2011-11-22
Another
We all
want to
look like
fashionistas
over the
holidays.
But in
today's
tough
economy,
sometimes
we have to
achieve
that
fashion
savvy on a
frugalista
budget.
The good
news is
that with
some
intelligent
pre-planning,
you can
spend less
and still
make a big
impact,
according
to New
York City
image
consultant
Vicky
Oliver,
author of
"The
Millionaire's
Handbook:
How to
Look and
Act Like a
Millionaire
Even If
You're
Not."
"Take a
good, hard
look at
your
finances
and decide
on a
clothing
budget in
advance,"
she says.
"Then
resolve to
stick to
it." Even
if it is
Black
Friday!
Here are
Oliver's
five tips
to survive
the
holidays
in style
and on a
budget:
—
Divide and
conquer.
In the
crush of
office
parties
and
holiday
merrymaking,
it's easy
to forget
that you
don't need
a new
outfit for
each and
every
occasion.
Quality
trumps
quantity.
It's often
smarter to
buy one
great
suit, then
split it
up to use
as
separates
for
various
shindigs.
Wear the
jacket to
the boss's
Christmas
party; the
skirt to
the client
holiday
outing and
the whole
regalia to
the
theater
group's
after-party.
Spend more
money on
fewer
quality
items and
get more
mileage
from each.
You'll
receive
many more
compliments,
and your
bank
account
will
breathe a
sigh of
relief.
—
Indulge in
some free
retail
therapy. 'Tis
the season
of the
catalog.
But even
if you
can't find
anything
you love
in those
glossy
pages,
never just
unceremoniously
toss
premiere
catalogs
in the
trash.
Today's
upscale
catalogs
are like
style
Sherpas
that can
help you
put
together a
fabulous
look,
which you
can
simulate
elsewhere
for less.
And unlike
personal
shoppers,
catalogs
are very
forgiving
when you
browse for
hours —
but buy
absolutely
nothing.
— Wear
black.
Coco
Chanel
once said,
"Women
think
about all
colors
except the
absence of
color."
Women
should
listen to
Chanel's
advice and
start
considering
black a
fashion
color its
own right.
Black
hides ten
pounds on
contact.
This is
especially
appreciated
after a
few
eggnogs.
It also
coordinates
with every
item in
your
closet and
can take
you from
the office
to a
festive
dinner.
Black also
hides
small
stains
easily, so
it doesn't
need to go
to the
drycleaners
as often.
Imagine:
You'll
look
smashing
and
sophisticated
— and you
won't be
taken to
the
cleaners.
—
Follow a
compliment.
A
compliment
is a
phrase,
offered
freely,
that is
meant to
convey how
spectacular
you look.
On
principle,
be sure to
ignore all
fawning
commentary
from sales
people and
others
trying to
sell you
something.
Happily,
most
sartorial
praise is
sincere.
If you
wear a
pink scarf
to an
event and
more than
three
people
approach
to tell
you how
amazing
you look,
trust that
you've
stumbled
on a
flattering
shade for
your skin
tone. And
then be
sure to
bring that
scarf with
you every
time you
shop. This
way,
you'll
only spend
money on
items that
truly make
you shine.
— Don't
be afraid
to name
your
price. You
may not be
able to
time the
sales, but
there's
nothing
preventing
you from
chatting
up a
salesperson
and
telling
her what
you think
would be a
reasonable
price for
a
particular
item.
Saying,
"Would you
be kind
enough to
let me
know when
that top
goes on
sale?"
will
elicit her
empathy
and
possibly
even a
phone call
within the
very near
future.
She might
let you in
on an
excellent
pre-sale
that's
around the
corner or
a "friends
and
family"
discount
day.
Befriending
a sales
person is
like
having a
best
friend or
aunt who
works in
the store
— the
savings
and
fabulous
fashion
perks will
just keep
adding up.
Sharon
Mosley is
a former
fashion
editor of
the
Arkansas
Gazette in
Little
Rock and
executive
director
of the
Fashion
Editors
and
Reporters
Association.
To find
out more
about
Sharon
Mosley and
read
features
by other
Creators
Syndicate
writers
and
cartoonists,
visit the
Creators
Syndicate
website at
www.creators.com.
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2011
CREATORS.COM
