Just a few shopping days left.  Are you still scrambling for a few ideas?  I think that buying for a spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend can be quite challenging.
 
Here are a few of my favorite ideas:

1. Charity Donation -- A charity donation in someone's name.  My absolute favorite charity is the Starfish Foster Home founded by BYU alumna Amanda de Lange.  She is the "Mother Teresa" to these orphaned Chinese babies who have minor special needs and were abandoned by the government orphanages.  Every year when I am in Xi'an, China, I take groups of tourists to this humble home of miracles.  The Starfish Foster Home has 50 babies under three years old who are waiting for much needed surgeries and a permanent family.  Your heart will swell to see this loving service rendered to precious children.  For more info: www.thestarfishfosterhome.org.

2.  Clean Scented Bath Products -- Most people don't take time to pamper themselves.  I love to give and to receive whipped body lotions in generic scents.  One of my favorites is the ginger soufflé body lotion from Origins.  This heavenly cream is something I would not buy for myself because I see it as a luxury, but I absolutely love it as a gift.  This time of year it is available in gift packs, which is so fun because you get to sample other products.  Available at Macy's and Dillard's.
 
3.  Tom's Shoes -- These comfy shoes are great when you are traveling or just relaxing.  Plus I love the concept of "One for One" For every shoe that is purchased, one pair is donated to a third world country.  I bought a pair and wore them all over Italy.  My favorite are the peep toe wedges.  Available at Nordstrom and JMR.
 
4.  Costume Jewelry -- I think that inexpensive jewelry that is fashionable and fun is a great gift.  Every time the person wears the item, they think of you.  I love to support local stores.  So my first choices are: DownEast Basics at: www.downeastbasics.com and Tribal Jewelry at: www.tribaljewleryunlimited.com and Luv Savvy www.luvsavvy.com
 
5.  Chic on a Shoestring -- Okay...this is a plug for me.  However, it is also a plug for you because I will help you with your wardrobe dilemmas.  Did you ever wonder why you don't like an outfit, but no one could tell you why?  I will tell you why that outfit does not work on your body type and how to find the best pieces for you within your budget.  Great gift idea for husbands to give their wife or treat yourself!  Go to: www.chiconashoestring.com/services.html
 
6.  Travel -- I think a trip is such a fabulous gift.  I love it for two reasons: 1) You get to get away.  2) You get to spend time with someone you love.  Think of all of the fabulous memories that you will share for year's to come.  This is one of the reason's that I started my shopping trips.  I discovered that people like escorted tours and an added bonus of where and how to shop.  This year Chic on a Shoestring trips are going to: Thailand, China, New York and Italy.  Hopefully, I will be adding a trip to France, which would be fabulous... Oui, Oui!  Check out www.chiconashoestring.com/trips.html or www.dickjensentours.com

One of the highlights of my job as a wardrobe stylist is the opportunity to help people see their bodies in a new way. Whether someone is losing or gaining weight, how we view our bodies greatly affects our self-esteem. I have had the privilege of working with the fitness challenge participants for the Utah Valley Magazine. During the past four years, I have met many amazing men and women from all walks of life.  This year, the five winners were on very different journey's with their bodies and personal goals.  We had some of the fitness challenge members lose more than 50 pounds and one woman did not lose a single pound in a whole year of getting healthy.

What I learned from working with these inspiring individuals was how much their attitudes had changed. They truly learned to love their bodies. No matter where you are with your love/hate relationship with your body, I always tell myself that this body needs to last me at least 80 plus years and I need to take of it.
 
Clothing for many people can be viewed as a  way of taking care of our bodies.  When I style someone in an outfit that is flattering to their body type, their personality always shines through because they feel better about themselves. So much of how we feel about our bodies is our mental attitude. Clothing should not be seen as a measure of quantity but more a measure of personal expression.

This fall is spring it is all about selecting the most flattering denim for your body and budget. Learn some of the tricks to dressing slimmer and playing up your assets in your denim.

Wendy: Her body is straight from her waist through hips. Often times when Wendy tries on jeans they are tight in the waist and full in the legs. She needs a straight cut jean with a fuller waist band. The new "right fit" denim comes in a color coding system. Yellow is for straight through the waist and hips.

"Right Fit "jean in the yellow body type with dark wash and straight leg: $49.50

Ruth: Her body is curvy from her waist to hip. Her waist is smaller than her hip line and needs a jean that is cut smaller in the waist and fuller through the hip and thigh. The boot cut "right fit" jean in the red color coding system is the best choice for her body type.

"Right Fit" jean in the red body type with dark wash and boot cut leg: $49.50. Jeans come in petite and tall lengths.

Mandi: Her body is well proportioned through the hip to waist ratio. She is curvy though the hip. Mandi is fashion forward when it comes to a blingy pocket. She wants a fancy pocket. The new "Seven 7" jean from Lane Bryant is a more fashion forward designer jean look.

"Seven 7" jeans are the new designer jean for Lane Bryant. They come is several different washes and pocket styles. This jean is a lower rise jeweled pocket with distressed front: $89.50

Cassi: Her body is tall and her height is in her legs. She is larger on top and narrower on bottom. Her waist is defined and legs are long. Cassi is a great candidate for jean legging or "jegging." Even if you are fuller through the hip but have shapely legs then…try the dark wash denim legging. Balance out with a longer top that has a little bit of volume.

Lane Bryant denim legging "jegging" comes in two fits and washes: $59.50

All of the fashions shown are from Lane Bryant.

Lane Bryant
Fashion Place Mall
www.lanebryant.com