With the party season approaching, there’s nothing worse
than getting lost in the crowd.
For those of us on a budget, there can be no worse a time of
year, than the Holiday Season. Starting as early as mid-November the Holiday
invites can start to roll in. Between classes, and gifts for others, there can
be little left in the piggy bank for purchasing a new dress. But do not let
this discourage you from attending all those fabulous parties on your agenda;
there are many resources available to those of us living on a budget.
Your greatest friend during Holiday party season, or any
season for that matter, is the little black dress. Investing in a good quality
dress will last you longer than that cheap trendy dress you had your eye on in
Forever XXI. Just because your buying a black dress does not mean it has to be
boring. If your own personal sense of style allows it, look for a dress with
that something extra, to really make you stand out in a crowd. Strong
shoulders, asymmetrical hemlines, sheer panels, or an interesting cut, are all
examples of little extras that help straddle the fine line of classic and
trendy. Once you’ve found the perfect little black dress, the challenge in
creating it’s versatility lies with the accessories. Jewelry in particular can
be your greatest comrade, just ensure that your jewelry does not over power the
over all look of the dress. Remember the classic rule “before you leave your
house, take off one accessory.” Black not your colour? Try another classic
statement dress in white, or red. As long as the dress fits you well, and your
adventurous enough with your styling no one will know you’ve been a repeat
offender.
Not a dress girl? Invest in a classic pair of black pants.
Not only will they serve you well during the Holiday season, but you can also
transition them into your every day wardrobe. Black pants, just like the dress
are staple items that can make or break a wardrobe. When shopping for your
classic pair of black pants think Audrey Hepburn in, well pretty much anything
she wore pants in. Audrey is also a great inspiration for that little black
dress you were hunting for. Clean
lines and strong tailoring on the perfect pair of pants will not only be able
to last you season to season, but it will also stand the test of time, there is
little difference between this year and last years black pants.
If your bored of the little black dress, and feel as though
you’ve expired all your pant-shirt-jacket combinations, it may be time to hit
up your local vintage shop. For a few dollars, and a lot of patience you can
easily find a new outfit for under $40. The key when shopping second hand is,
just like the little black dress, and those classic black pants: tailoring. When
scouring the racks at Value Village, look more for the potential in an item
than the actual item itself. Remember, you are shopping out of date items, but
if you believe anything about fashion, believe in its cyclical nature. Those
palazzo pants might be from the 1980’s but with a slight alteration and dye
job, they can become your new statement item.
Above all else, do not let your small piggy bank get your
down. The Holidays were never meant to be about spending excess amounts of
money, on either gifts or clothes, it is about spending time with the people
that you love and who love you despite your adventurous outfits.
No comments:
Post a Comment