Pysche Out Category
“BUILDING A MILLION DOLLAR WARDROBE, YOUR FASHION FUND”- As orginally posted on Bella Life online magazine
This month’s post for Bella Life gives you million dollar wardrobe advice. In the past I would have never shared my strategies on how to build up one of the truest loves of my life, but it actually bothers me how most people shop. Everyone should live for what they put on themselves. See my second article below on how to put together what I like to call a “fashion fund , and build garments that reinvest in themselves. Literally. Click on the link below the article to see it’s original posting.I’d like to invite you on a discussion or instruction of how special designer items can change your wardrobe. It’s about the one piece that you must have for the season. The key to having a great wardrobe is about inspiring people with the expression of who you are, and what you love. Almost like the most flattering version of yourself that can be. As you start to play around and learn what really works for you, and discover new ways to express yourself, you can actually transform yourself and your life into an amazing journey of expressing the best of what you are.
Is there ever a piece that you die for when you flip through the magazines or style sites that you simply overlook and consider unattainable? Most people assume that the items they lust after are too expensive, wouldn’t look good on them, or some simply don’t care about fashion. They just want to look clean and presentable which is fine. But some still think, I can’t afford a Louboutin heel, or I’d rather go to Forever 21 and purchase many items when I need it.
Add that Louboutin heel to what I like to call, your fashion fund. I am an expert when it comes to building a wardrobe that re-invests in itself. What I’m actually showing you to do is to save up and get your dream it piece that season. Buy designer items, and watch your wardrobe, self, and life transform piece by piece. You should love every single thing in your wardrobe. It may sound crazy, but the kind of life that expresses the best style is worth every penny. So are you ready for it? Here are the basic tips for building a great wardrobe in a financially strategic manner using your fashion fund.
1) Revel in it- Research on all media and begin to look-shop around based on the amount of money you can put together. A good starting base is $300. I know some people think that’s a lot, but stay with me. The key here is not to limit yourself by any means, just to look around. Even if the price of the item seems too high, you are going to ignore that, and continue to shop around for the piece that you have to have. Shoes and bags are great here. Once you have put together a bunch of items that you love, start to note the prices. For example, a shoe that may be $700 that you would normally consider unattainable, will not be. If the shoe is in the magazines, or you are seeing it hot off the runway in style.com, chances are that shoe may be arriving in the stores 4-5 months later, which means you can put a little money aside here and there until the time is right. It may even go on sale at the end of the season for half the price! If you purchase 2-3 items like this a year to start, you are building a heavily valuable closet in the long run over time since each piece will hold value because it is a designer piece. We’ll get back to how later.
2) Seasons Past= fast – If your fashion fund is starting at $200-$300, or you want your item now and can’t wait, check out designer items from season’s past on eBay, bluefly, yoox.com, and other internet sources as well as retail shops like Century 21. If your fashion fund is much lower than $300 over the course of 5 months, you can still find amazing items in these shops that can cultivate a heavily invested wardrobe.
3) Cleanse and re-invest- if you have not worn an item in 6 months that is not for a special occasion like a gown, you have fallen out of love with your piece. Whether it is or isn’t designer, sell it. Here is where the importance of purchasing a designer label will come in, they maintain value. Chances are your original Louboutin heels can fetch a resale value of at least $150 when sold. Then take that money and re-invest in your fashion fund, and wardrobe. For resale, Beacon’s closet in New York, eBay, craigslist and consignment shops are great. You can even sell your filler items (non designer) at thrift shops that pay some money to purchase your used clothes. You may only make $30, but that $30 can go a long way to add to your fashion fund.
Pretty soon, not only will you be in absolutely to die for in love with your wardrobe, style, and radiating the best version of yourself, but you will have a wardrobe growing effortlessly and consistently reinvesting in itself. You are also serving the greater good and giving back to the designers and retail that are in particular need of support right now. Who said fashion, style, and economics can’t go hand in hand? With this million-dollar advice I’ve just given you, they absolutely can.
http://yourbellalife.com/featured/build-a-million-dollar-wardrobe/
LEATHER FRINGE SKIRT ON NBC NEW YORK SITE..
Click on the image above to see Haleh Nematzadeh fringe bound leather skirt featured on NBC.com . Purchase one at A Turen in New York City!
SAMPLE SALE LEAK..YOU DIDN’T HEAR IT FROM ME
I shouldn’t be telling you about this, but from a course in miracles perspective, if I give it away it proves I had it in the first place. Seriously speaking this store is my shopping addiction. Save up and spend money on a couple of great designer pieces a year, instead of a bunch of cheap stuff, and you cultivate a wardrobe that is timeless. Sales like these are an opportunity to get these kind of pieces at a fraction of the cost.
Legendary Vintage Sale….
My friend Damon who has a great sense of style, is doing a not to be missed designer vintage sale. Last time I was there I got a Dolce and Gabbana corset for $40. Hello? This sale is perfect for times where you know you can’t spend money, but are in desperate need of a quick wardrobe pick me up. Sunday only ladies.
SUCCESSFUL FIND ALERT
I am thrilled to report that after years of disappointment in lack of initial purchase, I have finally come across these iconic Chloe boots from A/W 2007. I will not share what was done to get them except it involved fast cash, the blizzard of 09′ in New York City, and they are two sizes too big. Nothing a few pads can’t handle.
What makes these iconic? There is style and then there is Fashion. Fashion comes and goes with trends, and mirrors the culure that we are in now. Style is a constant form of personal expression that never goes out of fashion. The Chloe Paddington bag: Fashion. The Chloe Doc Martin Boot: Style. The chick that has once worn a doc martin, will always love a doc martin. She is always a little angry, ballsy, red blooded, rebellious and totally rock and roll. For this girl, while this was an accessory of seasons past, it belongs in her closet now and forever a style gem. It has just enough height to wear out at night, just enough edge not to look like a clunky Goth Platform.
This item reminds me once again what my clear vision is for Haleh Nematzadeh. To create a line of style gems that inject some light in a wardrobe. Stay tuned for full shoe up outfits..
THE NINA RICCI SHOES THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR WORLD
The Nina Ricci Shoes that can change your world. Wear them everyday day to obtain your own cult following. Although they are pictured in many different ways here, it’s only the Fuschia Glitter ones I am interested in. To start, these shoes were meant to be worn day and night. Where are you going in the day in these? Probably wearing them from the night before and going home fast. Who are you in these? A modern day Ziggy Stardust who shakes it up everwhere you go.
Since you blow most of your budget on them (by most I mean everything you have ever owned) , here’s all the rest to make them work. Start with a lace bodystocking as your layering piece. Throw on a beaten up grey tank. The looser the better here, the shoes are enough show, so better tone down the rest. Add some looser updated black denim shorts with a grandpa jacket for a dinner out . The beauty look is consistently the same: disheveled hair , a fuschia glitter/red combo lip and nothing else. Commit to it. The most dressy you will go is a tight bodycon dress, an endless supply can work, plain, with with sheer inserts or with dice. When you are ready to kill it , go for a Geometric shaped dress. and standout Shades.
White Geometric Glow Dress: Halehnematzadeh.com, Make Up Forever lipstick #20, Make Up Forever Glitter Red #7. Grey Tank, Black Tie Dye Shorts: Oak.com, Lace bodystocking, Purple Dress: American Apparel, Mesh Dress and Grandpa Jacket: Pixiemarket.com, Dice Dress: Forwardforward.com, Black Romper: Urbanoutfitters.com, Kerin Rose Barracuda Sunglasses.
ONCE IN A LIFETIME..
SHOPPING OPPURTUNITIES LIKE THIS DON’T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN. I’M NOT EVEN SURE WHY I AM SHARING THIS INFORMATION, EXCEPT THAT I AM PERMANENTLY ON A PATH OF SERVICE TO SHARE MY LOVE, AND THIS IS A SHOPPING EXTRAVAGANZA OF SORTS.
I AM ALSO CONFIDENT THAT UPON ARRIVAL I WILL FIND THE PERFECT PIECES FROM SOME OF MY FAVE DESIGNERS THAT OAK AND SEVEN CARRY AT 70-90% RETAIL.
