Love What You Wear
by Muriel M.
When it comes to shopping you either love it or you hate it. If you love it, then you know the rush of finding the best deals and if you don’t then I’m here to change your mind!
As a single working girl in her early 30’s, I fall into the first category, however my budget doesn’t agree with my buying desires. So how do I feed my retail needs? Two words; Fast, Fashion. These are brands that take runway inspired looks and trends and turn them into affordable items faster than you can say Alexander McQueen. Another way of putting this is “runway rip-off”. Brands like Zara has gained their loyal followers, like me, by taking designers trends, pattern, colors and styles and flipping them into low price point items. Halleluiah. Nothing is outdated in the world of Fast Fashion so finding outfits for work is simple and FUN because they offer on trend silhouettes for basic clothing items like black pants, professional tops and dresses.
Flash Sale sites are also a must for any on-the-go, budget friendly shopper who wants to find the best deals on the best designer names without spending hours shuffling through the racks at Off Fifth or your local TJ Maxx. The sales literally come to you every day in the form of an email. Everyday around 11:30 am your inbox becomes flooded with emails from flash sale sites informing you of the newest designer brands that just dropped. Once you begin to see the amount you are saving on your favorite designers you will become addicted to these sites. Subscribe to: Hautelook, Ruelala, Beyond the Rack and Gilt.
Tips:
Staple pieces are a must!
When working in a salon you want to look your best but without wearing your valuable clothing items in an environment where chemicals are all around. A great pair of black pants at the right fit for your body type is a life saver and I suggest if you find a brand and fit you love, stock up on them! The same goes for dark denim. Finding jeans can be a nightmare so once you find the right pair, it is worth the investment to make sure you have a couple of pairs.
J.Crew Factory makes finding quality denim and basic neutral pants affordable and easy. My favorite black pant is their Gigi, it’s a comfortable skinny leg with enough spandex in it to make you believe you’re wearing leggings all day while still looking professional. And while we’re on the topic of J.Crew Factory, they have endless solid colored tops that are perfect for a stylish work environment.
Two other great place to find solid color staples is H&M and ASOS. H&M’s Basic Line has great options for the shopper who loves wearing black. Their dresses and basic t-shirts are the perfect items to stock up on, especially when they are on sale. You can’t beat a $9.99 dress. And ASOS literally has anything you need at any price. Especially menswear!
Don’t rush it!
Don’t just buy items because you think you need to. You will end up hating those items of clothing, wondering why you bought them in the first place and they will hang in your closet forever. Patience is a virtue for me while shopping. I would rather wait to find the perfect piece at the perfect price other than spend my money on clothes I only half ways liked to begin with. Granted work clothes are a necessity but wouldn’t you rather feel good about what you’re wearing? I am a firm believer in “look good, feel good”. Your mood will change drastically if you don’t feel like you’re trapped in an outfit you despise. That’s why you have those staple pieces in your closet. A go to quality black pant and simple black top will do the trick until your new favorite outfit finds its way to you.
