Fashion Tips

“I’ve got no money”

Now far more than ever, people are cutting back, saving pennies and worrying about the credit crunch, nevertheless a poll accomplished by Grazia Magazine suggests that 83 percent of us still shop for clothes, accessories and beauty goods at least once a week.

I would like to share some hints and ideas on points you can do to stay seeking stylish and feeling upbeat about your image throughout all this doom and gloom. Following all girls it’s in our nature to shop.

The very first is to detox your wardrobe (click here for far more info on how to start your detox.) When you have completed this you could potentially sell off some of the clothes you no longer want or have a swapping party with some friends, which is a excellent way of getting the buzz of something new without having to spend a penny.

Also detoxing and organising your wardrobe assists you to identify precisely what you truly need – a wardrobe wishlist – and will help you from acquiring duplicates in future (hands up who has much more than three pairs of black trousers!!). I constantly ask my clients how considerably they have spent on clothes they in no way (or hardly ever) wear. They constantly grossly underestimate just how significantly cash is sitting in their wardrobe unused. Hundreds and in some cases thousands of pounds! Just believe of all the clothes, bags, shoes, accessories you have that you haven’t worn in 2008. Shocking isn’t it?

Well the aim in 2009 shouldn’t be “bargains” either in the sales or the likes of low-cost clothing stores, simply because the extremely nature of such fashion bargains is to be disposable. However when you “invest” a little a lot more in clothing you discover you feel more carefully about the purchase and as a result end up making a wiser choice.

My Top Shopping Suggestions for Price-efficient Retail Therapy.

Do not shop without a list.

It’s like food shopping when you’re hungry! Enough said.
Have a Greatest-Fest!

Don’t save your greatest clothes for best! I pay a visit to so several wardrobes stuffed beuatiful clothes saved “for best” yet there are quite rarely “greatest occasions”. You very first need to get it out of your head that clothes are either “weekend or work” or “day or night” and start looking at pieces as individuals that you can mix and match.

Possibly the main way in which I aid a lot of my clients is by helping them to view their clothes in a entire new light! So several men and women say to me things like “But I only wear that black pencil skirt for high power meetings at work”, had been as I might suggest teaming it with pussy bow chiffon blouse, killer heels and bling for cocktails with the girls. Feel outside the box!
Acquire Cheap, Acquire Twice.

As my Nan use to say, acquire inexpensive, buy twice. Think quality over quantity. Look for fabrics that will wash properly and last a lengthy time to guarantee you get maximum cost per wear from them. People who shop in thrift stores frequently tell me that they feel they are obtaining ripped off on the high-street these days so they stick to less expensive stores. But what they don’t realise is that even though you can bag a bargain occasionally, on the entire, you pay for high quality in terms of cut, fabric, style and manufacture, so if you pay £5 for a jacket, have a think about how they have managed to manufacture that…probably not ethically or professionally! You can also check if there any voucher codes available online before shopping.

Smoke and Mirrors.

If you attempt something on in a store but then when you get residence it doesn’t look as nice, bear in mind that several stores use slimming mirrors and lighting to make you look far better in their clothes. Maintain all receipts and tags and if you haven’t worn a garment within two weeks of purchase, take it back. If it doesn’t apply in your life inside a fortnight, it’s unlikely to apply in your wardrobe in the next six months.

“Free” Personal Shopping in Department Stores.

I spoke to a woman the other week who proudly told me she had saved valuable pounds by employing a no cost personal shopping service at a well-identified department store instead of paying for an independent professional Personal Shopper. Nevertheless when I asked what she spent with the Personal Shopper in-store it was a few hundred far more than she’d meant to invest AND she hasn’t worn half of the garments yet – not fantastic cost per wear!

Even though I think that these kinds of personal shoppers have a place, the service is no cost and at times the top quality of the service can reflect that. Secondly Personal Shoppers based at Department Stores are usually paid on commission so it is in their greatest interests to sell you as much as they can – regardless of whether it suits your body and way of life or not! When they ask you for your “budget” for the trip, they are probably in reality sizing up how significantly commission they can potentially make.

That is why I choose to be independent. Not only can I take my clients to any shop that will have fantastic clothes for them but I want my clients to be confident in my suggestions and trust me totally so that when I say “it looks good”, the only reason I say that is because it does, and even then, they are under no pressure to purchase it! NOt only that but a Personal Shop with me is an education in how, when, where and what to shop for in future, so that my client can feel a lot more confident with her image in the future, without having having to rely on everyone else.
Go It Alone! (or with a professional).

That leads me on to shopping with pals or family members. In the major, not a very good idea. Firstly unless you are a professional Personal Shopper and comprehend how to switch your brain from “shopping for me” mode to “shopping for a person else” mode, it is really difficult to remain focussed on the other individual, and even the nicest of your friends may possibly discover their patience wearing thin soon after you’ve tried on that blue dress for the third time. This results in the comment “Just buy it, you look great”. Then the blue dress hangs in your wardrobe with the tags still on six months later.

Alternatively often without meaning to be malicious, there are some of your buddies who are so insecure that it makes them feel a small far better about themselves if their friend (you) looks just okay and not your potentially gorgeous self. For that reason they are the sort to enthusiastically convince you to buy that thigh-skimming shift dress which you aren’t entirely convinced about.

My advice would be preferably get an expert Personal Shopper to take you shopping and show you how, where and when to shop, and then go it alone in future! A qualified Personal Shopper such as myself has spent a lot of time specialising in understanding other people and satisfying their requirements, so use them not only for your 2nd opinion but to get as significantly information about to shop as you possibly can! However if you aren’t ready to invest in a Personal Shopper GO IT ALONE and try to trust your instincts.
Recycle – Go Green!

Don’t throw out anything too hastily because you think is “out of fashion”! I have had several experiences where I have been discussing the coming trends for the year ahead with a client and she has been horrified to think she recently threw out what would have been a key trend once again in a couple of months. Once again this is why you would pay an professional. They will know what the trend forecast is for the year ahead and will have a creative eye for how you can revive your existing garments to make them look “now” for minimal price.

Look in magazines and on the web for trend reports for spring/summer 09 before you ditch that floral blouse!

Accessorise to Maximise.

Use accessories to update your look rather than spending a fortune on costly key fashion pieces. Accessories are low cost and fit you no matter what size or shape you are. They are also a price-effective way of looking on-trend and special and there is no be concerned you’ll see somebody in the very same thing!

© Nicola Cupples, 2009