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Do you feel you have to reinvent your wardrobe each season? Fashion is fickle, but you don’t have to spend a fortune to be in style. Don’t be a fashion victim! Practice "Investment Dressing" by building a wardrobe of classic, traditional clothes of high quality. . . then mix in a few trendy items each season to stay in style. Classic chic is enduring and always fashionable. As Kenneth Jay Lane stated, "Good style is always in style."

With so many new styles and trends seducing us everywhere we look, it can be tempting to smoke your credit cards by charging a whole new wardrobe. Here are a few money saving alternatives:

► Shop with the trends you favor in mind. You do not have to buy into each and every new trend.

► Build a basic wardrobe of great fitting pieces to take you from year to year. Invest in a good coat, dress, skirt, jacket and slacks that will stand the test of time with both style and durability.

► Be fashion comfortable by purchasing quality pieces in a fit that flatters. The clothes you get the most wear from are the ones that make you feel good.

► Layering makes it easy to wear wardrobe pieces in a new and different way.

► Fashion is self-expression. Find your own "look" and build on it instead of spreading your fashion dollars in too many directions.

Do you have a passion for fashion? Then spring is the time to rejuvenate your wardrobe. An easy wardrobe update can be accomplished by adding a pop of bold color in a blouse, purse or shoes. Think... Fashion, Function, Fun! 

The Look of Spring
Patent - has entered the mainstream and it looks like it’s here to stay. You'll find patent in raincoats, shoes, purses, belts and used as trim on apparel.
Animal prints - still around, but not as much of a focus as they were in the fall and winter.
High Gloss - pearlized finishes will be the shining star of any outfit.
Feminine - gauzy dresses and chiffon fabrics. Sophisticated, ultra-feminine flowing dresses.  Clothes with drape and ease.
Shoes - select from sandals, wedges, sling backs, ankle straps, platforms and peep toes. Look for thick heels and stripes. Cork is making a comeback. Cork heels, which first appeared in the late 30s to early 40s, started with wine corks stacked to create a heel.  
Purses - bags are larger than ever—in bold pops of color and naturals. Embellishments will be plentiful.
Jackets - the cropped, trapeze or swing back silhouette so popular this fall are back for spring, joined by a return to the nicely tailored, ladylike jacket.
Bright Prints - a resurgence of Pucci inspired patterns, layered florals and designs with an international flair.
Denim - will be found in an array of spring colors from bold to pastel, often with embellishments.
Color Blocking - in apparel from sportswear to dresses and on shoes and purses.
Embellishments - embroidery, sequins, jewels, pearls, beading, feathers, fringe and more. Pare down your accessories and let the embellishment speak for itself. Leave distance between your embellishments and jewelry.
Urban Safari - popular style for coats, jackets and dresses.
Jewelry - bold statement pieces are in this season. Look for oversized necklaces and long ropes. Chokers are all the rage. Bangle bracelets will be worn in layers... the more variety the better.

Vibrant Colors of Spring
Burst into spring with bold, captivating hues that will banish the winter doldrums. Bold, bright colors give your wardrobe an instant update. Choose colors that reflect your mood and make you feel good.

This seasons "It" colors are: Yellow (from pale daffodil to deep marigold) and Blue (from pale sky to bright royal). An orange is an orange... unless it's one of the many other beautiful shades of this hue so popular for spring and summer. Look for melon, coral, peach, tangerine and even a shade called sunkissed! Pops of bold color such as fuchsia, lime green and cerulean blue are also in vogue. Spring colors are not shy—expect entrance-making bold splashes.

Head for your local resale, consignment and thrift shops to begin building your basic investment wardrobe. There is no better place to buy quality apparel while getting the most value for your dollar! Don’t count out resale shops when looking for the new trendy items. Most NARTS member stores search the marketplace to provide their customers with the most current accessories at the very best prices.

Remember... always look for the NARTS decal when shopping resale.
It is Your Assurance of Professionalism.  

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Visit the Shopping Guide and search for NARTS Member stores
and to browse these Consumer Information pages:
Frequently Asked Questions
Consumer Information Links
How to Shop Resale
How to Prepare Items for Resale
The Facts on Fakes!

Treating Stains

To whiten white cottons (especially baby clothes): Use 1 cup bleach, 1 cup Cascade dishwasher detergent and 2 gallons hot water. Soak clothes overnight. Drain and run through normal wash cycle.
Adhesives (gum, tape residue, stickers, rubber cement): Apply ice to harden residue and scrape with a dull knife to remove most. Rub Goo Gone into remaining adhesive and launder as usual.
Blood: Pre-soak in cold water for at least 30 minutes. If stain remains, soak in lukewarm ammonia water (3 tablespoons ammonia per gallon of water). Rinse and wash with color safe bleach for the type of fabric.
Chocolate: Pre-soak clothes in cold water. Apply a paste of liquid laundry detergent and all-fabric bleach. Wait 30 minutes and wash in warm water with detergent. If stain remains, sponge with hydrogen peroxide and wash again.
Eggs: Rinse with cold water. Soak 30 minutes in Biz and launder. Do not use hot water. It will set the stain.
Fabric softener: This is a greasy or bluish looking stain. Rub stain with a dry bar of ivory soap and launder as usual.
Food coloring and fruit juice: Soak in cool water 30 minutes. Apply a paste of laundry detergent and all-fabric bleach. Rub and launder.
Grass: Soak in cold water and sponge with isopropyl alcohol. Be sure to test for colorfastness first. Wash in hottest water and type of bleach safe for fabric.
Ink: Pour alcohol through stain or spray hair spray onto stain and rub into a clean cloth behind the stain. Rub in petroleum jelly. Soak in detergent and bleach; wash as usual.
Mildew: Pre-treat with detergent and wash as soon as possible. If any stains remain, sponge with a mixture of lemon juice and salt. Dry in the sun. Wash, using hottest water and bleach safe for type of fabric.
Mud: Let dry and brush off excess mud. Then apply a paste of liquid detergent and all-fabric bleach. Rub into stain and launder. For heavy stains, let soak 30 minutes first.
Perspiration: Dampen and sprinkle stain with Biz or meat tenderizer. Wait 30 to 60 minutes. Rub detergent into stain and launder.
Rust: Apply a commercial rust remover like Whink and rinse immediately with cool water. Launder. Or, if you prefer a more natural approach, apply a paste of white vinegar and salt and wait 30 minutes. Rinse with cool water and repeat if necessary.

Special Tips

► Act fast. Of course most stains aren't found immediately, but the sooner the better because set-in stains are hardest to remove.
► Always work from the underside of a stain.
► Test solution on an inconspicuous spot to be sure it won't damage fabric.
► Air dry items you've stain treated to be sure the stain is gone. If not, you can treat it again without it being set in by the dryer.
► Rinse thoroughly after treating a stain.
► Work from the outside into the center of the stain to avoid a ring forming on the fabric.
► Remember, some set-in stains are permanent!

Resale Details... News for the Smart Shopper is a publication of NARTS - Your Assurance of Professionalism
© 2008 National Association of Resale & Thrift Shops, All Rights Reserved