With the economic shake-up that's going on, the thought of spending a lot of money for a fabulous new outfit can leave us in a tizzy. But we still want, and need, to look great - and perhaps even sport at least a few of the season's best trends. Let fashionista (and now, recessionista)
Diana Pemberton-Sikes offer a few tips to keep you looking your best while keeping your pocketbook intact:
1. Spend the Most on the Clothes You Wear the Most -Investment dressing means spending as much as you can afford on pieces you expect to wear A LOT. Coats, shoes, handbags, suits - the backbone of your wardrobe, like the backbone of your body, needs to be strong and sturdy. If you spend $400 on a beautiful wool overcoat that you wear five days a week, four months a year for three years, the cost per wear is just $1.67. (5 days x 16 weeks x 3 years = coat is worn 240 times. $400/240 = $1.67). You get your money's worth wearing investment pieces.
Conversely, if you spend $400 on a special occasion dress that you wear just once or twice, the cost per wear is a killer ($400 or $200, respectively). Yet, that's exactly what many people do: they "go all out" for the special occasions in their life and "go cheap" the rest of the time. Don't do that. Like a carpenter with his tools,a dancer with her shoes, or a musician with his instrument, you need to invest in the clothing and accessories you wear all the time. Otherwise, they'll wear out quickly and you'll have to replace themfrequently. In the end you spend a lot more doing that than buying quality from the start.
2. Restock Your Basics as Cheaply as Possible - Now that you've got the big ticket items out of the way, replenish those basics you buy every year, like underwear, pajamas, t-shirts, socks, etc., as cheaply as possible -- yet still look for quality. You can't expect these everyday items to last forever, but they shouldn't fall apart after a few washings, either. Go with the names you can trust, like Hanes, Gap, and H&M for your day-to-day basics.
3. Build on Your Signature Style - When money's tight is NOT the time to explore your other clothing personalities. You may feel the need to channel Marilyn Monroe one day and Fergie the next, but really, getting the bill for all that exploration will take the artistic joy right out of it. So don't do it. Build on your signature style, add whimsical pieces as the mood strikes, but don't do a whole closet makeover on a regular basis. It's too exhausting. Not to mention expensive.
4. Go Cheaply on Trends - Or Skip them Altogether: If your budget's particularly tight, it doesn't make sense to spend a lot on trends that won't be around for long. Go cheap-cheap on
them, or just skip them altogether. Or, go look in your closet and see if you can re-create or approximate a current trend from something you already have. You can look up-to-date without spending a cent.
5. Mix Up Eras, Labels, and Price Ranges: If you really feel the need to be creative, put down the current issue of your favorite fashion magazine, back away from it slowly, and look elsewhere for fashion inspiration. Like vintage shops or discount stores or even your own attic. Mix old with new, high end with low end, this season from seasons long passed. People will admire your ingenuity.
I attended an event this summer wearing a designer dress from the clearance rack at Marshalls' ($22), a pair of sandals from DSW ($34),a pair of pearl earrings I received as a graduation gift, and a pearl-beaded evening bag my mother used in the 1960's. I was treated like a princess the entire night. Total cost: $56.
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On Boston Mamas: The Good Life for Less. Check out Shoestring Magazine, a new online mag for resourceful living and achieving style on a budget, including this column on secondhand, vintage, and regifting for kids.
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is a fun and educational video that takes your kids on a safari adventure. They'll learn fun facts about animals as Billy uses their name and talks to them as if he were their tour guide. When Billy mentions that a bison weighs as much as a car, an animated car pops up on the screen so kids can have a visual image of the comparison.
