Be a "Cheapanista"! (Part 1 of "Fashion and Style with help from Melissa Kirsch")

Yes, that's right, you read correctly: a "cheapanista", or "cheap fashionista"!

What's in a name?

Seeing as you're a young adult, you're probably skimpy on money right now, but you still want to look top-of-the-line and in-fashion, right? Look no further. Become an unabashed "Cheapanista" (yes, I invented the word, spread it around).

Recession has hit us harder then ever these past three years, especially in the U.S., hence the protests in Wall Street and (very soon) in Ottawa. Here's how!

#1

Want to wear Pumas, Roots, Banana Republic, Calvin Klein? Then hit overstock designer outlets (or "outlets", as we common folk know them), hit Winners! Always, always, always look for bargain prices, by out of season, join reward programs, subscribe to their e-newsletters to know when their sales are! Always try to go for a deal!

#2

But before you remake your closet to reflect your new life status of "achieving woman", revise your closet and make room for the new things. Plus, this will give you a chance to know which outfits need to be completed, giving you a better idea of what to look for in a store.

Here's a list of items that should be removed from your closet, pronto:

• Anything with a huge emblazoned company logo (they get enough promo as it is, okay?) (but if it's just the tiny Hilfiger crocodile, then ignore this rule),
• Any head-dressing other then the essential ones,
• Anything that's clearly out of style (e.g. bell-bottom pants, shoulder pads, etc.),
• Concert tees or any kind of tee with any form of pictures, sayings or drawings: either toss in the garbage or put in a time capsule box,
• Things that make you feel ugly (I don't care if you donated blood to get enough money to buy it, you don't like it! So why should you keep it?),
• Thrift store "finds" that should never have been found in the first place,
• Clothes that don't fit (either too big, too small, or don't flatter your silhouette)

So, clean out your closet. Who knows, you may find some old, long-forgotten item that really rocks!

#3

Also, don't forget to get some foundation pieces, if you don't already have them, such as:

• Pair of nice black pants,
• Flattering LBD (duh),
• Neutral-toned skirt in a classic cut (depending on your body type),
• Pair of your perfect jeans,
• White button down shirt,
• Solid-coloured cardigan sweater.

In finding these foundation items, please think of what one might call "Cost per wear":

"Cost per wear = cost of garment / # of time you wear the outfit" - Melissa Kirsch, The Girl's Guide to Absolutely Everything.

This means if you invest in a great pair of pants that cost you 200$, and you wear them 2x/week throughout fall and winter, so ~64 times, that's 3.13$/wear of the pants. Cheap, no? And Chique! Be sure to really invest in your foundation items, because they should last you for years to come.

#4

Also, before you hit the pavement to go shopping, thing of these basic principles:

• Know your goals: i.e. know what you need to buy (which is why you cleaned out your closet beforehand, and also what you need to buy for the next phase of your life (e.g.: getting your first suit for job interviews)),
• Practice shopping for outfits: i.e. try to find items that fit with what you already have in your closet, 
• Know your minimum cosmetic requirements: i.e. you don't need 200 different eyeshadows. Know your basic cosmetics to achieve an every day look.

So, that's it for Part 1 of "Fashion and Style" with help from Melissa Kirsch and her wonderful book The Girl's Guide to Absolutely Everything (which I'm sure you can find on Amazon or eBay for a good price ;-P )! I hope you take this advice with a grain of salt and become one of the first official "Cheapanistas" ever! Please, leave comments with your thoughts or questions. =)