Fashion Crisis #1: What to Wear on a First Date

• Dress for the situation. It won’t look good if you turn up at a street carnival dressed in Dior.
• Wear something in which you feel comfortable (and no, not your pajamas). If you feel comfortable with what you have on, then you will exude confidence and your date will notice. If you are uncomfortable, your date will notice that, as well.
• Wear something that keeps you covered. Don’t give everything away on the first date! You can find some inspiration here.

Fashion Crisis #2: What to Wear to Meet the Parents

• Keep it conservative. That’s a no-brainer.
• Although it’s good to follow the conservative rule, still inject your outfit with your own style. This way, you will impress while still maintaining your individuality.
• The best thing to wear when meeting the parents is confidence. If you love yourself, then they will love you too!

Fashion Crisis #3: What to Wear to a Party When you Have Been Invited at the Last Minute

• If it’s just a casual party with friends, then don’t panic. You can basically pick anything you want to wear and it will be fine.
• For a more formal or dressy occasion, call or text your friends if nothing in your closet will do. The power of social networking is strong for someone who is having a fashion crisis. Put the word out on Facebook and you never know what your luck will be. Someone might have the perfect outfit for you close at hand.

Image by Jeremy Brooks via Flickr

These stores are generally run by independent business owners who have an eye for fashion. People bring in like-new clothing that they no longer want. The shop owner inspects each piece to make sure they’re in top shape before agreeing to sell the items. Then, they price the clothing at about half off retail and split the proceeds with the owner. Most items in consignment stores are no more than a year old, and no one but you will know that the items weren’t purchased new at a major department store or pricey boutique. Whether you’re building a professional wardrobe for work or putting together an outfit for the club, this is a cost-saving habit to develop.

If you have teenagers that love designer labels, this is an even better plan. Because teenagers often tire of the latest fashion quickly, age-appropriate choices fill the racks of consignment stores that target teenagers. And, if your teen changes their mind just as quickly, the investment is much lower, and you can always try to sell it through the consignment store a second time. By shopping at consignment stores, you can keep your entire family in the highest-quality clothing without breaking your budget.

With certain products, brand is extremely important. For the most part, people know that they can rely on certain automotive brands like Toyota or Honda for about twice as long as other car brands. In addition to enjoying your new ride for as long as possible, you’ll recover more of your initial investment when you decide to sell or trade in your car. In the meantime, a reliable car often means lower maintenance costs.

With many other consumer items, brand names may only mean higher prices, especially when it comes to clothing. If you purchase a cotton T-shirt from a trendy boutique, you may pay $20 or more. However, a discount store may sell a T-shirt without a designer label that will last just as long for $10 or less. Unless you make it a habit of selling your items at a consignment store after just one or two wearings, the additional expense offers no other value other than letting everyone else know your shopping preferences.

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Today’s savvy shopper can use their smartphone for more than just playing Angry Birds. These pocket-sized gadgets can let anyone receive deals from their favorite stores while they’re on the go. By using the right combination of apps and signing up with retailers through Facebook or Twitter, you might find a special deal delivered right to your phone while you’re on your way to the store or even while you’re browsing through the selection. Some retailers can even take special codes from your smartphone or scan an image on the screen so that you don’t have to carry paper coupons around with you.

Smartphone cameras can also be used to compare prices without surfing the web or running from store to store. Simply snap a picture of the bar code and a price-comparison app will tell you if any other stores in the area are selling the product for a lower price. In some cases, it can even tell you if you can save money by buying online. While you’re looking, some apps will even display coupons, rebates, and other special discounts.

QR codes hold a wealth of information, but they’re not readable with the naked eye. However, your smartphone can quickly transform into a handheld QR reader to allow you to read these little digital squares. Depending on the information embedded within the QR code, you may find a special deal or just the detailed product specs. This information can turn any shopping trip into the deal of a lifetime.