A Reason to Bag for Less for Handbag Lovers!

I like anyone else, can appreciate the aura around a designer piece of clothing or handbag. However, I’ve come to accept that there are things I cannot afford. I pacify myself with the idea that novelty wears off before the item wears out, and I get bored of things that have been sitting in my closet, unworn or unused, regardless of their cost.

My sister-in-law, on the other hand, buys the most expensive clothing and accessories she can afford -  or maybe, even can’t afford. With credit cards these days, for better or for worse, anything is possible. At any rate, she is well familiar with the best of the best, the finest of the fine. She won’t even step foot into any gentrified retail establishment, i.e. any mall store with a recognizable name. If something costs hundreds of dollars, or better, thousands of dollars at an exclusive boutique, she knows it’s worth having, sight unseen.

One of the things I love about Evelyn is that my conversations with her inevitably appease my shopping guilt. Musing over her own luxuries one day, Evelyn quipped, “What’s the most expensive fashion item YOU own?” Browsing through my mental inventory, I remembered a handbag I am proud of - a $700 handbag that I had purchased for $150 dollars at Marshall’s, especially for the purpose of impressing people like Evelyn. (We have many like her in our affluent suburban town.) I rarely use this particular handbag. It’s not that the bag doesn’t have its assets; it’s just that the bag doesn’t go with anything I have. Could that be because it’s not one of my colors? LOL! It has become what Oprah Winfrey calls “closet jewelry” - something you love to have, but for whatever reason, isn’t really serviceable; you love to see it when you open your closet. You can say it’s yours, and be pleased it’s in your possession, but not user friendly when it comes to practicality.

Evelyn was quite impressed with the fact I own this designer pocketbook. She shared that she was contemplating buying a scarf that was on sale -  “after Christmas clearance, for $700.” When else could she ever own a $1400 scarf? She paused to wonder if it would possibly be a wasteful purchase, but probably not. 

Recently we planned an evening out after a day of running errands together. After retiring to my room to get dressed for the evening, I made my entrance to the foyer of the house as we prepared to leave.  Suddenly Evelyn became giddy as she began gasping at my jade, studded, shoulder bag. “That’s it, that’s it, isn’t it?!!!” Evelyn could barely contain herself as she laid eyes on my rectangular, green, grainy, vinyl, hobo bag.  “That’s the $700 bag, isn’t it? OMG, OMG, it is so FAB!!!”

I smiled, and we continued on our way. In my head, I was saying “OMG!” That was my Faded Glory, $9 handbag from Walmart. In fact, this carrier had endeared me immediately as I perceived its user friendliness and proceeded to buy five of them- black, brown, jade, raspberry, and zebra. These bags are lightweight, deep, and roomy. The total splurge was a grand $45!

I had an epiphany that day. Sometimes we want things because we think having something expensive will make us complete. We feel entitled to a luxury because someone else has it. We obsess about it and then start believing we are somehow inferior if we don’t acquire that ‘thing”. Then we stop at nothing to get it, making unreasonable financial decisions along the way.

My $9 handbag was just the thing in every way, even in Evelyn’s eyes. It was my color, coordinated well with my clothing and suited all my purposes. It did not look inferior to the fine costly items Evelyn’s seasoned eyes had seen.  Her experienced eyes opened my eyes. I won’t even be spending $150 on a $700 item ever again. 

Stay within your budget, look great, feel great!

Here are the five wonder bags! Faded Glory, $9 each, clearance price!

Here I am with the green bag! $9 spent at Walmart!

I

Dress For Less

By shopping the previous season's clearance, I am ready this fall! 

Ah, the joy of clearance and mix 'n' match!

Black and red top from Chico's clearance! The best way to shop! We have the joy of the hunt and find!
Red necklace from Nordstrom Rack.
Red handbag from Target.
Black pants from Lane Bryant.
Shoes from Famous Footwear.
Black tank top from Walmart.









Now the same outfit with another Chico's clearance top, purchased last spring but perfect for fall, or even holidays!

Looking Good from the Inside Out - the Importance of Beautiful Undergarments

Looking good from the inside out - the importance of beautiful undergarments.

Have you ever wondered how to get that inner confidence and radiance that women who seem to have it all have? 

Women often think about their wardrobes, but how about developing a lingerie wardrobe? This will give you the assurance that you are always looking great, head to toe, from the inside out!

Besides having that smart, well coordinated outfit that everyone sees you in, shop for your loveliest underwear. Want to wear blue today? How about a lacy blue bra and matching panty? It doesn’t need to be part of a set, but it should coordinate attractively.  Put it on. You may think, “What a waste. No one will see that today.”  

But wait -

Doesn’t it make you feel sexy?  Now that you have that glow, before you have even clothed yourself, putting on your pretty outfit will just be frosting on the cake! If a dainty bra strap shows, it will enhance your dress, or if the autumn wind blows your frilly skirt up, you have nothing to hide. Every layer of you is looking fantastic.

A friend of mine was feeling fab one day as she said she was feeling “perky” in her new bra. I’m sure all of us gals know that sensation!  New bras always give great support and temporarily make us all into sweater girls.  But has it ever occurred to you that part of the reason our new bras are so “uplifting” is because we adjust our bra straps properly! Tighten them often!  A week or a month later, you can still experience my friend’s “perkiness”!

Another very frugal friend told a story of her embarrassment when her doctor happened to see her bra, “all dirty and tattered.” Why be walking around with that shame?

Budget for underclothing in all the colors you like to wear, mix and match, and in styles you enjoy. There are great finds even at Walmart, so it need not cost a lot. Feel great. Look great.

Wearing gorgeous under layers will bolster your self image. You will feel and look unbelievable, even beyond your clothing! After all, isn’t that what fashion is really about?

Discovering Your Colors

 Discovering Your Colors

Everyone has colors that either bring out their natural beauty OR DETRACT FROM IT.  Your fashion hues are not necessarily colors that are your favorites, but shades that enhance YOU! Our skin tones have underlying blue tones or yellow tones. If your skin is blue based, you will look great in cool colors. If your complexion is yellow based, then the warm tones will be your asset. 

If you are not sure what your best colors are, drape yourself in different colors of fabric while looking in the mirror. Does your skin come aglow more with one color than another? It certainly does.  You will find you don’t want to wear other colors when you discover which colors look best on you. I look best in cool colors. My daughter looks best in warm colors. She will no longer wear blues after seeing her own radiance when she wears orange, a color which is not one of her favorites, but has become a favorite to wear.

Here I am in my lucky blue!

Your Husband Told Me...

      When I was in my forties I was in a time in my life when I was feeling ugly- old and frumpy. I no long longer had the svelte figure that I once had without even watching my weight. My life had hit an upsetting bump, and that wasn’t helping any! I was also wearing a size 14. Going to the mall had been one of life’s simple pleasures. I was so disappointed to discover most stores not carrying larger than a size 12 and on the other end of the spectrum, stores that didn’t have smaller than a 16 or an 18.

What was I to do? I walked into Walmart, found some inexpensive pull-on pants, and voila`, I found clothing that did the job, and it was cheap. Over the next ten years, I continued in this dowdy style. It cost me my confidence and contributed to my losing my job.

Then one day, my daughter, a 16 year old fashionista said to me, “Mom, you could be so pretty...” and it hit me then, that at 55 I could be approaching my last chance to look good ever! I started buying new stylish clothing and looking and feeling better than ever before in my life! I get compliments on my style from men and women alike even when I’m running errands. A husband even told me he wishes his wife would dress like me and would I take her shopping!

Nothing makes me happier than helping others so I will be sharing my fashion tips and finds with you.