Tuesday's Trendy Tip: Pants to flatter my rear end

The never ending question...how do I make my butt look smaller? 

Pants that have a lower rise tend to create the appearance of a smaller rear end, be careful not to go too low...because that's not attractive on anyone!  Also opt for bottoms with a smaller plain pocket so you aren't drawing any added attention.

A wide waistband will help visually cut the posterior and give the illusion of a smaller backside.

If you are looking to minimize the maximus make sure the pants are a straight leg or a boot cut.  This will assure that you don't look too top-heavy in skinny jeans.

Feel Fresh Fridays: Casual Cookouts

        April and May have flown by, and we're finally at the unofficial kick-off to summer: Memorial Day Weekend. This is the weekend where pools open, grills are cleaned off, and family and friends gather together to celebrate.  MDW is the ultimate cookout, and with plenty of barbeques to attend, you'll want to stay cool and casual but feel fresh.  Here's some of Renewal's red, white, and blue to help you show your patriotism this weekend.

 Tank: Cooperative, sz. Med;   Shorts: London Jean, sz. 0;   Sneakers: Converse, sz. 10

Shirt: Charolette Russe, sz. XS;Shorts: American Eagle, sz. 10; Wedges: White House Black Market, sz. 9.5

Dress: Vintage, Excellent, sz. Med.; Sandals: Fioni, sz. 9.5

Feel Fresh Fridays: White Hot Summer

        Aside from bright neon yellows and oranges, white proved to be one of the most popular colors on the spring/summer 2012 runway. This is by far one of the easiest trends to pull off.  White is incredibly versatile and is easy to dress up or down.  It can provide you with many different looks depending on the fabric and styling, and pairs well with absolutely everything.  Here are some of Renewal's white bottoms to get you ready for the summer.

 Crop-top: Alternative, sz. Small; Bermuda Shorts: Rewind, sz. 5; Sandals: Rockport, sz. 6.5

Tank-top: Ana, sz. Large; Jeans: Ralph Lauren, sz. 6; Heels: Aldo, sz. 5

Shirt: B.C.B.G, sz. Med.; Shorts: Bongo, sz. 5; Wedges: Chie Mihara, sz. 7.5

Tank-top: Tahari, sz. Small; Capri's: Trina Turk, sz. 4; Heels: Charles David, sz.8

Tuesday's Trendy Tip: Make me look taller!

If you feel like your layers are dragging you down and making an already petite frame appear shorter, Renewal has the solution...to look taller, you may have to go shorter.  A shorter hemline or sleeve definitely help, and staying away from ankle-strap shoes make the leg look longer. These tricks will help you stand taller instead of swimming in your clothes

Showing a lot of leg doesn't necessarily make you look taller. A hemline that hits at about the knee makes the bottom half of the leg look longer and leaner while high wedges give you an extra boost. Adding a belt to cinch your waist helps keep a bright print from swallowing you up.

 

 Banana Republic jacket - small

New Banana Republic dress - XS

Enzo Angiolini wedges - size 7

A 3/4 length sleeve is not only great on a year-round jacket; it also makes it seem like your waistline is higher than it really is, which stretches the appearance of your bottom half. The high-waisted color-blocking on the dress gives the look of mile long legs. A nude heel also elongates the legs by blending in and creating a long line of solid color.

 New dress - medium

Juicy Couture jacket - small

Charles David heels - size 8

Make sure a billowy blouse is trim and not too busy or boxy

 

 New J. Jill - small

A printed dress looks best on a small frame when it cinches at the waist. You can do this to any dress by just adding a belt.  The scoop neckline also helps to draw the eye up.

 

New Forever 21 - small

No need to shy away from capris!  Just make sure they hit at the 

ankle and are slightly tapered in close to your leg.

INC - size 4

If you need help dressing for your body type please don't hesitate to ask!! 

Feel Fresh Fridays: Sensational Skirts for Every Body Type

      Sundresses are a summer staple and some of the most important pieces to have in your closet; but if you're anything like me, you probably get bored of them after just a couple uses.  Switch it up this season by making skirts your new staple.  With a large variety of styles, skirts can be mixed and matched with different pieces that make them feel fresh every time.  The key to successfully integrating skirts that can generate multiple outfits is by finding the right style for your body type.

If you're busty, volume helps balance you out. Skirts that have movement tend to draw attention away from your bust.

 Skirts: Delia's, sz. XS;      Delia's, sz. Small;     Delia's, sz. XS

If you're bigger on the bottom, try an A-line skirt. This style makes the waist appear small while skimming over the hips.

Skirts: Dil, sz. Large;     Nolita, sz. Med.;     Odille, sz. Med.

If you're short and curvy, go for a nipped waist. This helps to accentuate a thin waist and avoid a stumpy look.

Skirts: Full Tilt, sz. Med.,    Aeropastal, sz. Med.;     Mandee, sz. Small

Stop in Renewal so we can help you find a great spring or summer skirt to flatter your body type!

Tuesday's Trendy Tip: Shopping Resale

Shopping resale is by far the best way to get the most for your money.  Here are a few examples why:

Outfit #1:
This outfit at full retail price would cost you around $1531.00 - Renewal's price for all 5-pieces is $395.48 - If you sell it back to us when you are done with it you would receive $118.64 in cash, making the actual cost of this outfit $276.84...That is a savings of $1254.16!!

Details:
J. Crew Silk Blouse Originally $98 Renewal's price $17.50 - Citizens of Humanity Capris Originally $128 Renewal's price $39.99 - Necklace Originally $30 Renewal's Price $12.99 - Chie Mihara Wedges Originally $375 Renewal's Price $100 - Louis Vuitton Handbag Originally $900 Renewal's Price $225.


Outfit #2:
This outfit at full retail price would cost you around $407.00 - Renewal's price for all 4-pieces is $160.98 - If you sell it back to us when you are done with it you would receive $48.28 in cash, making the actual cost of this outfit $112.70...That is a savings of $294.30!!

Details:
J. Brand The Deal Skinny Jeans (brand new with tags) Originally $130 Renewal's price $59.99 - French Connection top (brand new with tags) Originally $88 Renewal's Price $26.50 - Frye Wedges Originally $39.99 (from Daffy's - compared at $215.00) Renewal's price $24.50 - Cole Haan Handbag Originally $150 Renewal's Price $49.99.


Outfit #3:
This outfit at full retail price would cost you around $441.50 - Renewal's price for all 4-pieces is $246.47 - If you sell it back to us when you are done with it you would receive $73.94 in cash, making the actual cost of this outfit $172.53...That is a savings of $268.97!!

Details:
Free People Tank (New with Tags) $68 Renewal's price $29.99 - Bullhead Jeans Originally $49.50 Renewal's price $16.50 - Blowfish Flats Originally $39.00 Renewal's Price $19.99 - Kooba Clutch (New with Tags) Originally $285 Renewal's Price $179.99.


So for all three of these fabulous outfits complete with accessories you would pay $2379.50 at full retail - at Renewal they would cost you a grand total of $802.93 with the ability to sell them back to us later for $240.87...making the actual cost of all three outfits $562.06 which is a total savings of...wait for it...$1817.44!!  Why would you shop anywhere else? :)

Feel Fresh Fridays: Pastels

       The biggest trend on the runways for Spring/Summer '12 was pastels.  Several designers including Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, Miu Miu, and others featured this soft and chalky color palette in their collections. As we like to keep our customers donned in the seasons hottest trends, we've  made sure to stock up on pale yellows, blush pinks, icy blues, and light lavenders. These sweet and chic hues create a 50's era polished look. Try combining different colors in pastel separates to wear this look in a more modern fashion. Here are some of Renewal's pastel items:

 Shirt: Loft, sz. Sm.; Pants: Hurley, sz. 3; Flats: Espirit, sz. 8; Purse: Innue

Shirt: H&M, sz. Sm; Pants: Angel Kiss, sz.00; Flats: Nine West, sz.6.5; Purse: Victoria's Secret

Tank: Lux, sz. Med; Capri's: Delia's, sz.0; Wedges: American Eagle, sz.7; Purse: Fossil

Alex's Lemonade Stand

We are looking for little volunteers to Help Put A Squeeze on Childhood Cancer!

June 8th and 9th we will be holding an Alex's Lemonade Stand here at Growing Kids.

When Alex, who was diagnosed with childhood cancer just before her first birthday, was four, she told her parents she wanted to set up a front-yard lemonade stand. Her plan: to give the money to doctors to help them find a cure. Her first “Alex’s Lemonade Stand”, held with the help of her older brother Patrick, raised an astonishing $2,000 in one day. While bravely fighting her own cancer, Alex continued to set up lemonade stands every year. As news spread of the remarkable girl so dedicated to helping other sick children, people everywhere were inspired to start their own lemonade stands—donating the proceeds to her cause.

In 2004 when Alex passed away at the age of eight—her stand and inspiration had raised more than $1 million towards finding a cure for the disease that took her life. Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation was started by her parents in 2005 to continue the work that Alex began. Their mission is simple: to raise money for and awareness of childhood cancer causes—especially research into new treatments and cures—and to encourage and empower others, especially children, to get involved and make a difference for children with cancer.

With stands and events from coast to coast, National Lemonade Days is a meaningful fundraiser that allows people of all ages and all walks of life to make a difference in the battle against childhood cancer.

We would love to involve as many little volunteers as we can so please send an email or call if your children are interested!  We just ask that your child gives 1-hour of their time and we'll even give you 20% off your purchases while your child is volunteering!

info@growingkidsnj.com or (973) 616-1917

Would you like to learn more about the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation?
Click here...