Spring Fashion 2022: Cut Out Middles And Matchy-Matchy

Photo: Yahoo News

Although I don't go out of my way to dress trendy nowadays, I still follow what's new and in vogue and if I happen to have a piece in my closet which becomes a fad, I'll make an effort to wear it. You?

Two of several styles fashion editors tell us will become big this spring are (1) outfits consisting of 2 pieces exposing a bare midriff or waist; and (2) matchy-matchy outfits. Now I've always been somewhat of a matchy-matchy dresser stopping short of buying shoes and purses cut out of the exact same pattern as my dress. In the 1960s women often bought shoes and handbags that matched 100% in the exact leather and color; or fabric, texture, and pattern as one another ... so everything old becomes new again!

I think I could pull off a matchy-matchy top, trousers and blazer in the same solid color, it's when you wear patterns you must be careful not to overdo it. It can look juvenile. I also don't mind a little peek of a waist as it's not too revealing, especially in a warm climate.

Vintage matching shoes and bag

What are your thoughts on either fashion trend?

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The Ordinary: Haircare Rooted In Skincare

The Ordinary, famous for offering effective skincare based on science at fair and affordable prices, just launched new haircare products on March 8th that are also rooted in the science of skincare.

Introducing a trio of products led by science to gently cleanse, condition, and hydrate the scalp and hair. It makes perfect sense: After all the scalp is an area of the body consisting of skin with oil glands. The new hair products which are rooted in skincare include:

Sulphante 4% Cleanser for Body and Hair - It contains SLES-2, a milder sulfate formulated to be gentle on the scalp and clean the hair without color fade. Usually we think of sulfates as bad, but The Ordinary re-engineered the chemicals to make them mild and effective.

Behentrimonium Chloride 2% Conditioner - Lightly coats the hair strands for a soft, smooth effect that tames and conditions the hair without weighing it down.

Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA for Scalp -  A milky serum that includes hyaluronic acid and squalene (ingredients naturally produced within the skin) to hydrate and protect the scalp skin barrier. Massage a few drops into your scalp daily for treatment.

This trio of new products join a 4th older one:

Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density - A concentrated peptide serum created to make hair look thicker, denser, fuller, and healthier.

These hair products come from a company committed to giving customers budget-friendly products with good, clean ingredients backed by science that truly work. One or more of them may be right for you!

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About Beds In A Box

Little did I know when my elderly mother fell fracturing her leg, I'd be buying 2 beds, but she can't climb her stairs and must reside on the ground floor. I'm helping her, and there were no suitable beds for us to sleep in. 

We bought 2 full-size mattresses.

As it happens, 2 years ago I needed to replace the bed in my own Manhattan apartment. I did quite a bit of research then before buying it. At the time I didn't select a bed-in-a-box although the mattress reviewers and customers give this type of mattress 5 stars. I also tested a bed-in-a-box in a brick-and-mortar store by laying on it and was impressed! Luckily I saved a favorite bed-in-a-box mattress manufactured by Zinus and sold on Amazon because it got top marks by professional mattress reviewers. It is a 12-inch Support Plus Pocket Spring Hybrid Mattress. During a sudden family crisis, the ability to click to have 2 mattresses delivered by Amazon in 5 days is priceless. (How did I know to save it on my Amazon wish list?) Now that my mother and I sleep on the beds, I can from personal experience say we love them too! 

What's more, they are less than half the price of those sold by the bigger, well-known beds-in-a-box companies such as Casper and Nector Sleep and yet they seem to be made well and have all the necessary features.

Moreover, I ordered the 16" steel bed frames from the same merchant as I wanted to ensure they are a perfect fit. (The frames also come in 14" and 18'' heights). If you have the extra time to do the measuring, Amazon Basics offers slightly cheaper steel bed frames costing slightly less than Zinus.

The firm beds-in-a-box I bought are considerably cheaper than my firm box spring mattress at home, therefore it's a wash if they wear out and must be replaced sooner. They are guaranteed to last 10 years. You still save a heap of cash for a quality supportive and comfortable mattress. Highly recommended, I couldn't be happier with the mattresses or the price!

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Vitamin C Serums That Work

Dermatologists agree: Applying Vitamin C serum to our faces benefits our skin. It should be part of our daily anti-aging routines. After washing our faces each morning we should use a vitamin C serum under our sunscreen and makeup. Vitamin C brightens the skin, reduces dullness, and encourages new skin growth. It also helps sunscreen work better to protect the skin against the sun's harmful rays.

Personally, I try to keep the expense of beauty serums under $25 whenever possible and therefore have featured many effective budget-friendly skincare potions, including vitamin C serums, in previous blogs (which you can pull up via THE SAVVY SHOPPER'S search box on the upper left). Nowadays we can find steller skincare brands at drugstores, Target, Walmart, and Ulta without emptying our wallets and therefore can afford to use them every single day without skimping. 

Here are 7 more dermatologist-approved Vitamin C Serums with a range of prices from cheap to reasonable to more expensive:

1) CeraVe Vitamin C Serum - Has 10% of ascorbic acid, the purest form of Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides.

2) Maelove Glow Maker - Contains Vitamins C, E, Ferulic Acid, and Hyaluronic Acid.

3) Olay Vitamin C + Peptide 24 - Olay recently launched its serum along with a face and eye cream. The formula, "crafted with Vitamin C, Vitamin B3, and Lactic Acid, visibly brightens and hydrates skin." Lactic Acid also treats acne. 

4) Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum - With antioxidants, fruit enzymes, and a potent 15% of vitamin C.

5) Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster - Features a light formula for fast absorption. 

6) BioBare Vitamin C, B, E & Ferulic Serum - Defends against free radicals, dryness, and aging.

7) Biossance - Squalane + 10% Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum -  Uses 10% vitamin C and white shitake mushroom to treat dark spots and stop new ones from forming.

Although it's fun to try different brands of serums, CervaVe at $16 works superbly ... and is as dermatologist-approved as are the other choices, so you may not need to spend more. But, selection is a Savvy Shopper's best friend for spotting sales and bargains. At times you find a 2 for 1 Olay sale at your local drugstore which halves its $29 price. Sometimes what works for one person is irritating to another's skin, so being in the know by having options based upon science is a very good thing!

Photo: BeautyEdit

 

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Slouchy Pants In 2022

Next year these slacks will look so dated in my humble opinion. Droopy crotches, oh my! All photos from The Style Insider

Yes, it's true: After you know your personal style, you're not always trendy. As it turns out, I have zero interest in what fashion editors and influencers tell us will be popular this year, namely Slouchy Pants.

The trendy reinvented wide-legged trousers consist of too much fabric for my liking. Can we call them oversized? Baggy?? Or sloppy??? Years ago in the 1970s, they were dubbed stovepipe pants. Harlem pants were the early 20th century's variation.

Even at 5' 7 1/4," in height, this yards-of-cloth trouser style would appear to wear me in lieu of me wearing the trousers. Not to mention, I'd rake up and clean the streets of New York City without pay.😄

For sure just like the ankle-length dresses of Summer 2021, it's a fashion fad I'll skip and continue wearing my leggings and "skinny" jeans. As a matter of fact, the style of pants I usually wear are slender, i.e., tapered ankles, not really skinny jeans. So in recent years, I don't embrace the skinny jeans look either, choosing comfort over discomfort. You get the idea. 

What's fabulous about our current era is conformity is out! How sensible ... as no single style flatters all heights, shapes, or sizes. Every style is accepted, and you can dress like you! The fashion that makes you feel your best, or like a million bucks is in! So here's to everybody's unique fashion plate style.😎

Readers, how do you feel about slouchy pants? Can they ever be lightweight? How do you pack them in a suitcase? Oy vey: let's discuss the need for ironing?!

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40 Boxes Of Gifts

Longer-burning soy wax candles will not release harmful chemicals into the atmosphere.

Occasionally we need to get gifts without knowing a person's needs or tastes. That's when the giftee gets something I like if I'm the gifter. If I don't know what you want, you're going to get something I want.😁 A good online platform to peruse on such shopping occasions is called 40 Boxes. It was launched by Tory Johnson in March 2021, a professional shopper who frequently appears on Good Morning America's Deals and Steals segments.

The online shopping venture introduces you to new brands and old favorites in 8 categories of goods: Beauty & Skincare, Fashion & Accessories, Food, Health & Wellness, Home & Kitchen, Jewelry, Solutions, and Tech. It's a wide assortment of gift options, therefore offering something for nearly everyone. 40 Boxes reminds me of a well-stocked department store, and yet you can select a gift from the convenience of your living room, not to mention, decide where your gifts should be shipped, either to you or the recipient.

Just like in brick-and-mortar department stores, variety at various price points is the name of the game. There's an ever-changing inventory of quality items offered at reasonable prices. The towels look plush, the jewelry is sterling silver, and the merchandise makes winning gifts without breaking the bank.

What's more, you save time, running around, and the cost of gas. It's fabulous to have online, as well as, brick-and-mortar shopping choices. Thoughtfulness just got more convenient.🎁

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Valentine's Day Jewelry

Photo: Effy Jewelry

Nothing beats getting jewelry for Valentine's Day, not that we can expect to receive it every year. Still, perusing beautiful pieces is fun and absolutely free! 

Effy Jewelry

Moreover, a Savvy Shopper is a mindful buyer who spends more time looking than shopping; and who abhors excessive buying and unsustainable consumption. As with all material things ... and especially when buying fine jewelry you only need a capsule, not a collection of these sparkling gold or platinum luxuries. Think in terms of acquiring a capsule of carefully curated pieces that you love and want to wear every day, as well as, to galas. You'll never tire of wearing the same rings, earrings, bracelets, or necklaces time and again as long as you love them. 

Also if you're lucky enough to receive a gift from your Valentine and know his budget, don't be afraid to hint. Significant others aren't mindreaders, and you know your tastes. Getting jewelry you'll wear is more important than surprises you'll keep in a box. Furthermore, so what if your gift arrives after February 14th as you'll have it for a lifetime.

So now let's have some Valentine's Day fun. Here are several red rubies (in the mid-price range) I like and think you will too.

 From jeweler Effy's website:

And a few pretties from Macy's website -- Effy happens to be one of Macy's jewelry vendors along with other jewelers. If you see an Effy piece you like, check both websites to get the best price. The heart necklace above was for sale on both sites. It's still available at Macy's:

♥♥♥Happy Valentine's Day Peeps!♥♥♥

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Ralph Lauren Come Decorate My Apartment

This top image is Ralph Lauren's spacious flagship store on the west side of [address 867] Madison Avenue at East 72nd Street in New York City. I'm sure the designer's tasteful decor is similar at his other stores in major cities throughout the world. 

Although the merchant's home decor style is a tad more masculine than mine, I use what I see at RL as inspiration since I love his rich, sophisticated, yet unfussy American style.😍 Mr. Lauren combines classic, clean, simple elegance with old-world charm. Just like his clothes, RL's home decor is stylish and cosmopolitan without pretentiousness.

It's always a joy to enter the flagship store (in fact there are 2 stores on Madison Avenue at East 72nd Street opposite one another on the east and west sides of the street), where you are always greeted with friendliness and never stuffiness, disdain, inaccessibility, indifference, or the rudeness of some upscale businesses. Furthermore, RL's price points are neither cheap nor outrageous. They are high-end and expensive, yet not gouging.

Mr. Ralph Lauren, please come decorate my home! Hey, already I have your bath towels and bedsheets and if you agree to come, I'll turn the rest of the place over to do with what you will. I trust you completely, Ralph! Your style is my style.😍

Readers … I'd also love to have the huge space to go with the substantial furniture in RL's flagship store. In NYC, large rooms are a rarity. First a dreamer, then a realist I like to say. Perhaps you don't have the budget or space to fit the whole shebang of furnishings into your home, but you can get the feel by adding several of the smaller, less costly pieces. Perhaps I'll have to settle for the one martini/wine glass above.🍷😉 However, I'll be sure to buy more than one if Mr. Ralph and his team stop by. Call me!

 

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