(Part 2) Best products from r/femalefashionadvice

I am so glad to see this post because I use Amazon for everything and I have been hoping to see posts where people could help me crack the Amazon code to shopping for clothes online. While there was a recent post it didn't have a whole lot of tips for how to find quality clothing pieces considering so much of it is random no name brands. I am hoping to see more posts made on this topic to give even more information or links to specific items people can vouch for. I don't have any clothes shopping experience thought Amazon but I have bought a decent amount of jewelry from Amazon that I love. Here are some of my favorite jewelry finds:

• X Ring in Sterling Silver - bought during a clinical rotation at a hospital when I needed something for self expression and to help me feel less bored wearing scrubs that was still easy to wear under gloves and through frequent washing. I haven't taken this off in 3 months and its extremely comfortable and beautiful.
  
  
• Stainless Steel Studs - super simple, bold and modern but comfortable. I wear them in my second set of lobe piercings and they are awesome because they screw on so you can't accidentally knock them off. I'm sensitive to certain metal types so I love stainless steel because it doesn't break me out, won't tarnish like sterling can, and its usually cheaper then sterling.
  
  
• Novica Ear Cuffs - Novica is a great company and I just really love how comfortable these are and that you don't need a piercing to wear them. I haven't taken them off since I got them even when sleeping and showering and I don't feel them at all and they are really pretty but stay out of the way.
  
  
• Dopamine Neurotransmitter Necklace - I'm teaching neuroanatomy this semester to graduate rehab students so I kind of needed to have this. Its awesome, the perfect size with an adjustable chain and it blends in enough with my business casual wardrobe to not look out of place but still hints at my love of neuroscience and neuro rehab. I picked dopamine because its significance to the executive processing loops and when you work neuro rehab you learn quickly how essential those are to everyday life task performance.

Let me regale you with a tale called The Foldable Flat Fiasco!

I spent NYE in Las Vegas, and knowing that I would be doing a lot of walking in heels, I decided to shop around for some foldable flats while I was visiting my boyfriend's family in the Northeast. I would have ordered them online, but we were leaving in the next two days and I didn't think to buy these far enough in advance. Bad planning. Oh well. No problem, right? I can go find some in a store, right? Easy enough! I can deal with post-Christmas shopping madness to quickly pick these up, right?

Macy's

My first stop was at the shoe department. I assume that they wouldn't have them there, since they weren't quite display-worthy, but that they would know where I could find them. Assistant #1 directs me down to lingerie. Fine. I go down to lingerie and scour the racks and racks and racks, and find only (surprise) lingerie, comfy pjs, and all types of undapants. I pick up some spanx tights while I'm there, and head up to the accessories section. Nothing. I try the purse section (because they go in your purse, right?). Nothing. I pull up the Macy's website and see multiple foldable flat options, just to make sure they had them. I go back to the shoe department, where Assistant #2 tells me that Macy's doesn't sell them in-store. Great. So I go home, wait another day, then I head to...

Wal-Mart

Surely Wal-Mart will have them, I think to myself. It's Wal-Mart. Their website has them. They have to be in store.

I asked some assistants for help, and they look at me like I asked if they sold iguanas. They are not in store.

Well, that's fine. I don't like Wal-Mart's aesthetic anyway. Let's go to their cooler older sister.

Target

The assistants look at me like I asked if they sold gold iguanas. That's cool, Target, I don't need the extra Starbucks calories anyway.

At this point, I am getting frustrated. This isn't a quality item. It's cheap, and meant to be cheap, but I can't let them go. It's becoming my white whale.

Famous Footwear

They haven't seen these in stores for years, but they cheerfully tell me that they're having a 50% off sale. That's nice, but those shoes look like quality items that I'd wear on my feet, and not things that I shove in my purse in compact form. Who needs that other crap?

Kohl's

The assistants had never even heard of foldable flats. How could they not? They were very much a real thing in my mind, though I'm starting to wonder if I'm having hallucinations.

I forgot to mention that my boyfriend has been with me this entire time. We can both be amazingly stubborn about things, so this has become his white whale, too. We sit in the car while he pulls up websites of stores around us. He suggests Party City. "They have a bridal section," he says. "Lots of bachelorette party supplies."

Party City

Swing and a miss. Good effort, boyfriend. Way to think outside the box.

However, I've hit my wall. "I'll just wait to buy them in Vegas," I say. "They MUST be easy to come by there!"

Las Vegas, Nevada

They are! How wonderful! We're picking up snacks in Walgreen's and I see them by the front. I pick up a box and strike a victory pose. I buy them, the cashier asks if I want the receipt, I say "no" because I'm a cocky sonofagun, and we go back to the hotel. Finally, I think to myself. These better be the most useful purse shoes in the entire world. I better feel like kittens are lightly massaging my feet.

The box only had one shoe. It was too big. I throw it out and keep the pouch.

Moral of the story: there is no moral. This was utterly demoralizing. But I had fun typing it out, which I guess is all that matters.

May I recommend some books that can help you determine your shape and how to dress it, and what to look for in terms of quality when shopping? Then based on that you can decide where to shop because some stores are better for certain shapes.

The Science of Sexy: This book accurately determines your shape and shows, in drawings, what is going to look both great and horrible. It does this for each shape at different weights, too -skinny, hourglass, medium hourglass, plump hourglass for example. Whichever your shape is, there's a blurb about what great assets you have :)
http://www.amazon.com/The-Science-Sexy-Unique-Figure/dp/1592402607/ref=pd_sim_b_61?ie=UTF8&refRID=08S0DC4T12EWBPXE21JC

The Lucky Shopping Manual: Really detailed about what happens if your pants are too droopy (you get grandpa butt) or your winter hat is too small (you look like a sixth-grader) or your pool-side hat with sunglasses is too big (you're suddenly Joan Collins.) But then it also give ideas for shaking things up. Also provides suggestions for a realistic capsule wardrobe. Describes what to look for when shopping and how to fit things when trying them on.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Lucky-Shopping-Manual-Improving/dp/1592400361/ref=pd_sim_b_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=08S0DC4T12EWBPXE21JC

What Not to Wear: (the original with Trinny and Susannah) really explains in pictures how to dress your shape when it comes to sleeves and fabrics as well as necklines, etc.
http://www.amazon.com/What-Not-Wear-Trinny-Woodall/dp/1573223573/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412045616&sr=1-3&keywords=what+not+to+wear

The Pocket Stylist: Suggests a very classic capsule wardrobe.
http://www.amazon.com/Pocket-Stylist-Behind---Scenes-Expertise/dp/1592400418/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412045374&sr=1-1&keywords=how+to+dress+well

You can get information online but in less detail. Basically an hourglass looks great in v-neck tops, wrap tops, scoop neck tops, a-line skirts, pencil skirts, flesh colored pointy heels (not stilettos on the end of shapely legs, slightly sturdier), jackets with one or two buttons, high-waisted pants, and v-necklaces that aren't chokers but aren't too long. Yeah, necklaces drape over a boob if they come too far down :)

Whereas sheath dresses tend to mask your shape, turtlenecks and jackets with a lot of buttons hide the fact that you are big on top because of boobs, and cap sleeves aren't supposed to look good. Kitten heels generally don't work, either.

I'm not sure if you have InStyle or Lucky in the UK, but both of those have really great sections where they show you outfits piece by piece. There should be some magazines like in the UK?

I think your best bet, though, is to stock up on the classics. You can find lists like this all over the place: http://www.luckymag.com/style/2010/12/10-classic-pieces, but they're a really great place to start building your wardrobe. After you have those covered you can start mixing in more trendy pieces.

If you want to get a little more in depth into how to build a wardrobe, I've found this book incredibly helpful: http://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Shopping-Manual-Building-Improving/dp/1592400361

While the styling is starting to look a bit dated (I hope they come out with a new edition soon!), the tips on exactly what you need, how things should fit, and shopping in general are super helpful.

EDIT: bad link

I think depending on the style of the loafer or oxford, it can be fine. I wouldn't cheap out and get something trendy or casual, which will not only look juvenile, but will show wear much easier. Some examples of what not to get: this, this, this

The last pic may seem fine, but I think it's lacking in terms of structure, so it comes off as pretty casual.

Some examples of what to look for: this, this, this, and this

FWIW, I've had better luck finding nice quality loafers than nice oxfords/wingtips. There are some UK brands which make some excellent wingtips for women, but since I don't know my size and it'd be an (expensive) international order for me, I just admire them from afar.

• [Fossil Vickery cross body bag] (http://www.amazon.com/Fossil-Vickery-Cross-Body-Bag/dp/B00PJSF02G) – I really wanted the Lo & Sons Pearl cross body bag, but this one was about the same size, $50 cheaper, and I was able to buy it from Amazon with credit card points. I’m sure the Lo & Sons bag is nicer, but I’ve always had good luck with Fossil purses, and I’m not planning on using it that frequently, so it should hold up well.
  
• [Lucky Brand Paddle drop earrings] (http://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Brand-Metal-Paddle-Earrings/dp/B00GXO0P3O) – I saw these earrings at Dillards but didn’t buy them. I regretted choosing not to purchase them, so I searched for them online. Finding them on Amazon was great because, like the Fossil purse listed above, I was able to buy them with credit card points (yay).
  
• [Black Faded Glory maxi skirt] (http://www.walmart.com/ip/Faded-Glory-Women-s-Solid-Maxi-Skirt-with-Shirred-Waistband/41112734) - Stitch Fix put a $48 maxi skirt in my last fix. I liked the skirt a lot, but thought that $48 was a bit ridiculous. I found this one at Wal-Mart for $12.94. Score!
  

You need arch cushions in your sandals. These are the thickest I've found and super glued into most of my summer shoes (the adhesive backing on them is crap). In the rare case of sandals that come with arch support, I always need a little more and add the Dr. Scholl's version of those cushions (they're thinner and also require glue to really stick).

Dresses and sandals are the perfect blend of casual and dressy. I also do the skirt-top-sandals uniform a good bit in the warmer months, but the dress and sandals combo is the easiest. Summer is my favorite season for a lot of reasons, easy dressing being one of them.

Fall/winter are my least favorite seasons to dress for, but I wouldn't say I hate them. It's just tougher for me to find clothing in the bright, tropical colors I like, and it's a challenge to stay in fitted clothing, which is the only silhouette I like. I manage and end up feeling proud of the colorful outfits I put together, though.

I have a few tricks.. I can wear mine about 4 hours if I'm walking a lot or so far I've been good with 8 hours at school doing a mix of walking/sitting in lecture.

Warning though: wearing heels like this can mess up the positioning of your uterus, and can cause knee and foot damage.

Now onto making your legs look good :D

• wear a shoe with a wedge heel - this is my number one tip for long days. something like this?
  
• I buy steppies for the heels that hurt the balls of my feet - not all of them but if I notice it's an issue. Also recently I've just started using the same pair for all my heels and transferring them. On amazon and walmart so you can see the packaging.
  
• shoes with an ankle strap and or peep-toes often hurt less for me but I can't explain that one
  
• buy shoes with a built-in platform - just like the ones you showed there - it decreases the actual angle of your foot but still makes your legs look really long. I just bought these ones :D - so comfy and easy to wear love
  
• If it feels tight on your toes in the store it's bad news bears. I've made this mistake so many times and it just isn't worth the pain. You'll find new fab shoes. Same with if they slip even a little bit.
  
• I got this tip from Victoria Beckham: to learn how to walk in heels better, pack a pair of flip flops and go shopping. Walk up and down every isle with a cart (for balance just in case) - but it gives you about 30 mins in new shoes on tile or linoleum which is the worst so you can learn with something to grab on to.
  
• personally I hate thick heels but if they jive with your style they're much better for long days. I found better ones at saks but that tab isn't open atm so you get aldo as an example.
  
• Beige shoes and shoes with a pointy toe (beige pointy toed pumps for double points!) make your legs look really long so you can get away with a shorter heel. These are more white but I quite like them...
  
  This is all I can think of off the top of my head but have fun and build up. Pack comfy shoes and change when you need to. Actually, dr. scholls just produced like packable flats (Fast Flats they come in a cute gold bag to toss in a purse).. Over time you'll notice that you are able to walk further and longer in heels - I don't wear them in transit - I wear comfy shoes and change around the corner before I arrive at where I'm going most of the time..
  
  Good Luck!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

I'm looking to buy dark green dress. I don't really need a new dress, but I've been wanting one in forest green for a while. My undergraduate graduation is coming up mid June, so I have an excuse to get one.

I was thinking of this, but I want some opinions.

I'd love other suggestions and I'd be totally happy with a skirt of similar color. Pockets are always a great bonus too.

I'm not sure if these are exactly what you have in mind, but I really like The Pocket Stylist and The Lucky Shopping Manual. The Pocket Stylist has a good explanation of silhouette and proportion plus some advice on how to organize your closet. The Lucky Manual has good tips on fit and how to put things together. They are both a few years old and somewhat dated, but I have found their more generalized advice to still be relevant and helpful.

I kind of hate to say it, but H&M's business-wear (sheath dresses, slacks, blazers) are pretty great. If you lean pear-shape, especially if you also have small boobs, it's likely to fit well. I also like Loft's blazers, although their sizing is absolutely stupid, so if you're on the smaller side, they're not likely to work. For blouses, I've been very happy with both Everlane's silk sleeveless and Grana's silk sleeveless shirts.

Non work related:
Crocs Huaraches are my absolute favorite sandal. What can't they do? They're magical. I have them in black and brown.

If it is an oil stain you may have to take it to the dry cleaners, but generally I do not dry clean any of my silk tops unless something gets on them that I cannot clean myself. I hand wash all of my silk tops using a no rinse detergent called Soak there are a bunch of different no rinse brands, this is just the one I happen to use. There are instructions on the bottle for how to use it, but I'll add that after I soak my tops for the proper amount of time I gently squeeze them out over the tub I've soaked them in, then I lay them flat on a towel and gently but firmly roll up the towel with them in it like I'm creating a jelly roll. This will help get out some of the excess water so that they're not super drippy when you hang them up to dry the rest of the way.


I know that may sound a little involved, but all told it takes maybe a half hour and I usually do it once every other week.

Do you want a completely yellow sports bra? Panache has a great sports bra that comes in actual bra sizes, and the geo print has some yellow in it, but not an overwhelming amount. It's also just a fabulous sports bra in general, I highly recommend it.

The coral colorway (it's called Print Multi on amazon for whatever reason) has a nice bright but not neon yellow edging to it.

I've been looking for an insulated, water-resistant jacket, but nothing fit my 5'2", narrow-shouldered frame right. Then I found the Arc'teryx Sylva, and for 35% off in my size. It has an oddly narrow shoulder and tight chest, slightly short length, and high waistline that other reviewers complain about--which means it's effectively made for me. (It's also not super duper insulated, but I'm in Seattle, not Chicago.) Other than getting the sleeves hemmed, I'm set for winter.

I also picked up the Anemone bra others recommended here, and sure enough it's a great fit for me!

A week of taking online chances and winning.

Long-time lurker! Hopefully this is the right place to post this....

I need shoe help! My work wardrobe mostly consists of dresses worn with a cardigan (or blazer), and leggings (not tights). I am terrible at shoes, and it's hard to find ones I think are comfortable. I usually wear flats (this is my current pair), or slip-on sneakers. I just tried ordering a bunch of shoes from amazon, flats and wedges, and I'm not in love with any of them.

Should I be looking at booties? I hadn't tried booties because I am really short (4'10") and I have pretty fat ankles/calves. I've looked for taller boots and have never found any I can wear over my giant ankles. But maybe booties would work? My fear was they'd make my legs look even shorter, or would be too tight around my cankles.

Ideally, I'd like something comfortable that I can walk moderate distances in. Also, I suck at heels, so a very short heel or a wedge would be better. And I'm cheap! So under $50? Clearly I'm asking for a miracle here.

i have lupus, so literally any sun exposure covers me in a horrible rash. i've had great luck with underarmour shirts, uniqlo's UPF shirts, and other "athletic" brands like patagonia. I wear a lot of hats from san diego hat company and target. the important thing is to get hats that have UPF so you know you're actually covered. i've turned it into a bit of a trademark so my friends actually ask when i don't have a hat on. you can also get UPF wraps, upf gloves, upf pants... aim for summerweight clothing made of nylon or polyester, which have higher UPF than natural fibers. natural fibers like linen and cotton don't have a high UPF naturally so you can use a laundry additive to increase their sun-blocking ability. athleta and toad&co also has great UPF stuff.

I've been there. I found that buying actual running shoes and workout clothes (rather than wearing old college tees and cotton leggings) was a great motivator. I told myself that I didn't buy these things just to have them go to waste (and a small part of me liked showing off my ~fabulous shoe and shirt combos~). As I started exercising more, my matching game became A++ and I invested in more expensive items (specifically, a good, supportive sports bra)

I would start off buying cheaper workout clothes rather than diving into "nicer" brands like Lululemon. Old Navy and Target (and apparently Forever21?) have great affordable options. I've also gotten great deals at TJ Maxx, Marshalls and outlet stores

I had Sam Edelman's Tinsley boots in polished black for a couple years and loved them. I needed a wide width so I recently replaced them with A New Day's Alex boots and I'm loving the matte black because at first glace they can pass as normal boots. I wear them with cuffed jeans like this and a jacket similar to this. It's great because it doesn't look so obviously 'rain gear' like most are.

For purses/bags, I use an over-the-door hanger like this. It gets a little crowded but easy to find my bags.

For scarves, I use a scarf hanger, which you could also use for leggings/tights as well. I keep my scarf hanger in my coat closet by the front door in the wintertime. I keep a basket for gloves and hats too, in my regular closet. Is your wicker basket lined? I can imagine threads getting caught and pulled!

For tank tops that I rarely wear (mainly for layering under sweaters), I use a tiered hanger. I suspect this could work for many types of shorter tops!

This diffuser necklace

Buy essential oils and then wear them.

Rosemary is good for memory.

I bought one for my mom and one for my boyfriend's mom.

The necklace is 20$ and the oils are 15$. You could just buy the necklace if you wanted or both.

Personally, I wish I'd get this for Christmas. So cute and useful.

Just reposted this from an above reply I had. Hope that's ok.

Currently wearing these in the brown (a little darker than cognac but not chocolate brown either) and they're suuuper comfortable especially with the insoles I have to wear-- I walk probably 5 miles a day in them-- and good quality/durability so far!

Edit-- I got these instead of Bass weejuns for the same reasons you list below, and am happy.

This is the watch I wear and I love it. It's just a bit over your budget but it works without batteries, it has a nice aesthetic and it's just the best watch ever.

After months of searching/hoping, I finally found true high rise black jeans with 93% cotton... and I got them for $35!!! thank you Gap!

I've only worn them once (after washing) so I'll have to see about longevity, but so far it feels like a Christmas miracle.

I also finally got some Chelsea rain boots after holding out for ever. The Sam Edelman ones went on sale on Amazon for $22 (usually $55) a few weeks ago and I pulled the trigger.

I have this flat iron and I love it. I either curl my hair with a flat iron or use a larger barrel curling wand for "beachy" looking waves. The size of the barrel/flat iron depend on what you want the curls to look like. here's what I mean.


Definitely youtube will help. Also, just practice a few times when you're not in a hurry/getting ready in the morning. It's not as intimidating as it seems!

Maybe you'd rather look good than be comfortable but the hands down easiest to carry laptop bag is a backpack. I get lots of compliments on mine

Solo Vintage Colombian Leather Laptop Backpack, Holds Notebook Computer up to 15.6 Inches, Espresso (VTA701-3) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000V4TO7A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_JKBlzbFMEF6EP

2nd the smoking slippers... I have these ones from Clarks and they are GLORIOUS little foot-clouds, and they look amazing

You could use disposable under-arm shields. Amazon link to an example.

I've never used them, but my mom used to use something similar when she went to work and she loved them! I'd just make sure that the adhesive doesn't stick to your suit lining and leave residue when removing the shield. When this happened to my mom (not very often, usually just with one in particular), dry cleaning took it right out!

Disclaimer: I am not a big wearer of solid perfumes, but I'm a fan of Patch NYC's aromas and have heard good things about their solid perfumes. You should also check out shops on etsy.

And some well-reviewed flat iron recs:
One
Two
Three

I bought a bunch of silk t-shirts and tank top and am afraid to wear them because I sweat maybe more than normal. I love the feel of silk though! I'm considering buying these maxipads for your armpits Has anyone tried them/ does anyone have any suggestions for making silk more wearable. (Obviously these are only a solution for the tshirts I know).

I’ve been carrying this back as my work bag and I love it. It’s been over a year and it’s still holding up really well. It’s lined and has padding for laptops and plenty of pockets for other item as well. Solo Reade 15.6 Inch Vintage Columbian Leather Backpack, Espresso

Has anyone ever tried underarm shields? I'm in interview season and one of my favorite interview outfits involves a sleeveless blouse under a blazer and the pits are super gross now with deodorant caked in them (I mean, at least I'm wearing it, right?). I didn't think these were actually a thing until I googled it, but they are. Just curious if they're worth trying?

College student here, used to shitty dorm closets: If you don't mind having to iron things at the change of seasons, I like to keep off-season clothes and things I don't wear much in my suitcase. The suitcase is just sitting there taking up space anyway, and by packing it well (rolling!! roll as much as you can!!! I only fold heavy knits and sweaters) you can fit a lot into a simple carry-on. Multi-pants hangers and multi-skirt hangers are really useful for maximizing closet space, but I personally don't like multi-shirt hangers and find them incredibly inconvenient. I keep all of my jackets on an over-the-door hanger like this and use the basket (mine only has one) to hold my clutch, spare wallet, dry umbrellas, and sunglasses. On the other side of the door I have a shoe organizer that can also hold scarves and gloves and such. Honestly, seeing what college students are doing could be really good inspo for you since we live in tiny spaces with almost no closet and find a way to make it work.

I bought thisto use until I got a chi. Two years later it's still going strong and straightens beautifully.

the sam edelman tinsley is really similar, has great reviews and would probably be available in nordstrom or other department stores!

i have the stormy and they are definitely not comfortable - i have narrow feet and they're almost too narrow for me.

I am a 32F and I got a great Panache underwire sports bra via Amazon. Kind of looks like a tank top under your clothes but I don't move or spill out at all!

https://www.amazon.com/Panache-Womens-Underwire-Sports-Bra/dp/B005X5FG2O

Oh, yes bring flats. Especially for the dance part of the wedding. You can buy collapsible flats that slip easily into a clutch if you don't want to carry/worry about another pair of shoes being somewhere. I bought these at a drugstore.

I’ve been using my Solo leather backpack for 10 years and it’s still going strong.

It’s also real leather for only $70.

Someone else mentioned Rit Sunguard, which I think is a good way to add some extra SPF to clothes!

I highly recommend this Solo backpack.

It comes with a 5 year manufacturer warranty, and is relatively inexpensive as far as quality leather goods go. And it is really well-laid out. It has lots of storage areas.

Wear the blue one and get some underarm shields like these: http://www.amazon.com/Kleinerts-Disposable-Underarm-Dress-Shields/dp/B000J09VGA

> Is there a trick to preventing sweat stains in shirts?

Like dress shields? I've never tried any of these myself, but they get labelled many things, including "sweat guards", "garment shields", "underarm pads" and others.

What about chelsea rainboots? I have a pair in black from J.Crew, they're waterproof and I got matte ones so you can't really tell that they are rubber boots from far away.

Would sweat shields be an option for you?

Here are some options: first second third fourth

I tried these on a recent job interview. They definitely helped and I think would have been enough for a short interview, but it was an all day thing and I was really nervous, so I ended up with sweat stains on the areas not covered by them.

If you're a profuse armpit sweater like me, you can buy these expensive ass disposable dress shields ...or you can use pantyliners.

I love how the Rio flats look, but unfortunately, that style rubs uncomfortably on my feet :(

I absolutely love the Huarache flat sandals and the Adrina II peep toe sandals. Unfortunately, both styles have been discontinued.

My everyday shoes are the Gianna flat and I really want to try the Sienna.