Dropping hundreds or thousands of dollars on the season's hottest fashions is normal for many fashionistas, but in the current financial environment, it may not be the most fiscally responsible choice. However, there is a bright side to the bleak financial picture. Now is the perfect time to focus and streamline your wardrobe to create a unique look that is completely your own.
Let's be honest; how many of you have bought clothing in the past simply because it was the hottest trend, not because it was really your style or looked great on you? Probably all of us have done that at one time or another - but now, when we need to watch our pennies, we can't make such poor fashion decisions. Now is the time to carefully assess each item we buy and ask, "Do I need it? Will I wear it (more than once)? Do I LOVE it? Is it ME?"
As you ask yourself these questions, keep your current wardrobe in mind. What are your favorite colors, clothing styles and accessories in your closet? Do your wardrobe pieces add up to a coherent "look" or are they hopelessly eclectic? If you can figure out the way you want to look and the image you want to project, it will be much easier for you to figure out what your wardrobe basics should be and build from there.
Once you've discovered your own style, there will be no need for you to spend thousands on new trendy clothing for each season. As new styles come along, decide if they fit into your overall style and lifestyle, and if not, pass them by. For instance, an outdoorsy girl who prefers to dress casually probably doesn't NEED red patent leather boots, fabulous though they may seem. A better choice for her would be a pair of hiking boots in a fun, flirty color - that way she can show her trendy side in a way that complements her lifestyle and existing wardrobe. Ladies who prefer pants to skirts can simply ignore the upward or downward trend of skirt and dress hemlines and stick to trousers entirely.
The same principle applies to color. If this season's hottest color is yellow, but you hate yellow, look terrible in yellow or have nothing in your existing wardrobe that goes with yellow - skip it! If it's not YOU, there's no point in wasting money on it. If you're dying to try the trendy color, choose an inexpensive, utilitarian item like a handbag or belt - that way you haven't spent a ton of money, and you can always trade with a friend who really does love yellow!
In short, building a wardrobe of clothing that looks good on you, fits your lifestyle and reflects the image you want to project will always make you look a hundred times more fashionable than simply wearing the latest trends. Never buy anything you don't love - your look AND your wallet will thank you for it!
