The World is a Runway. Express Yourself.

Fashion is defined by individuality.  What is the best part about being a fashionista?  Anything goes.

“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.”

-Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel

The World is a Runway. Express Yourself.

As a fashionista you must understand a very important concept.  Fashion is not black and white.  Mixing a Chanel bag with a Forever 21 top can still be fabulous.  A major way people are able to express themselves is through dress. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions in the fashion world and there are no rules. It is these differences that define fashion.  If everyone in the world dressed alike, the world would be incredibly blasé.  A fashionista shouldn’t worry about “keeping up with appearances,” she should worry about creating looks she loves.

 British fashion designer, Alexander McQueen, stated “I think the idea of mixing luxury and mass-market fashion is very modern - wearing head-to-toe designer has become a bit passe. It's a new era in fashion - there are no rules. It's all about the individual and personal style, wearing high-end, low-end, classic labels, and up-and-coming designers all together.”

Fashion is defined by individuality.  Express yourself and take risks! The world is a runway and every day should be your big début.  A woman’s clothing allows her to express herself without tangible rhetoric.  Fashion is not about buying the most expensive designer clothing or having the newest designs from a collection.  Fashion is about making a statement and feeling empowered.

Don’t become discouraged when a garment doesn’t fit right, is the wrong color, or looks better on a friend.  That is the point.  Everyone is not supposed to look the same in every piece of clothing.  Love what looks fabulous on you.

A true fashionista must learn to save and make quality purchases!

“It pains me physically to see a woman            victimized, rendered pathetic, by fashion."

                       -Yves Saint Laurent

Penny Pinching is the New Black

The fashion obsessed can easily spend an entire paycheck the minute they receive it. Here is some advice. Save money!  Yes, this is much easier said than done, but it is a worthwhile commitment.  This doesn’t mean a shopaholic can’t browse, but it is important to learn not to habitually make purchases on impulse.  Most impulse buyers end up spending way more than they planned!

Instead browse for an item you really love and start saving for it.  In the battle between quality and quantity, quality always wins.  It is better to buy one quality item than 100 items that are mere junk.  Demand the best price.  Ever heard the old saying “You should never settle for less than your best?” Apply this saying to your clothing and see how fabulous your wardrobe becomes.  Fashion savvy shoppers may not even realize how many ways there are to get great deals.  Paying full price is not necessary.

An example of this principle is shown through Betsey Johnson’s merchandise.  Betsey sells funky, trendy and eccentric high-end clothing that a fashionista can’t wait to get her hands on!  Buying Betsey Johnson items at full price will quickly clear out your bank account, but there is good news.  These items go on sale all the time.  Every few months, Betsey will mark down her items and then allow customers to take an additional 40 percent off of the sale price.  Just last week, in the Tysons II Galleria in Mclean, VA, a chic pink sequined short sleeve cardigan sold at Betsey Johnson.  The cardi was originally priced at $228 and sold for $68! 

Don’t be afraid to “penny pinch.”  You deserve the best price!   Penny pinching is the new black!

Canal Street After a Raid

Whats wrong with buying a bag without a name brand?  Absolutely nothing.  A simple black bag from Nordstrom or even Target can still look great!  Fashion crazed individuals often forget this and stoop to crazy - not to mention dangerous - levels to get the brands they crave!

A Knock Off is a Rip Off

Every day designer crazed people flock to New York City's Chinatown in an attempt to snag knock off designer goods.  Chinatown shops that carry fake items typically will have at least one wall with a hidden door built in.  The hidden door opens to a room where the walls are lined with counterfeit Chanel, Gucci, Coach, Prada, and more.  Why are people so crazy about these fake goods?  Perhaps it’s the thrill of sneaking around and inconspicuously asking shop owners if they have any bags? The main reason seems to be that fashion crazed women want the designer name, just not the price.

Selling knock offs is illegal and if a shop owner is caught selling these items their business will be shut down.  New York Police Department officers patrol Chinatown every day trying to stop vendors that are selling fake goods.  Knock offs are not only sold in Chinatown, they can also be found in Flea Markets, on EBAY, and even on Web sites claiming to sell authentic goods.

The truth is: a knock-off is a real rip off.  Not only is the production of these counterfeit items illegal, but these items are of terrible quality and fall apart in weeks to months.  Over the years fashion hungry women purchase so many knockoff bags that they could have bought a genuine one.

The main reason why buying a knock off is such a rip off is because it demeans creative integrity.  Fashion is art and a handbag is a sculpture.  Designers spend countless hours creating handbags.  For someone to steal that design and sell it is entirely unethical. 

When it comes to debating on whether or not to purchase a knockoff the answer is simple: don’t do it.  If you don’t want to invest in a bag but still want to look fabulous you can easily to so without reverting to purchasing a fake.  Instead, check out Nordstrom’s BP Department or even Target.  At either store you can purchase a simple black or nude bag in multiple different styles. These bags are inexpensive but still chic!  A true fashionista can spot a counterfeit designer bag from a mile away.  To be frank, being spotted with a fake is highly embarrassing!

“Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.” 

-Cecil Beaton

                         
               

Chic Envy: A Consignment Shop in Fairfax, VA

Shopping at a consignment shop is a fabulous way for a fashionista to get the brands she dreams of! 

Chic Envy has amazing gently used designer goods.

Something Old is Something New

A fashionista can't help but drool when she sees designs by Coco Chanel, Valentino, Balenciaga, or Manolo Blahnik.  She may assume that these brands are for celebrities and the elite.  This is not exactly true.

Here is another bit of classified information that people find shocking: the average person can afford items from these world renowned designers.  Works from these designers are timeless.  Today a fashion savvy woman could throw on a Valentino dress or Chanel cardigan from 50 years ago and still look fabulous.  When these items age they become vintage, making them even more chic.

How is it possible for the average person to afford clothing with a price tag between three and six figures? Consignment shops are a great way to get authentic high-end designer goods that are completely affordable.  It is normal to be wary of purchasing used goods, but when the gently used goods are designed to last a lifetime, it is a worthwhile investment.

When purchasing goods from high-end consignment shops authenticity is guaranteed.  The consigning process is taken seriously.  An individual who wishes to sell their goods must set up an appointment with an expert to guarantee authenticity of their items before they are sold.  Making a purchase at a consignment shop is the perfect way to make some of the designer goods you have been dreaming about your own.

A few high-end consignment shops in or near Virginia are: Chic Envy, Annie Cream Cheese, and New to You.  Chic Envy, in Fairfax, VA, recently sold a pair of Manolo Blahnik black suede kitten heels to a 20 year old college student for $85.  The heels were worth $700.  Chic Envy receives and sells Christian Louboutin, Coco Chanel, Gucci, Manolo Blahnik, Valentino, and Jimmy Choo on a frequent basis.

Most consignment shops will have a waiting list and they will call clients when the designer items arrive.  When something old becomes something new, a dull wardrobe comes to life.

"You put heels on and you change."

                  -Manolo Blahnik    

Bluefly's closet confession with Bravo TV's real housewife Kyle Richards

In an interview with Bluefly Kyle Richards spills her secrets!  She welcomes Bluefly right into her closet shares her guily pleasures along with her fashion faux pas!

Gilt Group is an awesome Web site for the fashion savvy cyber shopper!

A fashionista should check www.gilt.com regularly for some of the best deals on the internet!

The Fashion Savvy Cyber Shopper

In an age where technology is booming – the fashion world is keeping up.  If a fashion savvy woman is in search of designer goods at a great price, the internet may be the best place to look.

People are often skeptical of internet shopping because there are many Web sites that claim to have authentic products, when what they actually sell is far from the real deal.  Tired of looking at these designer goods with amazing prices and being too skeptical to make a purchase? Don’t worry. I will let you in on another piece of classified information that a true fashionista deserves know.

Expert internet shoppers state “If a deal seems like it is too good to be true, it probably is.” This is incorrect.  There are a lot of great Web sites out there that sell authentic designer goods at prices up to 70 percent off.  Often these will be items from last season or an item that a major department store did not sell, but they are still completely authentic. 

One site for the fashion savvy shopper selling authentic discounted designer goods is Gilt Group, www.gilt.com.  Gilt Group lives up to its name. It sells fabulous merchandise for a great price and quickly becomes a “gilty pleasure.”  Other sites like Gilt Group are: www.bluefly.com, www.ruelala.com, www.ideeli.com, www.hautelook.com and www.shopbop.com.

A character from the CW’s Gossip Girl mentions checking “gilt” for a clothing item she was searching for.  Bravo TV’s real housewives - Bethenny Frankel and Kyle Richards - share their fashion obsessions with Bluefly. These websites are legitimate, respected and authentic.

Another great way to get high-end products at an affordable price is to go directly to the source.  At times a fashionista will forget that department stores and high-end retail stores frequently sell sale merchandise on their Web sites. Sale items often sell out in the store, but can be found online with a click of the mouse!

In order to be a fashion savvy internet shopper you must learn how to spot the red flags associated with internet shopping.  If a website does not give a shopper the opportunity to return a product, then most likely the product is counterfeit.  Legitimate websites will allow customers to return merchandise. They have nothing to hide!

When it doubt, check the Better Business Bureau’s website prior to making an online purchase from an unfamiliar website. The BBB posts real reviews from real people on their Web site.  If an online retailer is selling counterfeit merchandise, it is likely that angry customers will alert the BBB. Be a fashion savvy cyber shopper!

Less is More

When making a purchase at a place like Nordstrom Rack or Off Saks, the consumer takes home quality clothing for less!            

Less is More

In order to start building a fabulous wardrobe, there is one concept that a fashionista must understand. Less is more.  The old virtue speaks volumes.  A common fashion faux pas is the concept of getting "more for the money.”  Women may invest in less expensive clothing because they feel like they are getting more. 

What women fail to think about when they are looking at a price tag from places like Target and Wet Seal is why the prices are so low. They are low because they can afford to be.  The clothing is made with cheap material and is likely to fall apart in a few months.  It is much better to purchase one item of higher quality than 10 items that will fall apart after the first few times they are washed..

If you purchase clothing from department stores like Nordstrom and Bloomingdales, I can guarantee that they will last longer.  A fashionista will be able to sport items from these department stores years down the road.  If department stores like Nordstrom are too pricey, try Nordstrom Rack or Off Saks.  The items in these stores are still high quality, they are just from last season.  Guess what? Most clothing really doesn't change much from season to season and no one will ever know.

Make an investment in clothing that is of better quality.  A woman feels more confident when she is dressed well and doesn't have to toss her clothes every few months! 

Defining Classified Chic

If you open a magazine, turn on a TV or open an internet browser, chances are you will see a picture of a model or celebrity.  The model or celebrity is likely to be fully clothed in designer garb.  If you are a true fashionista, you drool over designer clothing.  The structure, texture and color that some designers incorporate into their clothing is phenomenal.  Clothing has the power make a woman feel empowered, confident and fabulous.

Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel stated, “Dress shabbily and they remember the dress, dress impeccably and they remember the woman.”

At times it may seem like dressing impeccably is impossible. In today's economy people don’t want to invest in high-end clothing.  Good news - you can pick your jaw up off of the floor and stop drooling over clothing you think you could never afford. You can easily make the wardrobe of your dreams a reality.  I will let you in on my secret and help you do so!  

Spending every penny you earn to sport an absolutely fabulous wardrobe isn't necessary.  There is a way to fill your closet with authentic designer goods and still have more than enough money left over in your checking account!  In a nutshell - I will explain exactly how you can do this. Factors such as: where to shop, when to shop, and how to spot the “real deal” as opposed to a “real rip off"  play a huge role in the outcome of your shopping endeavors. I have uncovered the meaning of classified chic.