BC Fashion

Looking good is a big part of most young people’s lives that boosts self-confidence when it isn’t taken to the extreme. Finding your personal style, wearing outfits that are stylish yet won’t change with the different fashion trends are important aspects of dressing.

However, in society today there tends to be an obsession with consumerism, buying as much as possible to fit the model of a healthy person. Media outlets try hard to convince us that happiness equates a brand new television, a brand new e-reader, that one perfect pair of shoes, and so on.

Most people can see right through these ads but still fall for them because quite frankly they are effective (after all, advertising wouldn’t be a multi-billion dollar industry if ads weren’t effective). It’s easy to fall prey to wanting that new pair of shoes after being stuck in a train with pictures of the shoes worn by amazingly happy people, or watching ad after ad after ad of happy shoppers piling their shopping carts high as if moderation and money are foreign concepts.

Living out of these fantastic worlds that ads model, yet desiring the very things that seem to make these people happy is a challenge many young people have to face so here are practical ways to keep a tight reign on your bank account this holiday.

1. Budget: If you’re making a holiday list, don’t write down just the perfect gift for Uncle Tom, write down the perfect price and only allow yourself to go a certain limit above that ($5 for example. So if you have decided to only spend $30 on Uncle Tom’s gift and you find a great golf set for $32, you can still buy it without ruining your budget)

2. Leave the debit card at home: Only use credit cards or preferably cash to shop; that way you physically limit the amount of money you spend (if you take money) and the immediate damage done to your bank account (if you take credit cards).

3. Think in practical terms: Don’t look at a $100 pair of shoes and think of how gorgeous they are. Instead ask yourself, “How many times will I have the opportunity to wear this?” “What is $100 in terms of food?” “How many stock options can I buy for $100?” “How many books?” “How many hours would I have to work to make back $100?” Instead of looking at money as just figures, change it to something practical so that you know exactly how much you’re exchanging for that pair of shoes. 6 meals? 4 books? 5 hours at work? etc.

4. Go with a sensible friend who can keep you grounded and ask you hard questions such as “do you really need a glass jar for cookies when you can’t even bake?”

5. Practice the old un-named rule of walking away. If you really want something you didn’t specifically budget for, try walking away from it for about thirty minutes, coming back and deciding if you still want it or can do without.

6. For really unique fashion finds, go to small local stores instead of huge department stores and find the ‘discount’ stores around you that carries the same basics as other stores.

7. Avoid online shopping for clothes. If you must, read reviews. Make sure there is contact information and that you are 100% sure what you’re buying is what you’ll be receiving. Surprisingly, online shopping is perfect for jewelry as they tend to be cheaper online but make sure you do research before buying anything online.

8. Finally, for those times between seasons when you’re changing your entire wardrobe, look for outlets around you which would have the same outfits and accessories at much cheaper prices.

A few great gifts that either save money or go a longer way than a box of chocolates or a pair of new heels; give your friend tickets to a movie she wants to see and go with her, compile a list of books by your favorite authors and give them to him, invite everyone to your place and have a big fun potluck dinner or cook for them, give them a bible with useful prayers and promises highlighted or tab’d out, or take your secret santa out to dinner and listen to them (that’s a gift everyone wants!) let them talk about whatever, ask genuine questions about their lives, hope and ambitions for the coming year, and just be there for them.

The holidays can be a time when your bank account takes a downward dive, but it can also be a time when you practice smart shopping, and giving gifts your friends and relatives will remember for a long time.

Happy Holidays!

Short Boots (photo:shopstyle.com)

Fall and Winter means boots!!! Short, tall, knee length, wedge boots, thigh highs and everything in-between. Boots are the perfect (and somewhat necessary) shoes for the season, but how do you choose which one to buy? Here are a few things to consider;

Tall Boots (photo:overstock.com)

1. Comfort vs. Style: How high are the boots you have in mind? Are the padded on the insides or do you feel the hard sole through the interior of the boots? Getting a pair of stylish boots doesn’t necessarily mean forgoing the comfort and warmth you need but it is important to make sure whatever you buy is comfortable because chances are you’ll be wearing them for many hours. Look for boots that are lined on the inside and have layers of lining, not just a thin piece of leather over rubber soles.

2. Color: Prints may be in fashion this season but you don’t want to go all out when buying boots. Stick to something classic that you can wear to work, class, and semi-formal occasions next year and the year after that. Avoid pale grey boots that look faded and if you don’t want to wear classic black boots try going for mauve or deep brown shades.

3. Fit: When trying on your boots remember that you’ll most likely be wearing them with socks or leg warmers so you don’t want to get your exact size, getting something a half size larger or wider will help accommodate thick socks you may want to wear inside your boots.

Knee Boots (photo:fashion-withstyle.com)

4. Trimmings: Pull on, laces, zips, combinations? What kind of trimmings are you comfortable with. If you’ll need a pair that you can just slip into, then you may want to consider boots with zips, on the other hand if you don’t want to deal with having to zip up things (or worse, broken zippers) you may consider pull-ups, etc.

Thight Boots (photo:shoeblog.com)

5. Price: A sensible price range for any pair of decent boots is between $30- $100. Of course you can go above or below that, but as always never buy the first pair you see, google it, search other stores, look for discounts and make sure the price you’re paying is one that you can afford and will get your money’s worth from.

Wedge Boots (photo:intheircloset.com)

(photo:myloveisgrowing.com) Form many looks this season with an Eternity scarf

It’s getting colder and Christmas is almost here!!! With the joy of the holiday season comes having to dress up warmly without looking like an overburdened snowman. So here are a few tips on holiday clothing, what to wear and what to avoid.

1. You can definitely experiment with wearing festive colors this season. Cute sweaters with reindeer and snowmen daringly sipping hot chocolate can be paired with warm stockings and long boots. Just avoid paring red and green items so you don’t get mistaken for wrapping paper.

2. Keeping warm without overbundling seems to be a lot easier this fall. Try wearing fleece-lined or spandex materials which generate body heat and keep you warm.

3. Also invest in a sturdy practical made out of wool or like material which you can wear on days when it gets a lot colder

4. Finally an eternity scarf made out of wool which is long enough and versatile enough to be worn in many styles abs still keep you warm is an absolute necessity, a lot better than flimsy alternatives. If however you can’t find that definitely ensure that whatever scarves and gloves you invest in are made of wool which  will keep you warm.

Enjoy the season!

Actress Raven Symone arrives at the Teen Choice Awards in Los Angeles August 7, 2011. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT)

Scenario: The guy you like finally asked you out! You’re extremely excited to go out with him and a few other friends, to have fun somewhere nice and safe. New problem: What do you wear? As christian young ladies we know the boundaries of dating and interacting with guys. Here are a few ways to make sure what we wear on a date enforces those boundaries while presenting you in a positive light.

First, dress for the occasion. If you’re going to a fun dinner at a casual restaurant, you can choose to wear jeans and a cute top or another outfit based on your personal style (check out the article on how to determine your personal fashion style here).

Pick an outfit out in advance. This seems a little over the top, but it’s better to already know what you’re going to wear to avoid tossing out clothes in a panic a few minutes before your date.

Take a jacket or scarf with you. If the whether is really hot, you can keep a very light drape cardigan folded in your purse. By having a jacket or scarf with you, you ensure that in the event of spills, smudges or stains, you will have something to cover them up.

Ensure that what you wear is comfortable for you. Confidence is everything. It’s worth more than the latest pair of Manolos, and it’s certainly an essential trait of a woman who knows she belongs to God! You want to wear something that makes you feel confident enough to concentrate on your date and not on making sure your outfit isn’t slipping, rising up or won’t stop your circulation.

Don’t wear anything low cut, strapless, backless, or having too many straps.  Avoiding clothes like that also make sure that the guy is focused on you and not on your clothes or what’s beneath them. Remember the bible extends the definition of lust (and adultery) to the things we think. You want your date to be thinking about you in pure, wholesome ways and not committing adultery in his mind because of your outfit. (You also want your date to be thinking things like “wow she’s so smart” not “wow that’s an interesting dress”)

Unless you are going somewhere upscale, try to wear makeup that makes you appear as natural as possible. If your date asked you out, knowing the way you look and dress, then you probably don’t have to go overboard with makeup to look different or better. If the date is somewhere upscale or formal, use very minimal makeup, don’t go overboard mixing too many colors or using too much of any item.

Finally, the most important thing to wear on a date is a smile! While the idea behind a date is to spend some time alone (or with other friends) with a guy, in order to learn more about him and eventually decide if you want to be in a relationship with him. It’s essential also for you to have fun, laugh and just be yourself!

(photo:Reuters)

Fall is almost here and we’re all mentally preparing for a new year at school or a new season and a lot of us are also headed to the gym and dance exercise classes such as Zumba and Pilates to work out, keep fit and shed a few pounds. While our focus at the gym or our dance class is mainly on ourselves and our work outs, what to wear to these places requires some forethought and planning.

Most people like to wear short, revealing outfits to the gym because they are easier to manage when running on a treadmill, stretching, cycling, etc. However, many of such outfits are not only provoking to the opposite sex by showing off parts of our bodies that would otherwise be covered up, but they can easily be replaced by other modest outfits which serve the same purpose. Here are a few alternative things to wear to the gym or exercise classes which are modest and practical.

Sweat pants: Wearing loose sweat pants to work out helps you breathe better, cool off faster and move flexibly. Try to avoid really tight spandex pants which, apart from displaying your body immodestly, are uncomfortable especially when you sweat.

Shorts: Try to find shorts made out of comfortable fabrics such as cotton which also allow you to move freely and don’t restrict blood flow. Your shorts should not be too tight and should be long enough for you to comfortably bend over without worrying about who can see your behind. If you play sports in which really short shorts are required, make sure to wear boy shorts underneath them so if you bend over you’re still covered up/protected.

Sport Bras and Shirts: Slouchy tops made out of loose material are perfect for the gym because they keep you cool during your workout. While your workout shirts shouldn’t be really big or loose (or else they get in the way of your exercise), you should avoid tight shirts, which apart from constricting your blood flow and making it difficult to breathe during a workout, make sweat patches very visible.

For dance and exercise classes (Zumba, Yoga, Pilates, etc.), capris or tights made out of cotton and polyester are perfect when worn with underwear that won’t reveal lines or ride up and make you uncomfortable. Boy shorts made out of cotton are perfect for this.

There are a lot of other workout outfits available at retailers such as nike.com but remember, when searching for outfits to wear to the gym make sure they keep you cool, allow you to move flexibly, and help you remain comfortable and modest while working your body into shape!