Style On A Shoestring
Style on a shoe string and getting that fantastic look for less is the future, doing something good for the planet and savvy for yourself.
Many people have the misconception, they are rubbish at styling and happily admit being lost, clueless and overwelmed when it comes to looking good on a budget but the truth is, like anything else, practise makes perfect. The more you style, the more mistakes you'll make for sure (who cares just take it off) the better you'll get.
Style is a state of mind.
The one thing I know is we all have a closet full of mistakes, some items still with the tags on so it is not surprising we are considered the most unstylish nation in the UK. Fashion is a business and of course we all love buying into it but the truth is, for most, we can no longer afford it and the planet is suffering at the expense of disposable fashion.
No one loves to shop more than me but when I lost my fortune I had to think about recreating my style on a shoe string. Style is what makes us unique and stand out from the crowd so taking some time to hand pick the best pieces to complete your perfect wardrobe is the way forward.
Look through your clothes and pick out something you consider is out of date but before you bin it recognise fashion is cyclical and see if you can juzz it up by changing what you would normally wear it with. You can bet your life the piece in question will come around again and the minute you give yours away you'll see someone looking cool wearing something similar.
How great would it be if we could all, just for one day be your own stylist, clear out our overstuffed closets and have a massive SWAP party. Rummaging through other's mistakes is fun, swapping is just as exciting as shopping, alerts you to your own shopping patterns and makes you realise how much money you waste on things that don't work for you.
Accessorise, accessorise, accessorise. Any stylist worth their salt will tell you outfit battles are won and lost on the right accessories. Accessories do make big statements, perhaps why Chanel recommended always taking something off before you leave the house, most people have a tendency to either not accessorize at all or completely over do it.
The best advice to practise your shoestring style, don't invest in things that don't work for you, bright colours or crazy patterns. The problem with 90% of women's wardrobes is they have lots of fluff and fancy but few if any core basics, the vital building blocks for styling.
Start with a quality core wardrobe, great black leggings, leather leggings, a fantastic leather jacket, staple pieces you can wear over and over again.
My best on a budget top tip for style savvy fashionistas.
When it comes to staples, choose one of the best you can afford. Secondhand quality is always a smarter decision than poorer quality brand new. Never get sucked into buying something that doesn't fit you like a glove. Being uncomfortable in your clothes people notice. When purchasing more expensive pieces like outerwear and jackets, check the back and across the shoulders.
Get savvy and do some recycling, carbooting or swapping, the great new way to change consumer thinking as we all embark on a credit crunch crusade, doing our bit to help save the planet.
Photo by: Caleb Lucas Unsplash