Personal Shopper Program Gains Popularity at Clothes Mentor Edmond

We love seeing how women are trying—and loving—the Clothes Mentor Personal Shopper program! Check out this awesome article from outlookoklahoma.com about how it’s gaining popularity at Clothes Mentor Edmond:

January Business: Clothes Mentor

By Morgan Dan

Just a few months into its newly developed personal shopping program, Clothes Mentor in Edmond is already seeing a steady rise in women who appreciate the styling advice tailored specifically to them and ease of having a stylist do the shopping so they don’t have to.

Melanie Harris, franchise owner of the three-year-old women’s resale boutique at 3208 S. Broadway in Edmond, said customers are raving about the new, free service. It allows clients to fill out a short information sheet online, talk over the phone with a Clothes Mentor stylist about their goals and budget, and then come into the store to try on a clothing rack full of custom curated outfits suited just for them.

“It’s been amazing to see how people will try on and buy things they never would have picked up if on their own,” Harris said. “And my staff just loves it too. They love that they have a person to put the outfits together for.”

The program is gaining popularity among women who have specific needs and aren’t sure how to dress for them. For instance, Harris has helped women who want to find styles that work for shorter strides, recent weight loss and the body of a new mom.

The Clothes Mentor staff has a real knack for pulling together the perfect outfit from their floor of current, on-trend clothing not just for their customers, but for the dozens of mannequins located around the store modeling merchandise. One of the best compliments, Harris said, is for customers to buy the outfits right off the mannequins. In fact, it happens so frequently, it’s become a running joke among her staff.

“It’s a thrill for our mannequins to be stripped and bought,” she said. “In fact, just last week the mannequin outfits were bought four times in one hour.”

Clothes Mentor, with locations around the country, is no consignment shop or thrift store. Customers sell their gently used, name-brand clothing and accessories to the store, no appointment required, and walk out with cash immediately. Clothes Mentor accepts women’s clothing, no juniors sizes or styles, and accessories of any season as long as they are less than three years old, ensuring customers find contemporary styles.

“We’re here to meet the needs of all women,” Harris said. “Helping women look good while on a budget, that’s what it’s all about.”

Click here to see more from outlookoklahoma.com.

Top 10 Furniture Trends

What are the latest furniture trends for the home? Find out in this article from furniture.about.com. 

Comfortable white double sofa
Photo from NTY Franchise Company

Top 10 Furniture Trends

New Directions for Furniture in the 21st Century

By Abe Abbas

Furniture trends are dictated by who is buying what and why they’re doing it. Trends should not be confused with fads, which are fickle. Trends are the undercurrents that drive the results.

Some of the forces working behind furniture trends of the 21st century include younger buyers and technology. Women have more buying power than ever and are more involved in choosing and buying furniture. The globe seems to be shrinking, and there’s a rising concern for the environment. All this has resulted in some furniture riding a wave of popularity in the millennium.

1. Furniture Going Green

Furniture trends are dictated by who is buying what and why they’re doing it. Trends should not be confused with fads, which are fickle. Trends are the undercurrents that drive the results.

Some of the forces working behind furniture trends of the 21st century include younger buyers and technology. Women have more buying power than ever and are more involved in choosing and buying furniture. The globe seems to be shrinking, and there’s a rising concern for the environment. All this has resulted in some furniture riding a wave of popularity in the millennium.

2. Furniture With a Smaller Profile

Our living spaces are shrinking, and large and ponderous furniture pieces seem out of place in many of today’s smaller homes. The shift toward smaller pieces goes hand-in-hand with a preference for furniture that’s less ornate and more contemporary.

More streamlined furniture seems to be the logical choice for consumers trying to make efficient use of their available space. Recliners and chairs with smaller profiles are increasingly available as women tend to want to buy furniture that’s more suited to their preferences.

3. Multifunctional Furniture

Multifunctional furniture is not a new concept, but it has come into its own — perhaps as a result of those smaller living spaces. You need furniture that can perform multiple tasks when space is at a premium.

A lot of buyers look for extra storage to reduce clutter. You can find storage in tables, under beds and in entertainment consoles. Multifunctional furniture can serve any number of additional uses other than its main function. It can be used for sleeping guests — or even pets.

4. Technology-Driven Furniture Design

Modern technology has an effect on furniture design as well. This is most apparent in the design of entertainment centers.

Entertainment centers are obviously made to accommodate our entertainment paraphernalia, but bedroom sets, accent tables and other furniture pieces are also being made to accommodate gadgetry. Even a traditional piece such as a roll top desk can be updated to accommodate laptops and peripherals. The nightstands in the Hooker bedroom collection pictured here have pull-out shelves, outlets and USB ports for charging laptops, iPods and phones.

5. Popularity of Vintage Furniture

Vintage furniture is enjoying a surge in popularity. Yes, nostalgia is involved, but the search for green furniture also contributes.

Vintage furniture is green on many counts. Although the finishes weren’t originally non-toxic, they’ve finished off-gassing so they’re safe for indoor air. When you buy vintage furniture or use furniture you’ve inherited, you’re rescuing it from going to landfills. It’s already survived a lot of years so it’s probably well-made and durable. Hard economic times also make buying vintage furniture a feasible choice — it’s often less expensive.

6. Globally-Inspired Furniture

The globe seems to be shrinking and other cultures no longer seem quite so distant and foreign. The idea of bringing the world to our homes is catching on.

This isn’t just confined to bringing in furniture from other parts of the world but from their bygone eras as well. In the case of Asian-inspired furniture, it could be a search for a more Zen-like interior space or drama. Whatever the reason, the lure of travel has made globally-inspired furniture very popular.

7. The Growing Importance of Outdoor Furniture

Sales of casual and outdoor furniture have grown leaps and bounds. Consumers are discovering that they can significantly add to their existing spaces by utilizing outdoor areas as well. Outdoor rooms have become very desirable, and the quality and design of outdoor furniture has developed tremendously. Many furniture pieces can be used either indoors or outdoors.

Outdoor fabric has improved, too. The colors, textures and patterns can just as easily be used indoors, and they’re typically easier to maintain and keep clean.

8. Custom-Made Furniture

Customization of furniture seems to be a trend that continues to develop and evolve. While some manufacturers, such as Norwalk, have been offering it for years, the growing demand has made more manufacturers take notice. Smaller studios have offered customization for years, but more mainstream manufacturers such as Ethan Allen and Thomasville are offering an increasing amount of customization as well.

It can vary from fabric color or pattern to changing the style of an arm or leg on a sofa. Many manufacturers let the customer provide his own fabric. There are choices in finishes, colors, veneers and hardware options in casegoods. It depends on the manufacturer, but customization seems to be a trend that’s catching on.

9. Specialty Sleep Surfaces

The interest in specialty sleep surfaces began with waterbeds and it’s grown and developed over the years. Specialty sleep products now make up a sizable share of the sleep market.

With our hectic lifestyles, a night of perfect and comfortable sleep seems like the ultimate reward. Although it’s possible to find your perfect sleep surface, it’s not the easiest of tasks and it might require a great deal of research before you settle on the product you want to buy. There are a lot of options out there as this trend takes hold.

10. Leather Furniture

Leather furniture has discovered a newfound popularity because it now comes in so many different shapes and colors. Leather is an old favorite, but now it has a new face.

American Leather is one of the leaders in leather furniture, but other manufacturers offer plenty of choices as well. Leather is easy to maintain and to clean. It retains its appeal much longer than fabric. One downside is that some stores offer bi-cast leather, also known as by-cast leather. This is not leather. This wouldn’t be so bad if they didn’t classify it as such, but it can be misleading for consumers.

Click here to see more from furnitre.about.com.

Clothes Mentor Fargo Reveals What’s Hot Now

Check out this fashion-forward article along with several amazing photos from inforum.com, which showcases some of the latest trends in women’s apparel and features tips and outfits from Clothes Mentor Fargo.

Clothes Mentor fashion outfits

These fashion staples will transition from summer to fall

By Alexandra Floersch

Keeping up with ever-evolving fashion trends can be hard, especially as the seasons change. Just when you feel you’ve finally mastered the spring look, summer gives way to 80-degree temperatures and a whole new world of creativity. But collecting a closet full of fashionable pieces isn’t always easy.

“Trends are scary,” says Shantelle Peterson, store manager at Clothes Mentor in Fargo. How does the average Midwesterner know what works in our conservative neck of the woods? How can one manage to stay on trend without breaking the bank, considering how quickly summer gives way to fall?

The key is to spend most of your clothing dollars on pieces you’ll use often — staple items.

“Never invest (too much) in trendy pieces. If you’re going to invest in things, make sure they are staple pieces and buy your trendy pieces on the cheap,” Peterson says.

Summer lends versatility, according to Samantha Hayes, store manager of Kittsona in downtown Fargo. “You can wear skirts, tank tops, T-shirts, long sleeves, kimonos and rompers, rather than just the big, chunky sweaters and jeans,” she says. “There’s just a lot more to play with in the summertime.”

This summer, like many before, florals have been especially popular. The bright pops of color in a tank, dress or skirt can liven up an outfit. Hayes says feminine, intricate details such as lace and embroidery are also trendy. When it comes to jewelry, turquoise is the color to have.

When it’s all said and done, fashionistas must start somewhere. If you’re looking to buy just a few pieces, start with some of these staple items:

Denim dresses

“Denim will never go out of style — any variation of it: colored denim, denim vest, denim jacket, denim shorts,” Peterson says.

This season, denim dresses and skirts are a must-have. Hayes says one way to wear a denim dress is with ankle booties, a watch, layered necklace and sunnies.

For a quick transition to fall, pair it with knee high socks and booties or with tights and a long jacket or sweater.

Off-the-shoulder tops

According to Hayes, off-the-shoulder tops in beautiful, vibrant florals are both trendy and versatile. Paired with white jeans, a statement necklace and wedges, the top adds a feminine flair.

For fall, simply swap the white jeans for darker denim and add an army green cargo jacket over the top.

High-waisted skirts

For a more business-formal look, Peterson and Sam Muzzy, assistant manager at Clothes Mentor, say to add a high-waisted skirt to your collection. The versatile bottom can be paired with a crop top, tassel necklace and bright colored clutch.

For fall, slip on patterned tights, a moto jacket or blazer, gladiator shoes and bold accessories.

Blocked heel ankle booties

Summer fashion allows for much more versatility in shoes. “You can wear flats, you can wear a wedge heel, you can wear a square heel — it’s very wide open,” Peterson says.

In addition to a simple sandal, Hayes says blocked heel ankle booties are making a splash and the conversion from summer to fall to winter is an easy one. They can be worn with a dress, skirt or even shorts in summer and, in fall — to add warmth to otherwise bare legs — slip on knee-high socks or tights.

Bodysuits

Though bodysuits are one of the trendiest items, many consumers are confused over when, why or how to wear them.

Hayes says not only do they appeal to every body type, “they’re more form fitting. You don’t have to constantly tuck them in or pull them down. It stays in place.”

A bodysuit can be worn under many garments, including high-waisted denim or as an extra layer under a dress. Hayes suggests pairing it with a tapered cotton pant, blocked heel and choker necklace — a ’90s fad that made its way back in 2016.

For fall, throw on pants and an oversized denim jacket or long sweater to complete the look.

Kimono

Kimonos are perfect for summer in that they’re lightweight as opposed to a chunky sweater. When paired with denim shorts, cold-shoulder top, a long necklace and fringe booties, they embody a flowy, boho look.

While vibrant summer colors may not transition as smoothly into fall, a darker colored kimono paired with a chambray button up and high-waisted jeans will do the trick, Peterson and Muzzy say.

Layered necklace

Jewelry can dress up even the most seemingly casual outfits; it can even play up a tee. Hayes says a layered necklace, specifically, is a great piece to have. This year, turquoise and tassel details are in.

While tassel necklaces can add flair to the most simplistic pieces, you must be careful not to overdo it. Choose an outfit where the “other two pieces are subdued so you can go bold with the necklace,” Peterson says.

Makeup

Peterson says another fun thing about summer is that women can experiment with makeup. “You can wear a lot more bright colors as opposed to in the winter time,” she says.

Lipstick is especially popular. Hayes says deep purples — like black cherry and berry — are trending as well as browns and nudes, which go with almost any outfit.

Come fall, those same colors in darker tones such as dark plum, chocolate and shades of red will be trending. Metallics like gold will also make a breakthrough when the trees change color.