Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Style with Brains #1: Don't Fall Into the Discount Trap!

End-season sales offer the lowest prices these days, and there are many back-to school offers on every corner. This is enough to make even the reasonable shoppers like many of us a bit dizzy: even if we shop with brains any other time, we can go head-over-heels these days and it usually means that we spend more than we wanted, and half of that in vain. But how can you make the most of your spendings if it goes about fashion sales? I give you some tips on how to make the best choice.



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  • Start with inspecting your closet! Rearrange all the stuff in it before you go shopping, and make a virtual inventory of the things you already own. You can also get rid of everything which is shabby, which lost its shape or which is very outdated - first because you probably don't want that shabby look, and second because you can make some room for new stuff. Discover your hidden tresures - who hasn't found items in the back of the closet, which were not only totally wearable, but became favorites later?
  • After clearing your closet you can make a list of basic items (like a good blazer, jeans, elegant trousers, skirts, shirts, T-shirts, undies, etc.) you need, and fashion from the latest trend you absolutely want to buy. Make a shopping list and try to alter it only if you absolutely need to (like cases of super bargain, love at first sight, designed-for-me items, etc.).
  • Know your colors! If you are not really aware of them the most basic thing you can check is whether warm or cool colors are the ones that suit you. Look at the veins at your wrist: if they come in a greenish color, than you are probably a warm color type, if they are violet-colored, than you are a cool color type. Warm color types are suited by warm, cool types by cool colors, respectively. Chances of gross color mistakes are not annulled, only reduced by this check, though. The best idea is to invest in a personal color&style consultation once, and never to take home anything that is unflattering later.
  • Be critical with your figure! There is nothing wrong with wide hips as long as you don't want to tuck them into wrong-sized skinnies. Check which cuts are the best for your body shape (and I can repeat: the best investment is to get a personal consultation once and save tons of money later) and buy accordingly. And yes, you can wear whatever you want in the name of wrongly understood body positivity, but don't you feel more confident, when you look and feel sparkling in a flattering piece which also reflects your personality?
  • Buy clothes which fit your figure and weight right now. "I'll wear it when I shed some weight" - is not the best solution.
  • You can put your hand on expensive basic items at a good price at the end-season sales. You can buy coats and leather boots in the end of the winter, sandals and good quality t-shirts during the autumn, especially if they come in a classic shape - you can easily wear them during the next season. The same is true for special occassion dresses. You don't have to wait till you run around in a panic not knowing what to wear for your friend's wedding. If you find a good item at a reasonable price, buy it, and you'll only have to open your closet when the occassion is coming. But don't exaggerate: usually only celebrities need a full wardrobe of black-tie clothing.
  • Take care of materials: natural stuff always looks more sophisticated than artifical fibres. If you opt for wool, linen, cotton or leather in the case of shoes and bags, you'll look much more elegant than being clad in polyester from top to toe.
  • Items to splurge on: quality leather shoes and boots, leather bags, winter coats, blazers, suits and watches. These are the pieces whose cheapness can be very obvious, and which can ruin your whole look if not appropriate. Take care of them regularly: the most beautiful leather shoes can look more than shabby when they are dirty and worn out.
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  •  And here come the basic questions you have to ask yourself every time you are heading for the fitting room with a heap of clothes in your hand. (If you know you are easily thrown overboard when you are shopping, take a friend with you and allow her to ask all the embarrassing questions. You'll have your turn to do the same with her in the next shop.) Be very honest to yourself, and only buy the garment if it gets through your filter.
    •  Do I really need this stuff? If you have three similarly cut pieces with a similar function in your wardrobe, you might not really need a new one. Of course there are vis maior cases, when you simply fall in love with something, but if it's not the case, than don't buy it just because it seems to be a bargain.
    • Do its size, tailoring and color really suit me? Is it flattering from all sides? Does it  need only minor alterations (like narrowing the waist or shortening the leg) to be perfect? Could I wear it today, or do I have to shed some weight before wearing it?
    • How can I combine it? Which sets does it fit into? Do I have at least three other pieces which I can combine it with? Or do I have to buy three other garments to be able to make one single set with it?
    • How many times will I possibly wear it? Is it a long-term classic or a trendy piece which will look outdated next year? If it is absolutely seasonal and next year I won't be able to use it much, is there enough time left from the season to be worth buying it? (Very scientific thinkers came up with the idea of cost per wear. You should divide the cost of the garment by the number of times you wear it. If a 20 EUR piece is worn 10 times before you donate it to charity, its cost per wear is 2 EUR. The best buys are said to have a cost per wear value under 2 EUR).
    • How can I clean it? Clothes which can be only dry cleaned, have some additional cost every time they need a cleaning. Of course there are basic pieces like coats and suits which you have to buy even if the cleaning adds to their price, but let this aspect not to be a surprise for you.
 Do you have any useful shopping strategies? Please share it here in the comments section or on Facebook!

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