A leather belt is a staple in most people’s wardrobes, male or female. However, leather is now a bit outdated and consumers are looking for more eco friendly, animal friendly and planet friendly materials. Vegan belts are very much the new leather belts, maintaining the same appearance as leather but with products that are better for the environment and for us. They are made from various materials, but some of the best are faux leather or faux nubuck. These will look high quality and premium, and will be made in the same way as an actual leather belt with the various layers.

Buying a vegan belt as a gift: a thoughtful present

People will appreciate the care and thought that goes into a gift such as a vegan belt, especially if they’re vegan themselves or someone who lives an eco friendly lifestyle. You’ll be able to buy them a gift that fits in with their ethos, but that looks great as well and reflects the kind of high quality you would want from a gift. If you need some gift inspiration, then eco friendly leather goods are often a very good option – premium, beautiful and cruelty free. There is a wide range of belts, wallets and other accessories that people will really appreciate as a thoughtful gift.

If you’re going to give a vegan belt as a gift, these are some of the things you might want to think about first:

• The quality. The quality is integral and you should make sure it comes from a reputable brand that’s known for premium vegan leather goods. If you’ve not heard of a brand before, look into it and see what products they offer. Check the materials that the belts are made from and look at customer reviews too.
• The packaging and the wrapping. You want to give a gift that’s beautiful, but it should also be in keeping with the environmentally conscious ethos of the belt itself. Look for vegan friendly wrapping and gift packaging, too.
• The price. Be aware that just because goods are vegan, they won’t necessarily be cheaper. This is because quality materials and good craftsmanship still cost money; be prepared to pay more for high quality. Of course, don’t buy anything that you deem to be overpriced – just like real leather, vegan goods don’t always have to be of a high quality. If they are, though, and the belt is beautifully made with good attention to detail, you should be willing to pay more for it. The belt holes, the buckle and the materials will all be things that will give a belt’s quality away and show whether it is high quality or not.

Make sure that the gift can be delivered in time, and that you’ve picked the right size. A vegan belt will be the ideal birthday gift, or a gift for a special occasion, and it shows that you’ve put a lot of thought into buying a gift that reflects a person’s own values.

The beginning of 2020 is almost here: what is going to be in fashion during the cold winter months? Here are some of the top fashions and trends to get you started in the new year:

1. Loose jeans. The days of skinny jeans are over – straight leg and boyfriend styles are in vogue now. Skinny jeans may still have a place in your wardrobe, but on a day to day basis, straight leg jeans is where it’s at.
2. Ankle boots. Chelsea boots, chunky laced up boots and high heeled boots are the styles that will be filling your wardrobe in 2020.
3. Chunky knit jumpers. January is one of the coldest months of the year, which calls for a fashionable chunky knit.
4. Backpacks. If you’re looking for a new handbag, leather backpacks are still very much the ‘in’ look. They’re fashionable and very practical as well.
5. Hoop earrings. The trend for hoop earrings doesn’t look to be going anywhere any time soon.

Plus size clothes can make or break a clothing business. Either plus size ranges will really take off, or they will be too niche and not enough people will buy them. However in recent times, more businesses have been starting to stock plus size clothing lines and are seeing real success from them.

Plus size clothing doesn’t have to be niche at all, it can be beautifully made and appeal to a lot of people. You don’t have to stock plus size clothing in favour of other types of clothing, you can stock both at the same time. This will give your customers more choice and will ensure that everybody can get something to suit them, in a size that is flattering and comfortable. Plus size lines can be great for your business and will help you to appeal to a broader range of people who might otherwise choose to shop elsewhere.

Let’s face it – occasion wear is expensive. If you are buying high quality dresses that you enjoy wearing, chances are they aren’t going to be all that cheap. You get what you pay for, so a beautiful dress or smart blazer that is made from quality material will set you back quite a bit.

The answer? A capsule wardrobe. This will allow you to go to various events without wearing the same outfit twice, giving you the flexibility to mix and match the various parts of your outfit. This means you only need to have one or two complete outfits, with elements that will go together in various combinations. For example, you might have one skirt, two tops, two pairs of shoes, a dress and two cardigans/jackets, all of which can be worn in different combinations to give you a new look every time. And the beauty of it is, it will cost you a lot less.

Many of us have purses and wallets full of store cards, probably many of which we don’t even use, as we may have visited to store once of twice. Is it really worth having all of these store cards lining our wallets?

With some store cards, the benefits are clear and it is a very good idea to have them. For example, some will give you a certain amount of money off each purchase, and may even give you seasonal gifts or birthday gifts, which will often be products that you buy regularly. This can be very beneficial for you and can help save you money in places that you regularly shop.

If you aren’t sure of the benefits of a store card, look them up. Some will need some research, as they will operate on a points basis and a certain number of points will equate to a certain number of pounds.