Have you ever been shopping and said these fateful words: “I DON”T NEED TO TRY IT ON?” Of course some times that might be fine, but I have found that more times than not, those are words I have lived to regret!
Well,I (JoJami) forgot to take my own advice and I ended up buying this top back in January.
This shirt was a big mistake! I should have tried it on!
Here is the story…
I had gone into the store with a friend and tried on lots of things. Nothing fit or seemed right, so I was walking out the door of the store (empty handed) when I spotted this rack of colorful tops!
Oh, this one looked just great, and I mentioned to my friend, “Boy I could sure use another top, my wardrobe is low on tops right now”.
So she held it up to me and I decided that the size would be fine and there was no need to try it on. (HA!)
Here is a photo of my new shirt. YUCK, what was I thinking!
What went wrong?
- Yes, the color is nice but it ended up being a size too small!
- The way that the seams hit me on the bust area, flattens my already smallish boobies!
- The fabric looks cheap when I put it on.
- The style is not at all flattering.
- The worst part is that the store has a strict return policy, and now I am stuck with it.
So remember, ALWAYS try things on before you buy, so you won’t make the same mistake I did!
We are proud to present a brand new handbag, hot off the press… The Ellen Allen Bag!
When you want to carry a bag that is a great value and be the first one on the block with one, check this out!
Wow, what a great look for Spring!
When handbag designer, Ellen Allen talks about her navy striped Murray Hill bag, she can hardly contain herself. “It’s big, organized, and sleek. It’s a sexy way to schlep.” Ellen’s enthusiasm for this tote is warranted, considering her name is on the silver logo plate that has women all over Annapolis talking. As an interior designer and a parent of two young boys, Ellen found herself constantly looking for a multifunctional bag to suit her on-the-go lifestyle. But she wasn’t willing to sacrifice style. “It was most important for me to have a bag that was chic yet practical,” she said. “Women have been choosing between fashion and practicality for years. Why can’t we have both?”
You can’t go wrong with this festive roomy bag, that has a couture look at a fraction of the cost.
Best of all, you won’t be seeing yourself coming and going.. this exclusive bag is new to the market! Either color just $180.00
Buy it here and you will get FREE SHIPPING in the U.S.!
For the yellow bag click this link~
For the navy bag click this link~
Yellow is not for everyone, but it is sure festive~
The Godis Sweater is a great way to update your casual wardrobe!
Fall is the time for warm knits and cardigans! We fell in love with this variation of a cardigan from one of my (JoJami’s) favorite stores, Houpette Boutique in Greenville, Delaware. It’s called a “Godis Sweater,” and it’s so easy to just throw on! It’s very drapey and goes over anything.
I’m going to be dressing it up with a pair of colorful corduroys and a white button up blouse.
And for a more casual look, I paired it with some jeans, boots and a long-sleeve tee shirt.
In fact, I find that I am working this sweater into tons outfits these days! It’s totally hip and the silhouette is so in this season.
The ladies at Houpette are offering our readers a discount on this sweater. Originally $175, it’s now priced at $140 for our ladies. That’s a 20% off savings. I hope you love and wear yours as much as I do!
What is your burning fashion question? We asked and you told us…
How can I look updated and chic and NOT spend a lot of money.
Deborah and I didn’t know if it could REALLY be done… so we went out and put it to the test.
Here am I (JoJami) with one of my lovely clients Linda S. Linda is over 40, a wife, mother of 4 kids, and a nurse. She told me she loves to see her teenage daughters looking hip and felt like those days were over for her. She rarely takes the time to shop for herself and when she does she never knew what to buy that was age appropriate.
So we let her read our new e-book… Chic on the Cheap~How to Update Your Wardrobe on a Budget and then sent her out shopping!
Client Linda and JoJami looking to dress chic on the cheap!
Linda realized that her first problem was that all these years she never really had the tools or plan she needed.
“One of the best part about the book was the chapter on Finding your Style Personality” says Linda. “That helped me keep my focus and opened my mind to try new things!”
Linda also confessed…
“I had a great leather skirt that I bought on sale last fall and never wore it because I didn’t have the right shoes.
After reading the book, I learned so much!! You, Glam Gals put in so many strategies that I could start using right away, and I had no idea of how many costly mistakes I have been making all these years!”
"Get Chic on the Cheap, it change my wardrobe, Yippee!"
Are you ready for Fall? Do you have a plan on what pieces to add or how to update your wardrobe?
Here is how you can start building your new dream wardrobe and save hundreds (for some thousands) of dollars, not making the same old mistakes!
Don’t wait, Click HERE now!
Never before did I think I could enjoy shopping or afford a great wardrobe, I feel so empowered now!~LBS
Here is a great offer… free shipping on purchases over $75.00 at Kohl’s. We recommend this cute sundress from the Elle collection, and it’s under $40!
This Vera Wang jacket is a great transitional piece from summer to fall, especially for petites!
And, if you need a pair of new shorts before the summer ends, these Vera walking shorts are cute and on sale. 
In fact, all these items and many more are on sale now at khols.com!
These are just a few money-saving suggestions. Right now, we’re working on a new e-Book “Tweak Your Chic: Chic on the Cheap,” to get you looking great on a budget!
Dear Glam Gals,
Two years ago I decided to go back to college. Most of my fellow students were the same age as my youngest child. I started looking for resources to help me update my look so that I could try to maneuver that area between not too young and not too old.
I have now graduated and am now at my new job in my new career. I have learned that wardrobes need constant updating and your emails give me ideas on how to do that successfully.
Several people I know are looking for new jobs or trying to hang on to current jobs. I am looking for ideas for summer – more stylish, career pieces that are easy on the pocketbook.
Thanks and keep up the great work.
Renee F.
San Marcos, Texas
Dear Renee,
We love the fact that you are making the effort to keep yourself updated, especially since you are competing for jobs in the workplace. Showing that you take pride in yourself and care about what is up-to-date makes you look even more like a go-getter in this tough economy!
That being said, there are a few trends popping up this summer that you can inexpensively add to basics you already have in your wardrobe. Some summer trends we see are: full skirts, splashy colors and prints, and flowy fabrics.
Of course, all together, these trends are not very age appropriate, unless you want to look like a little frilly girl playing dress-up in a nightgown. But, focusing on working one of these pieces into an outfit is totally acceptable, and will make you look very hip.
For example, here we took the full, colorful patterned skirt trend, and dressed it up for work with a modern, sleek short sleeve blazer. On the weekend, choose one of the colors from the pattern to wear on top, and wear it with a flat sandal. The idea is to use these pieces sparingly in a sophisticated way.
By using the new splashy summer prints, you can breath life into old separates. Look how this plain khaki blazer looks instantly more chic with a flowy, colorful skirt!
As far as staples for this season, invest in modern classics like a great fitting pencil skirt and cardigan sweater set. You will be surprised at just how many outfits you can create by mixing in fun items with these staples!
Adding touches of in-style items here and there not only makes your wardrobe look up to date, but it can save you money as well. All these pieces came from Kohl’s and KMart….and each piece is under $30 (it’s true!)! Mixing these inexpensive pieces with your quality basics will give you a great bang for your buck. Let’s face it — they’re probably only going to be popular for one year anyway!
Is this firming cream a joke?
We love getting your comments on our blog, but recently we have notice that things are getting a little too serious. (Just check out the pounding we got for our article about pantyhose over at The Three Tomatoes, it seems that some of the women would have loved to bean us with a few ripe ones!)
So, since it’s the weekend and we could all use a good giggle or two…we highly recommend reading the following post about face cream, by Georgia Getz (aka – iambossy.com).
Have you ever felt like a sucker when you’ve gotten home from the store with the next great “instant” wrinkle cream? (We know we have!)
Well, Bossy has a thing or two to say about that!
Seriously, we think she has makes good points.
Feel free to comment below.
Paul Podlucky- the voice of sanity
We just stood up and shouted “YES! to a new beauty guru we’ve discovered and LOVE because he is the voice of sanity in an insane fashion world!
Wowowow has an inspiring interview with Paul Podlucky who says, “I think magazines show us too many skinny girls with long one-length hair wearing $25,000 worth of clothes, and I’m sick of it. None of us looks like that. And that’s not who we are. So who keeps telling us that’s what we are supposed to look and be like? That is impossible.”
Paul is all for starting a magazine for real women with real figures wearing beautiful affordable clothes.
We couldn’t agree more. We’ve been shouting this same message ever since we started our blog. Let’s be real. We’d love nothing more than to show you pics of 40+ women looking fashionable in clothes you can actually buy, but since we are a homespun blog, we don’t have the money to go out and create photo shoots like this.
Instead we are stuck using pictures of skinny young girls in clothes we’re suggesting would look good on a 40+ woman. You have to be able to visualize. That’s for sure. When will retailers and magazines wake up?
Here's a real woman looking Fabulous after 40!
To balance this out we have started taking some photos of Age-mazing© women on the street, and now we need your help.
Ladies, if you are over 40 & stylish, or you see a woman over 40 out there looking really fashionable, please, snap her picture and send it to us. We’d love to post these photos to inspire you!
< Here’s one we just took. This gal is the manager of car dealership who just lost 60 pounds and ran her first marathon. She got her dress at TJ Max, then switched out the belt with one she found on sale.
She’s paired her dress with a great pair of cork wedges from Nine West. Doesn’t she look great?
We love cork wedges..they are comfortable
What to know some great cost cutting ideas, to save some money?
That is this weeks theme, at the Blogging Boomers #108, being held at So Baby Boomer.
Those pesky gray hairs! They keep sprouting faster than my lucky bamboo!
I ( JoJami) haven’t tried this yet, but my friend Jill says that if you follow these tips, it really helps make your color last up to two weeks longer!
1. Wash hair two times, the week before going in for color with clarifying shampoo (such as Pureology purifying shampoo) which will strip out the hair products that have built up in your hair like conditioner, gels, hairspray, etc. With these products gone the hair follicles will hold the new color amazingly better.
2. At the salon after your hair is washed and conditioned and before drying, give them a vial of Goldwell Colorglow Color finish to apply to your hair. Do not wash out.
You can buy these products at the beauty supply store for a fraction of what you would pay the salon. Example: the Colorglow is $5 at the beauty supply and it would cost close to $20 for the same treatment in most salons.
These two products can make your hair color last up to two weeks longer!
I’m due for a color and so I’ll try it, and report back!
Do you have a fashion tip or trick? Share it with us and you will be automatically entered you into this month’s giveaway!
Have you ever gone to the makeup counter at a department store to replace a mascara and 1/2 hour later the counter is covered with blush, shadows , etc…..and before you know it you’re signing your credit card with $150.00 or more charge on it!
We all have our favorite “splurge” (like YSL lipstick in a gorgeous gold tube with a little mirror at the bottom) but who needs it at $24.00. Do you really need a $34 vibrating mascara when a $3.99 tube will get those lashes looking just as good?
Well, here are some of our best finds for great drug store products that will save you money and keep you looking young and gorgeous!
L’Oreal Visible Lift foundation:
JoJami:A friend of mine has been looking pretty gorgeous these days. Her skin glows, so I asked her what she uses and she told me – Visible lift. I found a color that matches my skin tone, started wearing it, and love it! It’s especially made for women over 40 and it’s a great buy at only $14.00!
Almay Liquid eyeliner:
The packaging of this eyeliner makes it super easy to put on. It also fits nicely into a makeup bag. The black tends to look a little harsh on lighter skin tones, so if you have a fair complexion go with brown. It costs about $7.49.
Maybelline New York Lash Stiletto Mascara: ($8.95)
Maybelline is hands down the best when it comes to mascara. Their famous Great Lash mascara (in the infamous hot pink and green tube) will always have a place in our makeup drawer. But their newest one, has such a fun name, we couldn’t resist listing it! Mascara is one item that needs replacing often, so why bother paying for all the fancy packaging when this one works just fine.
Ponds Cold Cream: ($8.00)
Jojami: My mother swore by this and so do I. Sometimes you just can’t fix what’s not broken. This works on all types of mascara and doesn’t leave any grease behind. Say no more…LOVE it!
Biotherm Boicils Eyemake up Remover: ($17.50)
O.K., If the smell of Ponds is just too Grandma-like for you, Deborah has the next best thing. She swears by this gentle gel remover that is great if you wear contact lenses, or if you simply have sensitive eyes. It gets every last bit of make-up off color off without stinging your eyes and leave the delicate skin around your eyes soft.
La Roche Posay Anthelios Sunscreen ($23.00)
Last but not least, sunscreen. It’s one of the most important things you can put on our face everyday to help keep you from harmful rays that age you. This is our #1 choice out there in either the 40 or better the 60 SPF. Deborah wears it all the time and it is also a favorite of Dermatologists. We love that it works without leaving that greasy sunscreen smell. It is definitely Worth the Splurge!
Know of anymore great drugstore finds? Let us know.
We don’t have to be reminded that for most of us, this year’s wardrobe budget will definitely be shrinking!
This is devastating for those of us who LOVE to shop, or worse, for gals out there who are competing in the workforce trying to keep their jobs, or just look professional!!!
I (JoJami) had a client recently call me in a panic… She had been asked to give a speech to a group of business women, but had no plan for what to buy and was on a strict budget. Here’s the advice I gave her:
- Find a jacket that fits your body type! (She happens to be tall, so I told her nothing too boxy and make sure that the bottom of the jacket did NOT hit her at the widest part!)
- Pick a subtle color. If she wants to get a lot of use out of her new outfit, it needs to be neutral in color. Anything too bold or patterned could only be worn a few times.
- Buy a scarf! If you pick a jacket that you don’t need to buy a blouse for, you can just tuck a scarf in and be done with it. Just wear the jacket buttoned or zipped up , and if need be, add a simple scarf and off you go!
- Save money for some new shoes. The bottom line is you need to look good from top to bottom. I told her a nice pair of short boots (found at a shoe discount store) would look best if she was wearing pants. If you like to wear skirts, then some simple pumps will do for either pants or skirts.
Armed with some clear guidelines, she went to her local department store and found a long grey paisley jacket and co-ordinating grey pants. She found a black scarf and plans to wear it tied at the neck with the jacket closed. She admitted that she needed some new shoes and so settled on a pair of simple black boots and says she feels like she will look the part!
We’ve come up with some great tips to get your wardrobe looking great and not have to spend a fortune…. (like this pretty suit on sale from Nordstrom’s)
- Start with a budget. Have you noticed that when you go shopping and pick up a new t-shirt, random blouse or shoes here and there it eats up your budget FAST?? Instead, start with a plan and stick to it! If you need to replace your work suit, then go and find it, don’t get distracted!!!
- Shop at the better stores. RIGHT now is the time to shop at the good stores (Nordstrom’s, Neiman’s). If you do your homework you will see that these stores are selling gorgeous well-made items at a fraction of the original cost. BUT BEWARE – this will mean, picking through a lot of “stuff”… don’t get tempted to just buy random pieces. Make sure what you buy will make an entire outfit!!!
- Pick a color theme and stick to it. Pick your neutral and build your wardrobe with it. For example, if you like chocolate brown, than pick all the colors in your blouses, shoes, accessories, need to go with it. Then all your pieces will go together. If you like black, then all your accessories should have some black in it.
- Shop in your own closet first and make a list of what you need to update. This is one of the biggest steps woman fail to do. We just don’t take the time to see what they already have!!! Take an hour and go in your closet and try everything on. Have fun, making new outfits, and making a list of what you need to replace or add too to make entire outfits!! You might think you don’t have anything to wear, and be pleasantly surprised once you get going!
For more great style tips check out our Glam Plan – E book!
Isaac and the Glam Gals
We got a a chance to meet Isaac Mizrahi, best known as the designer who revolutionized the fashion industry by teaming up with Target to launch a collection of chic, but reasonably priced clothing and accessories.
Isaac (who is pretty cute in person!) was on stage at at the MORE magazine Reinvention Convention and was the hit of the day!
He was frank, funny and full of great advice. When asked…….he said…..
Q. How do you know when You are dressing too Old?
A. ” The minute you no longer feel sexy”
Q. How do you know when you are dressing too Young?
A. “When people start looking at you funny like something smells bad.”
………..Doesn’t that just sum it all up?
Isaac was at the MORE convention to promote his new book How to Have Style. He says having great style starts with inspiration and the way to do that is to collect pictures of things you love, put them up on a corkboard and suddenly a picture will emerge of who you are and how you should dress.
It’s a great idea. Kind of reminds us of what you you do when you want to decorate your home.
What other tidbits of wisdom did the Style guru dish out?
Style is 70% confidence! Have the confidence to make yourself the authority of your style.
Style starts with a passion. Then add tailoring and high heels.
Don’t buy on sale. Only a very trained eye can find a bargain. (wholesale is different)
You can check out Issac’s new web show coming soon at www.watchisaac.com
WARNING: SALES are Everywhere!
If you have to go back to the stores for returns and exchanges, we know that you might be tempted to want to add a thing or two to your bags. Yes, those retailers are going for our feminine jugular! Those tempting prices that we all can’t resist are everywhere…
Here are a few tips to help you keep your head on straight and your wallet closed!
- Don’t Buy Another Purse: We all have too many of them, anyway…so this is not the time to go for one more! Save your money for one that you really want and love!
- Pretty Party Dresses. These can be really tempting… however, if you don’t have a party coming up, say “PASS!” and move on. Come on, you know deep down that it will just sit in the back of the closet!
- One More T-Shirt. Ladies…PLEASE….if we see one more drawer with t-shirts spilling out of them, (does this sound familiar?) Listen up…You don’t need one more t-shirt. Just say, “NO!”
- “Oh…its Sooo Last Season”. That saying is really a good one! And we agree with it! Soooo, don’t be tempted to buy last season’s suit, pants, jeans, etc… Just wait to see what the new Spring season has to offer. Save your money. You’ll be so glad you did!
- Don’t Be A Party Pooper! O.K. We don’t want to sound like a bunch of old grumps.. I (JoJami) just noticed that my favorite pair of flat black boots, really need replacing. So, if I see a great pair to replace them, (ON SALE!), yup, I’ll buy ‘em. However, Deborah insists that she would wait until next fall…hmmmm… I’ll have to think more about that…
Have you taken a look at price tags lately in the designer section?
According to the New York Times, women are laying out big bucks for designer goods.
Just take for example the items above: This white shirt with the black trim is from Marc Jacobs and will set you back $530.00.
How about these Lanvin leather ballet flats for $530.00, or better yet, this very simple black dress from Proenza Schouler for $1,525.
These are just a few examples of what you will expect to see at the stores this coming fall.
We think you ladies are smarter than this. If your going to shell out the big bucks on fashion make sure it for the right thing. This white blouse may have a designer label in it but, the reality is, it can easily stain. It would be much better to find a similar blouse that is not so pricey, in case you slurp spaghetti sauce on it by accident.
Next, there are tons of ballet flats out there, that are very comfortable and stylish for under $200, even under $100! Don’t you just end up scuffing them up after a couple of weeks anyhow?
Finally, this plain black dress does not get our vote and is NOT worth the splurge.I t’s price tag is much too high for too little style. Boring!
It’s fine to add a few pricey pieces to your wardrobe. Just make sure that they are classics so you’ll be able to wear them year after year, and be certain you absolutely love and adore them. Then you can make a purchase that is truly justifiable!
