Today, it’s all about The Queen B… and I’m not talking about Beyonce.
Good. I’m glad we’re all on the same page.
This is my Mom/Style Idol/Queen B’s first post! In my first #FashionFriday, I told you she would be sharing her insights with readers every once in awhile. Before, I said she’d put together her Top 10 Lists, but instead – we’re going to start off talking about one of our favorite subjects: SHOPPING.
Enjoy!
“I am not sure when I became interested in fashion. Sure, there are a few items from my childhood that stick out in my memory like a thick Fisherman’s knit sweater, a kilt skirt, and a really darling brown leather mini-bag with a long chain strap.
No one had heard of Fashion Merchandising as a career when I started college either (I actually starting in Nursing, but ended my Junior College years as a Secretary), but by the time I was married, had two children, and decided to go back to school – I was going to study something I really wanted to study. Luckily, we lived in suburban Chicago and I could attend the International Academy of Merchandise and Design. My dream was to become a Buyer.
I certainly did that, but in a different way. After I graduated, an opportunity presented itself to purchase an existing business – a fashion consignment store – in our town of Downers Grove. Instead of becoming a Buyer, I became an Owner of my very own upscale, resale shoppe… which I renamed Fashion Encore.
More on that later! Let’s talk… SHOPPING:
Shopping usually falls into two camps:
1) You either LOVE IT and always have too many choices of what to wear…
… or 2) you HATE IT and never have the appropriate thing to wear when something comes up.
Because I am a person of the first grouping and simply can’t understand any woman who does not feel as I do about clothes, I have the theory that those who hate shopping for clothes simply don’t know how to do it.
So, for this post, I am going to talk about how to shop… and just as importantly, how to enjoy shopping.
Fashion is a great way to explore and get to know yourself.
– Style Once you have mastered your style and understand your own taste, it is a wonderful way to communicate. So, how do you determine your “style”? Well, in addition to the above advice, you should start doing some research. Buy a few fashion magazines – I personally enjoy Lucky and InStyle – and scan them for outfits that you like. Cut them out and begin a shopping folder of fashion looks you admire or would like to try. Even if the clothes are too expensive, the ideas are there and you can shop for less expensive items that are similar. This works not only for a shopping list, but shows you how to put your outfits together and how to accessorize.
– Bev’s Shopping Rules Once you are inspired and feel you are ready to attempt a shopping trip, these are the rules I try to follow (and a few hints):
*Spend more on your basics than you do on fashion items. For instance, if you are a person who wears black pants a lot, make sure you purchase the best quality black pants you can afford. There is a theory of “cost per wear” that you may have heard of and will be addressed in another post about the items every woman needs in her closet.
*Often stores name their particular styles of pants by fit – Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Lands’ End. Make a trip to the store and try on the different fits and see how they look and feel on you. Once you determine which is your best look, remember it! This will be vital information for the future if you need to save time by online shopping. Also, buy it in several colors or multiples of the color you always wear (like black pants). I am speaking about myself here and not just with black pants. I also feel this way about white blouses – you can never have too many – but you may feel this way about white tees or black turtlenecks. Whatever it is, find the brand/style that fits you best and STOCK UP!
*Find a good resale shop in your area. This is such a wonderful resource for not only buying clothes, but for selling your clothes as you clean out your closet every season.
*Always shop with your closet in mind, but don’t be afraid to try something new, too! Jot down items that are missing from your wardrobe as you put outfits together every day so that you know what to shop for when you are in the store.
*Check out the mannequins for ideas and either take a photo or write it down. The visual display professionals who dress the mannequins are experts and studying their methods may inspire you to try something you would have never even considered before, like checkered shirt with a tweed blazer.
*Shop in both high-price and low-price stores. BOTH offer great ideas and you will be surprised what you can find at a department store versus a discount place. Just remember to spend the most shopping dollars on the clothing that you wear the most… basics.
*If you are shopping for shoes or boots, make sure you are wearing the right thickness of socks. Know what heel height is your limit and DO NOT be tempted by those cute shoes with the four-inch heels or those darling boots that pinch just a little. From experience, I know that if they don’t feel good, you will never wear them!
*Always save or take the store hangers and keep the tissue paper. Most store hangers are stronger/wider and will help restore the shape of your garment as it hangs. Tissue paper can be used in so many ways. Personally, I stuff my purses and boots with it when they are not in use so they maintain their shape in the closet.
*FINALLY – if you are a person who absolutely has no time or interest in shopping, check out websites like Stitch Fix. This is a company that – after completing a personal style quiz and setting a price limit – will have a personal stylist send you clothing and accessories for you to try at home. You can keep (and pay) for what you love and send the rest back. It is a personal styling service that might work for you.
There are so many other issues to address within this topic that I haven’t even touched on and I will save them for future blogs. In the meantime, start your style file today and HAPPY SHOPPING!
I would add that I use a Pinterest Board (ironically, but not really ironically called: Bev-Inspired Beauty) to collect my ideas and inspirations for outfits. Also, I totally agree that you should pay more for your basics. For example, I found a really great pair of black pants at Target that I would wear all the time, but after so many washes the color faded and the pants just didn’t look good on me anymore. So, when my Mom and I hosted a CAbi Party last year, I invested in a pair of beautiful black pants (called the Audrey Pant, funny enough) and they are spectacular. I wear them all the time, they wash well, and are really good quality. I ended up getting the same pants in gray, since I love them so much. Yes, they were more expensive, but I won’t be donating them anytime soon and that “cost per wear” theory is a great one that The Queen B will address in future posts.
Have a great weekend!
– A
