Showing posts with label retail. Show all posts
Showing posts with label retail. Show all posts

Thursday, April 18, 2013

11 Pictures from The Golden Days Of JCPenney

A JCPenney Christmas catalog from 1990 reveals how long it's been since the retailer was a dominant force in American shopping.

JCPenney enjoyed a heyday in the 1990's, when it was the top catalog retailer in the U.S. Since then it's closed hundreds of stores and laid off thousands of people.
 
This week, embattled CEO Ron Johnson stepped down after a disastrous, 16-month reign.
These images, compiled by user Wishbook on Flickr, show the retailer in happier times.

Before the Internet and freely-available pornography, many teens learned about sex from the lingerie section of catalogs.

This outdated camera was cutting-edge technology back in 1990.

Gold was cheap, so it was the standard jewelry back then.

These acid-wash jeans were in.

The Chicago Bulls and the San Francisco 49ers were the most-celebrated professional teams.

Kids skipped to the toy page of the catalog instead of checking out the latest toys online.

These girls rocked out to a boombox.

The girl cradling the land line phone looks very trendy in her vest.

New Kids on the block were a hugely popular singing group.

People still wore scrunchies and LA Gear sneakers.

This man's overalls were considered fashionable.



Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/old-jcpenney-catalog-from-1990-2013-4?op=1#ixzz2QYKBBZqU

Friday, March 1, 2013

What’s Your Shoe Personality?

What’s Your Shoe Personality?

“Why do you need so many shoes?”
 
If you’ve ever been asked this question by a guy, you’re probably going to love a great new Web service called JustFabulous.
 
Born from a deep appreciation of a woman’s relationship with shoes, the website is dedicated to the needs of the average shoe addict.
 
Why are so many women addicted to shoes? The explanations range from the practical to the therapeutic. On the practical side, we know no outfit is complete without the perfect pair of shoes. So, for every look we go out in, of course we need a unique pair of shoes to top it off! Shoes also last longer than clothes--because unlike our dress size, our shoe size doesn’t change—so, we can always wear our favorites, regardless of whether or not our favorite pair of jeans fit that day.
 
But, there’s also something more about shoes—when you’re feeling down and need a pick-me-up, a great new pair of shoes often works wonders. JustFabulous seeks to provide shoe addicts exactly what they want when it comes to shoes--namely, their own personal stylist.
 
But, shoe nirvana doesn’t just mean your own personal stylist suggesting new shoes that fit your look and style perfectly—it also means being able to actually afford these styles, and that’s what JustFabulous does.
 
The JustFabulous experience starts with you taking a shoe personality quiz. It’s a fun, quick, online survey where you’re presented with a slew of different shoe options, as well as various celebrity and designer looks that you rate based on your personal taste. Based on your choices, JustFabulous then creates your unique shoe style profile.
 
Then comes the really fun part. JustFabulous employs a team of celebrity stylists with extensive experience dressing some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry. Each month, the team selects and presents you with a personalized collection of five shoes that they think you will love based on your style profile. You can then choose to buy one or more of these shoes for just $39.95 each.
 
That’s right—only $39.95 for high quality, high fashion shoes. They’re able to get this kind of pricing for their clients because they work with a selection of high-end shoe manufacturers on a direct basis. These are high fashion styles like those sold by top designers for hundreds of dollars at retail--so, the quality is first rate.
 
If you don’t like any of the selections they come up with for you that month, you can request more, or just wait until the next month to see new selections. Shipping is always free, and any of the shoes you select can be returned for a full credit if you don’t absolutely love them when they arrive.
 
There is no cost to join, and you don’t need to enter your credit card unless you start buying shoes.
To get your own style profile, and see what selections the JustFabulous stylists select for you, just click here.

This article sponsored by JustFabulous Copyright Howlifeworks.com 2013

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

How Makeup Helps my Self Esteem


I remember my first makeup set like it was a first kiss–white, creamy eyeliner from New York Color; bright purple mascara from my all-time favorite store, Limited Too; and silver Wet & Wild lipstick. It was the height of “Clueless” mania, and my main goal was to look like I was from “The Valley,” despite being in rural Wisconsin.

I had always been fascinated with makeup and the application–I pored over past issues of YM and Seventeen that I got from older babysitters. As I entered middle school, my tastes evolved and I transitioned to Maybelline Full & Soft mascara and matte Cover Girl powder. My mom, a Great Lash devotee, allowed me to wear pretty much whatever I wanted and felt that it allowed me to express myself. By the time I was in high school, I had a Caboodle full of bright lip glosses, purple eye shadow (hey, it was the early 2000s) and fun nail polish.

Now, my makeup routine is pretty natural. I like to put on some liquid eyeliner or a bright lip on special nights, but for the most part, it’s tame. I’ve graduated from my high school makeup and now obsess over Bare Minerals, Benefit and Tarte. I’m a frequenter of my local Sephora, like most 26-year-olds.

I do wear makeup daily and made a few emergency trips to CVS when I forget to put on mascara to grab a trusty tube of Full & Soft.

A made-up face makes me feel bold, confident, and, more importantly, polished. I feel like I conquered the first part of the day and now I’m ready for anything. Bring it.

And, like Natasha Scripture mentioned in her recent New York Times article, “with red lips, I often feel like I can rule the world.”

Friday, February 22, 2013

QUIZ: Can You Spot The Knock-Off Handbags, Shoes, And Gadgets?

Sometimes, imitation is not the most sincere form of flattery.

Thanks in large part to easy accessibility on the internet and the ever-increasing sophistication of knock-off designers, fake luxury goods are now widely available in developed countries around the world.
 
In FY 2011, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents seized more than $1.1 billion in goods (based on manufacturers' prices), with pharmaceuticals and electronics leading the way.
 
We've compiled some reals and fakes from around the internet and the UK Border Force's Home Office Flickr stream. Can you spot the phony versions of handbags, iPhones, watches, and more?

Which pair of Uggs was actually made in Australia?

ANSWER: These fuzzy shoes were seized by Border Patrol in the UK.

Which one is the fake Louis Vuitton designer bag?

ANSWER: This bag is not the real deal.

Which Rolex might be sold from the inside of a trench coat?

ANSWER: Don't be fooled into paying thousands for this replica.

Which is the fake pair of Air Jordans?

ANSWER: This 'Nike' shoe is a fraud.

Can you spot the fake iPhone?

ANSWER: This one looks good, but it definitely doesn't work as well.

Which boots are actually made by Timberland?

ANSWER: These shoes look good, but are phonies.

Which one is the knockoff Gucci bag?

ANSWER: This bag is not the real deal.

Which is the real Andrew Jackson?

ANSWER: The counterfeit $20 is on the right.

Which blue jewelry box is actually from Tiffany & Co.?

Which blue jewelry box is actually from Tiffany & Co.?
UK Home Office/Tiffany & Co.

ANSWER: You probably don't want anything that comes in this faux box.

Which iPod nano is not from Apple?

ANSWER: Apple would not approve of this iPod.

Which Manolo Blahnik would Carrie Bradshaw never wear?

ANSWER: The "Sex and the City" character would never slip her foot into these knockoffs.

Can you tell which Lakers cap is a fake?

ANSWER: This hat, seized by UK Border Patrol, is a knock-off.

Which iPad is made by Apple?

Which iPad is made by Apple?
UK Home Office/Apple

ANSWER: We hope you didn't get this fake iPad for Christmas.



Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/fake-vs-real-bags-shoes-watches-ipads-2013-1?op=1#ixzz2LW9sYhDx