These days, the economy is forcing even the biggest shopaholics to put the breaks on spending. And clothing may be one of the first things to go. Fashion diet? Yes. But it doesn’t have to feel like starvation: Take a leaf out of the French woman’s book and learn to shop smart. Here, five tips from stylish women on how to dress gorgeously and save money while doing so.
Shop With A Plan
American women love markdowns and tend to shop impulsively. French women, by contrast, shop with a plan and buy selectively. They only head to a clothing store when they need a particular item.
Internet entrepreneur Ludovica Pellicioli, who works at the Web start-up Liquida in Milan, developed her shopping expertise in Paris where she grew up. “I always approach shopping with a plan in mind,” she says. “This is what I need, this is what I would like and this is where I can find it. Shopping is rarely the sole purpose of an outing.”
Pellicioli plans her wardrobe each season by assessing what she already has in her closet and adding carefully to her collection. For her winter wardrobe this year she purchased a jacket designed by Rick Owens. She paid about $2,000, but she wears the jacket several days each week–sometimes with slacks, sometimes over a dress and to both daytime and evening events.
Shop Selectively
American women have a habit of splurging for items they don’t particularly need. French women avoid splurges by shopping for just a half-dozen indispensable wardrobe items each year.
French designer Anne Fontaine, known for her white shirts, says that “besides a beautiful blouse, every woman should have a great pair of jeans, black pants, a perfect skirt, a perfect little black dress and a jacket for each season.”
Consider this collection of basics a jumping off point–with a few accessories added in, there are endless outfit possibilities. A little black dress, for example, can be dressed up with fine jewelry for a formal event, paired with a jacket for a business dinner or worn with strappy sandals for a cocktail party.
Assess Every Purchase
French women assess how often they will be able to wear every item they purchase. Designer Catherine Malandrino advises women to think carefully about their buys. “French women are not just picking something because it is in fashion,” Malandrino explains. “She gives more thought to it. How many times can she wear it? Is it versatile enough to go from day, to work, to cocktails? And will she want to wear it again and again?”
That sequined jacket may look great on a store rack but most likely it won’t be wearable at the office. A tuxedo blazer, on the other hand, can be paired with jeans for a casual look or with a satin shift for a formal evening event.
Born in Grenoble, France, Malandrino learned from her French mother how to build a distinct wardrobe, buying only comfortable clothes that were made of high-quality fabrics. “My mother had an Yves Saint Laurent blouse that she always wore. Year after year, season after season, it never seemed to age.”
Know When to Splurge … and On What
Building a quality wardrobe requires spending more on less and investing in great accessories. Forking over $800 for a Louis Vuitton bag or over $5,000 for a Hermès Kelly bag may seem highly extravagant, but when the cost is amortized over several decades of use, the bag’s price tag may seem more reasonable. Other pricey items, such as colorful designer silk scarves or a pair of designer pumps, also can last for years.
“French women prefer quality over quantity,” says Fontaine. “This holds true from our fashion choices to the food and wine we drink. Quality of life overall is very important in the French lifestyle.”
Skip the Trends
Instead of following trends, French women are loyal to the styles and colors that look best on them. After all, copying what’s on the runways isn’t for everyone. French style icons like actress Catherine Deneuve, known for her black cocktail dresses and trench coats, forge their own signature styles and stick to them.
Deborah Ricard, who works in public relations for TSE cashmere and grew up in Versailles, France, says women in France embrace their individuality. “They will never wear what the magazines and celebrities tell them to wear. Instead, they choose and wear clothes [that fit] their personality. It is more about what feels right and looks good on you. Most of all it has to look effortless.”
One of Ricard’s biggest pet peeves is seeing women in head-to-toe designer looks. She advocates creatively mixing and matching different styles instead.
For her part, Ricard mixes vintage and new pieces, along with expensive designer items and cheap finds. Malandrino is another champion of dressing eclectically and enjoys pairing cocktail dresses with motorcycle jackets and mixing jeans and T-shirts with unique vintage jewelry or belts. “Women should be their own stylists,” she says.
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