A study conducted in the United Kingdom set out to see what effect shopping with our friends has, in comparison to what we do when we shop alone. The results were not all that surprising. 

It turns out the women in the study spend £900 (about $1,300) more a year in comparison to their solo shopping counterparts. That’s some serious pocket change, but apparently there is an upside. 

The study, which polled over 2000 women, was sponsored by Liverpool One, which is a development project that sought to redevelop the city through retail initiatives, and was published in the website Dailymail.co.uk. Despite the clear vested interest in studying the shopping habits of its potential customers, the study was able to lend some insight into how our spending habits are affected by our friends. 

It looks like there were also some positive aspects to shopping with your friends. Though it might put a bigger dent in their bank accounts, the women who reported shopping with their girlfriends on a regular bases said that they enjoyed the experience more, and felt more connected with their friends. The majority of the women polled also reported that they enjoyed getting input from their friends on clothes that they bought, and over two thirds of the women felt more confident in clothes the bought with their friends. 

The study found some negative points with shopping with friends too though, 1 out of every 10 women in the study ended up returning an item they had purchased after being encouraged to buy it by a friend. Not a terrible statistic, but in the a bigger context it’s pretty clear that our friends have a huge impact on the decisions we make. All that being said, I think the more relevant decision boils down to be who we choose to be friends with, though I didn’t see any data in the study to suggest this – I think it’s pretty obvious that good friends will help you make good decisions both in and outside of the mall. 

Photo Credit: photostock | freedigitalphotos.net

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Do you have an old belt you never use anymore? Recycle it into one of five different stylish accessories! The perfect 2 in 1: get rid of things you don’t use and simultaneously get new things! 

The items you can make include a modern cuff, a metallic hair comb, a studded collar necklace, leather-“feather” earrings, or a wrap bracelet.

You will need a few things to get started with this arts and crafts project, depending on what you decide to make.

 

Depending on what you make, you will need:

• 5 jump rings (2 for earrings, 3 for collar)
• Clasp
• Chain
• Hair comb
• Earring hooks
• VELCRO Brand Black Coins (with Sticky Back)
• Belt (of course)

Now, to get started! Pick one (or several!) of these great options.

Studded collar necklace

For this, get together the 3 jump rings, clasp, and chain. Cut two triangles of the same size (use a stencil to be sure). Connect the pieces in the middle with a jump ring, and use the other two rings to connect the chain on the other ends. Add studs or other flare for a great final product!

Cuff

Simply cut a piece of the belt about two inches wide, and attach using the VELCRO black coins. How easy is that!

Wrap Bracelet

This one makes great use of the skinny ends of the belt. Simply wrap around and attach again with the VELCRO coins. 

Feather-Inspired Earrings

Wrap belts have the perfect small ends to easily make dangly earrings. Using a safety pin, make a hole in the leather. Use pliers to add the jump rings. 

Hair Comb

Cut out a bunch of triangles, and use your hot glue gun to paste them onto a basic black side comb. A great addition to your up-do!

From one belt, so many options!

Photo Credit: artur84 | freedigitalphotos.net

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Jennie Runk has come a long way since her days as a volunteer at a pet store in Missouri, where she was spotted by a modeling scout. This was back in 2011, and the Southern beauty was told that despite having a stunning face, she would need to either lose or gain weight (must be nice to choose). Runk told a BBC reporter that she was told that in order to get modeling jobs she had to choose between being a size 4 or a size 10.

While it’s probably fair to say that whoever told her that was just doing their job, and trying to help her to be as marketable as possible (she did land a very well paying gig posing for H&M after all) but it also says something about the way our society and the fashion industry think about size. 

The average American woman is 5 feet 4 inches and wears clothes somewhere between a 12 and 14 dress size. Yet most women base what they think they should wear on what they see advertised in magazines and catalogues. The standard model is taller, (5’9” to 6 feet) and much thinner, (a size 4 or under). This disconnect between reality and the runway has been brought up before in women’s literature classes and Oprah specials, but as a society, we seem to have a problem putting this realization into practice. 

This is why H&M’s swimsuit ad featuring Jennie Runk has received such positive feedback. The ad showed Runk (a size 10) in a black bikini and mentioned nothing about her being plus size. While it’s a bit of a bummer that putting a beautiful young woman, who happens to break the size 4 rule, on the cover of an ad has caused such a frenzy (most of us agree this should be a no-brainer) it is a sign that the people in the marketing departments of the fashion industry, who are often blamed for messing with everyone’s self image, are finally making the connection that people want to see a more realistic and inclusive image of what is attractive. 

Jennie seems to be all about the idea, and has hit the media circuit advocating for women the world over to feel better about their bodies regardless of whether they fit into the beauty standard promoted by the fashion police, or as I like to call them the fash-ists. 

Photo Credit: H&M

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Overalls are a great casual and comfortable item, and one we have seen quite a bit recently. You can sport the standard casual pair, or even pull together a cute fun outfit depending on the cut. 

So, how do you pull this look off? Well, you want to look like the grown-up that you are, so for starters make sure you have adult overalls and don’t try and squeeze into something you wore in middle school. A great pair of overalls will be loosely worn, with the bottoms rolled up and a simple tank underneath. 

Looking to Hollywood for examples, some celebrities have been more successful than others at pulling this one off. Here is a rundown at some of the do’s and don’ts when wearing overalls.

Jameela Jamil looked fantastic in a pair of cropped shortalls, which are perhaps a safer bet. She paired them with a blazer and some feminine jewelry and looked fantastic.

Fergie recently donned a pair of overalls with a stripped crop top and some heels. A great summer look, a la “tomboy out for a night on the town.” Pixie Lott also effortlessly pulls of the tomboy look with some well-fitting overalls and the perfect accessories. Adorbs. 

As for the don’ts... As sexy as you might be, Eminem, please wear a shirt under your overalls. The trucker thing is not doing it for us.

And heads up to Rachel Bilson, overalls should be loose and comfortable, but not so oversized you drown in them. 

Photo Credit: Miguel Figueroa

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