Fashionista Turned "Recessionista"


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Home \| Culture And Society \| Shopping \| Online Shopping Fashionista Turned "Recessionista" By: Diana Pemberton-Sikes A fashionista LOVES to follow fashion, like the Carrie Bradshaw character in "Sex and the City." She often puts fashion before everything, including comfort and sometimes common sense, often showing up to events smartly dressed but inappropriately attired for the function or weather. I know. I used to be one. When you follow fashion to the extreme, you're known for your clothes...and not much else. But things change. Like the stock market. With the sluggish economy and tightening credit, many fashionistas are going into serious withdrawal. Fashion, like eating out, is one of the first things many indulge in when times are good - and one of the first things they go without when times get tough. The days of trendy bags and cute shoes in multiple colors are gone. Logic and fiscal restraint have come into play. Fashionistas have become "recessionistas" - following fashion but within the constraints of the new economy. They've become - oh, say it isn't so! - much like the rest of us. Only they still look very chic. The wardrobe strategies they're passing around during these tough times are the same I've espoused for years, once I "saw the light" and learned to focus on style instead of fashion. If you follow just a few of these tips, you can look good whatever the economy or your own household budget. Here's how you too can become a "recessionista": 1. Spend the Most on Clothes You Wear Most Investment dressing means you spend the most you can on clothes you plan to wear A LOT. The backbone of your wardrobe - coats, suits, pants, skirts, blouses -- like the backbone of your body, needs to be strong and sturdy. Let's say you spend $400 on a beautiful wool overcoat you expect to wear five days a week, four months a year for three years. If you do the math (5 days x 16 weeks x 3 years = coat is worn 240 times), it boils down to just $1.67 per wearing ($400/240 = $1.67), and you will have certainly gotten your money's worth. 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 them frequently. In the end you spend a lot more doing that than buying quality from the start. 2. Restock Everyday Basics as Inexpensively 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. Emphasize Your Signature Style A signature is something you're "known" for, like your shoes, your jewelry, or always wearing black. Stick with this during tough economic times; do not pick something new to collect. Now is NOT the time to explore other signature interests. Add fun pieces to your current collection; don't do a whole closet makeover for a new one. 4. Go Cheap-Cheap on Trends - Or Pass 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 read fashion magazines religiously, try looking elsewhere for fashion inspiration. Vintage shops, discount stores, or your grandmother's attic - all great places for inspiration to strike. Mix old with new, high end with low end, this season with past seasons. Get creative and turn heads. 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. So can you still look fashionable in a recession, dear fashionista? Absolutely! Looking good and spending a lot don't have to be synonymous. It's not about how much you spend or which labels you have; it's about being clever with what you have or can afford. Don't bemoan how the economy's playing havoc with your wardrobe. Instead, get tough, get creative, and become a recessionista. Article Source: http://www.articleviral.com Want some other fashionista-like tricks? Download a copy of "Tricks of the the Trade: Secrets of Well-Dressed Women" when you sign up for author and image consultant Diana Pemberton-Sikes' bi-weekly ezine at FashionForRealWomen.com . Please Rate this Article Not yet Rated Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Online Shopping Articles Via RSS! 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