"Thrifty Shopping Tips for Spring"

    Spring Temptation

    Fight the urge this spring from digging deep into your pockets to update your wardrobes. Your initial thought may be to get rid of the clutter and revamp some items. But wait!, before you empty out your wallet take inventory of what is already in your closet. Try to avoid reflecting on the saying "out with the old and in with the new", because sometimes the old can compliment the new! 

   For instance, back in January I personally took a trip to one of my favorite discount stores. I found a couple of lounge pants that I just couldn't leave behind, however I had nothing to pair with them. At that moment my limited budget prohibited me from making an additional purchase. So I bought the lounge pants and they hung in my closet for a few months. 

                                 Fast forward to March, I got an itch to buy some apparel for my spring weekend looks. I found myself scoping the new spring collections and on impulse began to grab a few miscellaneous pieces to try on. I then stopped dead in my tracks and had to remind myself of one of my styling rules I've given myself: Check your own inventory before you add more inventory! This is when I intently closed my eyes to think of what I needed (of course I also disobeyed my other rule of surveying my closet and doing a seasonal purge before going wardrobe shopping). At that moment I remembered that I didn't have the proper sporty tops to go with my irresistible lounge pants I purchased back in January. I then did a 360 degree turn and pounced over to the sporty section to do a strategic search. This was when I scored and found the perfect sporty tops to go with my lounge pants!!! 

    Take Inventory

         Take Inventory the next time you look at that lonely grey tunic in your closet, you may consider updating it by simply purchasing a satin skinny pant instead of investing in an entirely new outfit.

         Now go ahead and take a notepad to your wardrobe and do the following: Check your "Basics".

Your basics should consist of: 

• 1 black and 1 white woven (collared) shirt 
• 2 mid-length black skirts 
• 2 pair of trousers: Black and grey 
• 2 pair of novelty pants to give your wardrobe some edge (fun colors like red, royal blue or mustard) 
• 2 pair of denim pants.  I suggest to have styles such as vintage cut/ Bootleg and skinny leg. 

 Updating Tips: With these basics in mind, now you can go shopping! Here's another few tips: -

• Feel free to replace any of your basics if you want to update the cuts or fit 
• keep the basic types though and use the formula as a template for building your wardrobe 
• Don't buy an item simply because it looks good on the rack. Be sure you can actually put it to good use Buy specific tops to pair with your bottoms 
• Do splurge on a couple pairs of novelty tops and pants every season 

 Note: Novelty tops and bottoms are pieces that you buy for an occasion or to add spice to your wardrobe. Such pieces are usually Sequins, satins, silks, Patterns or prints. 

 Don't forget these helpful tips before your next shopping trip to save you from having an empty wallet! 

"Great things start in small places" :) Aniyah