Shopping for Free!

I know it's a bit early for New Year's Resolutions but I already have an important one I want to set. I have decided that for the next year I will try to do more of my shopping closer to home. Well, actually IN my own home. I want to learn to shop in my own closet! I have a wealth of absolutely beautiful clothes hanging there but all too often feel like I have nothing to wear. It's so easy and so addicting to run out to some of my favorite stores and see what new pieces are in. There is such an allure that comes with fingering the lush fabrics and trying them on, seeing my own body in a new and better way within the latest shapes. I don't want to give this excitement up completely, but I do want to challenge my style sense to take what I already own and figure out ways to make it work with the current proportions and trends. For instance, a short dress may look fresh again when paired with my skinny jeans, which I am not ready to retire yet. And my sweater dress is so "in" with a thick belt, booties and dark leggings. Even my cropped sweaters and boxier shirts can work if paired with some of my long, slim layers and slouchier pants. It will just take some digging through all of the pieces I have and putting my creativity to work again and again. I'm even thinking of raiding my husband's closet for extras. A white dress shirt or slim men's sweater may work layered over a turtleneck and tights with boots and some long necklaces. I think getting dressed in the morning may become a little harder and more time consuming for me, but I think ultimately the effort will be well worth it. Best of all, I will get to reinvent myself without spending a penny!

Like a Page Out of a Picture Book

My daughter Grace is turning three in two weeks. Yet I vividly remember being 9 months pregnant with her, feeling her restless kick in my stomach as I went door to door trick or treating with my son. Even before she was born, I had eyed the frilly little girl costumes, wanting to buy at least three or four.  I had even finally succumbed to the pleasure, splurging on a pink fleecy infant suit with a flower hood. Although it remained hanging in her closet while she stubbornly camped in my cozy nest a little longer,  after she was born the costume made a great snowsuit that caught lots of attention where ever we went later that fall. This year, though, she is old enough to have her own costume preferences and her own rapidly developing sense of style. In fact, she picked a glittery Cinderella ballgown a few months ago, which is ready and waiting for her to wear. But then last week, she also decided she wanted to dress up as Madeline, one of her favorite new characters. We read Madeline together and we watch the cartoon quite often. As luck would have it, I was able to easily locate an adorable (and very affordable!) Madeline costume on Ebay. When it arrived, it was even cuter in person that it had on the computer screen. It has the classic royal blue fleecy coat with a big red bow and a yellow hat, looking appropriately charming and elegant at the same time. In fact, when Grace slips the pieces on, she looks like she's just walked out of an old fashioned children's picture book. In true character, she even remembers the first lines of the book:

"In an old house in Paris that was covered in vines, lived twelve little girls in two straight lines. They left the house at half past nine. The smaller one was (my very own, very stylish) Madeline!

Thakoon for Everyone!

This Christmas, Santa is offering up a special gift for fashion lovers everywhere: Thakoon at affordable prices! The famous designer will be launching a diffusion line at Target starting Dec. 25 as part of the chain's international designer collections. For me, it was love at first site when I saw Thakoon's premiere runway show several years ago included on New York Magazine's website. Since then, I have been following his collections and hoping that some day I could justify splurging on a few of his pieces to add to my wardrobe. I am so excited to see what he comes up with for Target. Rumor has it he is going with classic pieces and conservative prints, but I hope he also captures a bit of the flair he does so well with his high-end garments. So far, I have been mostly disappointed with the pieces in the Go International lines, but I have high hopes this time. Here's hoping this holiday season will be a style winner!

Investing in Style

One unexpected benefit of the economy taking a dive is the fact that fashion is becoming more affordable -- and also more timeless -- which is good news for those of us on a budget. The last few issues of my favorite fashion magazines (particularly Harpers Bazaar and Vogue) have actually had to consider that their readers may now be unable to splurge on an entire new wardrobe each season. Of course this has always been the case for me, but now many of my more fortunate friends are also unfortunately broke. The editors have responded to the state of the world by carefully editing their selection of picks, choosing things that women will be able to wear for many years. This helps make the high price tags more digestible. Of course, I still can't afford a $3,000 coat, or $800 shoes, but I am becoming more and more sold on the concept that buying a $250 classic blazer that I will wear for the next 10 years makes much more sense than a $30 version from one of the cheap junior stores that I will need to replace in a few months. I firmly believe that one high quality piece is much better than 10 cheapy ones. The truth, though, is that I tend the walk the middle of the road when I shop, buying some wonderful investment pieces (on clearance at TJ Maxx, though) and then also filling in with some inexpensive, modern accents to achieve just the right look. This will continue to work for me, no matter how good or bad the stock market happens to be.

Fashion for Fashion Week!

One of the very best parts of writing about fashion is actually getting to WEAR it. That why although it's still three months until New York's Fashion Week for Fall 2009 arrives, already I find myself planning my "perfect" look! Of course I know the point of attending fashion week is to see what the models are wearing, not really to worry about my own wardrobe, but still, I can't help but get excited just thinking about getting dressed for the big event. In fact, in Sept. I had attended my very first series of these fashion shows and had agonized over my clothing up until a few hours before. I ended up selecting a simple black dress with a few fashion forward elements hidden in the trim. It was oh so safe and also so appropriate. This time, though, I now know what to expect and am ready to take a risk. In fact, I found it today: A gold silk paisley Mark Jacobs mini-dress. It's got that perfect uptown/downtown mix with elements of modern, romantic and ethnic all rolled in. Best of all, it was on the clearance rack at TJ Maxx, so I can almost afford it. It's hanging in my closet now, reminding me that good things (or clothes) are right around the corner. The only problem, though, is that I'm not sure I can wait until fashion week comes in February before wearing this beautiful dress. I may have to find an excuse to enjoy it before then. You can see a variation of this in silver at http://www.stylehive.com/bookmark/Marc-by-Marc-Jacobs-silver-paisley-chiffon-mini-dress-at-Bluefly-465769>. Picture this in a rich gold raw silk with turquoise, yellow and pink paisley print. With tights and booties to anchor it, I think I will fit right in!

Ballet-Inspired Looks

I am a big fan of layering. In fact, this trend has increased my wardrobe options many times over. I love how my summer dresses become new for fall when worn over leggings and a turtleneck. Add a cardigan and a scarf wound around the neck and I am even ready to move into winter. And perhaps nothing has given me more pleasure than adding some ballet-inspired pieces into my layering mix. I know the ballet look has been "in" for the past few years and I have been scooping up crew neck tees, tights and ballet flats here and there, and even a few wrap sweaters that remind me of the kind I wore to ballet classes as a youngster. But the other day, I went into a ballet store and the range of options spread out before me took my breath away. There were fitted lycra pants perfect to wear under flowy dresses, leotards that form a perfect first layer for any outfit without adding bulk, high-quality tights in a rainbow of colors and best of all, delicate sweaters in a range of weights and shades that would be the perfect finishing touch for almost any outfit. The pieces were suprisingly affordable, too, especially when you compare them to the high-end designer items that capture the same look. So next time I want to expand my layering collection, instead of heading to the mall, I may just head to the dance store first and explore this vast and wonderful collection of treasures.

Window Shopping Online

I admit it: I'm addicted to "shopping" online. I waste hours browsing the latest fashion shopping portals daydreaming about what I might buy. The good news, though, is that I rarely click on the "buy now" icon. Usually I get interrupted before I can actually follow through on a purchase. This is fortunate, as it allows me to exercise my love of buying clothes without actually blowing my budget in the process. Window shopping online is also a great way for me to stay on top of the latest styles, colors and cuts and to develop a sense of what I want to add to my wardrobe in order to keep it current for the coming season. I have to admit, though, that once in a while I do actually buy.... One of my biggest -- and best -- online splurges was through Nordstrom's website. I found a coat I had fallen in love with in the store just a month or two earlier now being sold on the website on final clearance. If I hadn't visited the website, I never would have gotten this wonderful purchase, so my hours spent online have certainly panned out in this and a few other great finds.  But iin between sporadic purchases, I am happy to browse online in the same way I do when I walk through my favorite stores in the mall or flip through the pages of the latest fashion magazines, just trying on the items in my mind for size.

Old is New Again

I love beautiful jewelry, but I don't need to spend a lot to satisfy the urge. I have a favorite little consignment shop that features a lovely collection of costume pieces. Every few months I treat myself by indulging a new item or two. Sometimes it's a big sparkly ring, a long bead and pearl necklace or an unusual rhinestone pin. Most of these items sell for under $10 (and sometimes for as little as $1 or $2!). While many of these finds are perfect as is, sometimes I redesign what I buy to create my ideal style, for instance, using a large turquoise pendant with a thick gold chain instead of the thinner one it came with, or mixing pearls with a locket for my own signature look. My favorite is a yellowed long strand of pearls with a huge topaz clasp that I double and twist with the clasp in front so it sits right in the V of my shirt neck. It was a splurge at $25, but well worth the price, since it's as elegant and timeless as any of Tiffany's pricey offerings. The quality and sparkle of the vintage items far exceeds anything I can find in the jewelry making aisle of the crafts store, and they cost a lot less, too. The best part, though, about these old finds is that when I put them on, I feel great and they make my whole outfit shine.

Shopping is an Art!

Everyone is talking about bargain hunting these days and I have to smile, because finally others are discovering my passion! The truth is, I am a high-end shopper on a low-end budget. I love St. John Knit sweaters, Seven Jeans, Theory pants, Eli Tahari and Ella Moss tops, Stuart Weitzman shoes, Ferragamo purses and Gucci sunglasses, as well as just about anything from Bloomingdales and Barneys. But since I can't afford the high price tags that come along with these designer items, I have learned to shop really smart over the years. One of the biggest techniques that has helped me build an amazing wardrobe is to regularly do the rounds of off-price stores, including Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Filene's Basements and the Saks Outlet. If you shop the racks often enough, you see when the best brands come in while the sizes are still available, and you also can snap up the markdowns. Lately I've found premium denim for $7, a silk top for $3 and a fine guage silk and cotton sweater for $2, plus a cashmere tank for $4! Without going broke, I can constantly fill in my wardrobe with such luxurious finds and keep my look current. The only problem, though, is that now that more shoppers are looking for bargains, I will have to compete for the very best buys. While this worries me a little, I am also glad to know others will experience the joy of finding a St. John skirt that retails for $800 tucked on the sale rack for $29!

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