Accessories - they're so versatile!

A lot of plus-size women (read - curvaceous) find it hard, for one reason or another, to stretch their budget when it comes to adding new clothes, unless they attend "sales" for plus size clothes. And this sort of sale doesn't come around often even then.

The feature on this season's fashion colours - bright jewel colours, brought quite a few responses.

Some of the ladies mentioned that they could ill afford to spend big money on keeping up with the trends, and wondered how they could add to their wardrobe, without going into debt!

The easiest way, and the most inexpensive way, is to accessorise. Purchase a length of fabric in your favourite, brightest colour - even satin and/or chiffon, and make a scarf. Long enough to go around your neck and hang to the length of your winter jacket. Long enough to wind around your neck a couple of times. If it's sheer enough, long enough to tie in a big pussycat bow that sits on your chest. We believe that if you are fortunate in having a chest, then promote your advantages! If you've a waist, then a length of brightly coloured satin will make a wonderful cummerbund, and brighten up a dark coloured garment. Even a length of the mock sequin fabric will make a fantastic "belt" - who says you have to have a tiny waist?

Then purchase a pair of handbag handles (i.e. cane) from your craft shop (Spotlight over here) and sew yourself a matching handbag. This is as easy as cutting two rectangles, sewing along the bottom and up the side; inserting the cane handles along the top and sewing (by hand) a seam enclosing the handles. There are lots of patterns around for simple projects like this, and they can make a difference to your wardrobe for little, and sometimes no cost. (Be like Jane in the previous post, who bought herself a beautiful emerald green satin evening gown from her local charity shop, and by using the full skirt was able to make herself a cocktail dress. All for the cost of a couple of cups of coffee!)