I decided to make a post on 5 quotes from some of the most influential fashion designers in history to illustrate just how skewed this behavior is. While wise people are learning how to invest their money and grow their wealth, others are spending it in a frivolous way. This may be to compensate for some sort of insecurity, or maybe even just simple boredom.
You are Doing it Wrong
Granted, fashion decisions are everyone’s personal choice. If one wishes to live paycheque to paycheque simply to keep their brand name items fresh they are more than welcome to do so. But appearing fashionable has little to do with brand names. Even some of the brightest minds in the industry hold beliefs that everyday fashion is more about elegance and timeless simplicity.
This is one of my favorite quotes that many fashion victims (those drowning in brand names) might lash out against. It is 100% true, being fashionable is going deeper than just brand names:
“Never use the word “cheap”. Today everybody can look chic in inexpensive clothes (the rich buy them too). There is good clothing design on every level today. You can be the chicest thing in the world in a t-shirt and jeans – its up to you.”
– Karl Lagerfeld
Timeless Classics
The right combo of simple timeless items can appear as bold as anything else. There is an endless amount of information online that covers great casual outfits. Find a couple that are good for your complexion and hair color. Then challenge yourself. Head to your local thrift store or consignment boutique and put the look together for under $50.
It’ll look like you just threw it together and still came in outstanding. That’s when you really hit the nail on the head.
“Fashion is mysterious, as a rule. Why are blue jeans a classic? You just hit on something that happens to be timeless and right.”
– Diane von Furstenberg
Make Careful Choices
Don’t be trigger happy with your fashion choices. Choose your items carefully and buy items that will last. For every item you bring into your wardrobe, get rid of another one.
“Don’t buy much but make sure that what you buy is good.”
– Christian Dior
Consignment stores can be useful for this. But don’t make it a regular occurrence as you are still likely losing money, and you do not have to lose money to look great.
Price is Irrelevant
Spending $300 on a top isn’t going to make you look any better than spending $30 on a top.
It will just make you poorer.
Try and put together your outfits as inexpensively as possible. There is no need to spend $1000 on a handbag unless you simply want to convey to others that you spent $1000 on a handbag, but make sure you leave the tag on it so we know for sure.
“Money doesn’t buy elegance. You can take an inexpensive sheath, add a pretty scarf, gray shoes, and a wonderful bag, and it will always be elegant.”
– Carolina Herrera
If you can find a quality item for less money, you’ll look like a million bucks if you wear it with confidence.
Don’t go Overboard
Keep it simple! You have better things to do than obsess over what you are wearing. Have a few simple outfits around and then get on with your life. Buying oodles of brand name items and being convinced that this is the basis of “looking good” is more of a signal of insecurity.
You will look better being confident in your $50 outfit than someone else who has to spend $1500 on an outfit to try make themselves feel confident. That is a fact!
“Design and style should work toward making you look good and feel good without a lot of effort so you can get on with the things that matter.”
– Donna Karan
If you find yourself breaking the bank to “look good”, you are likely a fashion victim. Do yourself a favor and find an outfit that is going to work for you, and put it together for less than $100.
That is an achievable goal that will show you that you don’t need to spend a million bucks to look like a million bucks. You’ll feel great about your inexpensive outfit because you didn’t blow your whole paycheque on it.
Spending a bunch of money on an outfit isn’t going to make you feel great. It will for about 10 minutes. Then after that you’ll just go back to feeling anxiety about your credit card balance again.
Always remember that looking great has a lot to do with feeling great.
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