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Do you feel you have to
reinvent your wardrobe each season? Fashion is fickle, but you
don’t have to spend a fortune to be in style. Don’t be a fashion
victim! Practice "Investment Dressing" by building a wardrobe of
classic, traditional clothes of high quality. . . then mix in a
few trendy items each season to stay in style. Classic chic is
enduring and always fashionable. As Kenneth Jay Lane stated,
"Good style is always in style."
To make the most of your fashion
investment, be sure to shop your local resale, consignment and thrift stores.
Resale finds will give you the best CPW—Cost Per Wearing—for your dollar.
With so many new styles and trends
seducing us everywhere we look, it can be tempting to smoke your credit cards by
charging a whole new wardrobe. Here are a few money saving alternatives:
►
Don’t spend big money on trendy items. Updating your wardrobe
with accessories is the easiest and least expensive way to
try a new trend.
► Shop with the trends you favor in mind. You do not have
to buy into each and every new trend.
► Build a basic wardrobe of great fitting pieces to take
you from year to year. Invest in a good coat, dress, skirt, jacket and
slacks that will stand the test of time with both style and durability.
► Be fashion comfortable by purchasing quality pieces in
a fit that flatters. The clothes you get the most wear from are the ones
that make you feel good.
► Layering makes it easy to wear wardrobe pieces in a new
and different way.
► Fashion is self-expression. Find your own "look" and build on it instead of spreading your fashion
dollars in too many directions.
Fashion always has a cynical nature
with past trends inspiring new collections. The same trends are resurrected time
and again. This fall is no exception with menswear inspiration, a return to
elegance and retro looks going strong. Fall’s fresh finds span the fashion gamut,
but the hottest of the trends can be described in three words: Metallic, Patent
and Animal.
Here are some of the looks you’ll be
seeing this fall and winter:
Metallic -
abounds in accessories and clothing.
Patent - at
least one pair of patent boots or shoes will be a must to update your look.
You’ll also find patent in raincoats, purses, belts and as trim on apparel.
Animal prints - are everywhere! Clothing, shoes, handbags and jewelry are all being done in
animal prints, including embossed croc and reptile patterns.
High Gloss -
shine and pearlized finishes will be the shining star of any outfit.
Romantic -
lace, ruffles and flounces.
Feminine -
dresses are back! The wrap dress is also popular this season.
Menswear inspired - the "borrowed from the boys" look returns in jackets, vests
and slacks in tweeds and herringbone.
Boots -
shooties which are higher than a shoe and lower than a boot are all the rage.
Shoes - look
for Mary Jane’s, peep toes, round toes and higher heels.
Legwear
-
tights and opaque hose will make a real statement, especially when worn with
shooties and ankle boots.
Purses -
this is a good year to bring out that clutch or add a new one to your closet.
Jackets - a
cropped, trapeze or swing back silhouette will be a nice addition to perk up an
outfit.
Elegance -
it’s all about elegance this year! There will be accessories like we haven’t
seen in years, such as; long leather gloves, charm bracelets and hats... all in
very ladylike styles.
Preppy - an
American classic look will be seen in varsity stripes and argyle.
Colors of Fall
The biggest surprise for fall is color—bold, bright, fearless colors in every
range. This year’s "It" colors are: Brown (from chocolate to espresso) and
Gray (from palest dove to densest charcoal). They are often called the new black.
Jewel tones are seen in shades of ruby, amethyst, sapphire and emerald. All the
berry tones are also in vogue.
Head for your local resale, consignment
and thrift shops to begin building your basic investment wardrobe. There is no
better place to buy quality apparel while getting the most value for your
dollar! Don’t count out resale shops when looking for the new trendy items. Most
NARTS member stores search the marketplace to provide their customers with the
most current accessories at the very best prices. You may also find some vintage
treasures like long leather gloves and charm bracelets in your local thrift
store.
You don’t have to spend a fortune to get
"the look"...
you just have to know where to shop!
Remember...
always look for the NARTS decal when shopping resale.
It is Your Assurance of
Professionalism.
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