1. Some designers don't mix. Designer labels are fantastic, and when you can afford them, they are well worth the money. Once you have them, do not go on a designer overload. Wearing all your designers at once does not make you fashionable. I have no problem with mixing designers, but do not walk out of your house with a Louis Vuitton bag, Chanel bracelet, a Missoni dress, and Tori Burch shoes. It almost takes away from the designer, not to mention, often times people mix brands that don't mesh well together. If you're going to mix designer pieces, be careful and choose wisely. But mixing designer with non designer labels will give your special pieces that pop that they deserve.
2. One piece a year. The best advice I ever received was on a vacation in Italy. I was talking to this woman, who was friends with the family I was vacationing with, and she said the most important thing to build a wardrobe is to get one key piece a year. Once a year, save up money to spend on an article of clothing that you think can be everlasting. Something that is so beautiful, that no matter what trends are around, you can still pull this piece off. A jacket, purse, or shoes is usually your best bet. But a beautifully made leather skirt, or an outstanding long gown can be fabulous as well. Just remember to ignore the current trend at the time, and go with your gut, make sure it fits in with the personal style you have developed over the years. If you're not sure, then wait until you find something that makes your heart skip a beat.
3. Never over spend on a trend. Trends are fun, currently we are running around in pleather leggings, sequin covered tops, and faux fur vests. It's like we've entered a time warp into the 80's, and we're embracing every second of it. I love trends, they're fun, and often times it's something you never saw yourself wearing. Always remember, to not put too much money into them. Staying in the middle spending range is important. Meaning, don't get something looks too cheap, but don't spend $100 on fake leather leggings, as much as you love the current trend, you must remember it won't last forever. Unless you are a fashion forecaster, it's difficult to know how long a certain style will be around. Don't put too much money into an article of clothing unless you think you can wear it for the next 2 years, at least. If you don't see yourself in a sequin top forever, just buy inexpensive ones that still look like decent quality.
4. Quality is key. A piece of clothing is usually "fairly" priced based on it's quality and the work that went into making it. Always remember to check the labels for where it was made and what it's made of. If you're willing to drop a major dime on a piece, make sure the fabrics are worth the money you're about to spend. For any item really, always pay attention to stitching and the type of fabric it is made out of. Again, I'm referring to more expensive clothes. Don't waltz into Forever 21 and think that spending $22.80 on a dress means you're getting something quality. But when you do want to spend that extra dime keep quality and fabric in mind. Even mess around with the shirt, play with the buttons, un-zip and re-zip the zippers, everything must be in good shape, and above par tact before you throw it in a shopping bag.
5. Just because the size 26 zips doesn't mean it fits. The most aggravating fashion faux pas for me is when women don't dress their size. We start to think that numbers define us and our size, even our beauty, but they don't. A size 10 can be just as beautiful, if not more, than a size 0. We also must ALWAYS keep in mind designers and clothing companies all have slightly different ways they size their clothes. Many designers have vanity sizes, which are there to trick women into thinking they are smaller than they are, so they buy the clothes. You know we've all been guilty of it once in our lives. That extra small fits, so I'm buying it. Well, don't be fooled, and just accept your size. If you're a medium BUY a medium. When clothing looks too small or feels too small, you become uncomfortable. You have to stand at the party sucking in your stomach the whole time, instead of just enjoying it (not to mention, skimping out on eating). It took me a while to really grasp this fact, because I was like every other woman and wanted to believe I was smaller than I was. Once I got over that, and put on a pair of jeans that were my size, I felt so much better. Not one woman is exactly the same, so different things will fit us differently. Ignore the size, buy what fits.
6. Beware the impulse buy. When on a shopping high, I, like many other women, tend to go over board. I get so excited about purchases I've made for the day, I want to keep the feeling going for as long as possible, so I start to buy things impulsively. Then a few weeks later, I regret these buys. A good way to attempt to avoid these moments is simple; when you see something you think is cute, first of all, try it on. A big mistake many women make is assuming an article of clothing that looks good on a mannequin or a hanger will look good on us. Next, try it on, take it off, put it back on the rack and leave. If you're spending the day shopping, wait an hour to see if that article of clothing is still on your mind. You may forget about it, which means, it wasn't meant to be. But, if you can't get it out of your head, and you continuously are comparing other clothes to this specific piece, you know it's a great addition to your wardrobe. Over stuffed closets are worthless if you wouldn't die for every piece hanging in it.
7. Don't over accessorize. I love accessories just as much as the next girl, but never think every single outfit needs a necklace, earrings, bracelet, and a ring. Sometimes it looks cluttered and can take away from an outfit. I personally like to keep it simple. If I'm wearing a plain colored top with a scoop or V neck, I'll rock a chunky necklace. But if I feel I'm colorful or covered in patterns, I skip the necklace. I'll rock out a bracelet or ring so that it doesn't take away from the clothes.
