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Save Money By Finding A Bra That Fits

Tired of constantly purchasing a bra that is either too loose or too tight? Perhaps, you have not figured out your perfect size yet. Do not worry, you are not alone! I was once lost in the sea of under wires, push-ups, and strapless undergarments as well. But, I turned things around by following these steps:

1. FIND THE PERFECT SIZE

The foundation of this journey is to find the right size of your brassiere. Start by determining your band size.

While wearing a bra, measure around the bottom of it directly under your bust. Round the measure to the nearest whole number. If the number is even, add four inches and if the number is odd, add five inches. The sum will become your band size. For instance, you measured 33 inches then, your band size is 38.

The second step is to determine your bust measurement. Wrap the tape measure a bit loosely around the fullest part of your chest. Then, round the measure to the nearest whole number. Lastly, calculate your cup size by subtracting your band size from your bust size. Then, refer to this chart to know your cup size.

2. FIND THE RIGHT STYLE

Now that you had discovered your perfect size, you can move on to finding the right style. Take note of three things namely: the cut, the fabric, and the color. The cut can be full cup, half cup, or camisole style. The fabric can be cotton,silk, or lace. And, the color can resemble any part of the rainbow! Find the right style that will fit not only most of your outfits but also most of the occasions.

3. SEEK HELP FROM THE SALESPERSON

If you still feel completely confused and lost then, it is time to ask the salesperson’s help. Helping you find the perfect bra is part of their job. Also, you may ask if there is a professional fitter in the shop to help you check your measurements. Then, test the recommended bra yourself.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

4. WASH WITH CARE

It is important to wash your undergarments with care. In fact, bras made with nylon and cotton do not do well in the heat of your dryer. A better alternative is to hang them to the air dryer or to wash them inside the laundry mesh bags. You can purchase cheap laundry bags at Daiso. Also, remember to fasten the bra to prevent the hooks from clinging on to delicate sweaters.

Sources: 1 & 2

Upgrade Your Style By Making Your Low-Priced Clothes Look Voguish

No matter how much fashion and lifestyle magazines clamor over the S$1000 pair of Christian Louboutin heels, the average person cannot afford to have a shoe rack full of it. Fortunately, you can dress up fashionably without having to break the bank! All you have to do is make the low-priced clothing look more expensive. Try these tips:

1. BACK TO BASICS

The old saying is true: “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”. This is why you must avoid handbags or clothes that are filled with bargain embellishments or distressed denim patterns. If you want to accessorize, opt for a thick bracelet rather than stacking three little ones to increase the outfit’s impact. Remember: the sleeker and simpler – the better.

2. CHOOSE MONOCHROMATIC

Since splashing yourself with every color on the rainbow can look cheap, wear one color or one shade of color from head-to-toe. This creates an illusion of supreme quality. For example, you can wear the different shades of black, from Jet-Licorice, to look slimmer and fashionable. Although, this does not mean that you will avoid experimenting with color all together. You may suit up with bold pastels or deep jewel tones.

3. CHANGE THE BUTTONS

One of the tricks that stylists do is to replace the inexpensive plastic buttons with pearl or metal ones. You can purchase affordable and beautiful vintage, metal, pearl, and crystal buttons for as low as S$6.93 at Etsy.com.

Image Credits: Erich Ferdinand via Flickr with Creative Commons License

4. SELECT THE RIGHT FABRIC

Cheaper fabrics are always obvious especially if there are loose threads hanging on the side. So, prefer pieces that are made with cotton, linen, and tweed. The prices of these materials may be reasonable but they often seem more expensive.

5. TAILOR EVERYTHING

Tailoring your jeans for about S$5-12 is worth every buck as it can transform your S$13 Forever21 jeans into a designer looking one. It goes the same for a tailored blazer or a tailored dress. Aside from having it tailored by a professional, you can save more money by mastering these simple alteration stitches.

Image Credits: Hillary via Flickr with Creative Commons License Attribution-ShareAlike

Do not let the tight clothing budget fool you into thinking you’re not Vogue-worthy! 🙂

Sources: 1 & 2

Budget-Friendly Ways To Look Taller Instantly

Dreaming of growing a few inches more? But, as they say: some things cannot be changed – natural height included. Lucky for you, there are easy and cheap ways to appear taller in less than an hour!

1. DRESS WISE

FOR WOMEN:

a. Use Smart Color Play

Light colors for the shoes such as nude can help elongate your legs while solid colored tops create a visual feast without shortening the person’s perceived height. Befriend the colors inside your closet and do these simple tricks:

Image Credits: en.paperblog.com

b. Go For V-necks

Blouse, t-shirt, or any top with V-necklines can make you look taller and leaner as it creates a vertical line drawing attention to the person’s face. A budget-friendly H&M V-neck shirt retails for S$7-10.

FOR MEN:

a. Opt For Dark Pants

Dark colored pants make your legs look long and slim. So, if you want to appear taller and lean, opt for dark black or navy jeans.

b. Wear Fitted Clothes

Avoid baggy clothing and go for nicely fitted clothing as it reveals the body’s silhouette. Wearing a suit that fit can produce a lengthening illusion of your whole body.

FOR BOTH:

a. Go For Vertical Lines

Try to wear clothing with vertical lines while avoiding those with horizontal lines. Not only will you look taller but you will also look thinner because the lines make people perceive the height more than the width.

b. Style A Monochromatic Look

Wear a look that has the same color or shade from head-to-toe (e.g., all white everything). This will create fewer segments to your body that will lead to an illusion of maximum height.

2. GOOD POSTURE

Stand or sit up straight. Good posture is not only free but it can make a huge difference in how others perceive your length. Also, you will look more sharp and engaged.

3. ENHANCE YOUR HAIR

Style your hair to add extra height and volume around your face. But, do not go overboard and have a famous 80s big do! Feeling more adventurous? Cut your hair shorter as long locks can overwhelm the height. How much would a trim at salons in HDBs cost you? Only S$6-15 – go for it!

4. EAT RIGHT

Food rich in calcium such as yogurt, milk, spinach, and soybean help the bones to grow. While food rich in vitamin D such as fish, cereal, and mushroom help muscle growth. Lastly, food rich in protein such as peas, broccoli, and nuts help the whole body to grow. Know more here.

Image Credits: Frank Steiner via Flickr

Source: About Style

9 Budget-Friendly Ways To Look Younger And Beautiful

1. MAINTAIN A GOOD POSTURE

People who stand up straight would convey a figure that looks more attractive and smarter. Also, research show that it facilitates breathing, increases happiness, and improves concentration. Give it a try. It is a free boost anyway.

2. GET A LONG SIDE-SWEPT FRINGE

If you are ever going to get a haircut, ask your stylist for long side-swept bangs to cover any obvious wrinkles in your forehead.

3. CUT YOUR NAILS INTO SQUARE-OVALS

Square tips with rounded edges tend to look more youthful and clean. Cut your nails straight across then smooth the corners round with a nail file.

4. HAVE A FREE EYE-LIFT

Curl your lashes and finish it with mascara. Curly and thick looking lashes give you an instant eye-lift that makes you seem alert and younger. For best results, wash your curler with hot water or blow-dry it for at least three seconds before using it.

5. SWITCH TO CREAM

Face powder can produce fine lines and lifeless look. So, switch to BB or CC cream instead. It will give a natural radiance to your glowing skin.

6. GO FOR BERRY LIPS

Go for a color that softens your lips by being not too nude, sheer, and bright. A berry hue is just right. Also, it is universally flattering for all skin complexions. Try Clinique’s Berry Blush Butter Shine Lipstick for S$16 or Broadest Berry Chubby Stick Lip Balm for S$17.

7. TRY MIXING IT UP

Pair two solid color or two patterned clothing together to give a bold and youthful statement. For example you may pair a floral skirt print with a striped blouse.

8. WEAR CLOTHING ARTICLES THAT FIT

My mother is one of the women who buy one size larger so that the clothing is more comfortable but it is less flattering. Whether something is too tight or too loose, the result remains constant: looking larger that you really are. So, shop and wear clothes that fit you well.

9. RENEW YOUR EYEWEAR

Image Credits: Ansel Edwards via Flickr

If you do not want to wear contact lenses, a new color of frame shape will take years off your face. A frame shape that you may try is the modern take on the cat-eye. The upward tilt has a lifting effect. For the colors of the frame, warm hues exude youthfulness.

How Much Will It Cost To Live in USA, Singapore, Australia or Italy?

Cost of living is the total expense of maintaining a standard of living in a certain country. This changes over time and is often operationalized in a cost of living index.

In this chart is the comparison of the cost of living of four countries namely: United States of America, Australia, Singapore, and Italy.

Clothing And Shoes Ave. (in SGD)	USA	SG	AUS	ITALY

1 Pair of Jeans (Levis)	54.95	111.92	111.35	129.67
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, F21, etc.)	47.82	63.24	76.26	53.99
1 Pair of Men Leather Shoes	113.77	136.22	147.41	166.62

Total Clothing:	216.54	311.38	335.02	350.28

Rent Per Month Ave. (in SGD)

Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	1,359.20	3,312.03	1,944.27	928.25
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	1,032.05	2,133.33	1,380.82	709.08
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	2,313.77	5,955.30	3,335.58	1,634.16
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	1,743.47	3,579.49	2,186.44	1,192.56

Total Rent:	6,448.49	14,980.15	8,847.11	4464.05

Ave. Salary After Tax (in SGD)

Monthly Salary	4,103.69	3,875.20	4,732.34	2,439.03

All the data were collated from Numbeo. It is a website that stores the world’s largest database of user contributed information about global living conditions.

Before discussing the variables in the chart, let us first explore a brief introduction of these four countries. United States of America, commonly referred to as U.S., is a federal republic country that is consists of 50 states. According to the International Monetary Fund, U.S. has the world’s largest national economy. It is considered as a developed country.

Australia, or Commonwealth of Australia, consists of the mainland and numerous smaller islands. In 2012, International Monetary Fund ranked Australia as the fifth highest per capita income among the world. It is also considered as a developed country.

Singapore, officially known as Republic of Singapore, is an island country in Southeast Asia. Despite its size, Singapore had the third highest per capita income around the world. It boasts its high regard on education, healthcare, and economic competitiveness.

Lastly, Italy is a parliamentary republic in Southern Europe. Human Development Report highlighted that Italy is a very developed country with its economy being the eighth largest in the world.

In the comparative chart above, Italy was shown to have the highest cost in Clothing and Shoes. Most of the famous chain brands originated from the U.S., which is why the country had the least cost on clothing and shoes. Furthermore, it is the reason why some items are cheaper when you buy it on its online store.

The Average Rent per Month is overwhelmingly dominated by Singapore. Renting a bedroom apartment at the city center will cost you about S$3,312.03 in Singapore. With that amount, a person can already rent two 3-bedroom apartments in Italy’s city center. The higher cost of rent in Singapore is due to the 718.3 km2 total area of land wherein millions of people reside.

Image Credits: Lina Hughes via Flickr

Lastly, in most of the factors, Australia sits strong on the second place. Although rent and clothing may be costly in Australia, the average salary per month is S$4,732.34. It is the highest among the other four countries.

So, if you are moving to a different country and curious about its cost of living, look it up on Numbeo. It has been mentioned in internationally renowned newspapers and magazines such as BBC, Forbes, The Economist, and New York Times among others.

Sources: International Monetary Fund, Numbeo, and Wikipedia

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