Fall Fashion 411

-Written by our BusinessMom of the week - Lori Stein

Fall fashion is here! What does that mean for you while you're still sweltering in the Georgia heat? Well, it means that there are sales all over the place on great summer styles. Even being the crazy fashionista that I am, I'm a huge fan of buying a season ahead for CERTAIN items. Here are some basic guidelines to follow:

ONLY BUY BASICS. When shopping the sales, buy some of the timeless basics that might be missing from your wardrobe. For instance, a great white trouser or summer wrap dress. This is the time that you may want to invest in those pieces that would not normally fit into your budget. These are the pieces that will stand the test of wardrobe time. Stay away from those trendy items that may look like a bargain now but will only serve to make you look and feel outdated next summer.

DON'T OVER BUY. I know that it's easy to get carried away with the bargain prices. But make sure to go shopping with a list of things that you need. Just like at the grocery store, a list will keep you focused and will prevent you from a bunch of impulse purchases which end up breaking your budget.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK. There are so many sales and bargain websites out there these days. Make sure that you have checked out prices online before hitting the stores. Know what that item is typically going for around town to avoid being sucked into a faux bargain. Plus, often the online price of an item is different than in the store. Sometimes the bigger bargain is in the store and sometimes it's online. Shop smart.

DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK. Did you find exactly what you are looking for only they don't have your size or the color that you want? Ask a sales associate if they can locate it and ship it to you. I find that very few people utilize sales associates for this service and it  really saves time. A lot of stores will ship to your home for free if they don't have the item in stock.

AVOID NON-SALE ITEMS. As great as that new sweater calling your name from across the store appears to be, rest assured that it will most likely be marked down once if not twice before the temperatures will allow you to wear it. Wait it out.

Happy shopping!

Lori Stein, in addition to being a wife and mother of 2 little girls, is a local style guru and Independent Stylist for Stella & Dot. She also blogs on her Facebook page with tips on style for a steal - Style by Lori.

Passion into Profit

Meet our BusinessMom of the Week, Lori Stein!

In this economy extra income can be critical. For Lori Stein, as for many women, passion for what you're doing is just as critical. Looking for an opportunity to both support her family in addition to being a stay-at-home mom to two little girls, she also knew that she needed something for herself – an outlet for her natural potential. 

To find inspiration, Lori looked to her upbringing and the memories her of Mom. An amazing woman with a vibrant personality, her mother always maintained a powerful sense of style. She taught Lori that having style is not about fashion, it's about confidence and about knowing who you are. That is what her mother had instilled in her and she wanted to share that with more women. 

An opportunity presented itself to Lori in the form of a great career with Stella & Dot jewelry as an Independent Stylist. It seemed like the perfect way to get her feet wet.

A quick look over the website convinced Lori that Stella & Dot seemed very different from the other direct selling groups she knew about. It quickly grew into much more than a hobby after she realized what demand there was in the marketplace. 

Becoming an Independent Stylist seemed like a great hobby at first. Having never had any experience in direct selling, much less hosting jewelry trunk shows in her own living room, she wasn't certain where to begin or where it would go. Over the susbsequent months, though, she found herself easily settling in - not just to her role with Stella and Dot, but into a larger role.

Her passion for styling women went much further than the great accessories she was marketing from Stella and Dot. She found herself answering questions about fashion, shopping deals and much more. She realized that so many women wanted style advice in other areas. In providing broad style advice, a tantalizing opportunity seemed to be offering itself to her.

Thus, her blog, Style By Lori was born. Lori believes that every woman can be stylish at any price point and she wants to help you see that too. She wants to get into your closet and help you determine your style and create an effortless wardrobe that says who you are, is easy to maintain and fun to wear. Above all, Lori wants every woman to keep one critical observation in mind:

You don't have to be uncomfortable to be stylish. 

In fact, there's nothing more UN-stylish than looking like you don't belong in your own clothes. To see some of the great ways you can avoid looking "Un-stylish", while staying inside of your budget, look to her blog and Facebook page for style tips and great deals on must-have pieces.

For more information on Style By Lori visit her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/stylebylori or email her at stylebylori@hotmail.com

For more information about Stella & Dot, or to see their exciting fall lineup including the luxurious new handbag line, visit www.stelladot.com/loristein. If you are interested in hosting a trunk show or joining Lori's Stella & Dot team email her at sdloristein@hotmail.com