TerabyteG: Looking Great Without breaking the Bank

LOOKING GREAT ON A BUDGET

How Can Paying More Actually Save You Money

Ever step into a clothing store and hear those two little voices in your head? The sensible one that recognizes the down turn economy and whispers “You don’t need any more new clothes.” Then there’s the devil-may-care voice that whispers “Go on, you deserve a new outfit. Live for today!” Here are just a few tips by TerabyteG's staff. Nuff said!

The Sales Gotcha

So you try to satisfy them both and you end up buying a sales item. How often have you thought you had found a great deal on a shirt or a dress and bought it on a whim, only to discover that it shrinks or practically disintegrates with the first washing? 

We get taken in by so-called deals that are really, let’s be honest now, just low prices for low quality clothing. It is not only a waste of your money but your time as well. Just spending $200 a month on poorly constructed clothes means you are wasting $2,400 a year. Yikes!

An Eye for Value

Your clothing can be an investment in your success. Investment dressing requires you to pay more money per item of clothing, especially for your core wardrobe pieces (jackets, skirts and pants) but you are going to be getting high quality items that will look and feel great and last a long time.

The trick is to spot these smart buys that will help you build up an investment wardrobe that you can use for years to come. Once you understand the look and feel of quality, you can spot the treasure when it does go on sale or duplicate the look at moderately priced retailers.  Knowledge is power. 

When Times Get Tough - Fashion Gets Classic.

Wise women understand that there is something to be said for the little black dress that is appropriate for all occasions. If you look for clothing that has lines that aren’t trendy, but always look good, no matter the latest style, you have a winner. This includes pencil skirts, sheath dresses and simple blouses. 

These are items of clothing that could hold their own in any decade, not for being at the height of fashion, but for their simplicity and quiet class. As a bonus this fall - classic is the new fad. When times get tough fashion gets classic.

Quality Street

Paying more for clothing that is made of better fabric is a smart decision. In fact, the type of fabric used in your clothes can make all the difference in how good you look. A cheap polyester or acetate will look far worse than the exact same design in a classy wool blend. 

Choose the better fabric and you won’t regret it. Real silk, linen and wool are all fabrics that look terrific and will help build your investment wardrobe. Blends are fine too. Wool blends will be more comfortable, linen blends will wrinkle less and silk blends will usually breath more.

More Stuff is Not Better

If you have traveled to Europe, you have probably noticed how great the men and women look. They do not have as many clothes in their wardrobe yet everything they have is made of the highest quality.

Having a few expensive, classic pieces of clothing in your wardrobe is worth far more than having two or three closets full of cheap clothing that will never pass as good quality. Remember this when that first sticker shock hits! You get what you pay for.

Come Together

The best way to build your investment wardrobe is to plan your entire wardrobe for versatility. Having two or three pairs of pants, three to five blouses, a couple of skirts and a nice jacket and suit can actually work for you if you plan it. 

Choose just two or three neutral or basic colors that all complement each other and you’ll be able to mix and match your entire wardrobe, creating dozens of different outfits. Add a scarf or two and a couple of different belts and accessories and you can have even more looks, all with just a few select items. Opt for mostly solid colors rather than prints and you’ll have more combinations available to you.

Express Yourself

Accessories give new life to existing classics, help you express your unique personality and provide maximum mileage from a small wardrobe. Although fashion trends often dictate how to accessorize, your personality and body shape should always be your guide. 

When accessorizing, a few things to consider: 

If the garment is intended to be the centre of interest and has lots of applied design (contrasting trim, decorative buttons, topstitching)  then play down your accessories; if your garment is simple or basic, then feel free to add flair. 

The Upside of the Downturn

TerabyteG believes in Investment dressing is becoming a trend these days and it’s one that is well worth jumping on. Take a few minutes to plan out your basic wardrobe and choose a couple of colors to base it on. Then it’s time to go shopping.

Stick to the plan, choose high quality items and at the end of your day, you’ll have a wardrobe that will last you a long time and suit any occasion. You’ll look better, save money, help the planet and feel better too.