| How to Dress Well on a Budget Posted: 05 Feb 2020 04:00 PM PST Dressing well on a budget doesn't have to be complicated. It all starts with taking stock of what you already have and "shopping your closet" for great pieces. Get rid of anything you don't plan to wear, and focus on crafting a functional capsule wardrobe of neutral colors and classic styles. Spend what money you do have available on high-quality basics and essential pieces, and wait to get trendy accessories on sale. If you wear your clothes with confidence and take good care of them, you'll look and feel great every day! [Edit]Streamlining Your Wardrobe - List all the activities you regularly dress for to narrow your wardrobe's focus. Consider a typical week or season in your life and write out a list of all the environments and activities you get dressed for on a regular basis. Jot down the type of clothing you need for each environment. When assessing your wardrobe, keep these activities and clothing categories in mind.[1]
- Your list could look something like this: "internship (business formal), school (casual), gym (athletic wear), concerts (going out clothes), oil painting class (old, messy clothes)."
- This strategy will help you avoid keeping or adding pieces to you closet "just in case." The list above doesn't mention the beach, so it wouldn't be useful to hold on to a dozen cover-ups.
- If you have an active lifestyle and dress pretty casually at school, focus on filling your wardrobe with athletic apparel and comfortable basics like jeans and knit tops. Don't bother splurging on dress shoes that you'll rarely wear.
- Keep the clothes that fit well and work with your lifestyle. Start by pulling everything out of your closet, drawers, and shelves. Look at each piece 1 by 1 and decide whether or not it can stay. Create a "keep" pile for garments that fit well, that are appropriate for the activities and environments you listed out, and that you enjoy wearing. Then reorganize your closet by neatly hanging or folding the clothes from your "keep" pile and placing them in an easy-to-reach spot.[2]
- This strategy is called "shopping your wardrobe." It's great for rediscovering clothes you love but don't wear often enough. Try this to bring a fresh burst of novelty into your wardrobe without spending a penny.
- Make a "toss" pile for the pieces that you don't want to keep. Sell to a or donate these clothes to get them out of your wardrobe.[3]
- Have a tailor alter your clothes so they fit perfectly. If you have a blazer and a structured dress that are a little roomy around the middle, have a tailor nip in the waistline to give your clothes a leaner silhouette. If you have shirt sleeves, dresses, skirts, or trousers that are too long, get them hemmed to the right length. Have your bottoms taken in at the waist so they fit comfortably and flatter your figure.[4]
- Keep in mind that the shoulder area is hard to alter. Don't buy or keep pieces that don't fit well in the shoulders since you probably won't be able to have them altered.
- Breathe new life into an older piece from your closet with simple alterations. Hem a dress into a blouse, give trousers more personality with a cropped cut, or swap out boring plastic buttons for higher quality ones.[5]
- Get rid of undergarments that don't fit you well. Dressing well starts with the right undergarments. Toss out bras that are too small or too big, since they will create lumps and bumps under your clothes. Do the same for panties or briefs. For men, toss out worn-out or mismatched socks, which can make a sleek pair of shoes look drab.
- When wearing suiting, aim to match your sock color to your trouser color.[6]
- If you have a skirt that looks see-through, your outfit will instantly look cheap. Pop on a simple slip underneath to smooth out the fabric and give you a little more modesty.[7]
- Measure your bra size. Only keep or purchase bras in the right size and in styles that you like.
- Consider wearing well-fitting shapewear under special occasion dresses.
[Edit]Investing in the Right Pieces - Shop for clothes that flatter your body shape. Take your body measurements and use them to help determine your body shape. Once you know it, search online for dressing guides based on your body shape. Take note of the cuts, silhouettes, and proportions that stylists recommend. Try on a variety of outfits based on the "dos" and "don'ts" for your body shape to see how things look on you. Then limit your wardrobe selections and styling choices to the most flattering outfits.
- A few body shapes include triangular, pear-shaped, apple, hourglass, and more. Try to find the term that best describes your figure.
- Keep a list of your measurements on your smartphone so you have them available while shopping. This way, you can get perfectly-fitting clothes whenever it's time to make a purchase.[8]
- Don't try to dress for your "ideal" body by buying clothes in a size too small. Dress for the body you're walking around in right now. You'll look so much more stylish and you'll feel a lot more comfortable!
- Choose classic styles and silhouettes rather than fleeting trends.[9] While the latest trends can be fun to experiment with, trendy pieces will go out of fashion quickly. Don't waste your money on short-lived styles. Instead, pick out pieces that have been in style for years and that will likely stick around despite the changing trends.[10]
- Classic styles include a timeless camel trench coat, a pair of dark-wash jeans in a flattering cut, and a simple black dress.
- Chic outerwear, like a jacket or blazer, can really elevate a basic outfit. [11]
- Avoid clothes that have some extreme quality, such as styles that are too short, too long, or too baggy.
- Steer clear of pieces with too many frills, confusing asymmetry, or unnecessary embellishments.[12]
- Limit yourself to solid-color clothes in your favorite neutral shades. A solid piece will stay in fashion longer than its patterned or printed counterpart. Stick with neutrals like black, navy, camel, and white.[13] Then choose a palette of brighter colors in either jewel tone shades, brightly saturated shades, or airy pastels. Start with whatever you have the most of in your closet and continue working in that direction; don't mix and match colors from multiple categories.
- To add interest to solids, look for unique textures rather than prints and patterns. If you wear lots of navy blue, find navy blue pieces in cable-knit wool, cotton, faux fur, or satin.
- A neutral and restricted color palette will be much easier to mix and match, and won't be clashing.[14]
- Avoid buying prints. In fast fashion, prints tend to be lower quality, and you'll start to see the prints fading and the fabric pilling after a few washes.[15]
- Purchase pieces that you can mix-and-match or layer with your other clothes. Develop a small but highly functional capsule wardrobe.[16] Whenever you're out shopping for new additions to your wardrobe, pick clothes that work well with the pieces you already have.
- Look for basic cardigans and blazers that can be layered over simple blouses and t-shirts. Choose dress shirts that would pair well with the trousers and jeans you already own. Pick out practical shoes in classic styles that can be worn with a variety of outfits.
- If you're considering buying a piece but you know that you'd only be able to wear it with 1 or 2 things, don't bother.
- If you have 20 great tops, 10 pairs of trousers, 5 skirts, and 2 pairs of shorts, you can technically make 340 outfits![17]
- Spend your money on high-quality wardrobe basics. If you're going to splurge, splurge on the essential pieces that you wear all the time and that you'll be wearing for years to come. Upgrade your faded white undershirts, saggy boxer-briefs, and holey socks. Aim for well-fitting, higher quality pieces that wash well.[18] Purchase 1 or 2 neutral bras in the right cut.
- Extend this strategy to other essentials like shoes, outerwear, and other classic pieces.
[Edit]Shopping Frugally - Wait to buy trendy items once they go on sale. If you have a solid, classic capsule wardrobe, you can still shake up your look with inexpensive accessories. Try a pair of funky earrings, a printed scarf, a unique hat, or a cool pair of patterned socks. Don't jump as soon as you see a trend hit the shelves; wait until the end of the season so you can buy it on sale.[19]
- Another good reason to wait is that after a few months, you'll know whether you really want to purchase the trendy piece or whether it was just a fad.
- Shop at the end of the season to buy pieces for the following year. Wait to get your summer shorts until the temperatures start to drop and retailers slash their prices. While you won't get much use out of them immediately, you'll have a great new pair of shorts to enjoy next summer.[20]
- Apply coupons and discounts to your purchases. Avoid paying full-price for anything if you can help it.[21] Instead of browsing new arrivals when you enter a bricks-and-mortar shop, head straight to the clearance rack, especially when there's a deeper discount on clearance pieces. When you're shopping online, don't get your heart set on anything until you have a chance to add it to the cart and enter your promo codes. If the codes don't apply, consider waiting until you can get a better price.
- Subscribe to a retailer's emails online to snag a coupon, then unsubscribe once you've used the offer so you aren't tempted to spend more money.
- Some clothing retailers offer student discounts. Browse online to see which brands participate in this kind of program.
- Buy quality clothes at off-price retailers. Off-price retailers are known for their wide variety of styles, mix of high-end and lesser-known brands, and affordable prices. Browse off-price retail stores rather than heading to pricier boutiques and department stores.[22] Bring a specific shopping list when you visit and restrict your search to the pieces on your list. Try things on until you find the right cut and style. Don't let the low prices persuade you into making impulse buys.
- Popular off-price retailers in the US include TJ Maxx, Marshall's, Ross, Burlington Coat Factory, DSW, Stein Mart
- Off-price retailers associated with department stores include Nordstrom Rack, Saks Off 5th, and Neiman Marcus Last Call.
- Try factory stores and outlet malls as well.[23]
- Try shopping at thrift stores and second-hand retailers. Look for gently-worn pieces from quality brands at your local thrift shop. If you see a piece in good condition or that still has its tags, and it works for your budget and with the rest of your wardrobe, consider adding it to your wardrobe.[24]
- Before making a purchase, inspect each garment's underarms for stains and holes, make sure closures like buttons and zippers are working correctly, and check out the areas that tend to get worn out quickly like knees, elbows, and crotch area.
- In the US, try shops like Plato's Closet and Buffalo Exchange as well as charity shops including Goodwill and the Salvation Army.
- Keep your clothes clean and pristine and you'll look more put-together. Hang or fold your clothes nicely when they're not in use. Iron or steam garments that need de-wrinkling. Spot-clean stains and make sure to take dry-clean-only clothes to the dry cleaner.
- If you know you can't take proper care of dry-clean-only garments or wrinkle-prone pieces, don't waste your money on them! Many mainstream retailers offer easy-care garments at affordable prices.
- Maintain a well-groomed appearance to make the rest of your outfit look put-together.[25] For a woman, consider picking out a signature shade of lipstick or spend some time on blow-drying your hair to smooth out the frizz. For a guy, try using hair pomade to keep your slicked-back style in place.
- Exude confidence and you'll instantly look great! Remember that money can't buy you good taste or impeccable style. Confidence is the key to looking and feeling great.[26]
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
| How to Draw a Realistic Female Eye Posted: 05 Feb 2020 08:00 AM PST Drawing female eyes can be challenging because eye shapes and features are so unique. Fortunately, this means that as long as you follow basic guidelines, you can customize your drawing so it appears natural. Start by sketching the outline of the eye and eyebrow. Then, use a blending stump and kneaded eraser to shade in the eye while you make highlights. With a little practice, even a beginning artist can create a realistic eye! [Edit]Sketching the Outline of the Eye and Eyebrow - Sketch the outline of the eye using a pencil. Take your sharp pencil and draw an oval or seed shape that's as large as you want the eye to be. You'll need to draw a small half-circle that extends near the inner eye. This will be the tear duct.[1]
- Draw the outline of the iris and pupil. Lightly draw a circle that takes up about 1/2 of the eyeball to create the iris. The circle should be slightly hidden by the eyelid, which will give the eye a sense of depth. Then, draw a much smaller circle near the center of the eye to make the pupil. If you have a hard time drawing circles, you can use a compass or trace something round to make the circle.[2]
- The size of the pupil will depend on the lighting, so if you're drawing someone who's outside where there's lots of light, the pupil will be small. If you're drawing a woman's eye in low lighting, make the pupil larger.
- Press lightly so you can easily erase the pencil if you need to make corrections.
- Use curved lines to create long eyelashes above and below the eye. Make a flicking motion with your wrist as you quickly make lots of small strokes along the upper eyelid. If the woman is wearing mascara, you can make the eyelashes thicker or darker. Leave a small gap below the bottom eyelid and the eyelashes.[3]
- Draw a curved upper eyelid to give the eye depth. You can make the curved lid as close or as far from the eyelash line as you like. Keep in mind that some women don't have noticeable curves along the upper eyelid, so you may want to position it close to the eyelash line.[4]
- Sketch a faint outline of the eyebrow. Lightly outline the general shape of the woman's eyebrow so it's along the brow bone. It may be thick or narrow, arched, wispy, or defined, for instance. You can fill it in once you've finished drawing the rest of the eye.[5]
- The brow bone is directly above the eye socket.
- The hairs at the fullest part of the eyebrow should be pointing up while the hairs at the middle of the brow should be drawn horizontally. Then, draw the hairs near the outer edge pointing down.
[Edit]Drawing a Detailed Iris - Outline areas you'd like to leave light. If the woman's eye is reflecting light from a window or lamp, lightly outline the shape that's reflected. For example, you might draw a small square near one side of the iris if light is being reflected from a window.[6]
- You can also make the highlighted shape a circle or oval.
- Sketch around the middle ring of the iris. The eye will probably have an iris that is darker around the pupil and the outer edge. Take your pencil and lightly sketch around the middle of the iris's ring so you can leave this lighter than the edges.[7]
- Fill in the pupil and darken the outline of the iris. Completely darken the pupil so it's black. Then, press firmly as you draw along the outline and around the reflection you blocked off. You may want to use a darker pencil or go over the outline several times to make it appear dark.[8]
- Remember not to draw or fill in the area of the iris that you're going to highlight.
- Sketch spokes that radiate from the pupil across the highlighted part of the iris. Now you can fill in the lighter portion of the iris that you blocked off. Use your pencil to draw lines coming from the pupil out towards the edge of the iris. Try to use shorter, darker strokes right next to the pupil to make the iris look realistic.[9]
- Use an eraser or blending stump to lighten the iris. If you find that you made the iris too dark, use the eraser on your pencil or a paper blending stump and lightly smudge the excess graphite off of the paper. Keep erasing or blending until you've lightened the iris as much as you like.[10]
- If you're drawing a very dark iris, you may not need to go back and lighten any part of it.
[Edit]Adding Finishing Details - Darken the upper eyelash line. Create even more depth by drawing over the eyelash line where it meets the hairs. This is especially important if you want the eye to have eyeliner or heavy mascara.[11]
- Go back and fill in the eyebrow with lots of short hairs. Instead of drawing rows of hairs that start in neat lines, make hairs that overlap each other. To make the eyebrow look natural, sketch the hairs closest to the inner eye so they're pointing straight up. As you fill in the middle of the eyebrow, draw the hairs so they're curving from right to left or left to right, depending on which eye you're drawing. When you reach the narrow end of the eyebrow, make the small hairs point down.[12]
- Keep adding hairs until you've filled in the brow and overlap them so they look natural.
- Add light shading around the white of the eye. At this point, the white of the eye probably stands out. To make it look more realistic, use a blending stump that has a little graphite on it or take a pencil and lightly shade around the corners of the eye. You'll also need to blend a little where the white meets the iris.[13]
- Shade the skin around the eye. Use a pencil or blending stump that has graphite to add depth to the skin under the eye. You'll also want to darken and blend the skin near the upper eyelid's crease.[14]
[Edit]Example - Example female eye.
- Keep in mind that eyes can be different widths and angles. Try to draw a variety of female eyes to gain experience.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Pencil
- Smooth drawing paper
- Blending stump
- Eraser
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Remove Moss Posted: 05 Feb 2020 12:00 AM PST Moss is a type of plant that grows in large clumps or mats, and it can be unsightly if you have it in your yard or on your home. Luckily, there are easy ways that you can get rid of moss from any area with just a few simple tools. If you need to remove moss from a lawn, rake it or use chemicals to kill it before treating your soil. If you have moss growing on bricks, walls, or pavement, you can try scraping it off or cleaning it with a pressure washer. For moss that's growing on your roof, try to clean off as much as you can before applying cleaning solutions. [Edit]Removing Moss from Your Lawn - Drag a rake over the moss to break apart small clumps. Moss doesn't have an established root system, so it breaks apart easily. Pull the rake over the mossy area in different directions so you're more likely to rip it out of the ground. Continue raking the moss until you don't see anymore in your grass or soil. Pick up the moss you removed and throw it in the trash or a compost bin.[1]
- You can also buy special dethatching blades for your lawnmower that can tear up moss over large areas.
- Sprinkle iron sulfate on the moss if it doesn't rake up easily. Iron sulfate, also known as ferrous sulfate, dries mosses out without killing grass so you can easily remove them. Pour the granules of iron sulfate directly onto the mossy area so it has even coverage. Water the moss thoroughly so the iron sulfate can work into the moss and kill it faster. Wait 2–3 hours before you try raking the moss out of the ground.[2]
- If the moss doesn't come up after 2–3 hours, try again the next day.
- You can also treat your entire lawn by pouring the granules in a garden spreader and walking it through your lawn.
- Water the lawn only when needed to prevent moss from forming. Moss grows best when there's a lot of moisture, so standing water can cause it to form even faster. Rather than watering your lawn daily, wait until the grass shows signs of stress. When the grass has a dull bluish-grey color or your footprints are still visible after walking through it, then you should water again. Stop watering before you puddles form on your lawn, or else moss may come back.[3]
- Infrequent waterings actually help your lawn develop better since the grasses grow longer and healthier roots.
- Watering less will not kill moss that's already established in your lawn.
- Run an aerator over your lawn if you have compacted soil. An aerator is a mechanical device that removes small cylindrical cores of your lawn so water, oxygen, and nutrients can enter the soil. Place the aerator in 1 corner of your lawn and walk it in a straight line. Work back and forth across your entire lawn with the aerator so you can have healthy soil.[4]
- Buy or rent an aerator from your local garden or lawn care store.
- Aerating lawns will not kill moss on its own.
- Compacted soil can trap moisture above ground and cause moss to form in your lawn.
- Spread lime throughout your lawn if you have acidic soil. Moss grows better on top of acidic soil, but you can raise the pH by spreading garden lime, also known as limestone. Pour half of the lime into a garden spreader and start in 1 corner of your lawn. Walk the spreader back and forth across your lawn horizontally until it's empty. Fill the spreader with the other half of lime before walking it in the opposite direction.[5]
- You can buy lime from your local garden store.
- Lime will not kill moss by itself, but it will help prevent it.
- Applying lime to your lawn works best after you aerate it.
[Edit]Killing Moss on Walls or Pavement - Use a sharp knife to cut out moss from cracks in pavement or walls. Guide the blade of the knife into the crack with moss in it. Apply a small amount of pressure as you drag the knife down the length of the crack and force the moss out. Work in short strokes and run the knife through the area again if you aren't able to remove all of the moss the first time.[6]
- This works well for removing moss from driveways, sidewalks, and pavers.
- The knife could easily slip out of the crack if you apply too much pressure.
- Be careful not to cut yourself while you're working.
- Spray a vinegar or bleach solution on moss to help break it apart. Combine 1 part of white vinegar or chlorine bleach with 4 parts warm water in a garden pump sprayer. Stir the solution together so it's thoroughly mixed. Aim the tip of the hose nozzle at the moss that you want to remove and pump the sprayer handle 3–4 times to build up pressure. Pull the trigger to spread a thin mist of the solution on the moss. The moss will start breaking down and die within the next 2–3 weeks.[7]
- A vinegar or bleach solution also works to prevent moss from growing back on the surface.
- This works well if you want to remove moss from bricks, walls, pavers, or concrete.
- Scrape moss off with a stiff-bristled brush to clean small areas. Wet the area you're scrubbing with water from your hose or a moss-killing solution so the moss falls off better. Apply a firm amount of pressure as you work the brush in multiple directions over the mossy area. Throw away or compost any of the moss you're able to remove so it doesn't grow again.[8]
- You can use your brush on textured or flat surfaces without causing any damage.
- Use a pressure washer if you want to remove moss quickly. Pressure washers take water from your hose and shoot it out at high speeds to break apart stuck-on debris. Use the 15- or 25-degree nozzle tip so you're less likely to cause damage to the area. Keep the nozzle of the pressure washer at least away from the spot you're spraying and pull the trigger to shoot the water. Work in short back and forth strokes across the moss to remove it.[9]
- Wear safety glasses while you're working because pressure washers can easily kick up debris.
- Never aim a pressure washer at a living thing or something that can easily get damaged.
- Using a pressure washer may also remove dirt and grime on the surface and make it a different color. Clean the whole area with the pressure washer so the color looks uniform.
[Edit]Cleaning Moss off Your Roof - Spray water on the moss with a low-pressure hose to see if it breaks off. Screw a standard jet attachment to the end of your garden hose to use for moss removal. Climb a ladder up to your roof and spray the roofing material at a downward angle so you don't let water get underneath shingles and tear them up. Focus on large clumps of moss while you're cleaning since they'll break off the easiest.[10]
- Don't use a pressure washer to remove moss from shingles since you could damage them.
- Scrub your roof with a brush while it's wet to clean stuck-on moss. Get a long-handled brush that has stiff bristles so it can scrape the moss off of your roof without damaging the surface. Climb onto your roof at the peak so you can work down from the top. Focus on a area at a time and apply firm pressure to the brush as you scrub in downward strokes. Continue working down your roof until you remove as much moss as you can.[11]
- Be extremely cautious walking on your roof since the water can make it very slippery. Use a safety harness attached to the roof ridge if you need to.
- If you don't feel comfortable cleaning moss off of your roof, hire a professional roofing service to clean it for you.
- Spray a bleach and water solution on the moss for the most effective treatment. Fill a garden sprayer with equal parts of chlorine bleach and warm water before stirring it together. Climb onto your roof and spray the solution onto the mossy areas of your roof. Once you apply an even coat, leave the solution on the moss for 15–20 minutes before rinsing it off with your garden hose. Some moss will break off immediately while other parts may take 2–3 weeks to fall off.[12]
- Bleach can kill other plants and discolor pavement or siding, so cover the area underneath your roof with plastic sheeting to help protect it.
- You can scrub your roof with a cleaning brush after you rinse off the solution to help remove more moss. of white vinegar and of warm water for your cleaning solution.[13]}}
- Install strips of zinc or copper along the roof ride to kill moss in the future. Zinc and copper are toxic to moss, so rainwater that runs over the metal will prevent any spores from growing on your roof. Cut the metal into strips that are wide and about long using a metal cutting blade on a saw. Place the strips right underneath the ridge on the peak of your roof and secure them with roofing nails every .[14]
- You can buy sheet metal from hardware stores. Ask the employees to cut the strips to size for you if you don't have any tools at home.
- You may also tuck the strip underneath the first row of shingles so only extend out if you don't want large pieces of exposed metal.
- If you need to put in new roofing material, look for shingles that have copper particles built into them since they can prevent moss growth.
- Prune overhanging tree limbs to prevent moss from forming again. Moss grows the best in shady areas from tree branches and limbs. Look at your roof at different times throughout the day to see when it gets shade and what branches are causing it. For small limbs, use a tree saw to cut the branches as close to the base as possible so they don't grow back as easily. If you have large, heavy limbs, contact a professional service to remove them for you.[15]
- Don't attempt to remove large branches on your own since they could damage your roof or cause serious injury when they fall.
- Moss killing formulas are different for lawn and roof treatments. Make sure you choose the appropriate solution for where you're removing moss.
[Edit]Warnings - Keep pets and children out of areas that you've treated with iron sulfate since it can be toxic if ingested.
- Don't use pressure washers on your roof since it could damage the material.
- Use caution when you climb a ladder or get on your roof since you could easily fall.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Removing Moss from Your Lawn - Rake
- Iron sulfate
- Lime
- Aerator
[Edit]Killing Moss on Walls or Pavement - Knife
- Garden sprayer
- White vinegar
- Chlorine bleach
- Stiff-bristled brush
- Garden hose
- Pressure washer
[Edit]Cleaning Moss off Your Roof - Ladder
- Garden hose
- Long-handled brush
- Garden sprayer
- Tree saw
- Copper or zinc sheet metal
- Hammer
- Roofing nails
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
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