Shopping Smart[er]

By: Christine Olson

Now that you have cleaned out your closet,  you  can begin to consider what gaps to fill depending  on your lifestyle.  First,  consider your preferences and needs:

• Tailored?
• Soft, less constructed?
• Colors?
• Fabric?
• Silhouette [body conscious or flowing?]
• Casual?
• Business?
• Dressy

Next step is to decide what core pieces you need to replace:

• Jackets
• Skirts
• Pants
• Dresses
• Coats
• Leather goods

These pieces are wardrobe staples, which should last awhile.  Textiles have come a long way.  This industry has produced fabric blends that are less wrinkle-prone and more resilient.   Buy the best you can afford.  Do consider those trunk show invitations.  The sales associates know their product and have expertise in fit and style.  Some of these direct sales retailers purchase their fabrics from the same mills as major designers and manufacture in the same facilities.  Without the overhead of staff and store space, the pricing is much lower.  For example, a leather jacket at a direct sales trunk show might about $600.  A similar jacket with a designer label could cost $2000-$3000 [I know, I’ve compared].  In addition, these retailers interpret current trends in a more realistic way [check out the runway looks of major designers and you’ll see what I mean].

However you decide to spend your clothing dollar, here are some tips to help you shop more wisely.

Avoid:

• Cheap that looks cheap
• Sloppy construction [visible hems, poor stitching, mismatched plaids and stripes]
• Unlined, especially core pieces
• Logos [people with taste don’t wear them]
• Embellishments, like sequins or beading; they are memorable and usually difficult to care for
• Items with lots of hardware

Do skimp on:

• Accessories like scarves, gloves, sunglasses, good looking costume jewelry
• Trendy items
• Layering pieces like tees, tanks, camisoles

Fit is important.  Look for pieces that flatter your body shape.  Some tailoring may be required.  Simple alterations include hems and side seams.  More costly would be adjustments to tailored pieces like suit jackets and pants. You will need to consider if the item you are purchasing is worth the extra expense.  Keep in mind that if you purchase an expensive piece on sale, you can probably afford the alterations.

If this all seems overwhelming, you may want to enlist the advice of an honest friend or a personal shopper.

Finally, don’t take all this too seriously.  HAVE FUN!

Christine Olson is a Fashion Coach and Closet Editor, her goal is to help women look their best and assist in filling their closets with clothes they love and wear!