SKIMO’S TIPS AND TRICKS: How I shop right

Ha! It feels so good to be back!!! Happy new month guys….

Just like anything that should be done right, shopping has to be done strategically. I am of the opinion that shopping goes far beyond grabbing your credit card and dashing off to a boutique or surfing some online store. A little amount of thought must be given to it.

Many people do not have a mind map or mental picture of what they want before they go on a major shopping. I say ‘major shopping’ because I’m aware that there could be days when you suddenly stumble on something nice and you just know that you gotta have it! Impulse buying is permissible (discipline is also important).

Here’s what I do…

Before any major shopping,

I try to get a feel of what my wardrobe is like (ie. Know what I have and what I do not have).

Before I buy anything, I ask myself:

Have I bought all I really need?

Do I really need this now?

How well does this complement other things in my wardrobe?

Am I choosing the right color? For instance, it might just happen that you’ve been stocking up on red dresses of recent and you find yourself wanting to buy yet another. Then you remember you actually need a little white dress….go for the white dress. That seems like the reasonable thing to do.

Are my foundation pieces in place? I often preach that you buy at least one basic wardrobe item on every major shopping day. Invest in wardrobe essentials. They yield good returns. Click here if you missed my post on ‘how strong is your foundation?’

I also like to balance out my wardrobe by buying items that are really lacking in terms of color, prints or styles. There was a time I realized I had so many prints with very little basic colored pieces to match up. It could be that all I needed was a basic black top or black denim and then I would suddenly realize I didn’t have one available. Damn!!

I had issues with getting anything black (bag, shoes, dress, skirt….).Well, I kinda still do. I would ask myself-why buy black when there are so many other colors to choose from? Most of the black items I have in my closet were most likely given to me and the other few, I struggled to buy. But really, black works every time, regardless of my sentiments.

Believe me when I say this; when I see an item I like especially clothes, my brain goes to work on the spot. I begin to think of the very many possible ways to wear it. I wouldn’t say I shop much or say i have a very large closet. I still wonder why some people think I have more than I really do. I think I’m just better able to maximize the little I have. That’s what’s most important. Maximization.

It’s not enough to buy expensive or nice things, you must be able to use them well. Many people have really nice individual pieces stocked up in their closets but you almost cannot tell. They just can’t make it work.

But hey, that’s why we’re here to gradually guide you through the journey. 

Remember, your views are always welcome.

Thanks for stopping by…..

YS: Ogunrinde Olayemi

FASHION FUNDAMENTALS: How strong is your Foundation?

By foundation, I do not mean your house or family background. I mean your wardrobe foundation, wardrobe basics, foundation pieces, wardrobe essentials!!

Wardrobe basics are the building blocks to creating a solid wardrobe that keep you covered all season round.

Before you begin to stock up your closet with trendy pieces which you only get to wear for a limited period or have to hide somewhere in your closet till they become in vogue again, it is important that your wardrobe basics are in place.

Wardrobe basics never go out of style. They are faithful friends, ever ready to be restyled, revibed and revamped without giving you away. They always got your back.

Here is a list of items I believe should be present in a well structured female closet:      

CLOTHING

Black everything- top, skirt, shoes, jeans, pant trousers, blazer... etc.

Someone said: Women think of all colors except the absence of color. I have said that black has it all. White too. Their beauty is absolute. It is the perfect harmony.

Black works everytime.

       Denim 

      

     White shirt and top

     

   

     Tops in basic solid colors

     

    

     The little Black Dress (LBD)

     The Little White Dress (LWD)*

     

      

 

     

     Prints (florals, stripes…)

     

    

      Blazer/Coat/Jacket

      

    

     Iron free top

   Pant trousers

     

        

        A flattering skirt (Pencil, A-line….)

     

SHOES                                                                                    

Black pumps

Stylish flats

Nude heels

Sandals

Fancy slippers

Statement heels

Strappy heels

Sneakers

Accessories

Jewelry, Scarves, hats, Sunglasses, Watch

BAGS

Black bag

Clutch 

Swing bag

Note: your basics should always be of good quality as you are likely to use them more often. You don’t wanna have to replace them within a short period. Also this write-up is somewhat restricted to the Nigerian environment. Other pieces such as coats and boots might be regarded as a wardrobe staple in other countries.

Once your basics are in place, you can go on to add other items that reflect your personal style. I am of the opinion that your wardrobe shouldn't skew to certain pieces…like only black and white or I love pink, so I’m gonna buy everything in pink…

Make your wardrobe as versatile as an actress. It should be able to play many roles.

Thanks for stopping by.

YS: Ogunrinde Olayemi