Watching Your Bottom Line

(NAPSI)-Staying true to your style budget is an increasingly smart idea, and there are a few clever ways you can watch your bottom line.

Recessionistas know that it pays to invest in classic pieces and dress them up with a few trend-smart favorites to keep current. Here are a few examples of this season's must-haves:

• Flats. Patent metallic flats work with so many different outfits. Embellished ballet flats add a feminine touch.

• A large bag. A large, polished-leather satchel or antique tapestry bag can supply the look and offer a practical advantage for carrying everyday essentials.

• Belts. A large belt with heavy metal studs fits well with this season's gladiator look and can help define a variety of daytime outfits. For a more sophisticated evening look, choose a belt with sparkle.

• Natural jewelry. When buying jewelry, think natural. Opt for a rustic turquoise bracelet or a necklace of polished river stones.

• Cinch it. Need a dress for a date? Consider a flirty number with a cinched waist.

• Fitted skirts. For dates or daytime, nothing says trendy now like a fitted, knee-length skirt.

• Smoothers, toners, tights. When watching the bottom line of your fashion budget, don't skimp on smoothers and shapers that shape up your bottom line. The right first layer can make everything that follows look so much better.

L'eggs Profiles® Smoothers, Toners and Tights, with or without hosiery, help smooth and shape hips, tummy and thighs to enhance the way you look when wearing the season's must-haves.

It's always a good idea to shop and compare prices. With their smooth shape and slim price, the L'eggs Profiles line can help shape your bottom line. The line can be conveniently purchased at many mass and drug retail locations for under $9.

The right smoothers and toners can even help you shop in your own closet. They could help you fit into that classic skirt that has gotten a little snug.

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Get Married and Celebrity Event Designer Colin Cowie Offer Wedding Tips and Trends to the Budget-Savvy Bride

/PRNewswire/ -- Weddings are an evergreen business, yet are not recession proof, and brides are more conscientious on their spending to ensure they make the most impact for their special day. Nearly 2,220,000 weddings are estimated to take place in the U.S. in 2009, according the The Wedding Report, Inc., which ultimately translates to brides and wedding planners looking to spend for the big day. Despite the soft economy, the total estimated market value of the wedding industry was more than $62 billion last year alone. Get Married, a leading multi-platform entertainment and wedding resource, is at the forefront of wedding trends and understands that planning a stylish, memorable and personalized celebration can be done within a budget.

In any economy, and especially one that is down, brides want to know how to do the most without spending the most. For brides looking for the latest trends to make their weddings spectacular, without over-spending and under-wowing, Get Married's show on Lifetime Television and www.GetMarried.com provides them with inspiring ideas, quality connections and fantastic finds, including tips and trends from leading industry experts.

Get Married teamed with Colin Cowie of Colin Cowie Lifetsyle, internationally known as the arbiter of style, to offer brides the latest wedding trends. "Your wedding is an opportunity to make a statement of style, it's a complete personal manifestation about who you are," said Cowie, lifestyle expert, celebrity wedding designer and host of Get Married on Lifetime Television and www.GetMarried.com. "The only rule is that taste and good style should prevail in everything you do."

Cowie showcases some of the biggest trends in his latest book Wedding Chic and, together with Get Married, offers 7 Tips for the Budget-Savvy Bride who seek smart solutions for planning an extraordinary wedding:

1. Dream big: Small ideas get small results, so put budget aside while
envisioning your dream wedding, then figure out what you can afford.
2. Cut your coat according to the cloth: It's better to do 5 things
correctly than 10 things on the skinny.
3. Consider a destination wedding: Weddings can take place anywhere, so
think beyond the exotic beach and think about a bed-and-breakfast or
country inn.
4. Opt for a fantastic DJ: Instead of a big orchestra band, find a great
DJ who can create great background music and just as easily keep the
guests moving on the dance floor.
5. Invest in a trusted wedding planner: A professional is there to ease
some of the pressure while bringing your vision to a reality.
6. Design a signature drink: Rather than serving an open bar, offer guests
a specialty beverage that is as delicious as it is memorable.
7. Create monochromatic flower arrangements using one type of flower: When
bundled en masse in short ceramic vases, whether roses or carnations,
tulips or spider mums; these flowers are beautiful and impactful.


"Weddings are a time to celebrate and share with your nearest and dearest friends and family, so including them in your event is one of the most important elements to preserve," said Stacie Francombe, CEO and founder of Get Married and www.GetMarried.com . "Today's brides are incredibly innovative and progressive, and they seek ideas that they can make their own. Inspirations are free, and Get Married's industry experts offer brides the big ideas that can be personalized and tailored to meet their style and budget."

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Creative Budget Tips For Weddings

(NAPSI)-There's good news for brides and grooms. Experts say it's possible to have a wedding to remember without breaking the bank. The key is planning. From flowers to attire to the wedding cake, here are some great wallet-friendly tips that will ensure you will still have a fabulous wedding:

• Set your priorities-How you budget your money is going to depend on your priorities. If serving a four-course dinner is more important to you than hiring an incredible photographer, then you'll want to budget more on food.

For starters, a Web site called WeddingChannel.com has a budget tool calculator where you just enter your budget and the number of guests you're expecting, and it'll give you a suggested breakdown on how much you should spend for each wedding item.

• Pare down the guest list. One of the easiest ways to save money is to invite only close family and friends.

• Choose flowers in season and choose a location such as a garden or a vineyard that already has built-in decor. Even a location that has really ornate details may require fewer flowers and can help you save. If your bloom of choice isn't in season, swap out expensive flowers for ones that still provide the same look and feel.

• A popular way to save on the wedding dress is to hit a sample sale, which experts say can help cut costs by as much as 80 percent. If you're having a fall/winter wedding, check out sample sales during April/May, and if you're having a spring/summer wedding, hit the sample sales in October/ November.

• To save on alcohol, consider unlimited beer and wine with a signature cocktail.

• Get creative with the cake. If you have your baker create a fake layer or two in your wedding cake, and actually serve slices from a sheet cake hidden in the kitchen, you can save about 50 percent per slice.

• Find a comprehensive Web site that can serve as your consultant all through the planning process. For example, many have come to trust the expert advice and tips at the Web site www.weddingchannel.com.

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Day-to-night Fashion Solutions for the Holidays

(ARA) – We all know the holiday season is hectic. From finding the perfect gifts for family and friends to preparing that special dish, we run around scrambling to get everything together -- including ourselves -- at the last minute.

Between holiday shopping and credit card debt, traveling to attend large family gatherings and cocktails parties, and balancing work, all the merriment can cause major stress, particularly in women ages 35 to 54. Women in this age group are more likely than men to feel stressed during the holiday season than any other time of year, according to the American Psychological Association.

This year however, there is no need to stress over what to wear to holiday festivities. Rather than showing up to your office holiday party in frumpy, uncomfortable clothes from five years ago, you can take a great-looking outfit from day to night with simple styling solutions to flatter all body types at a fraction of the cost.

“The objective during the holidays is to look sharp and feel comfortable at the same time,” says Meredith Dudley, women’s designer for Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. “Start with a pair of great fitting, dark colored jeans that can be dressed up or down for any occasion and choose colors and patterns to create an overall slimming look.”

As a designer for Signature by Levi Strauss & Co., a jeanswear brand sold in retail stores like Wal-Mart and Kmart, Dudley knows what works for a woman’s body on budget. She offers some styling tips for solving specific problem areas:

* Broad Shoulders: Pair a tailored jacket with boot cut jeans to balance out your figure.
* Short or Wide Neck: Choose tops with an open or V-neckline to lengthen and slim your neck.
* Muscular Arms: Choose tops with a bright pattern to camouflage and distract from your arms.
* Large Calves: Pull on a pair of boots to hide your calves and draw attention to your footwear instead.
* Pear Shaped Figure: Try a 3/4-length jacket to give you a waist and make you appear long and lean.
* Belly Bulge: Choose jeans with stretch in a dark blue or black color for a slimming effect.

In general, Dudley recommends a boot cut leg opening as the most flattering style for all body types. Some of today’s boot cut jeans feature slimming technology, with a built-in front panel to control and flatter a woman’s stomach. Though typically sold for around $100 a pair, new Totally Slimming jeans from Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. retail for under $20 at Wal-Mart and Walmart.com. Available in dark and black rinses, the jeans can work from day to night when paired with a feminine blouse, a light cardigan sweater and accessorized with a pair of comfortable heels and jewelry.

“You don’t have to spend a fortune or deprive yourself of holiday treats to look and feel great this season,” Dudley says. “Forget the fad diets, weight loss pills and exercise gimmicks, looking trim this holiday season is easier than you think.”

Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. also sells jeans for the whole family at discount retailers. For more information on Signature by Levi Strauss & Co., visit http://www.signaturebylevistrauss.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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