Tag: Shopping

IT IS TIME TO LET IT GO

Published on by Brigitte NiocheLeave a comment

Today being Black Friday you might be out shopping  –  so while you are out there this would be a good moment to look for a new coat – saying this I am really talking to one of my good friends who came to visit me a few weeks ago.

One morning while putting on her red coat she said, “Isn’t it amazing – this coat is 24 years old and still holding up” (just barely was my thought) she went on to say, “Amy – that is her daughter – thinks it looks awful, and I should get a new one. But why should I, I think this is perfect. What do you think?”

Since I was in agreement with Amy, and can’t lie, I hid behind Amy and told her, “Maybe Amy is right. A new coat will make you feel and look better.”

My friend is not the only one who I have heard say that a garment is still holding up after x-years. And it is usually said with great pride, making me wonder why some women are so proud of owning old cloth. Here are some considerations that might help to get rid of them:

  •  they are not fashionable anymore (no, not everything comes back)
  •  they have lost their fit
  •  the color has faded
  •  it looks worn
  •  the fabric looks old
  •  it does not suit you anymore

I would like to add to the last point that even if all of the above were not true we have to accept that over the years we have changed – put on some weight, lost some weight, became a little older – and what was suitable 10 years ago is no longer becoming, because our cloth do not change with us. 

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Maybe my friend will read this and realize that the world is full of beautiful coats with which she can replace  that too short, too tight,  faded 24 year- old friend of hers.

And Never forget – A Smile Changes everything!

Brigitte

NEW YORK CITY IS LOSING A LANDMARK

Published on by Brigitte Nioche6 Comments

Going shopping is always fun – but not so today. Today it was not about shopping but about saying  goodbye to Lord & Taylor. How many of my lunch times have I spent there over the last 20 years? – strolling through the isles and roaming the designer stocked floors. The store was just up the street from my office and I used to  call it my second home.

Today empty shelves, empty glass counters and racks half filled with  left overs, stood lost on the only three floors still open.  Well, January 2, 2019 is around the corner, the date the oldest department store in the US will close the doors of its flagship store on Fifth Avenue which opened in February 1914.

I will miss going there, shopping there, spending time there, but more importantly it represents the end of era. A serious reminder when you are over 50 like me. It brings to mind that a  part of my life, something I cherished is gone, and will never come back. I know change is good, change is necessary, but sometimes I would be grateful for a bit more time!

Thank you Lord & Taylor     

And Always remember – A Smile Changes Everything!

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT CAN CLOTHES DO FOR US?

Published on by Brigitte Nioche4 Comments

They can make us feel good; they can give us confidence; they can make us look younger; they can make us look slimmer; they can make us look and feel sexy. But to achieve all of this or even just some of it is getting harder and harder. No, not because we are getting older, but because the fashion industry is becoming less and less helpful.

Unless we spend more money or buy a designer label, the quality of clothes on the rack  is dropping further and further – the fabric is cheap, the cut is bad, the construction shotty , seams are uneven and the fit – what is that?  A little too big – a little too tight – not a problem. Unfortunately many  younger customers have never known a well made garment, and therefore, don’t mind if the hem is longer on one side than the other, or very uneven.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I went shopping today in Bloomingdale’s Outlet store here on the Westside. Yes I know it is an outlet, but a Bloomingdale one which have a certain reputation. Yet I could not stop thinking that all these clothes I saw  looked like rags – already worn, second-hand. – Here are some images of the racks displaying their ‘latest arrivals.’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It must be a generation gap on my part which makes me more aware of what I have to look out for and what it takes not too to look like I slept in my dress, or that I am wearing a hand-me-down. Here are a few things to watch out for if you still remember how clothes were made way-back-when:

  • The fit
  • The Quality
  • The coordination of colors
  • The condition

With a little extra time, and a little extra money remembering these points will help you avoid the already worn look!

And Never Forget – A Smile Changes Everything!

 

Beauty Over 60: How to Wear a Fragrance

Published on by Brigitte Nioche2 Comments

Fragrances and come and go, but the dreaded term “old lady perfume” still lingers. It can be a challenge to find the right fragrance the older we become. Sweet scents, like vanilla or fruit, may not be sophisticated enough for an older woman. Stronger colognes and perfumes can be too overpowering. So how do we buy and wear a perfume that enhances rather than distracts?

Perfume shopping tips

Buy perfumes that match your own personal style – For example, if you like to wear dark-colored clothing and heavy textures, a light citrusy scent will not fit. If you live in a hot, humid climate, it’s probably best to avoid the heavier fragrances.

Don’t buy the cheap stuff – Cheap perfumes can be harsh and smell strongly of alcohol. They become stale-smelling very quickly. Splurge a little bit on yourself and buy a nice perfume from a well-known brand.

Perfume wearing tips

Beware of personal care products – medicated creams, powders, and lotions will lend to that “old lady scent” and can clash with your perfume. Try to find fragrance-free products, or ones with a non-offensive smell.

Throw away old bottles of perfume – it’s tempting to hold onto a perfume and only use it for special occasions, especially if it was a gift, but scents go bad quickly. As recommended by this article in In Style, fragrances may last for 3-5 years, but it’s best to buy a new bottle after a year.

Don’t be discouraged from more sophisticated scents

Some people associate bolder fragrances with older women. However, as Elizabeth Musmanno, president of The Fragrance Foundation, stated in this article on The Fashion Spot, “Classic fragrances with a strong point of view continue to hold strong for 2017.” The most important thing to remember is to go out and buy whatever makes you feel good.

What is your favorite perfume?
Please leave your tips and questions in the comment section below.

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And never forget – A Smile Changes Everything!

Brigitte

 

 

 

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANYONE?

Published on by Brigitte NiocheLeave a comment

No. I don’t have birthdays anymore, but my friend Judy was not aware of it and on my last birthday send me this card. It made me wonder if maybe I should have birthdays again so I can buy more shoes?

Card designed by TOMATO CARDS. DCI and made by Papyrus Recycled Greetings, Inc

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And never forget  – A Smile Changes Everything

Brigitte

NOT READY TO PASS IT ON YET?

Published on by Brigitte NiocheLeave a comment

I can never resist anything to do with Cowboys or the Wild West. It’s what I love most about this country. And the designer who has captured the look best is Ralph Lauren. Therefore, I never miss to check out one of his stores who carries cowboy boots and fringed leather jackets; the one on Fifth Avenue is now exception.  Walking in I fell in love with a beautifully beige leather jacket with all the bells and whistles – fringes, appliques, hand embroidered, colorful Indian inspired motives – and the leather was as soft and pliable as velvet.

“How much is this please? I asked the young sales attendant who was approaching me. She took it off the rack and bringing it closer she said, “It’s $1,950.”

“That’s a lot of money” I replied “but it’s something one will have for ever.”

“For sure” she answered and looking at me she continued, “and you can even pass it on.” I was confused. Pass it on to whom, or why? Did I really look like I was ready to pass it on? Or was her remark an extra sales pitch? Or was I just too sensitive?

Yes, there is a chapter in my book (chapter 23) where I talk about passing things on – how clearing the air can help you have a better wardrobe, and how the things you don’t wear anymore can be a great help to somebody in need, but why should you think of it when buying something new – after all you will be wearing it for may years to come! Maybe Ralph Lauren should retrain his sales staff?

And never forget – a smile changes everything!

scan0003-3Brigitte