The Pretty Pear

Tip: On hems and heels

Here’s a fashion faux pas that’s easy to avoid: pairing pants that are too short with heels. The bottom hem of your pants should fall to at least to the middle of the heel, like this:

Notice how this will make the front of the pant break right over the top of the foot. I personally prefer that the hem sit even lower, about three quarters of the way down the heel but NOT all the way to the floor.

Flats are a little more forgiving, as it’s more difficult to find the perfect long enough but not dragging on the ground length. But with a heel, if the pant is the wrong length, it’s way more obvious and looks sloppy.

If you’re going to wear a fab heel, you might as well wear pants that are the proper length to go with them. It’s a little detail that will make your outfit look much more streamlined.

The impossibly high heel pictured above is the Mylie pump from Gabriella Rocha available from Zappos.

Shopping tip: An important question

I’m just going to say right off the bat that this tip isn’t my own. It’s actually from Tim Gunn’s book. Le Gunn is wise, though so we trust his advice.

Here’s a question to ask yourself whenever you’re tempted to buy an item that’s on sale, you have a coupon for, or the item is otherwise cheaper than full retail:

Would I be willing to pay full price for this item if it wasn’t on sale? Would I still want it as badly as I do now?

Now, I’m not saying to immediately drop the item and run out of the store if the answer is “No” (Incidentaly, Tim Gunn would say that but I’m nicer than he is, I guess). I am saying to stop yourself and consider why you want the item in your hands. Will it really add value to your wardrobe or do you want it because it’s cheap and you’re afraid to pass up an opportunity?

This question can be tough if you’re a bargain hunter like myself. In the case that I’m actively waiting for an item to go on sale before buying it, I don’t really ask myself the Big Question. In that case, it’s a planned purchase and I’m just waiting to get a good deal.

However, if I’m in a store or just putzing around online and come across something on sale and think “omg I need this right now or I’ll never be able to find anything like it ever again!!!”

I stop.

And ask, “Is this item so wonderfully unique that I will never find anything like it ever again at a similar price?” And the answer is almost always no.

The question isn’t intended to make you want to pay full price for everything you need. It’s just a way to measure how valuable the item is to you and whether you’d be willing to sacrifice a little more financially to have it.

A few reasons to love QVC

Customer reviews
QVC allows their customers to post reviews of products on the QVC site. I have seen that they’ll hide reviews for the Today’s Special Value items but other than that, they don’t filter out the negative reviews. I’m a lot more likey to buy something online if I can read reviews, especially if it’s clear that the reviews aren’t filtered to show only the good ones. The model works well for Amazon and Zappos and it’s great to see QVC encouraging their customers to share their experiences. Letting customers write reviews shows that QVC is confident in their products and that they put the customer’s satisfaction first.

One item, one price
Almost all of the apparel that QVC carries comes in sizes up to 3X or 26/28. But guess what? Every size is the same price. They don’t charge extra for plus sizes. Havng just one price for each item is logical for QVC but it’s totally different from how other retailers price their plus sizes, so it’s worth noting.

Standard sizing
QVC has one size chart and all of their clothes use that same sizing, regardless of designer or label. And if there are any differences, they’ll note that on-air. This means that you can order clothing with the confidence that the item is likely to fit. This doesn’t mean everything will fit 100% of the time but you can call the order number and the customer service rep will have measurements for any item you’re interested in.

And if you don’t like an item once you get it, you can return it within 30 days for a full refund, including the original shipping price. Their return policy is here, if you’re curious.

A few more reasons…
Great selection of my favorite beauty lines (Bare Escentuals and philosophy), PM Style on Monday nights with my favorite hostess Lisa Robertson, fun celebrity guests (like Carson from Queer Eye, even if you don’t buy any of his stuff, he’s so entertaining to watch!), Easy Pay…

Note: QVC didn’t pay me to write this and I have no affiliation with them at all, whatsoever. I just have a dorky love for home shopping.

Shopping tip: Know thy measurements

First, be mindful of undergarments. Before measuring, put on the type of bra and undies you’d wear with the item you’re shopping for. Don’t measure your bust wearing your non-padded everyday bra if you’re shopping for a cocktail dress that requires a padded, strapless bra. If you plan to wear a bodyshaper, put that on before measuring.

It is possible to take accurate measurements yourself but if you’re nervous, grab a friend and have her help. Bonus points if you happen to be friends with a seamstress or tailor!

Use a plastic or cloth tape measure and record the following measurements:

• fullest point around the bust
• smallest point around the waist
• fullest point at the hip
• inseam

Make sure to keep the tape flat, even and snug but not tight. It shouldn’t pull into your flesh nor should it be too loose.

You can get fancier and measure from your waist to knee (for skirts), shoulder to wrist, shoulder to hip, etc. However, most online size charts are limited to bust, waist, hip, lengths for dresses and skirts, inseams for pants, and sometimes sleeve and overall garment lengths.

Finding your inseam length is easier if you just measure a pair of pants that fit properly, rather than trying to contort yourself into a position that would allow for measuring your actual inseam. Also, be mindful of the shoes you’ll wear with the item! If you’re into heels, be sure to take the extra height into account when making purchases.

Write the measurements down or keep them in a file on your computer so you’ll always have them handy to compare to size charts.