Bold, offbeat patterns are all the rage this season, but finding an item that you love and knowing what to do with it are two completely separate issues. If you have an abundance of patterned pieces, from simple polka-dots to the most abstract designs, or if you are looking to expand your wardrobe, here are a few pieces of advice on how to exciting, colorful pieces in creative ways.

Patterned Statements

If you have a high-impact patterned piece that you absolutely adore, make it into the focal point of your outfit. Select one heavily-patterned item, such as a blouse or a pair of trousers, and wear it with neutral or more subdued items, adding pieces of chunky jewelry that accent the colors of the pattern. You can also use patterned accessories, such as scarves or bangles, to make a statement with an otherwise basic outfit.

Mix it Up

If you are feeling brave, mixed patterns can create a great visual impact and create a unique style that is all your own. The sky is the limit, here, so trust your instincts – you can try stacking different prints in the same hue, or mixing black and white prints with bold, colorful textiles. If you’re not sure where to start, try crossing monochrome stripes with large floral patterns.

Be Brave

Don’t be afraid to use a bold, brash print in your everyday life. Although a dramatic printed piece may seem like too much at first, remember – there is nothing wrong with turning a few heads. If you like a print, there is a way to look great in it! Confidence is the number one trick to looking stunning in whatever you are wearing, so take that piece that you love and work it like only you can.

6 Merchants that we Absolutely Love!

Nordstrom – If you are looking for the best online fashion department store, you have reached the right place! In addition to a huge variety of shoes, this is also a great place to shop for clothing from top designers at affordable prices.  Nordstrom Also has some exclusive brands and products that are only sold online.

Zappos – Shoes, Shoes and again Shoes!!! Zappos is known to have a great variety of footwear including some of the world’s top brands. In many cases you can also find great bargains.  But this is not the only reason you should check ‘em out – many people can testify that their customer service and exchange process is one of the best out there.

6PM – Ideal for the bargain hunter. You can get absolutely crazy deals within a matter of seconds. Note that 6PM and Zappos often have brands that overlap so before you make a purchase make sure you pay them a visit.

Shoebuy – The largest online shoe store out there. If you are searching for a specific model and can’t find it in any of the merchants listed above, this is defiantly your next station in the search process. Shoebuy also boasts some great discount on holidays (sometimes you can get up to 30% discount, even on new items!)

The Walking Company – Specializing in comfort footwear, The Walking Company features an unparalleled assortment of exclusive products and styles that can’t be found anywhere else.

FootSmart – Another loved comfort footwear store. FootSmart is all about keeping your feet healthy. This is a great place to shop orthopedic accessories like insoles, bandages etc.

1.Do Your Price Comparison– For each product out there, there’s usually a couple of merchants selling it online. Prices can differ a lot so make sure you’ve checked them all.

2.However, Price Is Not The Only Thing That Matters– Sometimes a particular merchant can offer you the best price but it doesn’t have the exact size/color you wish for. Remember that when shopping for apparel online will probably involve exchanging the product you wish to purchase (because, for example, the size doesn’t fit correctly). Keep this in mind and make sure you order from sites like Nordstrom.com, Zappos.com, Shoebuy.com or others that have a free shipping & returns policy.

3.Size Does Matter– Look carefully for size charts. It’s common to think that size 11 in brands like Adidas is the same as in Nike. It’s not..

4.Order Your Products In At Least 2 Sizes– Your size and one that is a bit bigger/smaller. This will save you time waiting for another size in case the size you thought would fit didn’t. If you really want to be on the safe side – go to a nearby shop that sell it and try it before ordering online.

5.Use Coupons– Many online shops offer discounts available only with specific coupon codes. check out our ‘Special deals’ section to see if we have any coupons suitable for you.

6.Read Customer Reviews– This is a critical step. You’ll often see that people that have already bought the item you are looking for have very important useful information about it (e.g. – bigger than usual sizes, doesn’t look like the picture, etc.)

7.Shop For Sale Items– Sites like 6PM, Neiman Marcus Last Call and others usually offer great savings. So if you are not picky – don’t hesitate to use them. The upside – you can get the same items that are sold elsewhere for up to 70% discount. The downside – limited inventory, scarcity of specific colors/sizes etc.

8.Watch For The ‘Items You Might Also Be Interested In’ Section–  Some sites call it ‘people who have bought this item also bought..’ and some call it in a different way. It doesn’t really matter – the idea is the same. Note that many sites collect data according to your online activity and they use engines that learn what you like. The more you provide data (by coming back to same site and searching for more products) – the better chance these engines will find something that you might really be interested in.

9.Don’t Forget To Write Reviews – After you’ve got the product, tried it and are ready to provide some useful data for others – write your own review.  You will be surprised how many people we’ll use it.