Can you hear that? It’s the sound of the credit crunch crunching down on a billion budgets. And what’s the first thing to be sacrificed in the face of the new gods of frugality? Great big dirty fashion impulse buys – the kind that ignite a heady mixture of buyer’s remorse and fabulousness. Yet there is a way to achieve a sense of accomplishment without blowing your fortnight’s wage on clothes, and it’s simple: shop your own wardrobe!
It’s a phrase that’s been thrown around quite a bit in fashion circles recently, particularly as the stock market topples and the days ahead suddenly become a little darker. It also diminishes your carbon footprint making it more eco-friendly in the long run. But for the fashion forward among you, there is a silver lining, one that is closer than you could possibly imagine. Put simply, your wardrobe probably already has all that you need for the forthcoming season’s wear and if it doesn’t then look harder – things can be reworked and jigged a little. All you need is a good tailor.
A STITCH IN TIME: TAILORING
‘I’m not one for “refashioning” pieces from a few years back, and unless you’re a talented designer, I recommend staying away from needles, thread, and anything that involves studs, sequins or a Bedazzler,’ said Jason Salzenstein, who is the Style and Travel Editor for the U.S.-based Edge Publications, as well as a professional shopper. ‘If you’ve got a 10-year-old suit in a great fabric with giant shoulder pads and pleated pants, don’t try to “rock the old-school style.” Instead, take it to a good tailor and have him or her alter it. It may cost you a hundred dollars or so, but if the fabric is good, that’s certainly less than buying a new one.
‘And while it doesn’t make sense to turn a jacket into a pair of shorts, if you’ve got a wide, loose top, a good tailor can quickly take it in and make it sleek and sexy. Tailoring is obviously limited though, and you should try to keep the reworking of styles to a minimum.’
The safest alternative, Salzenstein suggested, is to enlist the aid of a friend. ‘Find someone whose opinion you trust and ask them to be completely honest. You’ll probably be scared that they’re going to think something is hideous, but in reality they may just offer you some shrewd advice since they’ve got a clean slate and don’t know the history of your clothing.’
SWAP & STYLE
Perth-based fashion stylist Gillian O’Meagher agrees with Salzenstein: friends do come in very handy when it comes to shopping your own wardrobe. O’Meagher, who is the author of the fashion fueled cyber-punk novel Optimate, said that friends can not only be honest and blunt about what you wear… they also have a wardrobe you can pillage too.
‘The best way to see your wardrobe with fresh eyes is a Swap-Style Night,’ said O’Meagher. ‘You and your best friend have to put aside two nights. First night is at your place – they come over, you hang out, and they go through every piece you own and put together 7 looks for you, including shoes and accessories: two daywear, two nightwear, a workwear, a casual, and a crazy-fun party piece.
‘If you think about it your best friend knows your body shape better than anyone – they’ve spent a lot of time around you! They also know your general fashion/style preferences, and they know the overall contents of your wardrobe. But more importantly, they probably know what combo would suit you, but never makes it out of the wardrobe door. Now they get to suggest (hopefully) not-too-drastic changes, unexpected styling mix-ups that would never really occur to you!
‘Sure, some outfits won’t work,’ O’Meagher added, ‘but it will be a lot of fun (especially when you return the favour on the second night!), and you might score some great new looks with an unexpected mix of hidden rejects and current favourites… being styled by a stranger can be a bit odd and confronting, since they suggest things that you know you would never wear. But being styled by your best friend is a lot more inspiring, a lot less intimidating, and overall, a bit of a blast, since you don’t have to be polite about the suggestions, and neither do they – arguing and laughing is a great combination.’
O’Meagher even recommends making time for an accessory swapping party because, after all, it’s the accessories that truly transform an outfit. Salzenstein agrees. He said that if the art of fashion lies in the art of composing the look, then accessories are the alchemy that enable transmogrification.
‘Before you dive into your wardrobe, decide what you’re looking for. Peruse a few fashion mags and have some styles and looks in mind. Don’t plan on copying them, but get a general idea of the season’s silhouette, colors, and general trends, then look for that in your own pieces. Often you’ll be able to quickly pick out a few things that can easily pass as new by simply pairing them with something that you haven’t worn with them before. And after you’ve shopped your own wardrobe to see what you can recycle into this year’s looks, you’ll be able to hit the shops with a better idea of what you need.’
So, with all the drama happening to the dollar, the pound sterling and the euro, fear not – the ability to stay fashion forward is closer than you think. Yes, you can still get out there and shop, but why not stop and shop your own wardrobe first. You may find exactly what you are looking for… well, after a quick alteration that is. And then, with a better idea of what it is you should buy, you can spend your dollars wisely.
Scott-Patrick Mitchell
TIPS FOR MEN:
TIPS FOR WOMEN:
TAILORS WE RECOMMEND
FULLIN TAILORING Co
567 Beaufort Street
9328 6418
