Investment Dressing
The tide has been turning on the fashion front for some months now. After our brief love affair with ‘cheap chic’ (think Primark & George at ASDA: fabulously funky, on-trend rip-offs of designer pieces), we’re beginning to question the ethics of buying cheap fashion quite so…erm…cheaply. How can they do it for that price? How indeed…
And we’re beginning to question the wisdom of buying a garment that will last us only a season. OK, so at 10€ your impulse buy is hardly likely to break the bank, but if the colour fades after only a wash or two, your 10€ purchase no longer seems like such a bargain.
And here’s the rub: although most of us will turn a blind eye to the ethics (I mean people have to earn a living somehow, right?), few amongst us will turn a blind eye to wasting our own money on a bad purchase or – worse – realising too late that the glitter trim on that ‘great 10€ bargain’ looks, frankly, tacky.
Ladies and gentlemen, we’re re-entering an era of investment dressing. We’re re-discovering tailoring, quality fabrics & the forgotten corners of our wardrobes. And with the exchange rate being so poor at present, anyone relying on a UK income will be pleased to hear it.
High Street Heaven tips for Investment Dressing
- Edit your wardrobe. Any tailored pieces that no longer fit may be worth re-tailoring. You’ll find they’ll fit better than they ever did if originally bought off the peg. You’ve now got a great basis for replenishing.
- Buy natural fabrics. Cotton, linen & silk will look better long after the colours on that polyester top you were considering have faded.
- Buy the best you can afford. It’s worth it on larger purchases such as tailored trousers, jackets & winter coats, A more expensive garment worn regularly is better value than a cheapie worn once or twice only.
- Think classic. Spend good money on styles that won’t go out of fashion, in good fabrics, and colours to suit your skin tone.
- Dress for your shape. Make the most of your assets and play down your bad points. You’ll feel far more comfortable in clothes that suit your shape, and return to them time and again.
- Don’t be fashion led. Bring fashion into your wardrobe with cheaper pieces and accessories. Remember, fashion purchases will be in the bin after six months, so resist the temptation to spend big.
- Don’t forget the ‘kids & coffee’ rule. Dress for your lifestyle. There’s no point spending 100€’s on crisp white blouses by Gucci if they’re likely to be stained and grubby within a week.
Copyright April 2008 by Nicola Franklin