Dressing Better
for Less
The Dollar Stretcher
by Gary Foreman
gary@stretcher.com
No one wants to stand out by wearing clothes that are
decidedly out of style. Even men, myself included, know that there are certain
ties and jackets that I just can't wear anymore!
Style. That elusive characteristic that helps define who
you are. Some people have it in great abundance. Some people spend their lives
searching for it. Whole magazines are dedicated to the subject. In fact, whole
industries are dedicated to making money from style. We're even encouraged to
`dress for success'! Why is this important to you? In part because we're
all judged according to the current style standards. No one wants to stand out
by wearing clothes that are decidedly out of style. Even men, myself included,
know that there are certain ties and jackets that I just can't wear anymore!
What's the point? Well, if we
don't want to be out of style and can't afford to buy a whole new wardrobe
each season, we'll have to find a way to fight the style battles without
spending a bundle. There are a number of things that you can do to keep your
closet stocked with stylish, quality clothes. Let's see how it's done.
First, buy classic styles. Whether you're talking about lapel widths or skirt
lengths, there are some styles that are always acceptable. Avoid extremes.
This holds true for men, women and even children. There will always be some
styles that you can buy and everyone will know that you're wearing a new
outfit. Momentarily you feel great. Unfortunately, in a year they'll also know
that it's an old outfit. Unless clothing is a very important part of who the
`real you' is, why fall into the trap?
There are a number of components of classic style. You'll want to watch for
them. For slacks usually straight legs are best. Avoid flares or tapers.
Cuffs go in and out of style. It's best to avoid them. Pant legs for both men
and women should go to the heel. Shirts and blouses should be of a
conservative, classic cut. Overly full sleeves or unusual cuffs may be `in'
today, but not tomorrow. Again, look for moderate collars. Extreme collars are
one of the first things that a fashion designer will change.
Does all this mean that you have to be a style dropout? Of course not!
There's no reason not to have fun with fashion. Just do it with accessories
rather than with your basic wardrobe. Ladies can use belts, scarves and their
imagination to buy accessories that are `hot' today. Enjoy them now knowing
that you'll be replacing them next season. Men can use the this season's ties
to stay current. It's much less costly, and more fun, to buy new accessories
frequently rather than replacing suits, dresses, slacks and shirts.
Another key to dressing well for less is to learn to find, identify and buy
good quality clothes. Buying good quality in clothes definitely pays off.
You use your clothes every day. Not only will poor quality clothes wear out
faster, they won't fit as well while you do wear them. Beware: a high price
does not mean high quality. Many high priced, name recognizable clothes are
not well made. You can learn to identify good quality clothes. There are
three elements that will tell you whether the garment you're considering is of
good quality. First, is the piece suited for it's use? Is it's design
appropriate for how you'll use it? If the item is going to be worn frequently
for work you won't want to dry clean it. Party clothes should `breathe' to
allow for dancing in comfort. You get the idea. Fabric selection and
fine sewing are the other two elements of quality garments. Take the time to
learn a little bit about fabrics. Some combinations are prone to wrinkle.
Others lose their shape after a few washings. If you don't know about fabrics,
ask your friends or a knowledgeable salesperson. Many savvy shoppers say
that they can tell a good fabric by just feeling it even with their eyes
closed. You don't need to know how to sew to identify good workmanship.
Are the stitches even? Are any loose or broken? Look for straight seams.
Zippers and lapels shouldn't pucker. Any sign of sloppiness is a clue that the
garment was not well made.
A final key to a frugal wardrobe is selecting individual items with
flexibility in mind. Begin with color. Use that color to guide your purchases.
If you're like me you love blues. If you have one central color for your
wardrobe it's much easier to add a piece that can be used with a number of
already owned items. If you open your closet and it looks like Picasso's
palette you're going to end up with more mismatches that just `don't go with
anything'. That doesn't mean you only wear one color. It means that `contrast'
pieces can be used with a number of existing items. Also plan for
flexibility in usage. When you plan to buy a blouse or shirt stop and ask if
it will work well with a number of suits and slacks. If it doesn't go with
things that are already in your closet, you're committing to making another
purchase to go with the first.
Flexibility is a key to keeping a wardrobe `fresh'. A new jacket added to
already owned slacks and blouse/shirt is still a `new outfit'. People that see
you regularly will notice the `new' jacket, not the `old' slacks. Also, when
it's time to dispose of an old item you haven't destroyed an entire outfit.
The other items are still useable with other matches. Yes, it's
possible to dress in stylish quality for less. It takes a little education and
effort. But isn't that better than hearing them whisper behind your back,
"you know...that's last year's style she's wearing"?
_____________
Gary is the editor of The Dollar Stretcher www.stretcher.com
website. Dedicated
to "Living Better...for Less", you'll find the web's largest
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