This picture is a screenshot from the video from my Style Power Program, which started recently. One of the women in the program commented that she loved my jacket:

{photo via UStyled.com}

Which got me thinking…

I get compliments on this jacket all the time.

And, it’s one of my favorite pieces because it makes getting dressed SO easy AND it’s my favorite color.
But the best part? It cost me $10.

Now, I must say that I’m not a huge advocate of shopping on sale. That’s how the most mistakes and wasted money + time happen with a women’s wardrobe.

Though, you CAN learn from those mistakes and check out what you need to consider when you do assess an item hanging in your closet with the tags still on: how much money is hanging in your closet?

There are a few things I want you to know about this fabulous find.

1. I KNEW WHAT I NEEDED.

I know what I need for my wardrobe, and I keep an eye out for pieces that fit those needs. I do have the advantage of always being in the stores, but in this case, I went into H&M on a whim. I rarely go into that store, because when I buy my clothes I love my clothes, so I tend to invest.

2. I KNOW WHAT I LIKE.

It was the color that drew me in. Yes, I have a lot of blue in my wardrobe, but that’s OK, because I also have a lot of colors that coordinate well with blue.

Pay attention to the colors that continue to attract you. Those tend to become your signature colors. And then you can build your wardrobe full of complimentary colors that create your own personal color story.

I also know what fits work well for me. And I wasn’t about to buy it JUST because it was $10. That was just a BONUS. It happened to fit perfectly. So it was perfect color, perfect print and perfect fit that happened to have a fabulous price.

When I was a merchandiser, each delivery had a color story and each season had an overarching color story to make sure all the colors coordinated and blended well as we received new merchandise. You want to create this within your closet as well.

3. I KNOW WHAT I’M WILLING TO SPEND.

$10 is a bit of an extreme and I wouldn’t suggest you go out looking for professional-looking novelty jackets for $10. That would be looking for a needle in a haystack.

But, what you can do is know what you’re willing to spend on certain pieces. Again, I have the advantage of a merchandising background, so I know what different pieces + designers are worth. Which is an advantage for myself as well as my clients, obviously.

One thing I will challenge you to do is to stretch your budget for certain pieces a bit. I’d rather you have quality than quantity in your wardrobe.

4. LOSE THE COSTCO MINDSET.

Speaking of quality vs. quantity, don’t go on a shopping spree once a year.

Otherwise, create your action plan, and keep your eye out for pieces here and there that you want + need.

With each item, you should be able to create at least 3-5 outfits with this one new piece. In fact, I work with my clients to create anywhere from 3 – 10 new outfits with one new item.

This is also helpful if you are on a budget, because you can be more strategic and wait for sales.

June 2014 Issue