Holiday Fashions on a Tight Budget

I hope all of you who celebrate Thanksgiving had a happy and safe holiday. We had friends and family over, ate too much, and laughed ourselves silly. All in all, a very good time.

But now things REALLY start to heat up. If your December calendar looks anything like mine, it's going to be a BUSY month. I have a fun "Twelve Days of Christmas" list I'll be sharing with you in a few days to help you find the perfect gift for the fashion and beauty lovers on your list (including you!). Also, for all the image pros who get this ezine, I'll be sharing an industry secret with you that could make a BIG difference to your bottom line in 2007. Look for both in December.

So what's on tap for today's article? How to handle one of the greatest challenges of the holiday season: looking great for all the festivities WITHOUT going over budget.

Why do people love gift baskets so much? Because they're beautiful to look at and fun to open! But what makes a great gift basket? And how can you find - or make - them inexpensively?

"How to Pick the Perfect Gift Basket for Any Occasion" offers tons of great advice for choosing this popular gift, from how to set your budget to how to personalize them for any occasion. Weddings, birthdays, new babies, you name it - gift baskets are a great way to celebrate with impact. From elaborate gourmet baskets to budget-friendly holiday teacher and co-worker gifts, this fun ebook covers it all.

See how to simplify your gift-giving needs with "How to Pick the Perfect Gift Basket for Any Occasion."

http://www.dianaprefers.com/giftbaskets.html

One of the best things about the holiday season is that you get to break out of your regular routine to take time with family and friends. From traveling and parties to sightseeing and just "hanging out," it's a fun, memory-building time of year.

But it can also be very expensive - particularly if you want to add to your holiday wardrobe ON TOP of everything else.

If your gift list and social calendar have your available credit balances quivering, DON'T stress them further by adding to your closet. You probably already have plenty of clothes to see you through the season, so just dust off your creativity and give the plastic a rest. It's easier than you think.

With pen in hand and your calendar handy, jot down all the social functions you'll be attending over the next few weeks. Dinner at Aunt Thelma's, your daughter's "Nutcracker" performance, the annual office Christmas party, dancing in the New Year - mark it all down so you know what's coming.

Now, instead of driving to the mall in a panic or clicking away online after perusing your list, take a few minutes to pull out everything you own that qualifies as holiday clothing, from your Santa sweatshirt to your rhinestone-studded pumps. If you haven't looked in the back of your closet (or in your spare closet) in a while, you're going to be surprised by what you already have. "Out of sight, out of mind" will make you think you have nothing to wear. Chances are, you have plenty.

Start by grouping all of your clothes by type. Hang all your holiday dresses together, all your pants together, all your long skirts together, all your evening blouses together, all your jackets together, etc.

Don't automatically pair the long black skirt and its matching jacket, or the palazzo pants with the satin blouse you bought to go with them. Why not? Because you won't be able to see the other possible ways you can wear those pieces. Instead, pretend that you're going shopping, and try to match each garment with other items you already have.

Let's say you have 4 dresses, 2 pants, 5 blouses, and 3 jackets that would be appropriate for your upcoming events. How you can mix and match these separates to arrive at different combinations?

Can you put a jacket over a dress?
Can you pair one of the dresses with a silk blouse that you wear as a jacket?
How about wearing the pants with a jacket and no blouse?
How about pairing the pants with one blouse that you wear tucked in and one that you wear as a jacket?

The combinations are only limited by your imagination.

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or

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Wear as a jacket
with a ribbon belt

Clothes from
ColdwaterCreek.com

Play around with them for a few minutes, and you'll be surprised by what you can come up with.

Never underestimate the power of accessories or forget that they, like your clothes, can be worn in a variety of ways.

If your five-year-old little black dress must pull duty again this year, for example, wear it in a different way than you have in years past. Add a dramatic scarf or an oversized pin, for example. Or wear textured hose or a different pair of shoes. They may be the same old things you've had for ages, but they don't have to look old OR the same. It's all in the presentation.

If you honestly don't have anything in your closet that will fit the bill appropriately, like you're pregnant and need a formal gown, or you'll be in a big fashion city on New Year's (New York, London, Paris) with your small town wardrobe, borrow as much as you can from others. For all its glitter, special occasion apparel usually spends very little time in the spotlight, and most women are more than happy to lend out their gowns, wraps, and evening bags so that at least SOMEONE can enjoy the pretty pieces. Hit up friends, family, and co-workers for their baubles and return everything in pristine condition.

Still no luck at finding something appropriate? Look on eBay or try consignment shops, charitable organizations, and even garage sales to see if you can find something that works, cheap. Mix an inexpensive gown with expensive jewels or high-end shoes and no one will be the wiser -- except you, of course.

Whatever you do, DON'T spend a lot of money for something you only plan to wear once, particularly if your budget's tight. The only thing worse than an alcohol-induced hangover this time of year is suffering through the spending hangover that usually arrives with your credit card bills in January.

So don't invite one by buying a new holiday wardrobe. Instead, put the plastic away, inventory what you have, and see what you can mix and match to create a new look from your old clothes. You'll be amazed by what you can come up with.

Need some more help putting together winning combinations for your existing wardrobe? Grab a copy of WARDROBE MAGIC,

http://www.wardrobemagic.com

Need some guidelines on what to wear to all the different activities this season? Download a copy of OCCASION MAGIC:

http://www.occasionmagic.com