Shopping Anyone?

While I wholeheartedly embrace Thanksgiving for its lack of commercialism and focus on food, I do not embrace crazy shopping on the following day. At the same time, I encourage you to stop by and say "hi" to me at Renaissance Fine Consignment today if you happen to be downtown. It's a lovely store (at 1118 State Street) and I'd love to see you!

Variety

 Image credit: Etsy.com

Perusing Etsy's website is something I like to do every once in awhile. I am always blown away by the variety of goods for sale and the incredible talents of so many people. It reminds me of when my husband and I went to the eastern region of Canada one summer: since the winters are long and cold, it seemed everyone we met was a craftsman, making gorgeous stained glass, furniture, or mosaics, to keep themselves busy during those snowbound days.

Just take a look at what's on offer in Esty's skirt section. There is something for everyone, no matter what style/s you prefer. I fancy the skirt above, by LoveAlanaDesigns, though I cannot imagine where I would wear it! Sometimes it's just fun to see what's out there and to dream a bit.

Trends

 

 Purse: stylehive.com
Skirt: newyork&company.com


I like this clever post about this fall's trends, which includes boxes to check (or not). It's always your choice whether or not you want to participate in fashion trends. I've learned that some trends (booties) take me awhile to get used to before I want to try them. Others I like right away: fringe!!! What are some trends that you have adopted recently? Or what have you chosen to pass on?

Pre-Holiday Preparation

Today I spent an hour at my local Michaels craft store. I keep saying I am not ready for the holidays, but I enjoyed the (artificial) smells of cinnamon and pine, and had fun looking at the decorations. This led me to thoughts of upcoming events and what I would be wearing. The only new, sparkly thing I've added to my wardrobe is a rhinestone necklace. In fact, I got rid of a number of velvet skirts and pants this fall so have fewer holiday clothing options.

Now is a good time to look through your closet and think about special evenings or parties in the next few weeks. What can you wear? What jewelry, shoes, and hair accessories can make your outfits festive? Make a list of what you need and start shopping for those items or asking friends if you can borrow them. Thrift stores and consignment stores have a super selection of sparkly accessories and clothing at the moment.

Men, do you have a suit that fits? A nice dress shirt and shoes? A good belt? If not, get shopping! Last minute, panicked shopping is never a good idea.

Saying "Uncle"

Photo credit: minelli.com

For the past 3 years, I have been looking for black leather booties. I've been picky about what I want regarding the heel height, gap around my ankle, leather versus suede, tassels or no tassles, zipper. . . Finally, I purchased a pair over the summer while I was on vacation. They seemed perfect, and they look fantastic, but they are not comfortable. Today I cut out tiny squares of felt, and, using a glue gun, applied the felt to the area around the zipper that had been causing blisters. If this little fix does not do the trick, it may be time to say "uncle" and begin another search. Sigh.

Closet Insights

Go to page 27 in Carpinteria's Coastal View News to read this month's Wardrobe Wisdom column. I write about what I have seen and learned from being in clients' closets over the years. Click on the blue button when you get to this link, and then use the arrows to get to page 27.

Some Shopping Services

It seems new services for styling and shopping are popping up all the time. I am going to describe just three here: Stitch Fix, Trunk Club, and the one I most recently heard about, Lyon and Post. Full disclosure: I have not personally used any of these services.

Stitch Fix: This is one of the first services of its kind that I became aware of. Subscribers fill out a questionnaire about their style and taste, and a box of clothes (hopefully) matching the women's wish list appears when she schedules it. Subscribers only pay for the price of clothing they keep, along with a $20 styling fee each time which can be used toward purchasing clothing. Stitch Fix encourages you to: "Try on and discover styles hand-picked to fit you, your budget and your style."
Two of my friends have used this service. They liked being introduced to new brands and found a couple of items they liked in each box. Their complaints were that they did not always have the same stylist and, possibly because of this, they found the items overall did not suit them; they also said it took from 2-3 weeks to receive their Stitch Fix box.

Trunk Club: This service was originally offered for men, but is for women now as well. My friend Will tried it and loved the clothes he was sent right off the bat. Two of my female co-workers also recently tried Trunk Club. One liked most every item she was sent but found the price point to beyond her budget. My other co-worker complained about the clothing not really being "her" but appreciated the consistency of having the same stylist each time. She felt the stylist's grasp on her style grew with each trunk.  Trunk Club's encourages users to: "Take 10 days to try everything on, and then keep what you like and send the rest back. Shipping is free both ways, and you can request a new trunk any time you'd like." My criticism of Trunk Club is that its inventory is limited to Nordstrom's inventory, since it is operated by this store.

Lyon + Post: This service appeals to those who want clothing that is "curated by industry insiders.

Our fashion director has spent her career hand-selecting pieces for A-list celebs. Now she's doing it exclusively for you." It takes some patience to crack the site, and I do not know anyone who has used this service yet. Somehow, I think this will be a pricey option!

Each of these services is designed for people who want new clothes but don't want to shop. Remember that some stores, such as Nordstrom, have stylists on site. You are not charged for their service and are under no obligation to make purchases. You should also feel free to ask salespeople to keep an eye out for clothes that suit you. They will happily contact you when these items come in. Some will also gladly help you put together outfits. I did this all the time when I worked in boutiques. It was my favorite aspect of the job!

Narrowing Things Down

Image credit: thepioneerwoman.com

My oldest daughter is a high school junior and so there is a lot of college talk around our house these days. We discuss the importance of knowing what she is looking for after graduation. What is equally important is knowing what she does not want in a college.  The process of narrowing down a list of likes and dislikes will save us a lot of time visiting schools.

Are there some fabrics or colors you simply do not like? I've learned that I like collarless silk blouses best. So while I can appreciate different tops, I know I will not enjoy them in the long term so I don't waste time considering them or trying them on.

Make a list of things you love about your current clothes and what you don't. Get rid of clothing that matches up with the descriptions on your "don't" list, and use the other list to guide you to wiser shopping.

Give It a Whirl

I found myself at Ulta Beauty in Goleta, California for several hours the other day. My youngest daughter is enamored with this store, and likes to go up and down the aisles, examining the merchandise, oohing and aahing over new discoveries. We are always impressed by the helpful, friendly, and non-pushy women who work there. One was especially patient when my daughter was looking for just the right shade of lipstick.

During the lipstick quest, I tried on an eyeliner a friend had suggested for me. The color was lovely and it went on smoothly. However, after the second hour of being in the store, I noticed that it had smudged and faded. Therefore, I did not make the purchase.

This led me to think about how we often shop. When it comes to shoes, I feel like most of us try them on in the store, walk around a bit, then wear them at home before committing.  But when it comes to clothing, we just try it on briefly, then wear it out, and only later realize it isn't really "us" doesn't fit well, go with much, etc. I am not suggesting you wear an item around the store for two hours since no one has that kind of time and I am not sure the salespeople would approve. Yet I do suggest wearing the item around your home for a good period of time before you decide to keep it. And if you have some time, by all means wear it around the store for a bit. You may just save yourself from making unwise purchases.