YYYYYAAASSSSS!!!!! Summer
is here, but Fall/Winter 2014 is on the way! That’s right, I said it. I am not
trying to being a kill joy, but I do want you to know that unless you are
replacing Spring/Summer pieces worn out this year for next year, you SHOULD NOT
be purchasing spring/summer clothing at this time. I will caveat that and say
that all of my Cali Chicas and West Coast Beauties get the luxury of rocking
the summer gear long after the rest of us have added that staple cardigan or
jacket to our daily ensemble. I don’t want to leave anyone out, so if you live
in a country that experiences an excess of 4 months of summer weather, STOCK UP
ON SAVINGS FROM SUMMER SALES in the states!!!! The savings definitely outweighs
the postage (wink).
We are going to cover a
couple of topics this month: (1) Taking advantage of end-of-season sales and
(2) getting a cutting edge on trends that others aren’t prepared grab!
Let’s start with taking
advantage of end-of-season sales. I used to be one of those girls that would
get dressed to the nines to spend my last dime in the name of that 4 letter
word – S.A.L.E. I also used to think that I wasn’t shopping unless I had more
bags than I could carry. And I certainly wasn’t the shopper that would place
all of my smaller bags into the larger one, because hey…EVERYBODY had to see
that I had been to Tiffany’s and picked up a new piece. BLAH, BLAH, BLAH…Thank
God for maturation!
Shopping is so not about
the brand names, shopping malls and you guessed it…THE FLASHING SALE SIGNS!
Shopping is all about you! If you weren’t at the center of every designer’s and
retailers thoughts, they would not spend countless resources trying to woo you.
Your needs and desires should guide your selections.
Are you someone who thinks that
you are too busy to bother with coupons? Stop cheating yourself! I am not a
proponent of store credit cards, but if you have them, take advantage of the
rewards that come with them. The amount of interest that you are paying to have
the card should be enough of an incentive to get back what you can, especially
if the store is one you frequent while on the shopping trail. I am challenging you
to find coupons for the stores you frequent and make a list of sales that will
be going on!
Let’s move on to
replenishing those items that you are getting the most wear out of this summer.
Tanks and camis are items that should be replaced each year, along with your
undergarments…NO EXCEPTIONS. Sidebar: I know you have read many articles that
encourage women to look just as sexy under their clothing as they do in their
clothing. It makes a difference. If you think you have a sexy walk in heels and
tight jeans, you should check yourself out in a matching bra and panty coordinate
or just a sexy bra if you’re truly daring (a personal fav) – wink. Okay, back
to the subject at hand! You have your coupons, dates and time of upcoming sales
so now we need to figure out what to purchase. Here goes:
1. Tanks & Camis (which we’ve already established)
2. Sandals
3. Maxi Skirts/Dresses
4. Swimsuits and Cover-ups
This isn’t an all-inclusive
list, but it’s a start. These are items that are essential to summertime fun,
comfort and timeless style. If there are others that you want to share, please
add a comment to this blog post. We need to go ahead and have this conversation
now, so that can focus on shopping later!
Maxi’s are not going
anywhere anytime soon, so make sure the colors and patterns you select will
take you into the next summer/spring season. If they look washed out, like most
that containing cotton, or the pattern could be considered dated, go ahead and
list it on #threadflip or #poshmarkapp. You most likely will not get what you
paid for it, but you will definitely add a few dollars to the shopping budget.
If you aren’t the type of
lady that likes to refresh her closet on an annual basis (meaning you don’t
like to shop #howdareyou), you definitely have to be careful when it comes to
patterns. Classic patterns include stripes, polka dots, some floral and plaids,
and definitely solids. Remember, if you are buying something…You MUST giveaway,
sell or THROW AWAY something! We are not packrats! We are women that always
know what we have at our fingertips for every occasion.
Go ahead and buy a few new
maxis if you can 50% or more. Keep in mind what we talked about in February and
March, if you don’t love it, don’t buy it! Your options are unlimited thanks to
online retailers.
This is also a great time
to purchase swimsuits and sandals for next year. I personally love buying
swimsuits and cover-ups from #ASOS, #Target, and #VinceCamuto. They have great
selections and fantastic sales prices at the end of the season. There is no
reason, no matter your size, not to have nice swimwear. If you don’t feel
comfortable in a two piece, buy a swim shorts set! Sexy cover-ups are a must,
but they can be very pricey. A cover-up is one item that you may feel like you
don’t need, until you NEED IT! I purchased one from #ASOS a few years ago that
is a blue fishnet halter that provides a sexy solution for all of my food
babies and water weight (#ihatecrunches). Don’t let your self-consciousness
about your size keep you from having the time of your life during the summer.
Find pieces that make you feel comfortable and enjoy yourself!
Trendy sandals have wide
price ranges, so you should be able find a few pairs at great prices to
kick-off the 2015 season. I caution you and ask that you purchase no more than
2 pairs! I say this because, you are going to want to buy something new next year,
and the shopping bug bites at the beginning of each season! If you purchase two pairs now, you will obtain
the same adrenaline rush when you purchase that one pair of strappy pumps or
sandals to refresh you for the season. DON’T GIVE ME THE SIDE EYE! YES, that is
only three pairs of shoes and I am aware of that! If you follow this blog, you
probably have well over 200 pairs of shoes, just as I do. The last think we
need to do is indulge in unnecessary buying…that’s why you’re here with me in “Closet
Camp”…LOL! If you are working with less pairs that the typically shopaholic, its
okay…the buildup is REAL and you are well on your way. The one thing I can
promise you is that, your closet will contain all of the items necessary to
attend any event on the planet…and it will be ORGANIZED!
Now!...Go through your
shoedrobe and pick out a few pairs of sandals and pumps that need to be donated
to #goodwill, #salvationarmy, #clothesclosets. One or two of those pairs should
include those that are over 5 years old that you’ve been hanging onto, but
never have taken to a shoe repair shop. The closet must stay fresh, and as long
as you’re here with me, it will stay that way.
This is not an art! It is all about staying organized and replenishing what is worn out and dated on a somewhat regular basis. You should never have sandal with insoles stained with dirt…come ‘on! I understand the “I don’t like to shop”, or “shopping isn’t important,” but what I do not understand is taking a shower every day and selecting clothing that do nothing for your body or your spirit. What’s the point of bathing if you want to look dirty, washed up, and washed out???? My point exactly, there is no point! Your femininity should not suffer at the expense of a poor ensemble. Select what you wear like you do the food at the supermarket. Make sure it’s fresh and clean.
Share your shopping experiences with us by adding a comment to any of our blog posts! We would also like to hear about your experiences and whether any of our tips helped.
Until next time…keep those
Closets Classy and Orderly (MUAH)!
A Classy Closet Boutique
Website: http://www.aclassycloset.com
Email: aclassycloset@gmail.com
Blog: http://aclassycloset.blogspot.com
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/aclassycloset
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @aclassycloset
Great and timely blog! While i definitely agree with you on not buying anything simply because there's a great sale, a nice pair of white shorts or slacks are nice to have if you find a great deal.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for contributing to this month's blog! You are on point about scoring classic white pieces during this time of year. White shorts, pants, and jackets are timeless essential and definitely should earn a spot in your closet.
Delete