Dress Up

Written By: Alexandria Powell

Everyone has had that friend, family member, or coworker who dresses in such cool and stylish clothes. Some are even lucky enough to get to borrow that cute dress or those awesome shoes. Those lucky enough to be able to borrow clothes should know the proper etiquette for borrowing them though, so that everyone in the situations ends up happy. There are not too many rules, and most of them are not written strictly down, but the ones there are out there need to be known and followed. Ignorance is not bliss in situations like this. There is no excuse for not following the proper procedures for borrowing clothes.

Rule 1: Time
Clothes should not be borrowed for extended periods of time. When a friend, family member, or coworker allows someone to borrow their clothes, it should not be a year-long ordeal. Clothes borrowing should only be done for about a week per article, or even less. If one’s friend borrows a shirt on Friday of one week, it should be returned by Thursday or Friday of the next week, if not before. This is the same for any article of clothing, whether it be shorts or pants or a t-shirt.

Rule 2: Cleanliness
It is important to keep the clothes one has borrowed in tip-top condition. A pair of pants borrowed should not come back to the lender with mustard stains on one side and ketchup stains on the other. This goes for any type of stains. If a person accidentally spills something on the article of clothing, they need to follow the proper routine for removing the stain. It is important to take every means possible to do this, even if it means taking it to the dry cleaner and spending a little more money.

Rips and tears should be taken care of too. Before a person takes care of rips and tears though, they should tell the friend, family member, or coworker. Accidents do happen, and most people can understand that.

Washing the article of clothing is a must-do before returning the clothing as well. Nobody wants to receive a t-shirt with yellow under the arms or a pair of pants with a funky odor.

Rule 3:The Thank You
Thanking the friend, family member, or coworker is the top etiquette for borrowing clothes. Making the person know their kind gesture of lending out their clothes is appreciated is very important. It will make that person feel like their actions were noticed, and it will most likely make them want to let others borrow their clothes again. That is, of course, assuming the rules above were followed.

It is important to remember that others like to be treated with respect. Keeping the proper etiquette of borrowing clothes will show that respect. People need to treat others how they want to be treated, and that even goes with situations like these. Keeping the few rules above in mind will set anybody up for success in the etiquette of borrowing, and it will make life a whole lot easier for all parties involved.

Written By: HAKIMA0

There are so many awkward situations people find themselves in, and this is no different. Even though a friend may obviously have really bad taste when it comes to dressing up, it is now left to her friends to find ways to introduce her to a better mode of dressing. This article intends to suggest ways of helping a friend dress up better.

For starters, one can actually buy some fashion magazines and chat about all sorts of fashion trends with that particular friend. From the discussion, segue into her views about those magazines, and ask her if she would like to try them out in a subtle and friendly manner. Never do this any other way, or it can be regarded as an insult.

Again, it is possible to arrange to go out with this friend the next time shopping is in one’s schedule. During this time, try filling her in on how people select their clothes, whether a particular shoe goes with a bag or not, or if a particular shirt can go with a pair of pants. This can all be done by analyzing these things while trying to be general. Do not try to make it seem like she is receiving a kind of lesson.

Sometimes it’s even better to send outfit gifts to these particular friends, maybe on occasions like birthdays, New Year’s Eve, Christmas eve, and so on. Make sure to compliment them about their good looks and ask them how they feel wearing that outfit. It is important to be as nice as possible when doing this. The key is in being tactful while avoiding being pushy or demeaning.

Another way is to organize a party or to invite the friend to any party, and then to tell them to dress really smart or to even volunteer to help her pick out some clothes by planning outfits together. Or, one can lend her a piece of clothing if she cannot afford to buy one at that time. It is necessary to be as supportive as possible. Don’t let her feel uncomfortable at any point of the process.

In situations where the friend in question is insecure about her body because she’s fat or chubby, trying to talk to them about the other nice features they have could come in handy. Focus on their pretty face, or let them know that she is amazing just the way she is. Alternatively, point out how she can look particularly stunning when she gets around her insecurities. It’s also a good idea to go to a mall together to choose some nice outfits and to tell the friend in question to wear them. When she does, take pictures, and then ask people what they think about them. Such an activity could be rather helpful in building a friend’s self-esteem and in eventually having her get over her insecurities. In situations like this, people are normally nice and supportive.

Finally, never behave rudely to these kinds of friends. Instead, one should be as helpful as possible in trying to improve and better their appearance for them.

Written By: Jessica Ann

We often associate makeovers with fashion disaster interventions involving teams of experts on daytime talk shows. However, it is possible to give yourself a fashion makeover without the drama and without an army of hair stylists and industry professionals. All it takes is a positive attitude, a commitment to trying something new and the support of the people around you. Below, find a few basic suggestions to help guide you through the process giving yourself a style makeover.

Pay attention to what other people are wearing.

The first step to giving yourself a makeover is to start paying attention to fashion. We have a tendency to grow complacent with our own routines, and that includes the clothes, makeup and accessories we choose to wear on a daily basis.

Look around and note what you like, what works, and what misses the mark. It also helps to have a style icon. Is there someone you know who always looks well put together? Pay attention to their fashion choices and try them out for yourself in front of a mirror. Your closet could be full of possibilities you simply never considered before!

Ask a fashionable friend for advice.

Giving yourself a makeover is always a lot easier with the help of a trusted outsider perspective. Perhaps you have a close friend who seems to just get fashion — ask them for advice! Often, it is easier for someone else to give us fresh ideas about how we can update our look. Plus, your friend will be flattered that you find them so stylish and qualified for fashion advice.

Get bold and step out of character.

Once you are at the mall, either solo or with backup, it is essential that you allow yourself to step out of your comfort zone. Pretend you are a different person! Aim for styles and patterns you do not usually wear; there is no harm in trying them on, after all. Maybe you will surprise yourself by picking up something off a rack on a whim and then finding that the color and shape suit you really well.
However, you do not have to be out shopping to try on new styles! Sometimes the best way to step out of your fashion character is to get together with friends and play dress-up with each other’s closets. Throw in a bottle of wine for a boost of courage and fun.

Own it!

Have you ever noticed how certain people can make even the most bizarre and bold fashion choices work? They can mix patterns and decades and still somehow end up looking like some kind of style geniuses!

This is because fashion is all about confidence! If you feel insecure about the way you look, it will show; awkward body language such as slouching and nervous expressions are all telltale signs of low self-esteem that will outshine even the most stylish outfits. The key to any makeover is to embrace it and own it! Then, even if you break a few fashion no-nos, everyone will be too dazzled by how well you wear them to even notice.

Fashion gives us the opportunity to present ourselves to the world. You owe it to yourself to match your style with who you are. Giving yourself a makeover is an opportunity to get more in touch with yourself and the people around you by putting your best self forward.

Written By: Magen Callaghan is working on a book Minnie Enlightened inspired by true events

Since the dawn of the Atari parents have worried about the kinds of games their children were being exposed to. Every year video games got more and more elaborate, threatening to eclipse all the amusements of the past. When games were something to build the imagination and social skills. Parents worried that the charm and pleasure of simple pursuits would forever be lost, all for the benefit of good hand/eye coordination. As of late the internet has been able to vastly expand game play and include an old favorite, the game of dressing up. Now there are countless dress up games online. Dress up games online are a far cry from your mother’s closet. They include every doll or fantasy figure imaginable from Barbie to Kim Kardashian. The games are dynamic, engaging and best-of-all, free! One website very often leads to another thereby encouraging continuous play for children. Parents are welcome to join in and spend a pleasant Sunday afternoon dressing up dolls or elves or fairies or anyone that springs forth from an active imagination. The only drawback might be the occasional commercial or a fair amount of cookies but after a few rounds of dressing the high school prom queen these will be a small price to pay for the hours of good, clean fun these websites offer. Not to mention, there’s no giant piles of clothes to clean up once the game is over. Amusing your children is no longer a passive enterprise rife with unfamiliar characters that often alienate parents from connecting with their kids. Dress up games online encourage all the excellent learning opportunities the original game of dress up once offered, interactive play, rich in imaginative initiative. As well as an opportunity to spend quality time with your children, something every parent searches for and that every family benefits from.

Written By: Samantha Graff

Dress up games is a huge trend for young girls. They’re not just for fun either, but have real value. These games utilize a child’s imagination and creativity. Children have to match up different style of clothing and jewelry and accessories. More interactive dress up games allows the child to change the looks of the dress up doll. They may be able to change the skin color, the hair color and style, the eye color, lipstick color, mascara color, and any other type of makeup effect. Even more advanced versions allow the child to decide how much makeup to put on, the shape of the face, and even the shape of the eyebrow or the way the eyelashes goes. Alternate versions of the game gives the child a scenario and the dress up doll must be dressed to fit it. It could be a day at the beach, first date, a day out with friends, or any other scenario. Children must think of which clothes best represents what they’re trying to say. The more c! hoices the child has, the more difficult it gets and the harder the child must think to get their idea across. These games get children thinking about different ways to present the same idea, especially the versions that give a specific scenario. A child can develop their artistic skills at a young age by playing these games. Although these games are mostly aimed for girls, I’ve seen some games where the dress up doll is a sports figure and those seem to be aimed more towards boys. There is also celebrity dress up games where the child is dressing up famous singers, actors, actresses, etc. such as: Hannah Montana, Zac Efron, Britney Spears, and many more options. There are hundreds and hundreds of free websites to play many different versions of the same game. Many children choose to play these games with their parents’ clothes as well. Young girls are famous for taking and using their mother’s lipstick. Young boys may try on their father’s tie or shirt and play house, pretending they are their parents. There are different ways to play, but no matter how a child chooses to play, their imagination is getting a workout.