Six Steps to Developing a Confident Sense of Style: Acquiring Perfect Pieces
Yes, this means shopping!
Next, you are ready to acquire the items you love that best represent the style you have begun to identify. Most importantly . . . buy only what you love. I recommended not buying anything unless it is the best clothing item you have seen and you cannot imagine living without it. We have all set out to find the perfect outfit to wear that very night to an important event. We search for hours and end up with something that is suitable, but not fantastic. Suitable will not do. Give yourself time to develop this new authentic wardrobe. Buy it only if it is fabulous.
Just because something isn’t trendy doesn’t mean it’s not cool or fashionable. Buy things you love. Don’t be afraid to shop in thrift or vintage stores. Watch the movie Pretty in Pink. –Kris DeForest
Determine Holes in Your Wardrobe
First, determine where the holes are in your wardrobe. Make a list of items you need to buy. With a few well-chosen pieces, you will increase the wear-ability of your current wardrobe. Remember, second-hand shops and consignment stores are great places to find these new-to-you items. End-of-season sales at high-end stores often have a plethora of options at up to 70% off. Check out coupons in the Sunday circular. Macy’s and Kohl’s have great on-going coupon promotions.
Focus first on the wardrobe essentials. It is difficult to put a finger on what makes the perfect piece of clothing. It is seldom the newest trendy item you recently purchased. Most often it is the black tank top that goes with everything or the Audrey Hepburn style black ankle skimmer that puts a skip in your step. These perfect pieces enhance your good parts and provide the backdrop for other pieces in your wardrobe. Here are some key basics: white and black t-shirts, black tank top, black pants, little black dress, cardigan sweater, jeans and Converse sneakers.
Try on everything. You might be surprised to find some things that you didn’t think were going to be cute turn out to be your favorite clothing items. If there is something that you absolutely love but it costs more than you think you can spend, just get it! If you really love it, it’ll be worth the money. Make sure to stay true to you! Wear what you love and feel confident in it. —Barbara and Maggie Aldworth
Price in Less Important When it is Perfect
Say you find this perfect piece but it is too expensive. You may need to wait until it goes on sale. Because of the Internet, if the nearby store sells out, you still may be able to get it online. Some things are worth the money because you wear them a thousand times and the price per wear ends up being very low. I spent years looking for the perfect leather jacket. Finally, I found it for $450. I had never spent over $100 for anything in my life. I actually bought that timeless jacket for full price, have replaced the lining twice, and still have and wear it 15 years later. At this point, it cost pennies per wear. It was completely worth the money.
Trust Yourself. No matter what the hottest designers, celebrities, and stylists are saying in the fashion magazines, ultimately the only person you have to please is yourself. Buying an article of clothing that isn’t perfect for you just because it’s trendy is never a good idea. It’s going to remain in your drawer taking up space until you finally decide to throw it or give it away. Also, be careful of pushy sales people or influential friends. In fact, many people cannot shop with another person. To stay true to yourself, you may need to do this step on your own.
Make sure you wait for the right clothing pieces. Do not settle for something that is fine for now. Wait it out, watch, check the Internet, be diligent in your hunt, and you will find the perfect pieces.
Next step . . . Test Out Different Looks
To read all the parts of the series:
