Dear Friend,

On A Personal Note...

The final days of summer are upon us and thoughts are turning to autumn. With kids headed back to school earlier and earlier it is only natural that we start thinking about the cozy clothes of cooler days.

A fabulous phenomenon has begun to take prominence in the retail world... The Preseason Sale! In the past week I have received three separate catalogs that featured fall/winter items at a 15-25% discount if purchased before Labor Day! And, as I was surfing the web looking for thrifty chic LOOK WHAT I'VE FOUND items, I noticed the same preseason discounts offered on many of my favorite sites.

This retail trend is a blessing to all of us who wear common sizes that never seem to make it to the sale rack and those of us who simply don't have the patience to wait for things to go on sale! So gather all the catalogs that have begun to clutter your mailbox and collect all of the preseason coupons that you see in your Sunday paper and start thinking about the key items you need next season. But what ever you do, don't make a purchase without asking or researching if there is a discount that you were not aware of. It never hurts to inquire... and you just never know when that simple question will save you this week’s gas money!

Be Happy! Be Beautiful! Be Thrifty!

Tips - Demin Season

It's denim season and everybody is stocking up on deeply discounted dungarees. One thing to remember when buying your new favorite, fits-me-like-a-glove jeans is to note the amount of lycra, spandex or elastin in the fabric content. The higher the percentage of lycra, spandex or elastin, the more the jeans will grow or stretch out.

With every 1% of stretch content in your jeans, they will grow an overall average of 5%. So, a 4% elastin content will see your jeans grow 20% overall, or an entire size after just one wearing! Now your jeans will shrink back down a bit after washing, but a good rule of thumb when purchasing jeans with a higher level of stretch is, if you can get them on, buttoned and zipped... they fit! Natural wear will help mold them to your body and achieve a comfortable give.

If the jeans have a smaller percentage of stretch content, then pay closer attention to the comfort level and fit while in the dressing room. They are sure to grow a bit, but will remain truer to size.

Latest Poll

I would classify my sun exposure as:

I am thrilled to find out that 76% of you partake of rare to occasional direct sun exposure and protect your skin from the sun every day. There is nothing that ages the skin faster than the sun and it is believed that we could stunt the aging process completely if we were never exposed to the sun or the environment's free radicals. Can you imagine having the same skin at 60 that you did at 6?!

Even if we are not laying out at the beach or pool, we are still being subjected to both UVA and UVB rays as we go about our daily routines. An SPF (Sun Protection Factor) treatment of some sort is a preservative/preventative MUST every day! Many of us are confused as to what SPF really means, the difference between UVA and UVB rays and what the number stands for.

Well, the number is basically buying you time in the sun. We all have a natural sun exposure defense that allows our skin to adequately fiend off the damaging effects of the sun. You know when your defenses are down and when you've met your threshold when you start to get that itchy feeling and your skin feels like it’s cooking. For most of us, our natural defense is less than 10 minutes. The more natural oil and pigment you have in your skin the higher your defense level.

The number of the sun protection factor will allow you that much time multiplied by your own natural defenses. So if you have a 10 minute threshold and you are wearing an SPF 15, you have bought yourself 150 minutes in the sun without penetrating damage. As you can imagine, if your natural defense is less, you need to use a higher SPF.

UVA rays are the AGING rays and UVB rays are the BURNING rays. The UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin and effect collagen, clarity and the cohesiveness of the skin over time. The UVB rays affect the upper layers of the skin resulting in color change and immediate visual results of the sun damage.

If you are someone who hates the feel of a heavy sun block, I encourage you to check out many of the new products on the market. With each passing year, chemical innovations and technologies greatly improve the consistency and potency of sun protection. You are sure to find SPF included in many of the products that you naturally use every day, making it easier and easier to get the protection you need. So be sure to shop for daily skin products that include an SPF. And with all of the fabulous sunless tanners, body makeup and spray on tans currently on the market there is never a need to go without a glow!

ANDY'S LATEST POLL:
What percent of the time do you rely on a seamstress and alterations to perfect the fit and look of your garments?
VOTE NOW

This Month's Cents Of Style® Accessory Suite

A rich looking graphic handbag elevates any outfit and offers a chic, stylish edge that is both classic and modern! This month's WILD ROSE Cents of Style Accessory Suite is a gorgeous collection that reflects both the hottest trends and the masterful use of stripes to create high wattage style that will beautifully bridge the seasons!

The handbag is super cool. If you love the Michael Kors "Roadie" style handbag, you are going to flip for this fantastic striped slouch bag with patent details. The bag is beautifully made and the details sell it as a much more expensive handbag. I have added the hottest accessory of this season and the coming seasons, bangle bracelets. The high gloss resin bangles are uniquely contoured. The uneven shape adds an artistic element that looks expensive and less ordinary. The black bracelet is thick and substantial and the thinner red bangle adds a saucy touch of style that works to punch up the black and natural white of the striped handbag.

JUST $49.50
BUY IT NOW!

Have You Tried...

Aussie Deeeeep 3 Minute Miracle Moisture Treatment

I don't know about you, but I have summer hay head! My hair is feeling the effects of chlorine, salt water, salt air, sun and over styling! When things get this bad I always reach for my Aussie Deeeeep 3 Minute Miracle (or 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor when I can find it at my local store... I love them both!).

For the money, this is the best intense conditioning treatment on the market. It leaves your hair feeling soft and looking shiny without weighing it down. The smell is unique and pleasant and it works in the time you can get your legs shaved!

You can currently score three bottles on the Walgreen's Website for $10 bucks or $3.99 a bottle. (WOOHOO!) Give it a try; I think you will be impressed. Adios hay head!

www.walgreens.com

Sixth Cents - The Return of the CAPE!

This autumn's hottest outerwear shape is the CAPE!


A close cousin to the poncho and the wrap, the cape is emerging as this season's fresh topper.


You are sure to find "sleeveless" cape-like influences in dresses, jackets, sweaters and tops. The wide draped cape sleeve is an evolution of the recent kimono craze, as the silhouettes are quite similar. So don’t ditch your kimono tops just yet.


If you are handy with knitting or crochet needles, now is the time to get your creative fingers working. Capes are relatively simple to make and this year they are fabulously chic! Keep in mind that the hottest colors for fall are black, gray (silver), camel, red, yellow and plum.