Tonight is about fashion investments. While one percent of the country can afford to update their wardrobe in full every season, the remaining ninety-nine percent have to make smarter purchases that last beyond one season. This is what separates the trendy from the stylish. By buying pieces that stand the test of time, in a quality worth its price tag, you can become a stylish member of the bottom rung of society.
I will share with you my list of essential items for all fashionistas (and fashionistos) to invest in for long-lasting style. In the long run you will save a bundle, and perhaps have a shot at rising out of your financial pit with those savings. Let's get started.
Shoes
Shoes are the foundation of every outfit. It is because of this fact that there is no shortage of shoe choices out there at unholy prices. Do not be lead astray by trends into purchasing dozens of shoes that you may only wear once. Even if you purchase those shoes at Payless, the money adds up. And if you only wear the shoe once, you really aren't getting your money's worth, are you?
How do we fix this? Spend a little more on a versatile pair of shoes. I am a big fan of Cole Haan shoes right now. They have given men more colorful options in their shoes than ever before. Usually, color was something reserved for the women. Not anymore. These shoes put a splash of color into your old basics (saddle shoes, wingtips, deck shoes, etc.). These are shoes you can wear to work, and then dress down with a pair of jeans. And because they are just colorful versions of classic shoes, the shoe design itself will always be in style. Prices range from $198 to $348. You will find that the shoes are well worth it, especially considering that stores like Cole Haan offer restoration services for their shoes. If you wear the sole out, take it back for a restoration and keep the life of your shoes running. $198 spread out over years of use makes the shoes practically free. And once you have such a versatile pair, you don't need to buy several different pairs of shoes by the occasion you need them for.
Women can also invest in a basic shoe. Every woman should have a pair of versatile black pumps, an open-toed shoe (preferably a nude color), and a pair of everyday flats. While I think Cole Haan's line is great for a flat shoe for women, nothing beats a pair of Louboutin's for sex appeal ladies. That is a perfect pump. Open-toed shoes are ladies' choice, but I am partial to Chrissie Morris. She has a lot of open-toed shoes that are uniquely designed. Each shoe is a work of art, and would look great paired with simpler clothing to keep the attention on the shoe.
Jeans
I don't know how many times I have to say that the perfect pair of jeans are an investment. There really isn't a pair of jeans that perfectly hugs your body, accentuates all the right parts, hides all the wrong parts, and doesn't cost a fortune. Well it shouldn't if you buy the assembly line version. Jeans should reflect the life you lead. All the wear and tear of the world should show on your jeans ... it's a history on fabric. To get the serious deal of a lifetime pair of jeans, check out Loren. Loren is an intimate clothing boutique specializing in denim and hand made jeans, located in Brooklyn, New York. The price tag? $600. Yes, you read that right. Again, over the course of a lifetime that money really becomes cheaper than buying a pair of jeans every couple of months at $40.
Accessories
My favorite topic. I have posted so many blogs about accessories it's ridiculous. But here we are again. Invest in quality jewelry. Diamonds, sapphires, rubies, emeralds, gold, silver, platinum. If you buy the best it lasts longer than the rest. Jewelry is typically passed down through the generations, so make sure your jewelry (to include watches and rings and cuff links, men) are classic and traditional with a slight flair of uniqueness. Bags are great too. Women can always use a small elegant clutch for classy affairs. Men always need a briefcase of sorts ... choose wisely. Just remember that if the style you choose has resurfaced several times already, it is likely a good investment as it will cycle back to trendy once again.
Suits & Dresses
This is where the bulk of your fashion investment lies. The perfect black dress is a rare find. You want a simple design with unique texture, or fabric choices. Chanel will always epitomize the best of the little black dress. But go your own way ... just make sure it can go from work, to cocktail party, to formal evening, to a funeral, all with just a few accessories for the occasion.
A suit is just as costly, and hard to find. I am now a huge fan of English Laundry for suits. If properly tailored, their trendy suits go from the boardroom to the club to the bedroom and never look out of place. And they're classically crafted so they don't go out of season. All-in-all, the one I own has gotten enough use for its $250 price tag in one year's time, but it will be worn for longer than that.
And there you have it, the must-have investments for the stylish. Spend a little more, but get a greater rate of return on what you buy with these high-ticket, long-lasting items. Start saving your money and doing a little online research now for the right designers.
Here's to style. Cheers!
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Accessories Make the World Go Around
Good Evening Everyone. This is Oliver B. back again to share more of my fabulous style tips for professionals. Tonight's post covers my absolute favorite topic: ACCESSORIES!! I have some wonderful ideas for the ladies and the men. Let's get started, shall we?
For the ladies, accessorizing is much easier for you than it is for the men. You have so many options it's insane. So why can't you seem to accessorize correctly? I don't understand it. But don't worry ... I am here to help.
Ladies, accessorizing has one simple rule: Make accessories pop without taking away from the outfit as a whole. It's very simple.
How do we make the accessories pop you ask? Color choices, patterns, size. If you're wearing all black, try some jade earrings, or bracelets, or rings. Yes, jade. Gold is always good with black, or jewel-toned accessories. The bright colors pop, but do not detract from the demur suit choice you've made. You can also wear patterned scarves with solid suits, and vice versa. And go big on the accessories (size not quantity). I love oversized pieces (sometimes referred to as gaudy jewelry). A great thing to do is take a few small brooches you have and cluster them together on your suit to make one large brooch. It's a unique touch. Oversized rings have been around for years, and they do not seem to be going anywhere, so feel free to accessorize with a chunky ring. Just remember the old Coco Chanel rule for accessorizing: "When accessorizing, always take off the last thing you put on." It's a great way to make sure you don't overaccessorize.
And I almost forgot ladies ... BAGS! Even Target carries fashionable bags now, large enough for your case files and laptops. Why are you still lugging around two or three ugly bags every day? Get it together.
Now on to the men. It is actually pretty difficult for men to accessorize in a professional setting because let's face it, there are only a handful of accessories you have: pocket squares, rings, watches, briefcases ...
So what can a man do to perk up his look? Well it just so happens that I have found the tip for men of the modern era: change up the color of your accessories. How? Did you know that there are different varieties of gold out there? Well, GQ Magazine recommends switching your plain gold, silver, or platinum accessories for rose gold ones. Roe gold is actually a mix of copper and gold to get the reddish color. Mix a few of these pieces into your look and it will subtly take you to the head of the style pack. Just be careful to select the correct shade of rose gold. You want closer to copper, not closer to pink. You are men afterall. There are rings, watches, cufflinks, even iPad folios with rose gold used. It looks great, and has and old world feel, as rose gold was popular in Russia at the beginning of the 19th century.
As for pocket squares, try contrasting patterns and colors. If you're wearing a navy suit, try a red plaid pocket square. It pops but complements the suit. It definitely gives the suit a Tommy Hilfiger all-American look. Do you get the picture? Get into mixing up the pocket squares more, using them in every day professional dress. They're a fun and inexpensive way to vary up your look.
On to briefcases. Every designer of a men's line carries men's duffel bags, weekend bags, and briefcases. So why did you go buy the old-fashioned combination lock briefcase? Why are you wearing a canvas messenger bag from college? As adults, we need to be slimmer and sleeker in our look. Go out to the department store right now and find a bag suitable of your new station in life.
You can now follow me on Twitter ... @OliverBStyles. And don't forget to catch me on "The Fine Print" ... http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thefineprint
Here's to style. Cheers!
For the ladies, accessorizing is much easier for you than it is for the men. You have so many options it's insane. So why can't you seem to accessorize correctly? I don't understand it. But don't worry ... I am here to help.
Ladies, accessorizing has one simple rule: Make accessories pop without taking away from the outfit as a whole. It's very simple.
How do we make the accessories pop you ask? Color choices, patterns, size. If you're wearing all black, try some jade earrings, or bracelets, or rings. Yes, jade. Gold is always good with black, or jewel-toned accessories. The bright colors pop, but do not detract from the demur suit choice you've made. You can also wear patterned scarves with solid suits, and vice versa. And go big on the accessories (size not quantity). I love oversized pieces (sometimes referred to as gaudy jewelry). A great thing to do is take a few small brooches you have and cluster them together on your suit to make one large brooch. It's a unique touch. Oversized rings have been around for years, and they do not seem to be going anywhere, so feel free to accessorize with a chunky ring. Just remember the old Coco Chanel rule for accessorizing: "When accessorizing, always take off the last thing you put on." It's a great way to make sure you don't overaccessorize.
And I almost forgot ladies ... BAGS! Even Target carries fashionable bags now, large enough for your case files and laptops. Why are you still lugging around two or three ugly bags every day? Get it together.
Now on to the men. It is actually pretty difficult for men to accessorize in a professional setting because let's face it, there are only a handful of accessories you have: pocket squares, rings, watches, briefcases ...
So what can a man do to perk up his look? Well it just so happens that I have found the tip for men of the modern era: change up the color of your accessories. How? Did you know that there are different varieties of gold out there? Well, GQ Magazine recommends switching your plain gold, silver, or platinum accessories for rose gold ones. Roe gold is actually a mix of copper and gold to get the reddish color. Mix a few of these pieces into your look and it will subtly take you to the head of the style pack. Just be careful to select the correct shade of rose gold. You want closer to copper, not closer to pink. You are men afterall. There are rings, watches, cufflinks, even iPad folios with rose gold used. It looks great, and has and old world feel, as rose gold was popular in Russia at the beginning of the 19th century.
As for pocket squares, try contrasting patterns and colors. If you're wearing a navy suit, try a red plaid pocket square. It pops but complements the suit. It definitely gives the suit a Tommy Hilfiger all-American look. Do you get the picture? Get into mixing up the pocket squares more, using them in every day professional dress. They're a fun and inexpensive way to vary up your look.
On to briefcases. Every designer of a men's line carries men's duffel bags, weekend bags, and briefcases. So why did you go buy the old-fashioned combination lock briefcase? Why are you wearing a canvas messenger bag from college? As adults, we need to be slimmer and sleeker in our look. Go out to the department store right now and find a bag suitable of your new station in life.
You can now follow me on Twitter ... @OliverBStyles. And don't forget to catch me on "The Fine Print" ... http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thefineprint
Here's to style. Cheers!
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