Remember how the retail cycle works – if you wait until you need it, chances are high that it will be gone. The end of June and the first week of July marks summer clearance time (for the northern hemisphere). If you haven’t gotten around to shopping for summer yet, you’ll be delighted to run into everything on sale.

The Gap started having their 50% off summer clearance sale on Wednesday. They haven’t been a destination place to shop this season, but their tanks are $9 and their denim Bermuda shorts are especially good for petites

Express is clearing most of their summer stock – T’s for $10, shirts for $15, pants and jeans for $20. They’ve also got nice lined jackets at half price in black, white and brown.

Lane Bryant is knocking 30-60% off their summer prices at the moment for those of you size 14 and over. Their walk shorts are beautiful at $19 and $29 – both career and casual. Swimsuits, tank tops, girly tops, T’s, accessories and underwear are all well worth a look.

Nordstrom’s Half Yearly Sale for Men starts today. Stock up for Dad’s for Father’s Day!

A little preview for autumn – black is back with a vengeance. If you see something black on sale that could take you through to autumn, buy it. Have a great shopping weekend.

With white being this season’s hottest colour, you might want to think about adding a few white accessories to your summer wardrobe. It’s an easy way of making last year’s summer clothing look current. If you feel that you can’t wear white; buying the accessories is another way of getting “the look” without having to wear the clothing:

• White bag – Totes, hobos, slouchy shoppers, messengers or clutches – any style of bag is a good choice in white.
• White belt – opt for either a broad belt that you can loop through your jeans, or a versatile elasticized one that you wear on your waist or hips. Choosing a belt with metallic hardware tends to soften the strong contrast a pure white belt can make.
• White necklace – if it can’t be Mikimoto peals off the shores of Japan, then a good old white beaded plastic choker will do just as well.
• White shoes – Wedges, espadrilles, thong sandals or clogs are all good choices. White shoes with black heels tend to be less versatile and heavy looking. Opt for white shoes with white or natural heels.
• White watch – take you pick! Watches with white straps are also especially fashionable for men at the moment.
• White portable media center – this sexy bit of technology allows you to watch a movie or listen to music absolutely anywhere!

Elevate your outfit with crisp white accessories this summer – you’ll feel as cool as you look.  

Cool white accessores from Urban Outfitters, Zappos, Banana Republic, Nordstrom, and Toshiba.

People are stylish in different ways. This is because personality, age and lifestyle are all variables in the mix. Have a look at the fashion personas below and have fun identifying your own (you might find that you’re a combination of a few):

• The modern classic – you are preppy, but with a modern edge. Other then the odd stripe, you prefer solid colours.  You are most comfortable in updated tailored items, twin sets, knee length skirts, button down shirts, dark blue jeans and plain pumps.  Your look is simple, feminine, appropriate and understated.
• The artistic eclectic – you like novelty and selectively choose fashion trends that tickle your fancy, often ignoring key looks that everyone else has latched onto. You may prefer to dress exotically if you are inspired by a particular culture. Your accessories are unconventional (often vintage), and you always find creative ways of matching them with your ensemble.
• The sporty natural – you are an outdoorsy, low maintenance type of girl, who is usually athletically inclined. There is often a tomboy element to you and you generally don’t like to shop. You live in jeans, shorts, plain t-shirts, shirts and appropriate sportswear for hiking, rock climbing, kayaking or working out.
• The bohemian hippie – you are an earthy flower child. You love empire lines, peasant blouses ethnic jewelry and flared leg pants. You’ll often have long wavy hair and enjoy the opportunity to be creative. You don’t follow trends, but certainly have a playful style all of your own.
• The trendy fashionista – you are a fashion trend tracker and usually the first to sport a new fashion statement. You are passionate about fashion and love to shop. You are fearless when it comes to mixing colours, fabrics, textures and prints. You are always well turned out and ready for a change when the new season comes along.
• The funky urbanite – you are retro and shun anything that looks polished and pristine. You like your clothing to look worn and embrace practical messenger bags and fashionable walking shoes. Your neutral colour palette is sophisticated and your style uncomplicated and efficient. You are often edgy and can even look a bit gothic at times.

Your personal style begins and ends with a strong sense of yourself.  Enjoy making your style unique, interesting and flattering for your body type.

PS. Feel free to leave a comment telling us which persona is closest to your personal style.

Don’t obsess over the number on the size tag. Rather obsess about the fit and length of your clothes.

• Stylish people wear clothes that fit them perfectly. This doesn’t mean that they have perfect bodies – it means that they have good tailors.
• Size specifications are different for each brand. Clothing sizes in different stores (and even different departments within the same store) are not created equally. You will need to experiment to find the correct sizes that fit you in different stores.
• The fit is different for each brand. Different brands target different body shapes. A certain size in one store might fit you perfectly, whereas the same size in another store just doesn’t look right. Again, you need to experiment to find the stores that work for you.

So it’s common to have at least 3 different sizes hanging in your closet. Forget about the size number and shop for clothing that fits you correctly. The point is not whether you are a size 4, 12 or 18 – the point is that you look fabulous in your clothes!