but i got it on sale...

don't get me wrong...there is absolutely nothing wrong with getting something on sale...in fact...if you can get a good price on an item...more power to yah! and...especially this time of year...a great time to be out shopping for those pieces that are missing in your closet...for example...need to stock up on some cashmere sweaters? get thee to the store...soon! prices are being slashed everywhere...

but...

when i've been in the middle of helping a client with their closet...and we pull out that one...sometimes two, three or more pieces...that are hanging in the closet...most times with the big red sales tag hanging off of it...and i hear that lovely phrase come out of my clients mouth..."but i got it on sale"...les sigh...

and??

simple math 101 tells me that...if you bought something at 70 percent off and you never end up wearing it...you're not actually saving money...you're wasting it...so please...don't let the big red sales signs lure you into buying something that you know full well...does not go with anything else in your closet...is not anything close to what you would be able to wear to...____________(fill in the blank with your lifestyle)

because then...when you are out shopping...and you find that piece that is SO you...without hesitation...you will be able to buy it...and know that you saved lots of $$...especially when you take the fashion accounting approach...which works on full retail price or sale...

on any budget...

i remember one time at church...an acquaintence complimented me on my outfit...and then made an odd statement "if i had your money...i'd look as good as you do too..."

my first reaction was...does she know something i don't? did i come into an inheritance that i wasn't aware of? where was this "money" she was referring to?

the thing was...that day i was wearing one of my favorite suede skirts that i had owned for about 10 years at that point...my blouse was about 3 yrs old...and my shoes...well...i'd had them for years as well...but in her eyes...i was always wearing the latest and greatest designers...sounds like a great concept and all...but couldn't be further from the truth...

i've often said that a person can look good at any budget...i have had clients that hired me...and on a very very limited budget...we were able to produce a pretty incredible stylish wardrobe...

style is not expensive...and honestly...i would have to say that some of the most stylish women i know...have done so on a very limited budget...how could this be? i am thinking that a lot of it has to do with being forced to be picky...when one doesn't have a lot of money to splurge on clothes...you can't buy every trend and whim that comes your way...in fact...you need to consider every purchase that you make...i would say...this is probably a blessing rather than a curse...

this is where creativity comes to play...how can i take this one piece and make it work in several different ways within my wardrobe? the key is knowing where to splurge and where to save...there is an art to mixing expensive pieces with cheaper finds...but the result can be pretty awesome...

drew barrymore was photographed this week wearing a dress she found while thrifting for $25...pairing it with a fabulous pair of tribs...i would say she is looking pretty chic...

do you like to mix a cheaper find with one of your expensive pieces?

fashion accounting 101...

as i was shopping with a girlfriend the other day...we got on the subject of a "good investment"...she was undecided on buying a dress that she absolutely loved...that was not on sale...so there i was...asking away the questions...to help her get to the answer of...was it a good buy for her to make?

when we got to her end result...she was more impressed with how we got there...then the actual answer...which then got me to thinking...there may be others that don't understand the easy fashion formula that should be used on purchases...

so...yes...i saw a blog post coming on...

i come across some clients who have a very limited budget when it comes to shopping...nothing wrong with that...i also have some that have no budget...that would not be me... =)

that being said...there are certain things i never skimp on...shoes...handbags...and the classic pieces that i know i won't be buying often...but need in the wardrobe...an example would be a black suit...or the perfect lbd (little black dress)...

so what don't i splurge on? very trendy pieces come to mind...something that i know i won't be wearing for years and years...

so based on all that information...here is the not so secret fashion formula...

take for example...you are eyeing a pair of shoes...good quality leather shoes...you can think of many occasions that you will wear them...and they are $250...at first glance...it seems the price is a bit steep...so...if you wear them two days a week for seven months out of the year...for three years...you are going to wear them 168 times...and let's say you get them resoled two times in that three year period for $50...the cost of the shoes is now $300

easy fashion formula: $300 divided by 168 wearings equals $1.79 per wearing...now that's a number that is doable...

keep in mind...the most expensive item in your closet is the one that hangs with the tags still on it...so whether you buy something on sale or full price...buy it knowing that you will be wearing it over and over...otherwise...it is best to pass it by...