If You Want To Take Sanibel Home, Buy Something At The Island’s Chico’s

A baby boomer (barely) with an eclectic eye on design, I was a prime marketing target for Chico’s. When I experienced my first Chico’s on Sanibel Island, however, I thought it was an island shop, and not a national chain.

Since then, I have shopped in Chico’s around the country, but nothing approached the fun of that first Sanibel Chico’s excursion, nor did the merchandise appeal as much.

So I can’t say that I love Chico’s as strongly as I can say I love the Chico’s on Sanibel.

And I guess I am not alone as the tiny island has been able to support not just one but two shops, though I must confess to only shopping in the original Chico’s on Palm Ridge. There, the store manager entices me with tales of the founding of Chico’s and resolved my confusion with the name.

Since chico in Spanish means boy, I was initially surprised that the store is solely women’s apparel. But the manager showed me who the real Chico was, and that not only dismissed my confusion but added to the charm of shopping in the original store.

In the current economy, despite the great merchandising of Chico’s, I am concerned that an island the size of Sanibel could continue to sustain two shops with the same name and both selling only women’s clothing.

It certainly has been national news that other enterprises from Starbucks to CompUSA have closed some of their stores. And there have been hints such as those posted on that Chico’s net profits have been falling.

Which leaves me feeling bad that an annual tradition I began with the first shopping spree was abandoned on this recent stay on Sanibel. Though each visit to the Island has til now been combined with a visit to the store, our own personal financial concerns deterred me from going shopping in the usual manner.

I hope to make up for this lapse on our next vacation. And, if you want to discover who the real Chico is, I encourage you to go to the store and ask to see Chico’s picture.

Oh, and while you’re there, pick up an item or two so that we can assure that Sanibel’s Chico’s does not join the growing roster of store closings!…

Online Jewelry Shopping – 5 Tips to Ease Up

Online Jewelry Shopping – 5 Tips to Ease Up

The internet has proved a mighty solution to satisfy buyers with fast and easy tool to purchase goods. However, in the case of gemstones, it’s not likewise, always.

Latest developments in gemstone treatments and artificial stones have made gemstone jewelry buying, a challenge. It’s a natural tendency of people to look for easier and convenient channels to get things done quickly and authentically.

Finding a genuine dealer or a trustworthy shop, is as important as seeing a stone in person rather than in picture. However, now, due to trusted ecommerce, there is trusted gemstone shopping. Selling an array of assorted, exquisite precious gemstone jewelry has become as easy and acceptable as ever. Mesmerizing tanzanite earrings, emerald earrings, and ruby rings can never fade away their fans.

Online shopping facilitates favorable usage of concessions and moreover, discount coupons to provide the best bargains to the customer. The following five tips are as easy and assisting enough to fulfill your motto:

I. Try looking for online sites, which spare a list of offers, brand names in jewelry industry. These are often found in FAQ section of a brand website. In addition, this section provides many commonly queried questions answered about gems and jewelry.

II. An ideal jewelry website should provide search box functionality. This makes comfortable for the buyer to navigate through the site and find the desired catalogue page. For instance, Angara has two user-friendly search sections. Firstly, for searching anything according to the keyword. Secondly, the other section eases it to specific product type, budget, and gemstone required.

III. One of the most added stars of a shopping website are its rave reviews. Therefore, never forget to read one of those quoted comments about the products, retailer, or company. It provides valuable information and criticism on goods and products told by previous customers. Enriching the website with your nice reviews, in case you buy some products, is also a good act towards increasing public interest.

Reputed newspapers like The Philadelphia Enquirer praised a jewelry retailer’s elegant and fascinating collection of engagement rings.

IV. Always check before logging into a website. A secure site is the key to purchase goods with a trust. Secure connection can be checked by clicking on the “trust” tab. Trusted seals count on names like Thawte, GeoTrust, VeriSign, and BBB Online, among others.

A specific website is believed to be authentic when its has an added “s” at the end of http, altogether showing as https. Clicking on the seal will approve of the site’s up-to-date security and current functioning.

V. It is always wise to read the privacy policy. This habit ensures what information is collected from the buyer and how it is going to be utilized. In case of lack of this essential tool, then shouldn’t waste time surf on that particular website.

A privacy policy ensures the secrecy of the information and avoids exploitation of it always.

Such minor, but important points, if kept in mind, can really make a buyer’s online jewelry shopping experience an amazing pleasurable journey for buyers. Moreover, a promised bond of trust and faith with credibility, for retailers.…

Mens Designer Fashion

This season, mens designer fashion is full of exciting trends to suit all tastes from casual to flamboyant and everything in between. For those who prefer a more understated look, there are plenty of chunky cable knitwear items to choose from including jumpers and cardigans in soft shades of grays, beige and browns as well as tight fitting long sleeved woolen sweaters in darker shades like black, navy and olive. Fair Isle and Aran knitwear patterns are also making a comeback and anything with shearling trim or detail such as a faux sheepskin gillet will also be a key trend.
For the younger and more style conscious, it has to be the military look, whether you go the full hog with combat trousers, three-quarter length coat or short jacket with full military-style lapels and brass buttons or keep warm and fashionable in an ultra-trendy aviator jacket. You can also mix in a bit of this trend with the more casual everyday mens designer fashion. Again, the key colours for this look are mainly earthy shades like olive, khaki, beige mixed with various shade of chocolate and rich browns. Confused? There is a great site I found to help with simple and easy to follow tips and information.
Suits for men have moved away from the so-called skinny boy suit of recent years to a sleeker, smarter style that is more versatile for all ages. The new cut is, one that accents a sense of the masculine through three key silhouette elements – broad shoulders, a slim waist and slim trousers. Double breasted sports jackets and coats are also big news and are ideal to team up with jeans for a more dressed down look. There are a mixture of fabrics to choose from including tweeds and herringbone, pinstripes and satin to wool and even velvet. This was actually very big on the catwalks with many of the top designers including it in their collections for mens designer fashion this season. While head to toe velvet complete with frilly shirt and even the biggest thing since the man-bag – a man brooch – will not necessarily be for anyone, the very brave and daring dandies out there will be sure to embrace it. However, for those who prefer a less flamboyant approach to this trend, why not team a velvet waistcoat or jacket with a plain pair of trousers or even jeans. Alternatively opt for just the velvet trousers with a shirt and sports jacket. If all that is still too much, add just a touch of velvet perhaps on the lapels of your suit jacket or a trim of it on your shirt or coat for a more subtle effect.…

Fashion Designer Job Outlook Things To Consider

There can be many things to consider in terms of the current fashion designer job outlook. Individuals that are very interested in physical appearance usually are very good at this job. These individuals have an eye for detail and are trying to make people look their best. There are many different things that a person can do with a degree in this profession.
If an individual has a passion for creating clothing lines they will be able to establish themselves within the profession. Individuals are allowed to show their creativity in many different ways. Being able to create something that a wide variety of people wear is very interesting.
If people are more comfortable with the written word they have the option of becoming a journalist within the profession. Being able to inform people about the things that are trendy can be very exciting. Many times people are comfortable sharing their opinions about clothing styles with the public.
An individual can live anywhere in the world and be able to use this profession to their advantage. People also have the opportunity to work for themselves if they are interested in starting their own company. There is a certain level of fame and notoriety that can come with this kind of work.
Many individuals like the fact that they can start working on multiple projects at the same time. The ability to work on more than one project at a time is usually interesting to the majority of people involved in this profession. Most individuals appreciate the opportunity to impact a whole generation of people.
People also have the opportunity to work with the entertainment community in some cases. This is a great opportunity for people that are trying to start new trends. Sometimes people like the freedom to create new clothing options for a whole generation. Individuals that are creative usually need an outlet for their creativity.
People that have no of them seeing the positive sides of the fashion designer job outlook. Everyone needs clothing, therefore it is easy to see that the industry will keep expanding. It is always a good idea to have access to a job that is constantly going to be in demand. When someone has the ability to create new ideas they will usually have a high level of self-esteem. Individuals that have high self-esteem are quite often very productive within the workplace. Productivity leads to earning more money in the long run.…

How JustFab Works

How JustFab Works

Personalized shopping is catching on in a big way, and is one of the largest personalized shopping sites on the internet. JustFabulous offers it’s own exclusive brand of women’s shoes, handbags, jewelry and fashion accessories to it’s members with a unique twist. Upon becoming a VIP member at JustFab, at the start of every month your own personal stylist will choose a variety of shoes, handbags and accessories that they feel best matches your fashion tastes. Sound fun to you? Then let’s look closer at exactly how works and what makes it unique.

The main draw to JustFab is the ability to have your own personal stylist pick out shoes for you that they feel match your fashion and style tastes. The best part though, is that every item is available for $39.95 and all shipping costs are included in that price. This article won’t go into much detail on the quality of the shoes themselves but you can find a link to various reviews in the resource section. Instead, we’re going to mainly go over the process itself and take a closer look at how everything works.

Each new member is required to take a short fashion personality quiz upon registering. The quiz is all multiple choice questions asking you about what fashion styles you prefer. You may be presented with three celebrities and be asked what celebrities closet you would like to raid, or be presented with three different shoe styles and asked which one you would prefer to wear to work. The quiz will be referenced by your stylist who will use it to decide on what items you will see in your boutique. Within 24 hours you will be notified via email that your stylist selections are ready.

When you enter your JustFab boutique you’ll be able to purchase any of your stylist selections or browse through various collections that are available to all members. After you make your very first purchase you will be enrolled in the VIP membership program. Their VIP membership is no charge and does not require you to make any purchases, however you do need to be aware of one thing. At the start of each new month, when your stylist selections are ready, if you do not wish to make a purchase you are required to notify JustFabulous that you want to skip this month by clicking on a button in your boutique. If you do not do this, then your credit card will be charged $39.95 and you will be given a credit which can be used towards any item in the future.

Those are the basics behind how works. As you can see, it is a personalized shopping experience allows anyone the opportunity to stay current with the trends and to pick up some stylish items for a reasonable price.…

Shopping Malls Online

Shopping Malls Online

Shopping Online

There are so many advantages to this technology that it is making the alternative of visiting a physical mall ever less desirable. As aging kicks in and feet and back give way during long hikes through shops that are too big and cumbersome to easily find your way around, the idea of turning on a computer and checking things out through the search engines is by far the best way to go.

Retailing is changing and shoppers are deserting such centers in droves. In my local area there are closures taking place almost daily as rents soar, overheads drag on and the income is simply not there.

Massive Debts and Exaggerated Prices

In a discussion with one merchant who was closing the following week she explained that she had thousands of dollars’ worth of overdue bills and could not continue to run her business after some 25 years of trading. This is the story repeated worldwide as internet shopping and home delivery of goods take over.

It is problems like this that drive retail prices up while greed and a continuing thirst for money by CEO’s, who are paid according to how much money their business makes, is harming the economic survival of many around the globe. It is foolish, therefore, to continue to support them and far better to choose the alternative and shop online.

Cheaper and More Convenient Shopping

My recent purchase of a washing machine from an internet trader saved me over $100 and the article arrived promptly the following morning in excellent condition. The delivery men installed it and offered to take the old one away. That is service that the white goods merchant in my area could not match. On my advice my daughter then purchased a new fridge and micro wave from the same company and was just as happy having also saved a heap of money.

While some may think this form of trading can be dicey there are more pros than cons and ways to safeguard yourself and your money. If, for example, you are buying from unscrupulous dealers who simply want your money and who do not stand behind the products they market you might try an auction house or someone dealing with you from their backyard. For that reason alone it is better to shop with merchants of long standing who have a reputation and a business to protect.

It’s Just Like a Regular Mall

A good shopping place in cyberspace starts with a heap of merchants who are checked out by the thousands of affiliates who promote their products over their own web sites along with the agencies that take them on board as sellers to be trusted. Buying from them is one of the easiest things to do as the center is set up with such companies that can be relied on and who are more than willing to refund if the goods supplied do not meet the expected standard for some other reason granted me the right to represent them.

Many merchants operate their own web sites like shops and they can be browsed without hindrance and goods purchased are generally delivered to the door. You get to them by clicking on their banner or text message. That means no transport is needed for the buyer and there are no hassles, parking woes, traffic fines and long queues at check outs to contend with.

Buying goods from shops of this nature means you get them in pristine condition as they have not been tried on, touched or handled by the myriad of shoppers who might pass by them in a regular store. All in all shopping online in one of these places is far better than through an auction site as you get the best price, the guarantees, and the service you expect. Available 24/7 they are a convenience for when one is in the mood to acquire purchases and this gives the owner of such a site peace of mind also as it is also a great way for them to work from home.…

The Very Best of Luxury Shopping

The Very Best of Luxury Shopping

There are numerous locations around the world offering the very best when it comes to luxury shopping. Here are some tips when looking for some of the most luxurious shopping districts and malls throughout the world.

Head over to the USA and you can find the Via Bellagio in Las Vegas, the mall is said to be the luxury goods center of Las Vegas overflowing with some of the finest in designer names. On your visit check out the Via Fiore with its collections of exclusive shops, the lobby, full of gifts and everything to fulfill the desires of your loved ones and take a slow stroll along the Pool Promenade before heading for something to eat.

The Villagio Mall in Doha, Qatar is situated under a dome that is painted to look like the sky, when walking around this stunning mall you could be forgiven for thinking you are on the set of a movie. After a hard days shopping in over 200 stores why not relax on one of the many chairs set along the canal and take in the luxury experience of shopping at its very best, then take a gondola ride through the Italian themed mall.

The Columbus Circle Mall in New York is by no means the biggest shopping mall in the world, however it is one of the best when it comes to luxury, the mall has a very distinctive blend of high end shops and upscale restaurants. On your visit to the mall you should take a look at the Sushi restaurant which offers a great tasting menu, just one of the fabulous restaurants and diners set out amongst designer names.

The Dubai Mall is one of the largest luxury shopping malls in the world, here you are can wander around a theme park, watch fish swimming past in the aquarium and dine and shop to your heart’s content, the shopping mall has everything you could ever want and more all set over three stunning floors. During your visit don’t forget to visit the Dubai fountain with its lights, music and water show, the Sega Republic spread out over five zones and take in the winter wonderland of the ice rink.

When looking for the very best in luxury shopping experiences one of the must visit malls is found in Australia, the Melbourne GPO merges luxury fashion labels with some of the finest in dining and entertainment under the roof of what used to be the General Post Office. If you are planning an event of any kind and want a room with a view that is stunning, then you may wish to hire the multi-purpose event space at the top of the GPO; with its floor to ceiling glass walls this is the perfect room to entertain your guests in true style.…