SImple Style

I think you can be fashionable and simple at the same time. But hopefully when you get to a certain age you prefer quality over quantity and you stop buying cheap junk. Fashion should be an expression of your personality and should make you look and feel good. Fashion should also match the occasion.

Choosing wisely and cautiously can be good for the wallet, good for the environment, and socially responsible too.

And please please stay away from silly campaigns where you buy something and it pays for a kid to go to school in Africa. Stop trying to alleviate your shopping guilt. Buy something because you love it or need it. And donate cash to charities that do good work. More on this in another post.

I love classics revisited. In fact my husband wears my father's old 60's Gloverall duffel coat. It is a bit worn but talk about standing the test of time.

I have no intention to convince you to appreciate a certain style. I have no intention to convince you to even care about style. But I have a few tips if you care to hear them.

1) When possible choose quality- I bought a pair of Fendi sunglasses at an outlet store in Italy 5 years ago. I throw them in my bag over and over and they have never scratched. I buy a pair of $30 fashion glasses and they barely last the week.

2) Repair what you love. I regularly get jeans and favorite shoes fixed. It is much cheaper than buying new and I cherish them for way longer.

3) Maintain what you own. Polish shoes, get soles and heals replaced early. Or even better get soles put on leather shoes before they wear (go to a cobbler you trust). Hang dry as much as possible. Stay away from bleach. Use eco-friendly dry cleaners.

4) Go through your closet regularly. Get rid of what doesn't fit (donate, but be careful about where). Get rid of clothes that are not flattering or you never wear. Turn worn, stained items into rags. Repair what is damaged.

5) Choose clothes that suit your needs and lifestyle. If you are running around all the time then buy flats. If you only need suits for occasional business meetings then buy one or two nice suits that you can adapt to a number of situations.

6) Store properly. Sweaters should be folded not hung. Use good wooden hangers. And store winter woolens with cedar and/ or lavender but make sure they are clean first!

7) Don't be a fashion victim. I regret mentioning outlet malls because the image of people swarming them horrifies me. Don't buy a purse because it has a brand on it. Buy it because it is pretty and functional.

8) Assess before you buy. Do you need it? Do you have it already? Will it fit with your wardrobe? Does it fit? Does it suit you?

9) Try to buy on sale. With a little foresight and planning you can avoid buying most things, especially clothes, at full price.

10) If you have the stomach for it try to buy thrift. I am not so good at this. But there are many fashionable people that are.

11) Think before you buy. Where else might you rather be spending this money? A vacation, a fabulous meal out, savings?

12) Don't make shopping a family outing. Get your shopping done and then got on with the things in life that truly make you happy.

Whether you care about fashion or not, I have a feeling these tips will help you go from impulse shopper, to savvy simplist.