Look Great, Spend Less
Ouch! 1.27€ That’s what we’re getting to the pound at present, and anyone relying on a British income is feeling the pinch. We’ve all been party to recent discussions regarding cost savings & belt-tightening, but it’s not all bad news. Watching the centimos is a great excuse for sharpening your style, and for having a little fun with your wardrobe.
An economic downturn separates the good shoppers from the bad. Some of us will open our wardrobes to discover classics that can be easily re-vamped for the new season. Others will have less luck, having bought expensively on-trend in the past, and finding their discoveries looking somewhat dated. But it’s all a basis; we’ve all got somewhere to start.
First thing’s first. Haul out any tailored pieces, and decide what can be worn again. You might need to have them re-tailored to fit, but this will add years of life to them. As long as the fabric is still good, any expense here will be well worth it.
Complete any running repairs: lost buttons, fallen hems etc
Anyone with cottons, silks and linens in abundance will find lots of things they can wear again. If not – this is what you should be buying now. Natural fabrics will wash well and give you stages of wear, with cotton shirts, for example, being fresh & crisp when new; demoted to casual wear once they look a bit faded; and kept on for cleaning and gardening in future years. Work out the price per wear, and your cotton shirt’s a bargain!
Anyone with last season’s expensive mistakes will have some great quality fabrics, albeit in cuts or patterns that now look dated. It’s time for you to become creative. Decide what actually suits you and how you can salvage it. Then chop, sew, add embellishment, and get the most from your original purchase. But don’t be too hasty, you might have a future classic on your hands!
Look at what’s missing in your wardrobe. Be honest with yourself, and aim to replenish with classic pieces. You’ll get far more wear out of a well fitting pair of jeans that suit your shape, than a trendier version that you’ll soon regret if they make you feel uncomfortable.
Now it’s time to shop, and you need to become canny. Deal with retailers who have a good history of customer service. If they’re happy to provide an exchange on the basis of ‘I don’t like the colour…’ it gives you more options for making sure your purchase matches items you have at home.
And make your €uro stretch that bit further by sourcing discount or outlet stores. But be careful, some outlets are dumping grounds for the whackier results of the designers’ imagination. Even at a 50% discount, purchases here could easily be costly mistakes. The key with discount shopping is to use the outlets of shops you love anyway. You know you’re getting what you like and you know it’s a fraction of the price. This equates to great value.
But remember, buying cheap is not always good value. A 10€ mistake is still a waste of 10€. Always buy good quality fabrics, look for classic styles, but most of all, buy things you love!
Happy shopping!
Copyright May 2008 by Nicola Franklin