Thursday, January 1, 2009

New Year's Fashion Resolutions

Happy 2009 everyone! Now that the holidays have passed and we’re looking at a fresh new year ahead, I know everyone is making their new year’s resolutions. A lot of my clients have made financial resolutions, a particularly savvy choice in the new economy. Resolving to stay economically sound doesn't mean you can’t continue to enjoy developing your style even during a recession.

Take this time to inject some creativity into your wardrobe, while remaining budget conscious.

  1. Make a list and check it twice: Shop only for a few items that you know will round out your wardrobe. Take your list with you, and have the resolve to stick to it.
  2. Upgrade the quality level: Even higher-end retailers are feeling the recessional pinch. Now is the time when you might be able to upgrade the quality of your clothing items for the price you’d pay for a lower quality item. What’s the upside here? You might spend the same as you would ordinarily but the higher quality of the items you buy means they’ll look richer, wear better, and last longer.
  3. Accessorize: Use exciting, inexpensive accessory changes to update your existing wardrobe and keep your budget in check. One neutral or black dress can take on a number of different looks when paired with one piece of chunky costume jewelry or funky patterned scarf. Experiment!
  4. Tailoring: Compare the cost of tailoring against purchasing new, and then update existing wardrobe items by having them tailored to meet the current trend: taper your straight leg jeans for a skinny look, or take in a men’s wear vest for a curvy, fitted look for a far more reasonable price point than buying a new item.