“I did not have three thousand pairs of shoes. I had one thousand and sixty.”--Imelda Marcos

As much as I love, love, love shoes and can always find a pair that I can’t live without, these are not the days for having thousands of shoes. These are the days of simplifying and enjoying small pleasures. I have found a few items for under $100 that will definitely make you feel luxurious and pampered. Use these to get you through the next few months while the economy makes a comeback!

First, a little sparkle. Try this bracelet from J. Crew, to be worn with anything from jeans to silk. Put on this bauble and you will be given instant glamour! And for $60, this bracelet will be a timeless piece you can wear for years to come.

Next, a little shine. Also from the J. Crew website, although you can find Essie nail polish everywhere, this red color will give a pop to your nails and a finish to your look. Not the most accurate of nail painter? Take your polish to a nearby salon and they will paint them for you. The polish is $8.

Finally, a little luxury. Until you have splurged on high quality lingerie, you probably don’t think it’s worth the money. Use these days of non-spending to buy yourself a nice piece of lingerie. The organic bamboo cotton bra lined camisole from TurningLife.com ($46) might just become a staple in your lingerie drawer. Bamboo is an incredibly soft, breathable fabric. You will want to wear these under everything. 

Tough times call for well-thought out purchases. Use these ideas as inspiration to find your little piece of sparkle, luxury, or shine. Happy shopping!!

Get Happy!

We are certainly in some tough times these days. These are the days when we have to dig down deep and find special things to make us happy.  No one else is going to do that for you, by the way!  One thing that makes me happy is shopping. Crazy to say, right? Who has money these days for shopping?? Well, I certainly don't, but I do have the will power to walk through a store and not buy a thing.

Years ago, I had no will power, but I also had access to more savings. Now shopping is more like dieting. I peruse the menu, have a spoonful to try one or two things, and then go home and make dinner out of my refrigerator.  The same concept can be mimicked when shopping.  Savor the enjoyment of walking through the store or boutique, and try on as many items as you like. Even if you cannot live without something, put it back on the rack and walk away. Nine times out of ten, you will forget about it, or decide that you definitely do not need it, and you will successfully leave the premises with no bag in tow.

Don't worry, times WILL get better. Our economy is designed to remedy itself, and this will eventually happen. We will all be able to once again afford those little gifts we give ourselves.  A new cocktail dress (because you certainly can't wear the same one AGAIN), that great pair of shoes you've been eyeing for weeks, or the fantastic piece of jewelry that you so deserve but just can't justify buying for a while.

For now, revel in the fact that you can still shop and that you have the POWER to abstain from purchasing!! Use this time to try on clothes to gain a better understanding and to refine your style and what works for you.  When the market does finally rebound, you will be equipped with a more defined style that allows you to know exactly what works so you can save time and money.

There is a breed of fashion models who weigh no more than an abridged dictionary.--- Dave Barry

Dave has a good point. I think a lot of people denounce anything they may consider fashionable because they are not thin enough, or don’t have whatever characteristics they consider modelesque, because obviously only models can wear designer clothes.  But we are not talking designer clothes here, we are talking clothes that fit you. They don’t have to have designer labels or price tags, although there is nothing wrong with having a few of these pieces when you find something that works.

My rule of thumb is to only splurge on high quality items that are classic, timeless, key pieces in your wardrobe.  These are items that will last you many years and that you can mix and match with plenty of clothes in your existing wardrobe.  Think of black pants, white blouses, and any type of neutral (navy, browns, greys, etc.)  

There will be the rare occasion when you discover a fabulous item that doesn’t necessarily fall into one of these categories. As you become more comfortable in your style, you will begin to veer out of your norm and take a few risks. This is when fashion starts to get really fun!  But you still need to be sure that the fabulous piece you find is one that you will wear at least 5 times a year. Or make up your own number, but imagine where you will wear the item. If you can’t think of an appropriate circumstance, I would advise against the purchase.  On the other hand, if it is not necessarily the most practical of clothing, but you feel FANTASTIC when you have it on, take it home!