! I love that style dress, because it is perfect in every way like Mary Poppins! It's beautifully flowing and may be a solid or a print. It is guaranteed to flatter any shape...when handled correctly!

You see I am a curvy girl. I have curves I don't always appreciate, but I love a dress. I really love a long dress, if I can find a way to work it on my short body. This style phenomenon has afforded me that. It may have a halter top, tube top, spaghetti straps, or other design, but I can make it work right for me.

The most alluring part to me though is how forgiving it is and easily accessorized. I just went on a Maxi dress shopping spree. I purchased a fuchsia ruffle top dress, a spaghetti strap purple dress, and a black tube dress. I immediately focused on all the things these dresses would accentuate that I would have a problem with. I don't love my arms or shoulders, but that's an easy fix. The fuchsia dress masks some of my shoulder and arm issues with it's neckline ruffle. Because of that I only have to focus on appropriateness of jewelry for the venue I'm wearing the dress to. The purple dress is a quick and easy outfit, with a elbow sleeve jacket and a white tank. Then my stunning basic black dress looks beautiful with my cropped white denim jacket. I'm enjoying the scarf trend, but as cute as it may look with the Maxi dress I have to be careful in the Texas weather. Fashion is important, but comfort ranks higher on my style priority list. (100+ degrees could be deadly with a jacket and a scarf, even if I waited until the sun went down.)

Continuing the outfit by determining how to finish it is the real fun. Because I am a slave to jewelry, I choose things like a bold long stone necklace, multiple ribbon wrapped and metal bangle bracelets, and funky earrings. I adore jewelry like I adore sandals. I keep numerous options! Plus at a time when metallic's are all the rage, gladiators are cool again, and there's a thong sandal on every page of every magazine and website...why not?! Just avoid the standard foam flip flop, they look effortless in a bad way. And, I swear walking a day in those germy things makes my feet look dirty...I'm just saying.

Seriously, there are IMPORTANT things to remember with the Maxi dress too.

1. For shorter fashionista's like myself, take care of the hem! It's as tacky as with jeans to see a filthy, drug around town, hem!

2. If needed don't forget your shaper. Again, I don't appreciate all my curves. As soon as I slip into the comfort of my dress, I am reminded that I'm walking around in the equivalent of a T-shirt. There's absolutely no support anywhere! I don't want to turn my T-shirt comfort into rollie pollie embarrassment.

3. Please do not let your girls, twins, or boobies hang out of the top like a bad club outfit. A fitted white tank under most Maxi dresses is cute, casual, and guarantees the use of a supportive bra!

4. This one you'll thank me for. If you purchase most of your Maxi dresses in cotton, like I prefer, get them dry cleaned or wash in cold water and Woolite then hang and iron them. Fading will happen if you don't take steps to avoid it.

5. And lastly, determine what some of your issues maybe in your dress and try try again until you are able to be fashion forward, style crazy, and fabulously comfortable!

What was she thinking???

Okay I am the very first to say make fashion do what it does! I believe that personal style is personal. I agree that your fashion should make a statement and say something about you. BUT should it say crazy?
These aren't the worst. Come on true red spandex pants, animal print spandex pants, spandex pants??? I can't get behind it. Plus, when I saw Dr. Marten's being sold at a discount shoe store, I swore them off for life. I mean super discount, a store with "shoe" in the name! Somethings should be left in the past. I like them, but they don't belong in my today. Just my opinion though. I mean as far as Amber Rose goes, she has amazing pieces. She rocks an edgy as hell hairdo, and for a moment in time she was arm candy for THE Kanye West. I have a crush! But I miss out on her fab finger gloves and glam zebra print clutch, while I focus on the black ties on her pink spandex, again, pants and the odd khaki thigh pads. And those beautiful sandals got the second look after the wide elastic waist denim shorty short. Amber...make me understand?
With that beautiful body and dream girl face, why does she keep being photographed looking like who, what, and why? I'm a traditional fashionista. I don't do coo coo cachoo. I do traditional and modern with a twist of my personality. I don't understand the way-out-there women with their not-in-real-life fashion choices. But again, this is just my opinion.

I am a WOMAN

THE DEFINITION OF A REAL WOMAN

A real woman is true to herself.

She holds her head up high.

She doesn't waddle in pity; or sit back and cry.
A real woman is a survivor.

She can stand on her own feet.

With God by her side, she can't be beat.
A real woman has courage; she has spunk and grace.

Even when she is down, she has a smile upon her face.
A real woman will make it.

A real woman will excel.

She will keep on striving, whether she wins or fails.

Copyright © 2006 Gwynita Leggington

So Glam Goddess, I will be adding confidence,resilience, religion, courage, and grace. You have to be these things! I hate to see a woman in any shoes walking like a misunderstood adolescent boy. Either they slide their feet or have a clop like Shaggy from Scooby Doo. Yuck! Embrace your feminine side, walk like a woman, exude grace.

White pants?!

I have spent years terrified of white pants. I mean terrified. I would see them in a store and turn and go in the opposite direction! I'm being seriously. I felt the same way about them as I feel about swimwear. I'm just not in that confident wear and love it stage.

So anyway, I was on a shopping adventure a few months back. More than anything else I was blowing some time waiting on something to be done, or fixed, or whatever. I went into one of my favorite little boutiques, and there in my walkway was a pair of white denim beside a pair of white pants. You can blame the door opening and closing, but they were swaying and taunting me. Now, I never, NEVER, back down from a challenge. Well unless I just don't really care, I never back down from a challenge. So I snatched my size, and the size above, and went into the dressing room. I turned on the iPod feature on my iPhone, got some motivational tunes going, and slipped into the evil pants. What? Wow? When? Why? Hot diggity, damn sexy! The pants were fabulous! I stayed in the dressing room impressed with myself for awhile. When I finally came out still singing, now Beautiful by Snoop ft. Pharrell...oh Pharrell!!!!, I practically skipped to the cash wrap.

The moral, I was never really afraid of white denim. Not really afraid. I was obsessed and intimated. I'd owned beautiful white canvas pants back in junior high or high school They were Ann Taylor, wide leg, and so very perfect. There was a lot of firmness on my frame back then, and I loved those pants. Most girls didn't understand them...this was when flare leg denim was all the rage. They were so glam! Then last summer white jeans were the it item next to all things yellow and Kelly green. I didn't have my white pant body anymore. Plus, they only advertised white pants on thin women wearing huge boyfriend cardigans that made their legs look even thinner. No fair! So I figure it wasn't my trend. And I was right. Dammit, it's my staple. I will always and forever have white pants in my wardrobe. They are now officially, stamped with my approval, apart of my personal style.

This is all to say, there are very few true blue, not trend, items in fashion that won't adjust themselves to any body type. You just have to remember the importance of fit, appropriateness, and comfort.

Check-a, check-a my FRESH

I am so obsessed with me right now. I am finally figuring out that I have NO, zip, zero, nada, fashion limitations. Glam is beautiful this season...and every season babies!

GLAMAZON 101

I am passionate about all things glamour. This does not mean I follow, or agree, with every trend. I don't purchase every item I like. I don't sacrifice comfort. I have rules. These rules fit MY STYLE. They make me a wonderful teacher of GLAMAZON 101. (Actually I nominated myself, seconded the nomination, and intimated the "na's.") I just feel strong about personal style. I think it is the essence of someone. It's using your body as real estate to market, to advertise, who you are and what you are here to do. You can be trendy, casual, bohemian, business, sexy, and on and on and on. Just be glam about it. Dammit please, be glam about it.

As women we are far to naturally fab to be hiding ourselves away. I mean, over lunch, cigarettes, or ice cream cones look at the people around you. Women come in so many shapes and sizes. We have such amazing oddities about ourselves. We are beautiful in drastically different ways. Look at the comfortable women. I use the word comfortable because it's impossible not to find beauty in someone who is comfortable in their own skin.

That brings us to the first lesson.

1. Be comfortable in your own skin. Look at yourself long and hard in the mirror. Identify every glitch and hang up. Then realize it ain't so bad. There's someone out there dealing with a physical imperfection far worse. No one is perfect. No one is made from a perfect plastic mold. We are all designed to be flawed. Get over it. Once you embrace your cellulite, extra pounds, big nose, front gapped teeth, thin lips, or clef lip, no one can use those things against you. Love who you are today. Yes you should aspire to be better tomorrow, but do not shit on yourself today. The moral of this long story is this, people can sense your comfort like a crazy dog can sense your fear. So, be comfortable in your own skin!

2. Be yourself. Duh, but not really. I remember back in the gap of time, I had this friend who had this friend. We all spent a weekend together in my Dallas apartment with wild girl's night out plans. First thing first, let's say to hell with all our great clothes and start fresh with a shopping excursion. That's when it went to hell in a hand basket. My friend, Ashley, is a strong personality. She's such a strong personality I don't always adore her. Ashley's friend Lauren has a weak personality. She attaches herself to the strongest personality in the room like a tick to blood. Somehow Lauren ended up shopping with me. I'm a no nonsense, like what I like, make a final decision in moments, kind of girl. Bad grouping. She ended up picking out clothes and asking me over and over if I though Ashley would like them. Frustrated, I asked her why she was shopping for Ashley? She wasn't! She told me she was shopping for herself, but wanted to be sure that Ashley would like what she bought. She was having a damn anxiety attack about it. She bought a few pieces, for herself, to let Ashley choose from, for her to wear. Ugh! Stand on your own two feet with your own style. This continued for a couple years. Lauren was becoming Ashley, and I think Ashley liked it. This was Mini Me long before Mike Myers' Austin Powers thought of it. So most of the time I saw or heard anything Ashley and Lauren, they had the same hair style, same stylist, same clothes, same shoes, same size, coming from the same eatery, after leaving the same dentist, running behind because their same alarm clocks went off the same fifteen minutes too late. No! Anyone desperate to mock my PERSONAL style scares me! I would think you were planning to skin me and wear me as a coat. My personal style is just that. It belongs to me. You can't have it or copycat it. Let me help you find your personal style. Ashley and Lauren are no longer two peas from the same pod. Years and confidence have changed them both. Thank you Lord.

3. Know your size. There's nothing like an outfit being great in theory. I see women all the time marching around in beautiful clothes that look like they are being horribly abused. Figure out your most comfortable number in that piece and buy it. My closet is a vast array of numbers. Different articles are different sizes. Different designers are different sizes. Different cuts are different sizes. I'm a pear shape. I have to purchase a different top and bottom size. This way I can look more like a hourglass. If I made my numbers match I'd look a hot ass mess! Even with dresses, an A line dress typically works well with my top size, but a straight dress works with my bottom size and gets belted. No matter the dress, I have to try it on, and I typically enter the dressing room with three sizes.

These rules are important for comfort and confidence! I don't know everything and this isn't everything I know. I will add to it, and you feel free to do the same.

In one year I will say...

Look at where I have come from!

These last few years have been tough for me. So much has changed, and it changed so quickly. I'm not where I intended to be. Actually, I feel far from where I intended to be. Everyday hasn't been a bad day, but I allowed myself to be a victim too many days. I am giving myself 12 months to turn my life around. I plan to do things better today than yesterday and better tomorrow than today! God willing and by His plan!

This is a part of owning my GLAM. I need to fix the inside and personal for the outside to be all that I want it to be. I must command the positive to live the positive!

What is personal style?

It is in my opinion that personal style is the combination, or crash, of personality, fit, and comfort. Funny combo, I know. I think about my own personal style.

1. It speaks to me and about me.
2. It fits my body the way it is today. This is important. I want to feel and LOOK nice.
3. It's comfortable. I have had clothing that fit me perfectly, but I wasn't comfortable wearing it. I feel comfortable in my wardrobe, and it helps me feel comfortable in my own skin.

Now these are the most important things to me, but not the only. I do love color, but all color is not good on me. Some colors are better than others. I play off my skin color, undertones, and hair color. Also, print can be an issue if not used correctly. I am a shorter girl with real curves. I have to handle prints carefully. This works for me though, because I'm not a big fan of prints anyway. I just make sure that I'm not covered in any print. It's important for my shape and short stature that I only go half print to half solid. That's my personal style.

cotton COLORS

My two favorite (basic) things in fashion are color and cotton. Now don't get me wrong, I am very passionate about leather, silk, and neutrals too, but there's something about cotton and color! I mean most everything I put on my body fit into these two categories all year long. You can do some sort of color in every season and cotton is the friendliest fabric of them all.

I think because I don't care much about a print, I embrace color. I'm not a small girl. I'm shapely. I'm voluptuous. I don't like to slap a polyester print across my body. Cotton prints I'll consider, but no big funky abstract or floral polyester for me! I think that as a jewelry designer I choose to play with print in my jewels. I love a solid cotton blouse in a crayon box color, with trouser denim, glam shoes, and as many accessories as I can get away with. I may have on three matching printed ribbon wrap bracelets, an understated neck piece, and the most glam earrings in my arsenal. That's just me. I play two roles. I want to play with my comfort level in my wardrobe and advertise my jewels. And, show my style!

So the next time you're out and about shopping, bypass the new version of the white button up shirt and go all out for color. I say all the time that people are more than welcome to do it my way because it's glam to death, or make your own way!