People sometimes compliment me on my fabulously chic and put-together outfit or asked if i would be their personal shopper. In all sencertity, I say this not to boast but to demonstrate that I am living proof that anyone on any budget can be fashion forward. I hope to empower women everywhere to achieve what is seemingly impossible in this penny-pinching economic environment—to look straight-out-of-a-magazine fabulous every day.
The advice I am about to offer is not like what you might find in a swanky women’s fashion magazine. The fact of the matter is, no woman I know can even fathom dolling out $700 bucks for a pair of Manolo’s. This feasible and fun step-by-step guide offers practical tips on how you can acquire an enviable wardrobe without maxing out your credit card.
#1: Start with a clean slate. Simplify your closet.
How many of us are holding on to pieces of clothing that haven’t seen the sunlight in years but we are convinced just might come back in style? Having a closet full of clothes you don’t wear is not going to increase your chances of creating the perfect outfit. As in French kissing, perfume and in-laws, in our closets too, less is more. In fact, eliminating the clutter makes it easier to see innovative combinations of pieces that you never would have thought of before.
Go through drawers, closets, storage boxes or if you’re like Carrie, your ovens, and start sorting through the decades of shopping sprees and decide what you can do without. If it hasn’t been worn in years, let it go. If it’s dingy, pilled, stained or has holes, toss it or find another use for it. (I like to use soft old t-shirts for dusting rags.) Keep high-quality “basics” (i.e.: the khaki pants that fit you perfectly, your lucky black cocktail dress, well-fitting suits etc.) Be honest with yourself. Do you love it enough to keep it for another few years or do you consistently pass it up when shuffling through hangars to find something you’ll feel good wearing? Also, let go of things that don’t fit well. Having one pair of “skinny jeans” that motivates you to keep up that exercise routine is one thing. Holding on to large amounts of clothing you’re hoping you might be able to squeeze into one day is another. Save yourself the agony and be realistic.
#2: Cash it in.
After you have relished in the immense satisfaction that comes with reducing clutter and getting more organized, get rich. Well, maybe not rich but every dollar counts, right? Have a yard sale or sell your clothing to second hand stores. You will be shocked by what people are willing to buy. As the saying goes, “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure!” You can easily earn a few hundred dollars if you have a well planed and advertised sale. Invite your girlfriends to bring anything they want to sell, too. The more the merrier! Bonus: Donate unsold items to a local charity and feel even better knowing you made a positive difference in the lives of others, too.
#3: Plan a guilt-free shopping day!
Having the courage to ditch that ratty old sweatshirt that you spent hours making out with your high school sweetheart in or that pleather jumpsuit you have been swearing might be useful one day is undoubtedly no easy task! So you have certainly earned that extra roll of cash that is now in your pocket and should give yourself permission to indulge in a day of reckless abandon at the mall. Well, not reckless, but you get the point. We gotta make these dollars stretch—a true art form. But how?
#4: Never underestimate the power of coupons.
In this day and age of technological sophistication, it’s virtually inexcusable to shop without them. The internet is a gold mine for printable coupons available to anyone savvy enough to look for them. (That’s you!) A simple Google search for “printable coupons” will turn up hundreds of possibilities. Popular women’s retailers such as Express, The Limited, Victoria’s Secret, Banana Republic, Arden B, Nine West and more. Many of the coupons have codes that can also be used for online shopping. I learned this invaluable trick one day at the mall when, a woman in front of me in a check-out lined whipped out a bag full of coupons. She kindly passed on along me and I instantly saved $30 on my $75 purchase! Wow!
#5: Patience is a virtue!
If coupon clipping isn’t your cup of tea, you still should never pay full price. Everything eventually goes on sale and if you are disciplined, you are sure to be able to afford twice as much as you would otherwise. Department stores are constantly pushing out the latest “look of the week” and doing massive markdowns. If you simply must have it now, check the store’s merchandise credit policy. If the item goes on sale within 14 days and you keep your receipt, most stores will credit you the difference!
#6: Shop outlets, discount stores etc.
To most of us, this is an obvious way to save money but many people mistakenly assume that discount stores will only have outdated fashions. Quite the contrary, there are countless stores that are filled with irresistible name-brand goodies-- designer clothes, shoes and purses, oh my! You can walk out with bags of clothes for what you would have spent on just a small handful of things at department store prices.
#7: Remember, quality is better than quantity.
Learn the delicate balance between saving a few dollars for something that isn’t likely to make it through more than two washes and shelling out the extra dough for something beautiful that will last a lifetime. Staple wardrobe items such as winter coats, suits, cream slacks, tweed pants, the perfect white blouse, etc. are definitely worth a bigger investment. In the long run, it will cost less to have high quality things that will last. There is also much to be said about the way quality pieces wear versus the cheapies. The colors are richer and less likely to fade, the fabric is softer, and the stitching tends to be more accurate and flattering.
Start fresh! You will be glad you did. Check back to learn the 10 things every woman should have in their wardrobe!
The advice I am about to offer is not like what you might find in a swanky women’s fashion magazine. The fact of the matter is, no woman I know can even fathom dolling out $700 bucks for a pair of Manolo’s. This feasible and fun step-by-step guide offers practical tips on how you can acquire an enviable wardrobe without maxing out your credit card.
#1: Start with a clean slate. Simplify your closet.
How many of us are holding on to pieces of clothing that haven’t seen the sunlight in years but we are convinced just might come back in style? Having a closet full of clothes you don’t wear is not going to increase your chances of creating the perfect outfit. As in French kissing, perfume and in-laws, in our closets too, less is more. In fact, eliminating the clutter makes it easier to see innovative combinations of pieces that you never would have thought of before.
Go through drawers, closets, storage boxes or if you’re like Carrie, your ovens, and start sorting through the decades of shopping sprees and decide what you can do without. If it hasn’t been worn in years, let it go. If it’s dingy, pilled, stained or has holes, toss it or find another use for it. (I like to use soft old t-shirts for dusting rags.) Keep high-quality “basics” (i.e.: the khaki pants that fit you perfectly, your lucky black cocktail dress, well-fitting suits etc.) Be honest with yourself. Do you love it enough to keep it for another few years or do you consistently pass it up when shuffling through hangars to find something you’ll feel good wearing? Also, let go of things that don’t fit well. Having one pair of “skinny jeans” that motivates you to keep up that exercise routine is one thing. Holding on to large amounts of clothing you’re hoping you might be able to squeeze into one day is another. Save yourself the agony and be realistic.
#2: Cash it in.
After you have relished in the immense satisfaction that comes with reducing clutter and getting more organized, get rich. Well, maybe not rich but every dollar counts, right? Have a yard sale or sell your clothing to second hand stores. You will be shocked by what people are willing to buy. As the saying goes, “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure!” You can easily earn a few hundred dollars if you have a well planed and advertised sale. Invite your girlfriends to bring anything they want to sell, too. The more the merrier! Bonus: Donate unsold items to a local charity and feel even better knowing you made a positive difference in the lives of others, too.
#3: Plan a guilt-free shopping day!
Having the courage to ditch that ratty old sweatshirt that you spent hours making out with your high school sweetheart in or that pleather jumpsuit you have been swearing might be useful one day is undoubtedly no easy task! So you have certainly earned that extra roll of cash that is now in your pocket and should give yourself permission to indulge in a day of reckless abandon at the mall. Well, not reckless, but you get the point. We gotta make these dollars stretch—a true art form. But how?
#4: Never underestimate the power of coupons.
In this day and age of technological sophistication, it’s virtually inexcusable to shop without them. The internet is a gold mine for printable coupons available to anyone savvy enough to look for them. (That’s you!) A simple Google search for “printable coupons” will turn up hundreds of possibilities. Popular women’s retailers such as Express, The Limited, Victoria’s Secret, Banana Republic, Arden B, Nine West and more. Many of the coupons have codes that can also be used for online shopping. I learned this invaluable trick one day at the mall when, a woman in front of me in a check-out lined whipped out a bag full of coupons. She kindly passed on along me and I instantly saved $30 on my $75 purchase! Wow!
#5: Patience is a virtue!
If coupon clipping isn’t your cup of tea, you still should never pay full price. Everything eventually goes on sale and if you are disciplined, you are sure to be able to afford twice as much as you would otherwise. Department stores are constantly pushing out the latest “look of the week” and doing massive markdowns. If you simply must have it now, check the store’s merchandise credit policy. If the item goes on sale within 14 days and you keep your receipt, most stores will credit you the difference!
#6: Shop outlets, discount stores etc.
To most of us, this is an obvious way to save money but many people mistakenly assume that discount stores will only have outdated fashions. Quite the contrary, there are countless stores that are filled with irresistible name-brand goodies-- designer clothes, shoes and purses, oh my! You can walk out with bags of clothes for what you would have spent on just a small handful of things at department store prices.
#7: Remember, quality is better than quantity.
Learn the delicate balance between saving a few dollars for something that isn’t likely to make it through more than two washes and shelling out the extra dough for something beautiful that will last a lifetime. Staple wardrobe items such as winter coats, suits, cream slacks, tweed pants, the perfect white blouse, etc. are definitely worth a bigger investment. In the long run, it will cost less to have high quality things that will last. There is also much to be said about the way quality pieces wear versus the cheapies. The colors are richer and less likely to fade, the fabric is softer, and the stitching tends to be more accurate and flattering.
Start fresh! You will be glad you did. Check back to learn the 10 things every woman should have in their wardrobe!
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