Plus Size Fashion: High-Low!

October 16, 2012

~By Donna, Exchange Fashionista!

What is high-low?

High-low tops are the latest trend and perfect for plus sizes; they’re made to provide full coverage in the back but have a shorter hem in the front. How many times does a trend actually work in favor of the plus size figure?  Well, ladies this is it–I don’t know about you but I am always trying to find ways to hide or distract unwanted attention from the back!  High-low tops are easy to wear with basics like jeans, black pants or leggings and they are very flattering. 

I bought this top and L-O-V-E IT!  It is long enough in the front (and not too tight) to help hide my tummy and it covers my whole behind!  The ruffles in the back make it very cute and feminine.  The front of this top can be made as short or long as you want by cinching the sides…you can even let it all the way down and wear it as a tunic with leggings. 

Try before you decide!  Don’t make a decision about something on the sales flooor–reserve all your decision making for the fitting room.  Once I get in the fitting room I am ALWAYS surprised at what ends up looking really good on me!  Next time you are in the Exchange, be brave–try a new look or style that you don’t usually wear.  You never know–you may be surprised!

Wondering how to wear this season’s “in” colors? We’re here to help! Just click here.

OUTFIT

Top: For Cynthia (also available in black)
Jean: Levi-Triple Needle Skinny (also available at shopmyexchange.com)
AVAILABLE AT THE EXCHANGE

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Avengers Contest Winner

October 15, 2012

Congratulations to Amanda C. for being the winner of our 2012 Avengers Contest! We described the 6 Avengers in short riddles and our readers had to guess which was which. If they also correctly answered what day The Avengers would be released on DVD and Blu-ray in our Exchanges, their entry would be put in the drawing twice! One winner was randomly selected from all eligible, correct entries.

Below are the 6 riddles with the correct answers. Check to see if you had them right! Watch our exclusive interview with the cast from The Avengers here. Also, catch a glimpse of the plot of the latest military-only “Avengers” comic book, which was distributed among Exchanges worldwide for free this past August.

Correct Answers

1. My two personalities often conflict,
One of which makes me mean.
I try my best to control my anger,
But I often give in and turn green.
Which Avenger am I?

–Incredible Hulk

2. I’m lovely as ever,
And fierce as a tiger.
You know who I am–
I’m your black spider.
Which Avenger am I?

–Black Widow

3. My hammer’s my weapon,
And I’ll fight day and night,
Against Loki, my brother,
Whose deeds are not right.
Which Avenger am I?

–Thor

4. Patriotic and strong am I to you,
You’ll often see me in red, white, and blue.
Which Avenger am I?

–Captain America

5. Let what you remember about me be this,
My aim is perfection–my arrows don’t miss.
Which Avenger am I?

–Hawkeye

6. I shoot through the sky,
First here, now there,
In my suit made of iron,
Made for me—the billionaire.
Which Avenger am I?

–Iron Man

7. (BONUS!) When will The Avengers Blu-ray and DVD be available for purchase at your Exchange?

–September 25, 2012

Did you guess them all correctly? Tell us how you did by posting a comment below!

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Take Action each day to Save Energy

October 11, 2012

At the Exchange, we work hard to conserve as much energy as possible to ensure we’re doing our part in protecting our planet. We treat our facilities as our homes and monitor our energy usage each month.
The Exchange is working with each installation to reduce energy. You can help, too by using little tricks at home like the ones below–you’ll find that you save energy and money!

  • Turn off lights and electronics when leaving a room.
  • Use a clothesline or drying rack whenever possible as a substitute for your drying machine.
  • Set your thermostat a few degrees higher in the summer and a few degrees lower in the winter.
  • Use energy-efficient appliances, such as Energy Star appliances sold through the Exchange. These can cut your energy bills by up to 30%.
  • Turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120°F). You’ll save energy and avoid scalding your hands.
  • Change air filters regularly and make sure vents are not obstructed.
  • Turn off your computer monitor when not in use for more than 20 minutes, and turn off both the CPU and monitor if you’re not going to use your computer for more than 2 hours.

What other ideas do you have to save energy? Post them as a comment below!


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Looper Celebrity Spotlight

October 5, 2012

What would happen if you traveled 30 years into the past and came face-to-face with…yourself? Would you do it? Would you be too afraid of what memories await you?

Looper is a new film that explores questions such as these, and much more.  It’s the year 2072, and dominating mob has access to time travel. They eliminate their targets by sending them 30 years into the past where a hitman awaits and completes the job. These hitmen are called “loopers”, and the star of this film, Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character, is one of them. The film takes an interesting turn, however, when Joseph’s character awaits his target, gun in hand, ready to shoot, only to find that his target is….his future self. He’s now faced with the decision–shoot and ”close the loop” on the looper, or let him escape.

What would you do?

Watch our exclusive interview with the cast below and find out by watching this film in your Reel Time Theater! 

Keep up with our Celebrity Spotlights here!

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Winner: Babies do the Darndest Things Contest!

October 5, 2012

The jury is out! We have poured over all the entries to our Babies do the Darndest Things Contest and after much deliberation, we are proud to announce our $1,000 Exchange Gift Card Winner!

A warm round of applause and congratulations to……………….

Tammy V!

“My oldest child was only 17 months old when my second child was born. Two weeks after I’d had him, I was sitting on the sofa giving him a bottle when I heard some rustling around coming from their bedroom behind me. I got up to find out what she was getting into…and found my daughter unloading the contents of her brother’s drawers into a paper bag. I asked her what she thought she was doing…and she responded with an emphatic ‘He’s moving OUT!’ I just couldn’t help but laugh.”

Thanks so much to everyone who participated–the entries were priceless! Don’t forget to enter our Halloween Treasure Hunt on our Exchange Facebook page for your chance to win 1 of 32 Exchange Gift Cards, valued up to $500!

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2012 Fall Fashion!

October 3, 2012

Our buyers have been working all year to ensure that your Exchange and shopmyexchange.com are stocked with this fall’s most popular, eye-catching fashions for men, women and children.

Here’s a sneak peek at what everyone will be clamoring for, and what you can look for at your Exchange!

The hottest trend in ladieswear is COLOR… and lots of it. Fall colors range from bright reds that graduate into deep burgundies to shades of cobalt blue that transcend into navy blue. Purple, however, is the reigning color this season – worn head to toe for a royal statement. We’re stocking colored and textured tights and shoes in all shades and at every price point.  Also, watch for accent colored accessories like statement handbags and bright bangles.

Look for these trends in our October Trend Book:

  •  Faux fur
  • Shine
  • Menswear looks
  • Jackets/capes
  • Textured sweaters
  • Corduroy
  • Sweater dresses
  • Printed denim
  • Western boots
  • Accessories: satchel handbags and hoops earrings

In conjunction with the Fall Fashion Trend book in October, we will be launching our newest vendor in ladieswear–Tommy Hilfiger!

For menswear, the Exchange will introduce several new brands; look for North Face and Columbia Sportswear (re-introduced), Wolverine, Ralph Lauren Denim & Supply, Harley Davidson and the upcoming Army Brand. In Young Men’s, we are introducing Wrangler, Generra and several new licensed tee vendors. Store distribution varies by brand and expansion is always based on performance. 

Men’s trends are featured in the October Fall Trend book for the first time. Look for these styles:

  • Rugby Prep
  • Colored Denim
  • Hoodies
  • Graphic Tees
  • Work Shirts

The Children’s department just got a little brighter with easy $5, $10, $15, $20 and 2/$15 pricing. Children’s fall fashion trends are full of color and mixed prints. The more layers the better and trend mixing keep this fall fresh. In Girls, look for preppy brights, feminine details, colored and printed bottoms and anything that glitters. Boys’ trends follow Men’s with shades of denim, graphic tees and hoodies taking the top three spots.

Look for these trends and more at your local Exchange!

 

 

 

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National Energy Action Month

October 2, 2012

Did you know October is National Energy Action Month?  The Federal Government is the largest user of energy in the United States; therefore we, as Exchange associates and customers, need to be aware and do our part to reduce energy usage. Our sustainability efforts reach out to locations around the world in many different ways.  The Exchange offers energy management courses to its associates, releases monthly energy newsletters and has a sustainability video , all to help inform asscoiates and the public of the importance of being environmentally friendly. The Exchange not only sells Energy Star electronics and appliances, we use them in our facilities as well. We also require 20% of the beverage machines on renewing vending contracts to be Energy Star rated and use the most energy-efficient equipment available in our food courts. Our incorporation of Dream Machine kiosks is also contributing to recycling efforts  around the nation.

The Exchange has set a goal to reduce its overall energy usage by 3% each year.   What would you do to reduce energy consumption in your home by 3%? Post your comment below!

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Women’s Plus Sizes – Fashion “HOT TIP” of the Week…Color!

October 1, 2012

~By Donna, Exchange Fashionista!

Color is everywhere!  Dare to go bold and amp up your fashion for Fall!  Colored denim is flattering and as versatile as blue jeans.  Here are three great ways to wear colored bottoms:

  1. with coordinating print top as pictured
  2. with a black top or cardigan… just add a colorful scarf or bangle bracelets to tie it all together
  3. with contrasting colors (try a bright cobalt blue pant with a red blazer) or black and white  (geometric print or stripe)

You can never judge a jean by its hanger – you just have to try it on!  Being a plus size customer myself, I was skeptical about being able to pull off a colored bottom but it really does work.  It’s a great way to incorporate color and the latest trends into your existing wardrobe.    I think you will be surprised how great you look and feel when you try it on!   

The outfit shown is from Skye’s the Limit and this combination looked so great during the photo shoot that I bought it for myself! The slim leg jean shown is a really good fit and very comfortable – actually, it’s my favorite pair of jeans!  The color makes a nice impact and looks great with the printed top.  I really like the top-the banded bottom has a lot of detail with lace and a drawstring.   It looks great with ballerina flats for now but I can’t wait to try it with some short booties!

Have fun with fashion…. Just try it on! What are your favorite colors to wear? Post your comments below!

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This Tuesday: Get Your Copy of The Avengers

September 21, 2012

Mark your calendars because September 25th is a date you don’t want to forget! This Tuesday, you can watch the Incredible Hulk, Black Widow, Thor, Hawkeye, Captain America and Iron Man save the world from the comfort of your home! Just visit your Exchange this Tuesday to get your copy of The Avengers on DVD, Blu-ray, and 3D Blu-ray. Be amongst the first to grab a copy at your Exchange and receive an exclusive, The Avengers Challenge Coin! (While supplies last.) Because we love our readers, we’re also providing coupons for the DVD, Blu-ray, and 3D Blu-ray!

We are also celebrating this awesome film by giving one lucky fan a $1,o00 Exchange gift card! To find out how to enter our Avengers Contest, click here.

 

 

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2012 Layaway Program

September 19, 2012

We’re making our Layaway program even better to ensure you have everything you need to shop at your Exchange!

Fee FREE layaway for all authorized items: 21 Sept — 24 Dec

  • All layaways beginning 21 Sept qualify for Fee Free layaway
  • All other layaway procedures remain the same
  • Exclusion: Final payment must be made on layaway to qualify
  • Refund of $3.00 service fee will be returned in an Exchange Gift Card
  • $5.00 cancellation fee still applies if the customer or store cancels the layaway

Extended layaway for toys: 21 Sept — 23 Dec

  • Toys may go on layaway through 23 Dec
  • Toys qualify for the Fee Free Layaway offer with standard exclusions

Layaway now available for Computers, Laptops, iPads & Netbooks: 1 Nov – 16 Dec

  • Qualifies for the Fee Free Layaway offer with standard exclusions

Here’s a quick recap on our 3 easy and convenient layaway plans:
1. 30 day layaway for all clothing, handbags and shoes
2. 60 day layaway for all other merchandise (except fine jewelry)
3. 120 day layaway for fine jewelry

As a reminder, to layaway your purchase we ask that you make a purchase of $25 or more and pay a minimum of 15% deposit on your total purchase. You will still be charged $5 should you choose to cancel your layaway. The $3.00 service fee will be refunded to you for layaways during the dates stated above ONLY. Items excluded from the layaway plan include clearance merchandise, peripherals, major appliances, furniture, mattresses, exercise equipment, seasonal/outdoor living, and/or any other items eligible for the Take it Home Today Program (unless those items have been stated above as temporarily eligible for layaway). For further questions, please see your store associates.

Happy Shopping!

 

Don’t forget to enter our Avengers Contest for your chance to win a $1,000 Exchange Gift Card!

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