Thinking of Giving Clothes as a Gift? There's one Recipient on your Gift List Who's Sure to be Thrilled.When it comes to the art of giving, a gift of clothes is fraught with peril. We've all had encounters from the receiving end. We all have stories to tell. If you don't, you will, just give it time.Mine started early. My grandmother, having survived the Depression, knew how to stretch a dollar.
Buying clothes for her grandkids meant getting everything 3 or 4 sizes too big so we could "grow into it". We endured our baggy clothes, with the sleeves and pant legs rolled up, until we were finally big enough to wear them with dignity. By which time we'd more or less destroyed them.??Then there's my husband. Heaven forbid I should try to give the man a Polo shirt with an uneven hemline. Polos are usually made longer in the back to help them stay "tucked", but hubby goes un-tucked -- always.
He shuns any shirt that breaks his rule, no matter how subtly. For an otherwise easy-going guy, it's almost perverse.If you must give clothes this season, there's one giftee on your list sure to look great in any outfit you buy him. He'll wear your gift with pride and appreciation, head held high and tail wagging.?That's right, your dog. Or your best friend's dog. It's so easy it's almost a no-brainer.?Dogs love any kind of attention you lavish on them.
So, Spike will wear his outfit - whether it's cute or ridiculous - as soon as he sees how happy it makes his owner. Fido will eat up all that extra attention he gets from strangers. And Fifi might even learn to Vogue for the camera.?Clothes shopping for dogs is a lot like clothes shopping for babies. Unless you're going for practicality, cuteness is the bottom line. And it's easy to accomplish, given that any dog wearing clothes looks pretty darned cute.?Choices in dog clothes range from winter sweaters to football jerseys and summer tees.
You can get a set of flannel PJ's for bedtime or a terry robe for after bath. There's even an entire line of Harley clothes for dogs, complete with leather cap and studded collar. Dog costumes made for parties and holidays are just too cute for words.?If you really want your gift to be a hit with admirers, accessorize. Try a designer dog collar and maybe a cool pair of sunglasses--they make them just for dogs. And I recently heard that leg warmers are making a come back.?Got a mischievous sense of humor? Making the baby look too silly might be a no-no, but it's good clean fun when it comes to dressing up your dog.?There's really only a couple of rules you'll need to keep in mind when shopping for dog clothes.
One is that if the dog in question is an avid chewer, you should avoid buying him anything too tempting. Shiny buttons, fringe, and feathers are examples that come to mind. An object that can easily be chewed off and swallowed becomes a choking hazard or can get stuck in the dog's digestive tract.?The other rule is that any dog, no matter how tolerant, will be more comfortable wearing clothes that fit. Proper fit typically requires measuring from the dog's collar to the base of her tail for length. Most garment's girth can be adjusted with velcro tabs, but could still be an issue with a barrel-chested breed such as a bulldog.
Measurements are in inches. Remember that a dog will never "diet down" into an outfit that's too small , or -- unless you're shopping for a puppy or a pregnant female -- "grow into" an item that's too big. (Sorry, Grandma.)Oh, and one more thing--if you're handy with a sewing machine, you can make your own dog clothes creations. Just don't forget?to include an opening for the dog to relieve himself. Don't laugh, it happens a lot!Now, if you're shopping for your own dog, you're all set.
If you're buying clothes for someone else's dog, I've got a few more tips for you.Surveys conducted on the subject of gift preferences of men and women have shown that men prefer gifts that are more playful or practical. So, if the dog's owner is male this might translate into a doggie Harley jacket or a reflective hunting vest (more on practical clothing in another article!). Women, on the other hand, prefer gifts that are beautiful, memorable, and personal--except if the woman is someone you don't know well. The more distant the relationship between giver and receiver, the riskier it is to give a personal gift. So, be they man or woman, if you don't know the dog owner very well, you probably shouldn't be buying dog clothes.
This leaves us with the woman who's a loved one, dear friend, or close personal acquaintance. It shouldn't be hard to find an item for her dog that's either beautiful or memorable or both, and it will of course be personal!Well, I hope you'll have fun picking out something nice for the canine on your shopping list. If you get a chance, send me a photo. I love cute doggie pics and I'll add them to my site. Think of it as a gift that I'm sure to appreciate!.
? 2004 NetBrainer LLC. Carolyn Schweitzer is owner and editor of Great-Dog-Gift.com. If you need inspiration for dog clothes, visit her at http://www.great-dog-gift.com/dog_clothes.html. The site offers a wide range of choices for dog gift shoppers, plus shopping and gift-giving tips. She's always looking for new dog gift ideas and dog stories to share with her readers. You can reach her by email at netbrainer@verizon.net.Baby Clothes Expert Gives Away Free Money Saving Shopping Tips
San Francisco, CA (ContentDesk) February 20, 2006 -- Baby clothes are essential purchases new parents need to make intelligently.
Parents should not buy outfits for their baby based only on what looks cute or what's in style. Wanda Lam of New Parent Baby Guide (http://www.NewParentBabyGuide.com) warns new parents that they could be wasting their money if they don't have a plan before they go out shopping."Parents need to realize that their newborn will grow out of their outfits quickly," says Wanda.
She thinks baby clothes are expensive because they won't fit a baby for very long.
Buying clothes for a baby or toddler is not the same as buying clothes for adults.
That's because adults' growth periods have stabilized, while babies are still growing at a rapid rate.
Wanda therefore advises parents to keep this factor in mind when shopping for baby apparel."The best thing to do is...
Casual Clothes Are The Way To Go
Mothers can look good wearing casual clothes too.Just because you're already embracing motherhood doesn't mean that you have to look drugged half the time. And yet, this is the kind of mindset that some mothers have. There are people who prefer to wear casual clothes in and out of the home instead of dressing up to the nines just to go out grocery shopping ? understood! Casual clothes don't have to be drab, mind you. Everyone thinks that casual clothes are something that either the too-young wear, too-old-to-care wear or too-tired-and beaten wear. That's absolutely not true?.not true at all.Casual clothes can be funky and funny too.Give your casual clothes a new twistTake for example, casual clothes with funny and in-your-face captions can give new meaning to simple casual clothes.
It could be just a plain t-shirt or sweatshirt but if you wear casual clothing with a funky or meaningful caption (like a very personal saying or meaningful quote), you can make the casual clothe seem...
Casual Clothes Are The Way To Go
Book Summary: What is the Emperor Wearing
This article is based on the following book:What is the Emperor Wearing?Truth-Telling in Business RelationshipsBy Laurie WeissButterworth-HeinnemanISBN 0-7506-9872-1217 pagesOnce upon a time, an emperor who loved clothes was approached by two con men who made him an offer he couldn't refuse. They promised to weave him a special cloth that would be invisible to anyone that is stupid or unworthy of their position. As the work proceeded, theemperor sent high-ranking officials to inspect the cloth. While these officials saw only air where the cloth was supposedly being made, they reported that the work was proceeding well for fear of being considered stupid or unworthy of their rank. Finally the emperor and his entourage came to inspect the cloth.
None could see it, but all, also fearing to be known as stupid, proclaimed its magnificence. The con men pretended to cut and sew while everyone supported the deception. When the emperor wore clothes made from the "fabric," the crowd likewise...
Book Summary: What is the Emperor Wearing
Casual Clothes Are The Way To Go
Mothers can look good wearing casual clothes too.Just because you're already embracing motherhood doesn't mean that you have to look drugged half the time. And yet, this is the kind of mindset that some mothers have. There are people who prefer to wear casual clothes in and out of the home instead of dressing up to the nines just to go out grocery shopping ? understood! Casual clothes don't have to be drab, mind you. Everyone thinks that casual clothes are something that either the too-young wear, too-old-to-care wear or too-tired-and beaten wear. That's absolutely not true?.not true at all.Casual clothes can be funky and funny too.Give your casual clothes a new twistTake for example, casual clothes with funny and in-your-face captions can give new meaning to simple casual clothes.
It could be just a plain t-shirt or sweatshirt but if you wear casual clothing with a funky or meaningful caption (like a very personal saying or meaningful quote), you can make the casual clothe seem...
Casual Clothes Are The Way To Go
Book Summary: What is the Emperor Wearing
This article is based on the following book:What is the Emperor Wearing?Truth-Telling in Business RelationshipsBy Laurie WeissButterworth-HeinnemanISBN 0-7506-9872-1217 pagesOnce upon a time, an emperor who loved clothes was approached by two con men who made him an offer he couldn't refuse. They promised to weave him a special cloth that would be invisible to anyone that is stupid or unworthy of their position. As the work proceeded, theemperor sent high-ranking officials to inspect the cloth. While these officials saw only air where the cloth was supposedly being made, they reported that the work was proceeding well for fear of being considered stupid or unworthy of their rank. Finally the emperor and his entourage came to inspect the cloth.
None could see it, but all, also fearing to be known as stupid, proclaimed its magnificence. The con men pretended to cut and sew while everyone supported the deception. When the emperor wore clothes made from the "fabric," the crowd likewise...
Book Summary: What is the Emperor Wearing
Baby Clothes Expert Gives Away Free Money Saving Shopping Tips
San Francisco, CA (ContentDesk) February 20, 2006 -- Baby clothes are essential purchases new parents need to make intelligently.
Parents should not buy outfits for their baby based only on what looks cute or what's in style. Wanda Lam of New Parent Baby Guide (http://www.NewParentBabyGuide.com) warns new parents that they could be wasting their money if they don't have a plan before they go out shopping."Parents need to realize that their newborn will grow out of their outfits quickly," says Wanda.
She thinks baby clothes are expensive because they won't fit a baby for very long.
Buying clothes for a baby or toddler is not the same as buying clothes for adults.
That's because adults' growth periods have stabilized, while babies are still growing at a rapid rate.
Wanda therefore advises parents to keep this factor in mind when shopping for baby apparel."The best thing to do is...
Creating A Winning Plus Size Wardrobe on A Budget
It doesn't matter what kind of style you prefer, there are thousands of designers out there who can make you feel like the most beautiful person in the world... for a hefty price!
But, most of us out there just can't afford those high prices.
And, if you're a plus size, it seems like the prices are just downright unrealistic.
So, what do you do?
You still want to look like a million bucks; you just don't want to spend it.
Here are some ideas to help you build a winning plus size wardrobe on a low-key budget:
1. Watch the papers.
While it might be boring, or depressing, looking through the ads each week to see what is on sale, and where, it does help.
Finding a great sale at a department store on great clothes is always something to take in.
Usually, where there is one sale, there are other stores trying to compete for business as well, so shop around the stores nearby, and you can find some great deals...
perfume Dog Clothes make Great Gifts! Clothes 
Hot Fun In The Summertime
Hot Fun In The SummertimeI lived in central Florida for fifteen long, hot years. This northern girl literally wilted on the vine there. I just could not adapt to the heat. My biggest complaint was that for some reason Florida was no longer regarded as a tropical climate, at least not when it came to business clothing. Whereas previously, a loose cotton or linen guayabera was the obvious and acceptable choice for the blistering weather, nowadays it could be a hundred degrees outside and yet everyone...
Hot Fun In The Summertime fruit baskets Dog Clothes make Great Gifts!