Chic Cheap Threads

A fresh white cotton shirt, cozy blue jeans and a pair of worn leather
boots – my favorite things to wear. Toss on a chunky cable knit
sweater and I’m feeling fine. I enjoy simple high quality clothes,
but I don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for them. If you learn how
to shop the discount stores you can do pretty well. Friends tell me
that they can never find anything in stores like Ross or Marshall’s.

I have a set of guidelines that I stick to that save me from a repeat
of my hot pink polyester beaded and pleated “shimmy shirt.”
(I hate to admit it but I loved that shirt for a while, now it just
makes me cringe when I look at it. Makes me wonder where my head
was when I made that purchase).

Some things I wear over and over, other things I’m done with soon
after buy them. I have learned that the difference is usually whether
or not the piece is trendy or not. A well- made classic shirt will stay 
in my closet far longer than a trendsetting one. Price is not always
an indicator of quality. There is a great deal of marketing that goes 
into those designer clothes. You pay for that. So, if you can separate 
yourself from the notion that is has to be designer or it has to be
expensive, you don’t have to pay the cost of those marketing plans.
That said, here are my shopping guidelines.

• Take a step back and scan the racks. Look for natural simple fabrics like cotton, linen, wool, silk.
• Look for colors that look good on you. If you don’t know ask a friend. Generally, I think that if it makes you look healthy, its a good color on you.
• Check out the fabric content to make sure that it is at least 80% natural. A bit of spandex or acrylic won’t kill the overall affect and, in fact, will help the item keep its shape.
• Check also the cleaning instructions – I don’t buy anything that has to be dry cleaned. Why save money on a purchase only to have to throw it out the window on cleaning costs?
• Plaid – Really popular this season. I love plaid, especially in the fall. Just make sure the fabric is really plaid – meaning that the plaid is derived from woven threads and not simply printed on the fabric.
• If pants or a skirt come with a belt, neither are likely well made.Skip those.
• On the subject of belts, go for leather. Same for purses and shoes (unless you have a philosophical issue with leather and in that case, more power to you).
• When it comes to shoes – look for those made in Italy, Spain, Brazil
• In the accessories department look for scarves – they can make an outfit. I try to find silk scarves made in Europe.
• Once you are in the dressing room, give the garment a once over to check for any flaws that you may have overlooked and check the construction of the item. Does it seem to hold together well? When you try on the garment it shouldn’t bind or gape.
• The 3 Ls. This is something my smart-cookie of a daughter made up and its actually pretty helpful. Rate each of the following on a scale of 1-10. Add up the score and determine the average. If its over 8 – Buy it!
• Look - how does it look on you? Is the color good, does it hang well?
• Learn – check the tag and decide if you are willing to pay the price.
• Love – You gotta love it. Is the item something you will continue to wear for years to come?
• While deciding if you love it ask yourself “if I don’t buy this, will I regret it in the months to come?” It may seem silly but, I still think about a French Provincial sofa that I walked away from at a parking lot sale!
• Finally, size. Don’t get hung up on it. I have a silk blouse that I bought years ago. Its two sizes too big, but I wear it as a light flowy jacket. And remember, sometimes items end up at the discount stores because their sizing is off. If you like the garment in every other way, go back to the racks and see if they have it in another size even if its two sizes too big.

Okay - now you're armed with some guidelines. Time to head out and look for some bargains!