Shopping with Sense

9th December 2008

Shopping Tips For When to Skimp and When to Splurge?

Ever since Isaac Mizrahi went from elite fashion designer to the king of sensible style for the masses at Target, other fashion designers including Stella McCartney and Karl Lagerfeld have jumped on the bandwagon to create their own special lines for H&M and other discount chains.

That's great news for savvy shoppers who want high style at affordable prices! By mixing a few of these frugal fashion finds with some luxury basics it's easy to get an upscale look for less! The trick is knowing when to skimp and when to splurge.

Here are 7 shopping tips to help you do it well:

1. Splurge on a Suit 
The basis for any work wardrobe is a suit. Reserve the largest part of your budget for this. The better quality the suit, the better it will make you look and the longer it will last. Choose a suit in a timeless, year round fabric like wool or wool blend. Pay a lot of attention to cut and fit in order to look polished and powerful.

2. Skimp on Accessories

One sure way to waste money is to buy expensive accessories to complete a look of the moment. You know, you buy the $600 safari sundress, the $300 safari necklace, $300 safari belt and $300 scarf to match and next season that style is out. Accessories are very important to finish a look, but be careful. It's fine to pay top dollar for a belt you wear all the time, but don't waste your money on an expensive belt with a short style life.

3. Splurge on the Important Basics

Skimp on cute, colorful tops and sweaters, trendy dresses and casual pants from knock-off giants like Zara, H&M or Target, but splurge on a great classic shirt, a beautiful cashmere sweater and one great white stretch T, even it means paying a higher price. The latter are investment pieces. You know the rule, figure out how much something costs and divide it by the number of times you will wear it to get the cost per wear to determine how much you should pay.

4. Skimp on Casual Shoes

Unless you're buying shoes for work (which need to be the best quality you can find) shoes do not need to be expensive. Shop seasonal sales at stores like Saks, Neiman's and Nordstrom for big savings. Visit designer outlet stores and discount chains for bargains on top name brands. Go often to get the best offerings. Don't be a shoe snob. Let's face it if you are just running around on the weekends, you don't need to wear expensive shoes. Save your money for buying shoes when it really matters.

5. Splurge on Jeans

Many women buy pricey jeans so they can be seen wearing the label of the moment. Wrong! What's more important is to find a pair of jeans that fit you perfectly, regardless of price. Get over the label thing and keep shopping until you find the perfect pair. Remember no one will be looking at your label is they're looking at your fabulous figure in these perfectly fitting jeans.

6. Splurge on a Purse

Like it or not purses has become a statement of who you are and what you stand for. A good quality bag says volumes... Keep your eyes peeled for sales and remember if you are going to spend a few hundred dollars on a quality purse choose one that is classic. Black, taupe, and cream are better choices than trendy colors like mustard or orange. Look for timeless simple details that will stand the test of time. Better one good bag than several cheap ones.

7. Skimp on Lingerie.

Final shopping tip - No need to spend full price on lingerie, unless you are hard to fit. Better to spend less and buy more often to keep your lingerie looking and feeling fresh. Beautiful, good quality Camisoles, bras and panties are everywhere at great prices. It's always nice however to have one decadently luxurious bra and panty tucked away for special days.

Deborah Boland and JoJami Tyler (The Glam Gals) are Image and Style Experts specializing in helping women 40 plus look and feel fabulous. They are the authors of the e-book, The Glam Plan~ 12 Simple Steps to Take You From Frumpy to Fabulous, as well as coaches for their Tweak Your Chic, Image make-over program. For more tips go to http://www.fabulousafter40.com and sign up for their bi-weekly newsletter. You can also contact them at: info@fabulousafter40.com