A few ideas to give this Valentine’s Day as well as some fun options to gift yourself, whether you choose a piece of fine jewelry or the perfect outfit for Valentine’s Day.
Happy Valentine’s Day to you and your significant other!
Farfetch is offering an additional 20% off sale items.
Appy code: JAN20 at checkout.
Code only works on specific brands/products that are $150.00 or more and excludes New Season, Exclusive & Permanent Collection items.
The good news is that the code can be used as many times as you like!
I did get one item featured in the previous post with the code and the Moschino selection is definitely tempting.
For now, I’m off to work but will add more items and product links later this evening:)
Magda Butrym pieces are wearable, chic, but with a fresh and modern feel.
Currently, I just have my eye on a few high-quality, day-to-night pieces. Denim is a classic and I have fallen hard recently for the Magda Butrym brand. I love the aesthetic. As the designer described in an interview with Harpers Bazaar, she strived to create elegance in the every day. Butrym says it best…“I wanted to make every Monday morning a special occasion.”
The denim dress is a nice option to have for a night out, but would also easily work for the day. Wear it for brunch date or a nice dinner. Upon further research, the lace collar is removable. Now that’s versatile fashion. Details like this make a piece worth investing in.
And because one amazing accessory can make an outfit, I included my favorite belts that make a statement but aren’t overly branded.
This YSL belt is edgy with the crackled look, but the logo isn’t too in your face. Over time, belts can show wear and tear, but with the cracked effect of this one, you won’t be able to tell.
The JW Anderson and Etro belt just have a really cool vibe that would transform a jeans and t-short ensemble into a high-fashion outfit.
And when I bring new pieces in to my closet, I like to let go of others. What I sell also goes toward any new items I want to introduce into my closet. Here are a few of the departures…
I do have to sell a lot of items to fund one high-end fashion purchase, as the value of clothing goes out the window, even if it has just been worn once. But the extra closet space and a little extra to put towards something on my wishlist is so worth it.
As we step into 2020, we all begin to question what goals we want to accomplish for the next year. I do feel that I have come a long way with defining my signature style and being more selective than shopping in 2019. However, I have big things that I want to save for in the coming year and I think planning ahead is key.
It’s key because we all have get those moments of weakness…and emails from our favorite retailers announcing a big sale…that can quickly turn of month of saving into a month of splurging.
I am realizing that it doesn’t work well for me when I show too much restraint. For instance, if I tell myself, I can’t buy anything…I literally want to buy everything on my wishlist. I think a better mentality is to know your budget for the month…and the year…and plan for your big purchases.
By taking your time and saving for specific items that easily incorporate into your closet, you are less likely to make reset purchases and waste your hard-earned money.
A great example of this is my list for a fabulous Fendi bag. It wasn’t in my budget at the time, so instead I bought a Fendi bag strap. A great concept, all in all, right? I can put the strap on any bag and give it that “Fendi vibe.”
But if I’m honest with myself, I know that a Fendi strap doesn’t transform my outfit OR fulfill my desire for the Fendi bag. It’s best to save for a few major investment items than buying several other things to compensate for the real deal. Do I still want the Fendi bag after buying the Fendi strap….do I really need to answer that?
And of course, we have different taste and styles, so what I consider classic and an investment may be very different than what you do.
Most girls dream of a Chanel bag, and while they’re gorgeous, I feel that a brand like Fendi goes better with the quirkiness of my style. So be true to your style (especially when splurging), and save for the good stuff.
This one’s my favorite tip! it’s so fun to brainstorm what you will buy next year, but this is also very savvy. It saves you mega money, because sometimes purchases that seem like a good idea are a really terrible buy.
By thinking about where you will wear that new dress, or what you will wear with it, really brings into questions if it fits well with your wardrobe.
A great perk of creating a wishlist and planning your shopping, is that your closet really comes together. By buying a dress, belt, and jacket that are in your preferred color palette and that mix and match together, it’s so much easier to get ready.
These are my Back Friday & Boxing Day purchases. I was very selective, but you can see how they all mix & match together. Ideally, your 2020 fashion investments will create a capsule wardrobe , which triples the price per wear you will get out of them. I have since returned the printed Red Valentino dress, because the fit wasn’t quite right.
When I think of the most versatile items in my entire 2020 Fashion Wishlist, I think of this fashion board. Both the apparel and the bags offer endless styling options. The Zimmerman playsuit can even transition from summer to winter, so it’s a piece you can wear all year long.
With this fashion board, I purchased the most affordable item (the playsuit) which will serve as a base for many styling options. Then, I can save up for the blazer or biker jacket and 1 of the 2 handbags.
Because you can re-wear jackets and handbags with all your outfits, they may be worth a high price-point for the quality and style.
These are jackets currently in my wardrobe that I use to style and re-style items like the solid black Zimmerman playsuit. Such a different look when styled with the black blazer compared to the YSL denim jacket. I purchases this Balmain leather jacket on The Outnet. I couldn’t find any similar options currently in stock.
I do believe that the more strict your budget is, the more selective you need to be when shopping.
With that said, some items on your wishlist may be similar to some pieces you already own in your closet. Let’s evaluate a few items on my own 2020 Wishlist…
I already own the two jackets at the top of this photo. The Balmain jacket at the bottom is one of the more luxe items on my 2020 wishlist. But do I really need it, as I already have more than a few biker jackets in my closet? And one that is Balmain with a very similar vibe. The Balmain one I own is very versatile because I prefer silver hardware and it has a more minimal look, which makes it more wearable. When investing in a leather jacket, take your time finding your perfect one. I absolutely love the one I have, so probably don’t need another Balmain leather jacket…though it is gorgeous.
Top Left: Balmain Denim Jacket Top Right: Off White Distressed Jacket
Both of these two killer denim jackets made my 2020 wishlist. However, I already own the bottom two jackets shown.
Bottom Left: T.A.G.G. Embellished Denim Jacket Bottom Right: Saint Laurent Logo Denim Jacket (though mine doesn’t have the shearling collar)
While the T.A.G.G. and Saint Laurent denim jackets are a darker wash, it definitely makes me question if I need another denim jacket.
The Off White jacket is totally shredded in the back, and is a look I might outgrow.
The Balmain denim jacket one would be my preference, and I would pick that over the Balmain leather biker jacket.
It would be smart shopping, as I own a handful of leather jackets and a denim jacket is more day-to-night appropriate. In this way, I just decreased 3 jackets on my wishlist down to 1.
As you can see, several of the items I added to my fashion wishlist, I’ve already decided against. And what money we don’t spend shopping, we can save and put towards other financial goals, or another wishlist item.
So, if I pass on the Off White denim jacket and the Balmain jacket, that money can go towards a handbag or other accessory.
The price-per-wear for the Chloe skirt vs the Gucci belt is drastic. While I love the Chloe skirt and actually considered getting it, I could only style it with white blouses. Also, the side pleating in this velvet and cotton fabric mix, makes it a more structured and tailored look than I like. I think the vibe is a bit too preppy for my style. The Gucci belt you wear with any jeans, dress, or even over a jacket to cinch in the waist. If you own a lot of black like me, it will work with anything in my closet. I can see this being a future purchase.
Creating fashion boards and collages really help me pull an outfit together and visually see how I would style that item. This also tells me how wearable and versatile it is.
So we should crunch some numbers as we browse fashion retailers, and prioritize which items land in our top 10..or 20..depending on your budget.
It’s an entirely different approach to just going into a store and buying whatever we see that’s pretty. Online shopping makes comparison shopping much simpler.
When we take the time to create a budget and wishlist for the entire year, we compare items to each other and can see which pieces are worth the money.
Also, buy considering your budget for the entire year before purchasing an item, you force yourself to only pick the best of the best. Which mens you only introduce items in your closet that you intent on keeping for years and years.
We should be not just shopping, but scrutinizing, our wishlist items.
As we say goodbye to 2019 and look forward to 2020, here at Signature Style, it’s a time to re-evaluate our wardrobe and style and plan ahead so we don’t waste investing any of our time and money into items that don’t resonate with our sense of style.
I have bigger financial goals for 2020 and my focus will be on much more than buying more times for my closet. However, I know that I will purchase a few fashion items for the upcoming season. When I do pull the trigger, I want to know that these were good investments and will be something I’ll wear for years to come.
With all that said, let’s transition to the fashion boards and my top fashion suggestions for 2020…
My favorite Zimmerman blouses for that feminine, yet bohemian look. Obviously I won’t be getting all of them…but these are my favorites from the brand that would add a delicate flair and inject color and life into my wardrobe.
For me, I don’t want to waste any money in 2020…not 1 fashion purchase-that isn’t versatile and high-quality. All pieces need to seamlessly fit into my closet and be something that I will reach for and enjoy.
And because a little Gucci takes any look up a notch (or 5 notches), I have selected my favorite pieces from the brand that would be versatile and elevate what currently hangs in my closet…
These boots would edge up many of my skirts and jeans, while the mono statement earring adds instant flair to even your most basic white tee and jeans outfit. However, they are clip-ons, and if the earring is too heavy, it may be hard to wear all day. I have loved this belt for a while…and a high waist belt will cinch in a dress & create an hourglass silhouette. I think this logo skirt speaks for itself…
I see the value of investing in accessories, rather than clothing. You can re-wear a belt or pair of sunglasses with all your outfits, and you get more wear and value out. From a styling perspective, the right accessories are essential.
I wanted to also include a few black investment pieces that would work in a capsule wardrobe and that you could mix and match and re-wear and re-style for multiple looks…
These items are very true to my own style, and I love the different vibe of the Zimmerman playsuit with the edgy snakeskin biker jacket (and the Prada bag), versus it styled with the Balmain blazer and Gucci Marmont bag.
The snakeskin jacket and Zimmerman playsuit are currently on sale. While I fall in love with Zimmerman’s new season florals and pastel prints, the solid black georgette playsuit is feminine and versatile. It would fit seamlessly into my wardrobe, and I’m having a vision of how it could be dressed up with dangling earrings and black fishnets for a night out.
This Prada Cahier is my favorite version of any I have seen. It’s out of my reach at the moment, but one day it will be mine…and when a bag is solid black on black, you don’t have to wore about clashing hardware. For this reason, I would pick the Prada over the Gucci bag. I prefer silver jewelry and the gold Gucci logo on the handbag might make it less versatile.
I hope this helps as you create your own fashion wishlist and plan ahead for your 2020 shopping,
This outfit features a killer Retrofete dress (I’ve had the wrap version on my wishlist for quite some time), a Balmain bag, and a Gucci barrette, that’s worthy of the ball drop on Times Square.
We all want to look dazzling when we ring into the New Year, but whether we wear a sequin gown that rivals a disco ball, or go for a low-key ensemble with subtle sparkle, we should search for an outfit that fits in with our signature style…and our New Years festivities.
And now for more “subtle” New Year’s ensembles…
The advantage to a day-to-night outfit and something more subtle, is that it’s more versatile. The cost per wear for any sequin piece is going to be extremely high. There are only so many occasion where “shining like a diamond” is appropriate.
And on that note, the more formal the item, the less you will be able to wear it, unless you frequent red carpet events. When pieces are only nighttime appropriate or considered “evening-wear”, we are likely to only wear them a few times a year, if that.
One way around this is to make your outfit New Years-ready with a statement and embellished jacket. A sequin jacket will get much more mileage than a sequin dress…consider this…you can wear a statement jacket atop leather dress for a night out, but also with jeans to dinner. I’ve included a few of my favorite statement jackets that would be the feature for a low-key New Years look.
Another shopping suggestion would be to pick separates over a dress. By selecting a skirt over a dress, you can mix and match it with more casual tops and blouses and make it work for more occasions.
A blazer jumpsuit or blazer dress is a great option to still look put together and wear something tailored, but you can make it more fun and festive with playful accessories, like lighting bolt earrings and an iridescent handbag.
Have a Happy New Year as you dress to impress and pop the champagne.
