It has definitely been a journey – a journey that started with the sole intention of downsizing my closet. I remember the rush I felt at my first sale – an on-trend, comfy grey ‘Old Navy’ pullover sweater. It was not so much that the sweater sold, but the sweet, encouraging buyer appreciation and recommendation comment that really got me.

The Challenge!

I realized putting up a closet on Poshmark isn’t just about making sales. For me, it has grown into something I enjoy doing – from using my creativity involved in the listing process, to sourcing & designing my closet-look,  choosing what items I want to showcase at a posh party, to the challenge of negotiating sales & purchases and finally & most importantly, to the closure of the whole Posh experience with a satisfied buyer and the knowledge that my once loved item has found a new home.

Discovering Fashion Nuances along the way

I never cared too much for fashion. For me, it was more about how one carried off his/her clothes. But now I focus on branding and with it, the more minute details – cuts, sizing, fabric content, place of manufacture and yes, even the style codes/numbers. If you’re thinking that’s a little obsessive, maybe you’re right, but paying attention to the little details is definitely a requirement in this business. Since poshing, I’ve begun to appreciate my clothes more and it comes as an interesting realization when I pick out an item to wear and notice it’s a coveted brand. I feel the kind of ‘special’ I didn’t feel before, especially when I’m wearing it.

Exploring my Creativity

Poshmark keeps me on my toes and creative. I’m regularly updating and sharing my closet. Sounds simple? It involves taking pictures of products/ items, doing research about its value online, listing it and then competitively sharing it to your network of followers and at Posh parties. For someone like me who loves being busy and creative, this is a wonderful diversion from my regular routine and keeps things fresh.

Oh, the convenience of it all!

It’s the work ethic and excitement of the sale, that make me want to ship my items out on the same or following business day. And here again, I let my imagination go wild when it comes to styling my package and having it ship-ready. Ship times and quality of packing are both important for me. My packages get picked up from my mailbox or front porch (for bigger items that don’t fit) and the US Postal service does a fine job of picking up and delivering the item, with the Poshmark app tracking daily updates on the delivery status. So convenient and I think I enjoy this phase of the transaction the most! Imagine doing what shopaholics and fashionistas love, from the comfort & ease of your own home and getting paid for it. Feels wonderful!

Poshmark done the right way can be sustainable & profitable!

Earnings from Posh sales and purchases accumulate as credit in the app , until you are ready to check out with a direct deposit into your Bank of choice or physical cheque delivered to you. The only time I ever spent out of pocket on Poshmark was my first ever purchase. Since then, the earnings from my sales cover the cost of far lesser purchasing transactions. This has given me a sense of financial independence and control, kind of like playing on the stock market with an initial investment which can only grow if you manage it well! I only spend from my accumulated credit on Poshmark. I have never had to inject fresh cash from other sources. As for the capital cost of my inventory – I have always remained faithful to my original goal for joining Poshmark – making space in and downsizing my actual personal/ physical closet. I am blessed with a somewhat good fashion sense, the reason I have waaay too much in my wardrobe. This however means that my actual personal closet is a great and vast source for inventory, ensuring I’m not wasting unnecessary time, energy or capital on out-of-closet items. Poshmark done the right way can be sustainable and profitable!

These are only some of the reasons I love Poshmark. In my next few blog posts I plan to share tips on how to make the best of Poshmark – knowing what brands sell, tips on how to negotiate sales and purchases, what Posh behaviors to follow and how to be creative with your posh packages.

Meanwhile, if you are still undecided or unconvinced about using Poshmark, the only way to decide is by signing up for Poshmark yourself and like they say… the rest will be history.

The post 5 Reasons Why I Posh: Intro To Poshmark For Beginners appeared first on InstantELLA.

I’m very particular about the cut, fit & style of my clothes & I realized there was such a variety in this case too.  Fashion can be overwhelming & as a woman, I get it. So today, I’m going to share with you the different types of sweatpants, brand and styles available, sizing tips & how to plan your next outfit & maybe, just maybe I’ll find my perfect pair in the process:

Types

When shopping for Sweatpants, you have to first know that there are different types & while we loosely club all these under the category of ‘Sweatpants’, there are some real technical differences between each type in terms of cuts, length, fabric & even the activity they are made for – Yoga , gym, dance, travel, running or lounge wear for example.

Sweatpants

Loose, warm trousers with an elasticized or drawstring waist, worn when exercising or as leisurewear.

Joggers

A pair of pants where the bottom of the pants are made with elastic or cuffed (regular & broad) which come closest to exuding retro vibes. Champion’s Premium Reverse Weave Sweatpants fits the bill.

Trackpants

Wind-breakers, tear aways/ break-aways/ rip- offs & popper pants all fall into this category. Trackpants are like Joggers but are made of polyester materials that are smooth and wrinkle free, usually worn for track events. Adidas’s famous Tiro soccer trainers with ankle zips is a good example of these.

Skinny Leg Sweatpants or Sweatpant Leggings

This is a relatively new category to the market. Today, technological improvements to synthetic materials have made products that contain spandex more washable and durable than an organic material such as cotton. Skinny Leg Sweatpants or Sweatpant Leggings, as the name suggests, may be made of these improved synthetic materials or the same cozy sweat pant-like cotton fabric. Either ways though, other than having the elasticized or drawstring waist, these stretchy, tapered leg sweatpants are skinny & fitted like leggings. They look wildly different than the sweatpants your dad was used to wearing! I’ve only come across one brand so far – ‘SO Joggers’ – that actually brands their version of these as the – Sweatpant Leggings. However Forever 21’s  Marled Knit Joggers and Brushed Combo Lounge Pants also fall in this category.

What’s Trending: Modern Cuts

I’ve notice brands like Adidas, Nike, Champion, Beachbody, American Eagle, Lou & Grey and Calvin Klein among others have put on spin on sweatpants, introducing modern cuts to the traditional style. These cuts feature a relaxed thigh and gradual tapering throughout the leg, towards the ankle. The typical ankle cuff design is eliminated and instead merged with the calf section for a more sleek, elongated silhouette often defined by zippers, contrast stitching and other embellishments. Lastly unlike the typical full length or capri jogger sweat pants, the length of these modern trending cuts are cropped – midway between calf & ankle for a more 7/8^th length. Adidas Changeover Joggers & Outdoor Voices CloudKnit Sweatpants are good examples.

Sizing Tips

Most brands run true to size when it comes to Sweatpants. In my experience, Adidas is most true to size, Hollister tends to run smaller, and Calvin Klein & Abercrombie & Fitch both run a little larger. Again, sizing also depends on the type of ‘sweatpant’ you’re shopping for. Some styles are meant to be oversized fits, while the more trending modern cuts may run snug but that’s the intention. I’m a size S/4 in bottoms & can best describe myself as a larger small but definitely not medium. When regular adult size S is too snug for me, I’ve often found the perfect solution in a Youth XL sizing which is similar to an adult small. I recommend, for those of you who run into sizing problems, maybe do some more research on Youth & Adult sizing similarities and see if these work for you!

How to style your outfit!

Finally, the fun part – putting all this knowledge into practice! Sweatpants (here I’m referring to all the  types including trackpants, joggers, modern cuts etc.) have long thought to be  ‘comfort-wear’, or ‘sport-wear’. But the more I look around me & understand the modern world of fashion, I’ve realized the Sweatpant is a very versatile & fashionably dynamic category of pants.

Not only are sweatpants today worn for sports, sporting events & warmups (adidas actual markets specific sweatpants depending on warmup, during & after practice activities!), they’re worn to the gym, for workouts, road-trips , travel and hiking. Whether it’s to keep you warm or get you noticed, today we live and run chores in their sweatpants.

Think of dates & casual weekend activities. Pair your favorite sweatpants with a cool pair of sneakers & T-shirt & you’re all set. Or take it up a notch with a denim jacket, beanie & muffler or cowl wrap for winter!

Finally, elevate the sweatpants to the office/ work environment & formal events. Here, it’s critical that you choose the right kind of joggers that look more like harem pants & trousers. Keep sporty vibes to a minimum. The fabric here also contributes to the look. Something made of thick cotton-polyester blends or jersey knit comes across as casual. Whereas synthetics like polyester, modal and rayon look significantly more elegant. The slouchy joggers by H&M have worked well for me in an

Accessorize your outfit with a heel, a formal jacket & statement pieces like jewelry, scarf & a handbag and you can really dress it up

It’s all about you – your personality, how you wear & accessorize your joggers and sweatpants that make all the difference and transform the jogger from comfy, laid back and casual to sexy & elegant!

The post Joggers, Sweatpants, Trackpants – What’s the difference & what looks best on you in 2020? appeared first on InstantELLA.