1. Topshop, $80 // 2. Malene Birger, $175 // 3. Tory Burch, $175 // 4. Topshop, $84 // 5. Lele Sadoughi, $225 // 6. 3.1 Phillip Lim, $450 // 7. Clare Vivier, $195
1 Necklace, 3 Ways | Look 2
The best sartorial dollar you can spend is on a statement piece that goes with everything. I’ve been wearing this Gerard Yosca necklace almost exclusively since I received it, so three outfits featuring the bauble this week wasn’t much of a challenge! Today, I strayed away from Monday’s mod attire in favor of something classic and feminine. A full skirt can become saccharine awfully quickly, but the necklace’s graphic flowers and a bright crossbody bag keep the look from being too prim.
Wearing: J.Crew dress (worn as a skirt) // J.Crew sweater // Gerard Yosca necklace (c/o) // DVF purse (also love this one) // Hermes bracelet // Julie Vos ring (c/o) // Kate Spade heels
1 Necklace, 3 Ways | Look 1
I’m such a proponent of investing in quality accessories that you’ll wear over and over again—and I have no doubt that, in time, the cost per wear of that statement splurge will be lower than a cheaper alternative. Gerard Yosca’s latest collection is full of these versatile statement pieces, so when the team challenged me to style one necklace three ways this week, I jumped at the chance. First up, a mod shift dress that matches the mood of the black and white necklace. I’ve been wearing this to work quite a bit over the last few weeks (sadly, with tights), but it’s just as fun for weekend wear with pointy black flats.
Wearing: ASOS dress (old) // Gerard Yosca necklace (c/o) // earrings via eBay // Coach purse // Kate Spade heels
Currently Coveting
1. Tibi, $675 // 2. Gap, $30 // 3. J.Crew, $165* // 4. Tibi, $285 // 5. Aldo, $76 // 6. Alexis Bittar, $145 // 7. YSL, $35
*Loafers and stripes and bows, oh my! You know I want these. Would it be a terrible violation of my shopping ban to use a Christmas gift card on them?
Shopping Strategies: The Clothing-Free Month
Every store email, every blog post and every Instagram is another temptation to buy the next “It” item, which makes a month without shopping for clothes especially difficult for a style blogger. Heck, if you’re like me, you’re not hiding an Internet history littered with tawdry sites, you just don’t want to admit how many dresses you looked at before your first cup of coffee.
Challenging myself to a “No Shop April” was less about saving money and more of an effort to stop accumulating stuff. I like to shop. I like to own pretty things. But lately I’ve felt like I’ve gone off the rails a bit. I just need a month to step back and reevaluate what I want in terms of general financial goals and key items to eventually add to my wardrobe.
Here are my strategies:
- Avoid temptation. It goes without saying that the mall is a huge source of temptation for many of us, but your inbox is an even bigger landmine. I receive hundreds of promotional emails each week touting new arrivals and promotional discounts. It’s easy to fall victim to a friends and family sale when it’s a rare chance to save 25%. My advice? Unsubscribe. Or at the very least delete the emails without opening them. If you’re serious about streamlining your inbox, Unroll.me is a startup company that lets you view how many lists you’re subscribed to, gives you the opportunity to unsubscribe, then consolidates the messages into one daily email. (I was on 488 lists.)
- Mix and match your existing wardrobe. This is the perfect opportunity to be creative. Pick a piece you haven’t worn in awhile and challenge yourself to wear it three different ways this month. It also makes for blog fodder that’s more interesting than showcasing new purchases.
- Clean out your closet. Go through your closet and take out every single item. Look over each with a critical eye. Do you wear it? Is it in good repair? Would your current self buy this piece again? If you can answer yes to those three questions, the item goes back in the closet. If not, it’s off to eBay or Goodwill. I did this in February and, honestly, I was embarrassed by how much I donated and by how much money I spent on things I didn’t wear. It forced me to be more thoughtful about future spending.
- Appreciate what you already own. You know that rush you get when you buy a new item? Rekindle that flame with your wardrobe. We all have items we treasure and it’s important to realize that you can’t always have the latest and greatest thing. In fact, what you own now is already pretty great.
- Keep your on the prize. Be honest about your reason for doing this. Are you padding your savings account? Putting away money for an expensive item? Looking to break away from unconscious consumerism? Whatever it is, write it down. Remind yourself of your end goal whenever temptation strikes. There will always be another must-have item.
Illustration by Garance Dore
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