There are plenty of ways to make your clothing budget go farther this season. Living within a budget does not mean having to settle for poor quality clothing.
There are four things that we look at when purchasing clothing for our customers at Black Cat Plus: Quality, Price, Trend, and Brand.
Quality refers to two things: fabric and garment workmanship. I have talked about how important it is to invest in garments that can be worn year round. We have added our Four Seasons Boutique with pieces that we have found to have excellent quality, great style, and can be worn year round. Synthetic fabrics such as polyester and spandex are also more moderately priced and high quality. Lightweight wools and cashmeres are always a good investment as they can also be worn year-round.
Next, really inspect the fabric and workmanship of the garment from the collar to the hem. When examing the workmanship look at buttons, collar, seams, and lining. The buttons should be secured through the layers of fabric. The collar should fold and not gather or pucker. Inside seams and patterns should match and there should not be any hanging threads. Look at the stitching to make sure that it is straight. The lining should have extra material and not be hanging.
Pay attention to how close the clothing piece reflects the season's trends. A good way to still keep in line with trends without taking a chance that your trendy piece will lose its luster after the season is to invest in a trendy color that can be worn into the following season. Good bets this spring---anything green! Investing in one good piece and mixing it with a more trendy/less expensive piece is another good way to compromise without breaking the bank.
Base the price on a cost per wear formula. How many times do you anticipate wearing a particular piece of clothing relative to its cost as it can make the difference as to whether to invest.
Brand name is also a consideration. With our Black Cat Plus Label products--(one of these days I will write about my experience with designing and the process of manufacturing--it's been quite a learning experience) our goal is to offer stylish, contemporary, plus size clothing of good quality and at moderate prices.
Of course, shop the sales!! Keep in contact with your favorite stores. You can even send us a note if you want us to let you know if an item goes on sale. In addition to our Back Alley Clearance Items, we have added our Daily Value Category for a daily special--either dollars or percentage off on a surprise item. Check back daily to see if one of your favorite regular priced items has made its way to our Daily Value Category.
More as it happens! Jodell
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Friday, March 7, 2008
Read Jodell's Guest Post at Big Beautiful U!
Read my guest Post when you get a minute and check out this site from "A plus-size mom with a plus-size personality writing about fashion, beauty and advice for all of us big, beautiful women of the world!"
I was excited to do a guest post for Sandy of Big Beatiful U as to what is coming up this spring for the plus size woman!
I am also excited to see another plus size resource such as BBU! Categories range from beauty to health and fitness to plus size news. There is a lots and lots of information right at your finger tips!
I love the sense of community that BBU and other plus size referral sites offer. We must support and take advantage of sites such as BBU--they save us time, give us another perspective, and offer us the opportunity to exchange ideas and information. Check it out---and while you are there---read my post for the spring preview! More as it happens Jodell
I was excited to do a guest post for Sandy of Big Beatiful U as to what is coming up this spring for the plus size woman!
I am also excited to see another plus size resource such as BBU! Categories range from beauty to health and fitness to plus size news. There is a lots and lots of information right at your finger tips!
I love the sense of community that BBU and other plus size referral sites offer. We must support and take advantage of sites such as BBU--they save us time, give us another perspective, and offer us the opportunity to exchange ideas and information. Check it out---and while you are there---read my post for the spring preview! More as it happens Jodell
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Accessories that Accomodate and Flatter
Accessories don't have to cost an arm and a leg this season. We can have fun, flirty and eco-conscious necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.
The focus is on the wrist this spring: adorn your wrist with fun, playful bangles and materials that remind us of our connection to the earth, sky and sea. At Black Cat Plus, we have recently begun working on our accessory line to find pieces just like our clothing lines, that coordinate with our stylish, contemporary plus size groupings and fit and flatter.
We had questions from customers in the store and on the web about which pieces we would recommend with our featured designers. so....we got to thinking, what if we did our homework and pushed the designers to make pieces that WE CAN WEAR! It took some time, but we found two designers who accomodated our wishes and you will be seeing their work featured on our site--Nina Nguyen and Margery Epstein. We are excited to introduce them and their work to you and hope you will be excited to add their pieces to your wardrobe.
We are currently working with three designers and manufacturers to make sure that the pieces we select are flattering to the plus size silhouette and are long enough to accomodate without distorting the look of the piece. Ever tried to pry on a bracelet that was made for a size 2 wrist? How about a necklace that you loved but was too short? Not good.
Have a fashion emergency that involves your accessories? Now, we can help! Remember: Focus is on the wrist!! Check out our Black Cat Plus Bracelets! More to come!! Jodell
The focus is on the wrist this spring: adorn your wrist with fun, playful bangles and materials that remind us of our connection to the earth, sky and sea. At Black Cat Plus, we have recently begun working on our accessory line to find pieces just like our clothing lines, that coordinate with our stylish, contemporary plus size groupings and fit and flatter.
We had questions from customers in the store and on the web about which pieces we would recommend with our featured designers. so....we got to thinking, what if we did our homework and pushed the designers to make pieces that WE CAN WEAR! It took some time, but we found two designers who accomodated our wishes and you will be seeing their work featured on our site--Nina Nguyen and Margery Epstein. We are excited to introduce them and their work to you and hope you will be excited to add their pieces to your wardrobe.
We are currently working with three designers and manufacturers to make sure that the pieces we select are flattering to the plus size silhouette and are long enough to accomodate without distorting the look of the piece. Ever tried to pry on a bracelet that was made for a size 2 wrist? How about a necklace that you loved but was too short? Not good.
Have a fashion emergency that involves your accessories? Now, we can help! Remember: Focus is on the wrist!! Check out our Black Cat Plus Bracelets! More to come!! Jodell
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Seasonless Dressing
Svoboda's Valerie Jacket and Charlotte Pant at The Black Cat Plus Four Seasons BoutiqueBack from the Trade Shows! We saw some great new items to help you fill your closet with great essential pieces this coming spring!
Yes, pics are coming soon and you will be able to pre-order your favorites! Don't be left out!
Small boutiques such as ours have limited quantities and we want you to have the pieces you cannot live without.
Of particular Fashion Interest---You will find this coming season a trend towards fashionable clothes that are considered seasonless. What is seasonless dressing? Seasonless dressing offers clothes that can be worn year-round, taken from spring to summer to fall and depending upon where you live--even part of the winter. With our climate getting warmer as a whole and our desire to wear lighterweight clothing, designers and clothing manufacturers have responded with fabrics such as Modal and combed cotton that can be worn throughout the year. Over the next few days we will be adding our Four Seasons Category to our site. A perfect example above: Svoboda's Valerie Jacket and Charlotte Pant. This jacket and matching pant can be worn year round.
Yes, pics are coming soon and you will be able to pre-order your favorites! Don't be left out!
Small boutiques such as ours have limited quantities and we want you to have the pieces you cannot live without.
Of particular Fashion Interest---You will find this coming season a trend towards fashionable clothes that are considered seasonless. What is seasonless dressing? Seasonless dressing offers clothes that can be worn year-round, taken from spring to summer to fall and depending upon where you live--even part of the winter. With our climate getting warmer as a whole and our desire to wear lighterweight clothing, designers and clothing manufacturers have responded with fabrics such as Modal and combed cotton that can be worn throughout the year. Over the next few days we will be adding our Four Seasons Category to our site. A perfect example above: Svoboda's Valerie Jacket and Charlotte Pant. This jacket and matching pant can be worn year round.
For now, check out http://stores.blackcatplus.com/Categories.bok?category=Kiyonna our Kiyonna clothing boutique leads the way in seasonless dressing.
We have chosen over 20 items to begin this category. It is just another way to offer another alternative in lifestyle dressing for our customers.
Jodell
We have chosen over 20 items to begin this category. It is just another way to offer another alternative in lifestyle dressing for our customers.
Jodell
Friday, February 15, 2008
Eco-friendly Fashion: The new Black is GREEN
Hi From Las Vegas!! The CFO---Chief Fashion Officer and our buyers from Black Cat Plus are at our second Magic trade show. It has been a crazy week! And fun to see what is ahead!
By the way, I found out what Magic stands for. Men's Apparel Guild Association of California. However, there are not just men's fashions at Magic. Picture a trade show with miiiiiiles of clothing, accessories, shoes. It is impressive... and for retailers an efficient way to do business and to get an overview of trends in fashion.
It is the place where we conduct the business of fashion--where Wall Street and the fashion industry come together and it takes place twice a year, once in August and once now in February. Above is a picture from one of the many fall fashion shows. I could not get anywhere NEAR the stage, so we took it from a staircase...not the greatest, but you can get an idea as to how many people attend and how extensive the show is.
By the way, I found out what Magic stands for. Men's Apparel Guild Association of California. However, there are not just men's fashions at Magic. Picture a trade show with miiiiiiles of clothing, accessories, shoes. It is impressive... and for retailers an efficient way to do business and to get an overview of trends in fashion.
It is the place where we conduct the business of fashion--where Wall Street and the fashion industry come together and it takes place twice a year, once in August and once now in February. Above is a picture from one of the many fall fashion shows. I could not get anywhere NEAR the stage, so we took it from a staircase...not the greatest, but you can get an idea as to how many people attend and how extensive the show is.
There are 120,000 attendees from every country and representatives from 5000 brands and 4000 companies and 20,000 product lines --That is Magic in itself! There's your history lesson. :)
The message is loud and clear and what you will see this coming season and in the seasons ahead are Eco-friendly fashions in the form of organic fabrics, textures that are remniscent of nature, and colors that reflect our commitment to our environment.
We are not just talking about clothing from socially responsible companies who care for our environment, but clothing that is woven from natural fibers and where the processing does not hurt our environment.
We have begun to build our eco-friendly fashion category at Black Cat Plus. We are seeking out the best in eco friendly plus size fashions and have found several new vendors who are environmentally responsbile AND fashion forward. In the coming weeks, we are excited for you to see what we have found. This is a movement that when combined with the casual lifestyle and seasonless dressing concept is here to stay!
More as it happens! Jodell
The message is loud and clear and what you will see this coming season and in the seasons ahead are Eco-friendly fashions in the form of organic fabrics, textures that are remniscent of nature, and colors that reflect our commitment to our environment.
We are not just talking about clothing from socially responsible companies who care for our environment, but clothing that is woven from natural fibers and where the processing does not hurt our environment.
We have begun to build our eco-friendly fashion category at Black Cat Plus. We are seeking out the best in eco friendly plus size fashions and have found several new vendors who are environmentally responsbile AND fashion forward. In the coming weeks, we are excited for you to see what we have found. This is a movement that when combined with the casual lifestyle and seasonless dressing concept is here to stay!
More as it happens! Jodell
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Spring Preview '08
Ash and Sara's Floral Mod Print Tee Buy at Black Cat Plus
Linda Lundstrom's Pretty Leaves Dress at Black Cat PlusOn my way to Magic in Las Vegas: No, I am not going to a show for Magicians! Although sometimes, I think our job in retail is to create Magic for our customers!
Magic is the trade show where retailers do their buying for the next season ahead. It is exciting and fun to go to trade shows. Picture miles and miles and miles of clothing. Fun, but tiring.
In this case, the next season we are shopping for is Fall '08. Yes, Fall '08..
Most importantly, we are also putting the final touches on our Spring '08 Collections.
For now, we are focused on Spring '08. In the next month, at http://www.blackcatplus.com/, you will see our edited collections of the best of the best of we believe are show stoppers for Spring '08. We are almost done searching for THE LOOKS that you cannot live without!
So stay tuned, we will post pictures of our collections as our shipments arrive.
For now, think about what you want to add or incorporate into your wardrobe for Spring. Hard to tell from just a few paragraphs here, I know.
But, there is a new wave of fashion developing, a bit of romance this Spring that has a spirit of kinder, gentler times. Florals, solids, art deco patterns, and pastels. And just when you think that the tone is subdued, you will find colors that POP mixed in.
Magic is the trade show where retailers do their buying for the next season ahead. It is exciting and fun to go to trade shows. Picture miles and miles and miles of clothing. Fun, but tiring.
In this case, the next season we are shopping for is Fall '08. Yes, Fall '08..
Most importantly, we are also putting the final touches on our Spring '08 Collections.
For now, we are focused on Spring '08. In the next month, at http://www.blackcatplus.com/, you will see our edited collections of the best of the best of we believe are show stoppers for Spring '08. We are almost done searching for THE LOOKS that you cannot live without!
So stay tuned, we will post pictures of our collections as our shipments arrive.
For now, think about what you want to add or incorporate into your wardrobe for Spring. Hard to tell from just a few paragraphs here, I know.
But, there is a new wave of fashion developing, a bit of romance this Spring that has a spirit of kinder, gentler times. Florals, solids, art deco patterns, and pastels. And just when you think that the tone is subdued, you will find colors that POP mixed in.
It is my favorite time of year--the promise of things to come.
And while you are at it. Don't forget to check out our Winter Clearance Sale with lines from Linda Lundstrom, Pure & Co., Kiyonna, and More.
Now is the time to try some of the items that you have been waiting for to go on sale and fill your closet with great items.
And while you are at it. Don't forget to check out our Winter Clearance Sale with lines from Linda Lundstrom, Pure & Co., Kiyonna, and More.
Now is the time to try some of the items that you have been waiting for to go on sale and fill your closet with great items.
More as it happens from Las Vegas! I can't wait! Jodell
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Special Cat Walk Valentines Day Offer @ Blackcatplus.com
News From the Back Alley:
We have quite a deal we are meowing about at BlackCatPlus.com!
Our Special Valentines Day Cat Walk Offer: Spend $150 from now until 2/14 and SAVE $50 later!
Our on-line boutique features stylish plus size contemporary fashions from Linda Lundstrom, Pure & Co., Kiyonna, Svoboda, Kaktus, Y.A.S.B., Black Cat Plus Label, and many more!
Your coupon will be e-mailed to you immediately following purchase. Offer is good on any full price and/or sale item combinations. And you will receive Free shipping on any $100 purchase.
Come check us out! Coupon is good from 2/15/08 until 3/3/08. Cannot be combined with any other offer.
We have quite a deal we are meowing about at BlackCatPlus.com!
Our Special Valentines Day Cat Walk Offer: Spend $150 from now until 2/14 and SAVE $50 later!
Our on-line boutique features stylish plus size contemporary fashions from Linda Lundstrom, Pure & Co., Kiyonna, Svoboda, Kaktus, Y.A.S.B., Black Cat Plus Label, and many more!
Your coupon will be e-mailed to you immediately following purchase. Offer is good on any full price and/or sale item combinations. And you will receive Free shipping on any $100 purchase.
Come check us out! Coupon is good from 2/15/08 until 3/3/08. Cannot be combined with any other offer.
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