A patriotic fashion statement

      Today is Monday, May 29th, Memorial Day!  First of all, thank you to all those who have laid down there life for my freedom and the safety of our country.  Thank you for being fearless so I don't have to be afraid.  Thank you for giving your life so that I could live; fighting the war so that I could live in peace.  Thank you for thinking of me even though you did not know me.  And in honor of such a day and in honor of the persons still serving and giving, I desired to dress patriotic in red, white, and blue.
       I thought for sure this would be easy.  Once again, I had purchased a red dress for only 1 dollar from a thrift store.  I honestly laughed at it the first time I saw it and thought that it looked straight from "little house on the prairie", an old American western drama depicting life in the 1870s-1880s.  Then, I tried it on just to humor the young ladies I had been shopping with.  They all said that it looked pretty on me and I thought "hey, for only a dollar, why not?"  I considered this dress to be a fashion challenge that I was willing to take.  After all, I was always considered a little weird so why stop now.  Needless to say, it's been sitting in my closet for over a year.  Every once in a while, I'd look at it and consider it but pass it over for something else.  Besides, my husband doesn't think I'm attractive in red so I tend to just wear it as an accessory.  I woke up on Memorial Day 2012 knowing that it would be the day.
        The dress was by far the easiest part of this venture.  Even though I had a preconceived notion of what I wanted the rest of my outfit to look like, I was easily sidetracked into pulling out every thing that was red, white and blue.  Wow!  I went through 4 different belts, six bracelets, 7 pairs of earrings, and 3 necklaces trying to find the right combinations.  My shoe options were white boots, or blue wedge sandles.  In the end I found simplicity to be the best strategy.  Any one item had the potential to throw the whole thing off.  The blue jean belt was by far the most important compliment to such a dress.  Because of the ruffles at the top, the necklace had to be obvious but not dominating, and the earrings were the hardest to settle on.  If ever I had a bad hair day, today was that day.  Making a patriotic fashion statement took me a couple hours.  In the end, I felt proud to wear my countries colors and honor the lives of those who have sacrificed.
         Is it really honor to wear these three simple colors?  Look at any sports team that has loyal fans.  Wearing those colors sets you apart as one who belongs.  You don't have to know a soul when you walk into a stadium for a game, you instantly connect with someone based on the colors they're wearing.  Ask any fraternity, or sorority.  You can find this same response in gangs as well.  The colors you wear represent something.  Today, I chose to wear the colors of Freedom, Bravery, Unity, Peace, Sacrifice and Hope.  That's my Patriotic Fashion Statement.

$1.00 red dress, $1.00 blue belt,
$5.00 blue jean purse, $1.00 hair flower
White pendant necklace, 2 red bead bracelets
blue sandals passed on from a friend 

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Fashion Mojo (my $3.00 dress)

         Remember the day when you looked into an old purse or pants pocket, sock drawer or suitcase and you found cash? That was a "YES!" moment.  That little surprise single-handily stretched a smile across a down-turned face, gave you the energy you needed to get through another mundane routine, provided an opportunity to do something special for someone, maybe even yourself, or met a need that you didn't know how to meet.  Those special moments help keep hope alive.  They're like little pockets of rainbows hidden throughout our cloudy skies.  Well, I had such a moment just the other day.
       While I was combing through my closets looking for something fancy to wear to my fashion show I came across a forgotten treasure; a dress that I had purchased but never worn.  It was beautiful, bold, a little daring, exotic, wild.  It still had it's tags on.  I read what the price said.  My jaw dropped.  I don't know, maybe it's fashion mojo.  Once again, I had in my hand a gorgeous dress that I had purchased for only $3.00.  It had been originally $34.00.  This dress was purchased at T.J. Maxx and it was the "Millenium" brand.
       This dress has been waiting patiently to be introduced to the sun and shake hands with the wind.  It's been waiting to mingle with the colors of one of my favorite restaurants, "Fire and Ice" or to find a common bond in the creative artistry of an authentic Mexican restaurant.  It wasn't right for my event but it was begging to be let out of the dark.  I can hear the theme song now; "I'm coming out" by Diana Ross (the dance remix of course).  Who knows, maybe I'll put it on and just walk around the house.  Who says you shouldn't look hot and spicy for no good reason at all.  Sometimes, the best place to wear those treasures are right at home.  "wink wink"
        So what am I trying to say?  What I've been saying all along.....you can Fab Your Image 4 Less.
You don't have to sacrifice style and fashion to live on a budget.  You can keep an upscale fashion in a down scale economy.
        F.Y.I.   1) The ordinary man or woman can look extraordinary
                    2)  The early bird might have good luck, but the patient bird can save a buck
                    3)  Before you shop, make your closet your first stop.

The Millenium dress
T.J. Maxx $3.00

$1.00 orange scarf added

was $34.00 and I paid $3.00

I saved $64.40 at KOHL'S

       One of my favorite times to shop is spring time.  Why?  because of all the out-of-season sales.  Yesterday, I used my special powers to bring home a fabulous find.  And by special powers, I mean that I had a coupon that was about to expire and so, I had an inner urge for a shopping trip.
        My destination was KOHL'S.  I normally go there for their awesome selection of jewelry but nothing really sparked my eye, at first.  So I did as any normal shopper would do with money to spend and a 10 dollar off coupon.  I went through every clearance rack that looked like it had something to offer.  I've been on a long lasting search for my first pair of skinny jeans, which given my size (ummm skinny) I thought for sure that would be an easy task.  But nooooo, it turns out that it's been the most disappointing search so far.  I go to dressing rooms with piles of skinny jeans and most times can't get them up past my hips or they fit perfect and are about 3 inches too high off the ankle.  Sure Capri's made high-waters a cool fad, but I'm not quite sold on it yet.
        So after another disappointing trip around the pants rack, I decided a nice, pretty shirt would do.  Amidst all the shirts was an out of place garment, sweeping the floor.  I picked it up and found a grey and black striped fitted, sleeveless cowl neck dress with waist belt combo.  It just so happened to be medium (which is typically my size).  I joyfully and expectantly went to the dressing room with a couple more items in tow.  The first dress was really cute.  A white and black ruffled top and skirt combo with a belt in between.  I looked like a school girl with my legs all hanging out.  Next, I tried a multicolored, silky-touch blouse. It was beautiful but it made me look old.  Perhaps it was the fact that I came fresh (or should I say) unfresh from work.  My hair was less than attractive and tired bags decorated my eyes.  So that one aside.  Finally, the dress I had been waiting for.  Drum roll please! And with a crash of symbols my dreams came crashing down before I even got it on..  Right in the back of it, in a most unattractive fashion were two large holes surrounded by dust and stretched marks as if someone with high heels had pierced right through it and left it for dead.  Quite the tragedy folks.
       I was sooo disappointed.  I recommended that they just discard that one from their inventory cause I was SURE no one would want to buy that.  In discouragement I went to look again at the same rack to try my luck at another dress being available and my hopes perked when I came across one that said extra small.  I had missed it before because apparently it uses two hangers to support the length of the dress.  They were hiding under the appearance of a shirt.  When I realized that, I acquired a new energy for a search and looked at another rack and discovered many more. Most of them were XS, one Large, and a couple Small.  No Mediums.  Well, I'll give it a try, I pulled the Large and a Small and went once again to the dressing rooms with mild expectancy.  The Large was weird, everything looked out of place, and to my surprise, the small was perfect.  I looked lovely.

The price I had to pay for it was lovely, as well.  This dress was marked down by 80% and the tag read $13.60.  With my 10 dollar off coupon, I paid just $3.60 with a total savings of $64.40.  Yeah Baby, the master strikes again!

So F.Y.I.  Before you go shopping, a few tips to know.......
                           1) Search for out-of-season sales
                           2) Coupons are your friend.  Look for them in the mail or email.
                           3)  Be thorough when looking through clearance racks
                           4)  Don't let discouragement keep you from getting your prize

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or www.LetriahMasters.com teaching you how to Fab Your Image 4 Less.

Bring Art to Life with what you wear

    Today, I received an invitation to view art work by the students at my daughter's school, including her very own pieces.  The event was called "Arts Alive".  It reminded me of my recent trip to New York for Mother's Day.  At Times Square the very walls and biuldings are alive with every advertisement you can imagine.  There were televisions as tall as buildings.  But the creativity of New York is not just about the bright lights of the big city, the people there are like Art alive.  Surprisingly enough, most of them were dressed in various shades of comfortable flowing cotton.  I think these were the true New Yorkers that lived there and had nothing to prove.
But thousands of other people that colored the streets with there presence were from every nation and culture.  They brushed the canvas with a dignity all their own.  It was such a wonder to see a place that reminded me of a great feast; a table spread with many flavors, textures, colors, and fragrances.  Time Square appeared to me to be a giant runway for the model American; one who is free to live, to express oneself, to invite others into that same freedom.
       Are you experiencing that same freedom?  When you get dressed, is it for yourself or for the people around you?  Today, look in the mirror and evaluate what you see.
                      1) Am I happy with Me?
                      2) Do I feel comfortable in my own skin......or in these clothes?
                      3) How can I express my individuality in a fall-in-line world?
                   
It is possible to be Decent yet Different, Sexy yet Safe, Classy and Comfortable, Modest yet Magnificent, Unique yet uniform.  Fashion is a form of Art.  Today, bring art to life with what you wear.

Bringing Art to Life with
a celebration from their culture

TV's as tall as a biulding

The Beauty of New York at Night
It was a warm and welcoming atmosphere
People of all shades lighting the night
 with their presence and diversity

Thank You for visiting www.LetriahMasters.com
and http://fyi4Less.blogspot.com

Spring into Color

      My life is very busy.  I'm sure that you can relate.  In fact, sometimes it feels as if I don't have time to even take a good breathe.  But it's finally Spring!  And the best part about Spring is the colors that pop out after a long, dead winter. My eyes are hungry for bright beautiful refreshing color after several months of brown, grey, and of course, the evergreens.  There's something about a sunny yellow, captivating pink, amorous red, passionate purple,  emboldened orange, and vivacious bright green.  What a wondrous rainbow we find, not just in the sky, but growing among us in fields, trees, and mountainsides.  The world is full of awe.  Why not keep that awe with you as you go about your day and travel to places that need life and beauty.

      Where I work, everyone wears black.  How monotonous is that?!  Yet, if I put a simple bright colored hair flower on, my mood alters and somehow I feel the atmosphere around me is changed as well.  Even wearing colored earrings is a touch of surprise among the repetition.  Maybe you feel the same way.  You'd like to bring  a little outdoor magic wherever you go.  You could be the flower among the weeds.  The sunshine on a cloudy day.  The blue skies for those working in places like basements all hidden away. A splash around your neck, some flare in your hair.  Spring into color, anytime anywhere.
   

 flowers for 1.50$
They all come with a clip, pen, or ponytail
to wear in hair, on a hat, or penned to your shirt

Hair flowers with matching scarves
Scarves were purchased at 1.00$ a piece

Fab Your Image for less when you shop at discount stores.  Couple these items with a matching purse and pair of sunglasses and you're ready to stand out above the crowd.  These go great with jeans or a dress, flip flops or high heels, beach to banquet.  Experiment, have fun, and most of all, BEAUTIFY  your World.

Have a Fabulous Day!
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To find "The Right Image for You"  email me at 1LetriahMasters@gmial.com to make an appointment.
Business--Casual--Event & Everyday
Men--Women--Youth               Any Budget

Purse shopping deals and tips

      When it comes to accessories, purses are no small matter.  I've seen people wearing purses like a badge of honor, especially if it's a Coach or Gucci.  I'm convinced that an entire outfit can be overlooked, in the presence of a high class pocket-book (as they say in the North East).  It's true, I tell you.  I've seen women with unkempt hair, ratty t-shirts, and old flip flops carrying a fabulous purse.  My immediate thought following such encounters were to wonder how much they spent on that one item and how it could have been put to better use supplying a better wardrobe or hair brush.  But women are not alone in this.  Growing up in a low income neighborhood allowed me to see the same thing in relation to guys and their shoes.  You could be dirt poor and wear the same shirt or pants 3 days a week and no body would care as long as they had on a nice pair of Jordans.
       Why do such items seem to bring an element of pride?  It's as if they possess the power to shield from insult, rejection, embarrassment, or even altering peoples perceptions of you.  I, on the other hand, belong to the group of women that don't use it as a sense of identity but another link on the chain of fashion.  I could really care less what brand it is, as long as it matches what I'm wearing.  And because of that, I've found some fabulous deals hiding under the canopy of an unknown name or brand.
        Looking at them brings me great joy.  They're awesome, unique, colorful, and creative.  The purse can bind together an outfit just like a tie, both revealing your options and/or magically connected the oddest, most unexpected color combinations.  A purse can come in all different shapes and sizes, patterns and purposes.  When I was growing up, my mother's purse was utilized to store food for an entire family during long-winded sermons or hiked prices in public places.  It was also the best place to find discarded treasures for a child; coin money, mints, papers to draw on in times of complete and utter boredom,  and toys confiscated when you were being naughty.  I prefer the purse that is small to moderate in size to perform the basic needs of holding a small toiletry collection, papers, pens, and a wallet.  Anything outside of that might as well be used as a baby bag or small carry-on suitcase.
        But in some situations, a little more thought and precision is necessary to function in a career oriented world.  Perhaps you're going to a business meeting or convention where professionalism is priority.  Shape, color, and size can all make a statement that can change the course of your life. You don't want to show up at a suit and tie sit-down with a shiny, pink, squeaky-plastic, draw-string purse and expect to be taken seriously.  A basic square/rectangle shaped blue, black, brown, or grey purse would be the better choice in that situation.  In the business world, everything you do makes a statement. So when it comes to purse shopping, The Power is in Your Hands. 
          F.Y.I. next time you go purse shopping ask yourself.........

1)   Does it fit with my current wardrobe?
2)  Will it suit my basic needs?
3)  Am I paying for a brand name, when I can find and equal yet financially allowable purchase?  (Brand names are great, but you shouldn't ignore your basic needs  to get them)
4)  Will I be happy tomorrow when my shopping high is gone?

Fashion is Fun and Affordable.  Check out these items and what they cost me.

5.00$

5.00

2.50$

Donation

Last year I bought these purses at a flea market.  One vendor had (no brand) purses for 5.00$ and another vendor was selling the same exact purse but with a brand name for 10, 15, or 20.00$.  It was a no-brainer for me.  And last but not least, the donated purse has a brand tag called "LOVELY N.Y."  It's never been used.  I love donations.  One man's trash is another man's treasure.  So before you go shopping, see what you have that you don't use and pass it on.  Giving is a fashionable way to live.

Thank you for visiting http://fyi4Less.blogspot.com

or www.LetriahMasters.com