Community Magazine August 2006

 ”  82 Community Magazine How to dress with a bang without breaking the budget . steals deals w ith fashion being the multi - billion dollar industry that it is, and the prices of “couture” clothing skyrocketing to obscene heights, it’s no wonder that dressing designer has become reserved for the likes of Donald Trump and company. And while the collections on the second floor of Saks are quite beautiful, let’s be serious: half the time these “brand name” clothes don’t even live up to their high and mighty price tag. Too often we’ve seen the seams rip on expensive skirts, the sequins fall off of luxurious tops, and the leather worn too early on designer bags (without naming names, of course). So if you’re not exactly paying for quality, what justifies the triple or quadrupledigitfallacyboldlyemblazoned on the hang tag? Maybe fabric? But that surely won’t explain designer denim duds that cost an arm and a leg (and maybe a kidney). After all, whether it’s sandblasted, faded to perfection, worn in subtly or frayed at the edges, cotton is still cotton, and cotton is cheap. The truth is, we all know the answer to the question at hand- it’s all about the name- those powerful words printed on the (often unseen)label gracing the interior of the coveted item. And, the more expensive the designer, the better we feel wearing it. It is quite a powerful phenomenon, and it is what drives the fashion industry. However, as exclusive and original as designers would like their creations to be, there are no trademarks or patent laws when it comes to their new fall or spring lines, and their collections will inevitably be copied and mass produced by less expensive manufacturers. And this, is where the art of dressing fashionably for less begins... Below are a few principles for the savvy shopper in the know to save a bundle on clothing that look (or are) totally trendy, totally designer, totally affordable! 1. Get a Pradah Bag The absolutely easiest way to enhance the luxe look of an outfit is to accessorize with a status bag. And the absolute best way to get that bag on your arm is to scout out and find a very convincing knock-off. Sometimes these are so similar to the real ones, you need to check the lining to see the difference. 2. Know When to Hit the Stores There are times in the year when you’d be hard pressed not to find a sale running in your favorite boutique. Sure, we all know about the crazy holiday sales, or the end of season bonanzas where you can save a ton, but an often overlooked type of sale is the pre-season sale. Check out Nordstrom for great deals on fall clothing, right now! The catch is, prices will go up when the season begins and stay that way for a while- which is when most people are actually thinking about buying the fall fashions. 3. Dot Com it Sometimes the best way to score a great deal is via the internet. If you’ve got an itch those designer sunglasses, look up the particular brand and style number on Froogle.com and see what kinds of prices come up. Chances are, you’ll find some obscure eyewear outlet with an unbeatable price. Also, check out great online discounters like Bluefly. com or Smartbargains.com- they’ve got the stuff Bloomingdale’s and the like has sometimes at less than half the price. And when all else fails, there’s Ebay, which is like a global fashion bazaar! 4. Browse the Juniors’ Section Nowadays, kids are becoming much more sophisticated and dressing like mini adults. Truth, is the racks and racks of clothing in the junior’s department are stuff you and I would wear, but at half the cost! Juicy Couture makes junior terry separates, but charges way less for them– score one in an XL and you’re set! 5. Shop at the Names You Know Sure we love discovering that oh- so-cute boutique in a hidden nook somewhere, but there is something to be said for shopping in national chains: flexible return policies, set prices, and generous price adjustments when items go on sale. There may be no worse feeling than buying something at full price, only to discover it went on sale the next day! CM Chloe $1540 Be & D $3200 KORS Michael Kors $188 Christian Louboutin $690 Vera Wang $495 Seven $176 Narciso Rodriguez $560 Melie Bianco $68 Hobo International $133 Yellow Box $57 Steven $111 Old Navy $29 Old Navy $39 J. Crew $175 jennifer esses