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J.Crew is a fashion label known for making affordable designer-style ruffled tees, pencil skirts and "boyfriend" blouses accessible to the masses. It's created its own look -- a mix of feminine/masculine chic -- and in doing so, created its own devoted following. With constant online sales campaigns, drawing in fashion-conscious buyers who love a deal, plus smart marketing that promotes the brand as a glamorous yet laidback lifestyle, J.Crew fashion has become in demand at a time when many retailers are struggling to find an identity. Here are 10 things you might not have known behind J.Crew's success story:


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I don't know about you but with every new season I feel the urge to update my wardrobe. Spring especially breeds this feeling, perhaps because I know it means pretty soon I won't be hiding my fashion concoctions under a coat.

A new wardrobe can mean big money but if you're simply adding to it with some accent pieces or the odd new staple, staying au courant in this age of fast fashion can be surprisingly cheap. Here are some affordable finds to stay on trend this spring:






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He's killed all the spiders in the bathroom, patched up the hole in the wall he made and fixed the kitchen faucet numerous times even though it still drips. Now you want to show him you appreciate his efforts (if not his skill). But what to get him for Valentine's Day? Here are a few suggestions you'll both appreciate -- him for your thoughtfulness and you for the money you'll save.

The trend of giving a tiny piece of plastic with benefits is on the rise. According to a recent survey, eight out of ten shoppers plan to give a gift card this holiday season. Meaning -- chances are -- you will give or receive one within the next month.
Since these handy, wallet size cards are becoming an inherent part of our gift giving tradition, it's wise to know you're giving or getting what you can out of them.

Cards are becoming a bit more personalized and geared towards specific lifestyles -- no longer something you'd only give a colleague or distant aunt. For instance, with the economy in turmoil, a lot of my friends and relatives are hinting that they'd like more practical things this year, or a bit of extra "help" to get away for that much needed vacation. Nobody really likes giving cash in an envelope -- a gift card is a prettier, more festive way of giving money towards something a person needs or wants to do.

Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your money if you'll be giving or receiving one this season:

Black Friday -- a great American discount shopping tradition the day after U.S. Thanksgiving -- is beginning to make its way north as more Canadian retailers plan to offer discounts in hopes of keeping shoppers in-country. Some malls are opening in the early morning hours of November 23rd for shoppers looking for deals in what might become a new shopping ritual in Canada that resembles Boxing Day. If you're heading out to the sales to browse, or have a product in mind, here are some Apps to guide your shopping and make sure you're getting the best deals around.

TGI Black Friday
For those venturing across the border to scour the sales, or those looking for big box store discounts here in Canada, the TGI Black Friday app can point you in the direction of deals. Search for products and check for updated ads from stores like Best Buy, Walmart and Sears. This app also allows you to create your own shopping list, tick off products as you purchase them and compare prices for the items you desire.

The easy days of summer are fast behind us.

The weather's become a bit cooler and unpredictable and no longer can we throw on our shorts and sandals and get on with our day. It's never an easy task changing up a wardrobe in anticipation of a new (colder) season. In the last week alone I've overdressed and sweated through the warmer days, then underdressed and shivered through the cooler ones.

The key to fall fashion, I've been reminded, is to dress in layers. But just because you're wearing more clothes (and often in the fall the selections become less colourful), that doesn't mean you can't have some statement pieces to keep things lively. Here are some fun fall fashion finds for under $40.

SLIDESHOW: 5 FALL TRENDS FOR LESS THAN $40

With Mother's Day approaching, I find myself shamelessly
hinting to my husband and kids about what they can treat me to that will show their appreciation for me simply being the Mom of the family. I have to admit, Mother's Day is one of those occasions when I actually do feel like I deserve a bit of pampering or a thoughtful gift for the many sleep deprived nights I've experienced -- not to mention the many diapers I've changed and seemingly endless clean-up tasks I've endured. For anyone looking for gift ideas to appreciate all that Mom has done for you, here is some guidance on what Moms really want. In the under $50 range, you can actually go quite far with your money.

Even if spring lasts for only about two weeks in Canada, I always like to upgrade my wardrobe this time of year after a season of wearing dark woolly sweaters and winter coats.

But it doesn't make sense to blow your budget on items you'll only wear for a short time. The good news is, trends considered by the fashion crowd to be de rigeur this season are easy to achieve and easy on the bank account if you know where to shop. Here are a few tips to get you started.

PHOTO GALLERY: Click image below for "Spring Fashion for Under $30" Gallery



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You are what you wear, the old saying goes. While, of course, that's not exactly true, how you dress conveys an important message about yourself. That message is particularly important at work where not it's not just your memos and your bright ideas that are being judged. With the Grammy's behind us and the Oscar's almost here (February 26th), it's a perfect opportunity to appreciate the important role style plays in conveying one's brand. As hard as it may be to believe, the red carpet is actually the celebrity's workplace and they don't spend tens of thousands of dollars on stylists and designers for nothing. Here are some celebrity examples of how style can reinforce one's personal and professional brand.

To view the gallery, click on the pictures below. Story continues below.



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Lady Gaga -- Confident
You know you're great -- maybe even better than all of your colleagues combined. Take some cues from Lady Gaga and you'll be booking squash courts with the boss in no time (where you'll crush her or him). Always daring, at the Grammy's Lady Gaga wore a custom Chanel ensemble, her face covered in fishnet. Although not many jobs call for fishnet, you could add some splash to your wardrobe by donning tights with interesting detail or a bright hooded scarf for on your way to work which at the office could then be worn around your neck. Don't go too far though lest you be known as the office weirdo.
Where to get the look for less: Betsey Johnson often has great deals (check the sales rack) on unique pieces you could get away with at the office. Also, the sales racks at Holt Renfrew are full of shirts, skirts and scarves only a diva could wear. (Be sure it fits in with your office "code" though and isn't something you'll only wear in the change room).

So you want to impress your office mates with something tasteful -- or at the very least useful -- at this year's Secret Santa festivities, even if you don't know them very well. And most importantly you don't want to spend all your hard-earned cash on that person who talks too loudly on the phone from the cubicle beside you or who swipes your Kleenex and post-its when you're not around.

Here are some impersonal gifts for $15 and under that anyone could use -- and might even enjoy -- which can also be deployed as stocking stuffers.

CLICK ON PHOTO TO LAUNCH GALLERY