By Regina Skirvin, Associate Director, Client Experience & Digital Solutions, Women & Co.
It's that time of year! The seasons are changing and it is spring cleaning time -- and that means time to make way for spring fashion. I recently had the opportunity to be a model for a day. Okay, so more like an hour on a morning news show, but I'll take it! The topic of the segment was custom clothes for every budget (key word -- every budget!). I had the opportunity to wear a beautiful custom made silk dress and custom sky high heels. Needless to say, I had a fabulous morning and wished I had been able to keep the outfit.
In my own life, I take the same approach to my wardrobe: You can have it all without spending a small fortune. If you plan ahead, you don't need to splurge every time you shop. I've learned to invest in a few core pieces that will last through several seasons, and then I supplement my wardrobe of basics with trendy pieces at more affordable prices.
Here are a few other tips that I will be following as I approach the spring wardrobe switch:
• Shop from what you have. I don't know about you, but I like to start every season by reviewing what I already have. Chances are you forgot about some of your favorite pieces from last season, or if you look in the back of your closet, you might find items that still have tags on them.
• Figure out if you have anything you can bring to a consignment shop. Free up valuable room in your closet and use the money you earn to go towards your new pieces.
• Think through the trends. Just because every magazine is featuring the newest skinny jean or patterned shirt doesn't mean it will work for you! It's easy to get stuck in the trap of buying the trends but never wearing them. Spending hard-earned money on items you never wear equals a wasted budget.
• Set your overall budget and then decide what's most important to you. For me, I would rather spend more on shoes for the season and use a bag I already have.
• Shop the sales! I get the biggest bang for my buck by waiting for the sales; especially at the change of the season "Friends and Family" sales are a great way to make good use of your dollar!
I would love to hear your wardrobe tips! How do you approach seasonal changes to updating your wardrobe while managing your budget?
About the Author:
As Associate Director, Client Experience & Digital Solutions, Regina is responsible for the development of various online platforms and oversees strategic partnerships to syndicate content and get the conversation started. Having worked at firms such as Wells Fargo Private Bank, Wachovia Wealth Management and Peoples United Bank, she is focused on making our resources engaging and relevant to you. She has an undergraduate degree from the Albertus Magnus College and an M.B.A. from Quinnipiac University. In addition to her role at Women & Co., Regina is actively involved in community outreach, focusing most of her efforts on mentoring high school students, through programs with Step Up Womens Network and Pencil.