Full Closet – Fat Wallet – A Monthly Shopping Guide
By: Valerie Wong, Grade 11
This column is a series of articles dedicated to the majority of us out there who aren’t of the voting age – never mind being in a position where we can actually shop until we drop!
Introduction: Who am I?
Hello there! My name is Valerie Wong and I’m currently in grade 11. I love fashion; clothes, shoes, accessories, you name it! I like to keep my style eclectic; I like the flowing hair and carefree/casual look – but I also like structure and clean lines. My shopping motto is: “Whatever looks good should make your wallet feel good, too.” Like a typical teenager, funds are often quite limited! We can’t go around just asking our parents to satisfy our every fashion whim, so I’ve developed my own fashion identity that definitely does not involve going out and buying everything at once.
Now, on to Business
How often have you seen something you wanted to buy, only to remember that you can’t afford it? It’s torture to tear yourself away from the shop windows that seem to call to you in tiny protesting voices… Well, you don’t need to feel that way anymore, thanks to five frugal fashion rules.
1. Buy your clothes on sale. You might be rolling your eyes at this: Why would I want to buy clothing that’s on sale because it’s going out of style? You’d be surprised at the things you can find in the sale section in a clothing store – a wardrobe staple never goes out of style.
2. Don’t follow trends. Though it might sound great to keep up with the constantly changing fashion world – chose the styles that suit your personal style and body-type! Though the 80’s are making a comeback, structured shoulders and bold flowered patterns aren’t for everyone! It’s also costly to always have to change your closet when the garments are no longer ‘in style’.
3. Try new things. Afraid to walk into that store because your friends have 
deemed it for old people and crazy cat ladies? Fear no more! There are some stores that are clearly geared for an older generation, but don’t let a stereotype stop you from being attracted to that nice SALE sign hanging in the shop window.
4. Don’t develop OSS. OSS is short for ‘one shopping stop’ syndrome. This is when you only shop at one place because you only like their style. OSS can become a problem especially if you’re just trying to buy one brand of clothing that everyone else has. This is a problem when your favourite store has a very limited sale rack, or never has sales at all! Broaden your shopping horizon – quite often, you’ll find the same things for less at places like Forever21 or Suzy Shier.
5. Splurge practically. Fictional fashionistas like Rebecca Bloomwood of the Shopaholic series had a really big problem. She bought everything she wanted! We can all relate to this at one time or another in our lives – when we’ve blown a fat wad of cash on something that we didn’t exactly need. To combat this problem, use your own judgment. Do you really need that item, or are do you just want ownership? Separate want from need – successfully separating liquid cash from debt!
Insider Shopping Tip:
- Forever21 has [very obviously] opened up its first store in mainland Vancouver – check it out when you’ve got the chance! 2 levels + appetizing prices = happy wallet, happy you.
- H&M is having its mid-season sale – it’s worth a peek if you’re very fashion forward. The current trends include furry vests - you will find no shortage of that in H&M! If the prices are unappealing to you now, wait until their even bigger sales in the summer!
- Army & Navy has no shortage of frugal finds and fantastic footwear. If you’re looking for a complete outfit, Army & Navy will definitely make that possible for under $100.
SOURCES:
http://www.readystudygoproject.net/IT/General/path5/foto/shopping_bags.jpg
