Rachel Zoe Defines 'Cheap'

'Tis the season to be spending on style, with Fashion Week right around the corner, and to get us in the mood, WWD asked fashion insiders for their definitions of the word "cheap." Here's a few of our favorites:

• "Anything my husband won't yell at me for." -- Rachel Zoe
• "My dad buys all of his clothes from Costco and the way he wears them makes you think he's in head-to-toe Margiela. Army green military button-ups and black jeans can look designer and can be bought at a grocery store. It's all about what you pick and how you wear it. True basics always look classier than overadorned, expensive things." -- Sophie Buhai, Vena Cava
• "Cheap is something that after six months if you broke down the price dollar-wise by the amount of times you wore it, it would come close to a cup of tea. I bought a pair of Rick Owens boots last year whose price stretched my imagination, but I got such great use out of them that it was the equivalent of a cappuccino a day." -- Roxanne Assoulin, Lee Angel

Find out what others had to say at WWD.

Comments

[monthofmay]

04:11 PM on 08/17/2010

All over the 3rd world slaves and debt slaves are living appalling lives making these garments. The stores and brands contract, then the contractors sub-contract, then sub-sub contract...and some woman maybe your age is sewing buttons on by lanternlight for nothing while her small children sweep and make tea for the boss. How, exactly, is this glamorous? When this "comes round" back at us, what will we deserve? We fought a bloody war over this once...why don't we care now?

[Meditating]

01:20 PM on 08/17/2010

I was at a friend's house the other day and watched this woman's show. Duh!!

I don't care how much money you throw on her back, she is definitely low-rent.

[Billie]

09:53 AM on 08/17/2010

I agree with the cost per wear line of thought. Before the recession, I used to buy one big expensive thing a year to add to my wardrobe and it had to be classic so it wouldn't date. I'm still getting wear out of some clothes and accessories I bought in the early nineties! Especially a black winter coat I picked up at Bergdorf's in '95 that is so well made I've never even had to sew on a new button.

[eva belle]

02:29 PM on 08/16/2010

Cheap is Rachel Zoe's life...that's why she barely eats to sustain it..bet she thinks she can afford another.

[2garen]

01:17 PM on 08/16/2010

Share with girlfriends and trade when you are both the same size..
2nd hand shops, just look closely for stretched seams, missing buttons, stains ,or ripped seams.

[2garen]

01:14 PM on 08/16/2010

Cheap really is not about price but how the item flows or how it looks.
I have lots of items in my closet I did not spend much money on but look fantastic!
Clearance racks with an additional 75% and last season's items can become a staple.
I have pieces that are 20 years old and you would never guess.
The other trick is how you take care of your clothes.Very few things go into the dryer because drying stuff shortens the life of the fabrics in many cases. Yes, I still hand iron..

[roybattyjunior]

12:54 PM on 08/16/2010

Rick Owens looks like Paul Stanley of Kiss...but what's his excuse?

[DrSnuggles]

12:31 PM on 08/16/2010

I think the comment that Roxanne Assoulin makes is one that we should all take to heart. Too often we spend time thinking like accounts as opposed to like economists. If we get 300 hours of wear out of a $300 piece of clothing - it's the same price as 30 hours out of a $30 piece of clothing.

[jukesgrrl]

07:20 PM on 08/16/2010

Yes. People will blow a ton of money on a party outfit they wear once and cheap out on the eyeglasses they wear every day. Or they only buy one coat that doesn't go with half their outfits, when they wear wear a coat every day more than half the year.

[JJovana]

12:20 PM on 08/16/2010

Trashy looking gals like Katy Perry and Rihanna make the most expensive designer stuff look cheap and tacky. Its about how you wear it, and style it, and true style has no price.

[ValdaDeDieu]

12:17 PM on 08/16/2010

Cheap clothing is whatever doesn't SUIT you; no matter what the cost. Anything that you look good in is worth the price, because it makes you look like a $$$$million dollars.

[dmsdzinr]

12:08 PM on 08/16/2010

CHEAP has more to do with CLASS and less to do with CASH!

[2garen]

01:18 PM on 08/16/2010

:)

[BlueZoo]

03:26 PM on 08/16/2010

Absolutely fanned for good, old-fashioned reasoning! Bravo!

[DandaPanda]

11:48 AM on 08/16/2010

oh good I feel better about those gucci $840.00 boots I want

[ValdaDeDieu]

12:19 PM on 08/16/2010

Get them. You'll wear them FOREVER. And, they'll look better with each wearing. Not only that, you'll be able to dress them down, or up. And they'll go with anything. Personally, I only board airplanes with boots (always thinking -- just in case!) I'll change to slippers during the flight; change back to boots before landing.

[DandaPanda]

12:22 PM on 08/16/2010

ok...I am off to saks!...i don't feel the least bit bad about it either!

[jukesgrrl]

07:22 PM on 08/16/2010

So you're the one holding up the TSA line?