Top 12 Essentials we all need and how to bargain shop for them all and MORE!!

This weeks blog is simple and to the point. People ask me all the time "Where do YOU shop?" They are surprised to hear that I am an avid discount store shopper. BUT I am also very careful to tell them I look for very specific labels that I know are carried in the major department stores and then passed down to the discount stores. Second I hear, "When your out shopping are you looking for something specific or do you just go for the bargains you can find?" Great question! And thirdly, "How do you find such great deals?" You must be present, I'll explain more in a bit.

But first, before we delve into where to shop, we need to know what we already have and what it is we are looking for. I hope by this time, many of you have done a first phase purge of the absolutes you never wear and know should be donated. Once that's accomplished, you can begin to focus on building your wardrobe with thought and purpose. This above all else is the reason I spend my time helping ladies in their closets and building their wardrobes. We all must have focus and purpose, even in the area of building our wardrobes. So to answer their second question, "It depends." Sometimes I'm being very deliberate because I need something very specific. Those times are harder, because I am very picky. But most of the time I am just looking to find great deals. But not JUST because it's a great deal, but because I know it's an item I can use or it will replace one I have been thinking of purging. So do be purposeful anytime you are shopping.

I have always held to the belief that every woman needs very good staples in her wardrobe. I follow the list given out by top stylist and fashion guru TIM GUNN. He has the "Top 10 Essentials list" we all need to have in our wardrobes at all times. I have added two more I feel are also necessary. Here's the combined list.

Top 12 Fashion Essentials
• Basic Black Dress
• Blazer
• Classic yet modern work suit
• Classic Dress Pants
• Skirt
• Classic White Shirt
• Day Dress
• Cashmere/Classic Sweater
• Jeans/ In style and well fitting
• Trench/Fall Winter Coat
• Sweat Suit Alternative/ (NOT in any way a sweat suit)
• Useful alternative top (Shell)
• Bonus: An Indulgent Trendy Item Under $25

So when your "clearing the clutter" and starting to rebuild your wardrobe, these are the items to look for. First you must shop IN your own closet. Then, if they are not there, begin the bargain hunt for each one.

Bargains...When you first hear the word you may think of manufacturers seconds or poorly made things, the flee market or a second hand stores. But I want to put a new spin on the idea that BARGAIN shopping is an art and we can all learn to do it well. So why do people walk into stores like Nordstroms, Macy's, Dillard's, Younker's, Barney's, Sak's Fifth Ave, Ect. to by clothes, or should I say LABELS, at full price. My answer...I have NO idea. Really I don't get it. Even if I had alot of money, I would not pay the amount of money these garments are priced at. It makes no sense. However, I love great clothes, well made, finely tailored of high end fabrics. Attention to detail in every area. There are designers who not only make very high end garments seen on the runways, but also garments from their "Ready to wear" lines. Designers like Ralph Lauren, Kenneth Cole, Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel, Michael Kors, DKNY, BCBG Maxazria, Vera Wang, Calvin Klein, and the list goes on. Then there are the design houses that make only ready to wear clothes that are also worth investing in. Lines such as Jones New York, Due' per Due', Tahari, H&M, White House Black Market, Ann Taylor, Liz Claiborne, Kasper, Guess, Nicole Miller, Bisou Bisou, BeBe, just to name a few. The key is to know where to find these labels once they have been shipped out of the high end department stores and specialty shops. They are out there girls and my closet is full of them. All bought at 50% to 95% off their retail cost.

So the key is to know what are the more trendy items and what are the garments you will wear for several more seasons and beyond. These are the designer labels you want on the essentials you are building your wardrobe around. "How do you know all these names and labels" many of you asked. WELL, to put it simply, I have done alot of studying. Not in the same way one would study for a Bachelors or Masters degree. But I have taken time to peruse the department stores and fashion magazines. I look, I see, I notice and most importantly, I TOUCH!! I feel a garment. I look for flaws, I notice details, I search for trademarks of a well made garment. So by now, I can walk into a store and go through a rack from one end to the other in a matter of minutes and pull all the worth while items while leaving all the other "stuff" untouched. Some ladies say "It's like looking for a needle in a haystack." But for ME, it's like finding a diamond in a dark room with a flash light. They just jump out at me in seconds.

So why do I take time to find clothes like these at great prices? Because great garments last. And at a good discount, your money is well spent. More importantly, when you're wearing a well crafted garment it makes you feel your best. We need to take pride in ourselves and wear things that are a reflection of the fabulous person we are on the inside.

Many of the items I have in my wardrobe today I have had for 5 or more years. Many women tell me they just don't have time or just really don't care that much about it. I understand the time limitations. Many of us live extraordinarily busy lives. If we get a shower and a clean coffee cup in the morning we are doing good. For the ladies who say they just don't care that much, I say PEESHAW!! I really don't believe that. I do believe you don't know where to start, you truly just have NO idea. So it's just easier to say and live like you don't care. Almost every lady who has said that to me, when we have dig deeper and spent time together, she really does care she's just overwhelmed.

I had the privileged of working with a new client this last weekend who is moving herself forward through new challenges that are growing and stretching her. She has many changes coming her way as she will prepare for them. Her desire was to take some money she had saved and go shopping for a whole new wardrobe. So my challenge was to spend the day with her, teaching her about the stores to shop in and the labels to be looking for. This was most exciting to her. At the end of the day we had spent her $200 and with that we purchased 15 item. Quality, well made, good labeled items! Included was a fully lined $200 retail priced suits for $29, a pencil skirt, several tops, two blouses, a vest, dark wash jeans, several tanks, underwear, etc. We were able to get her many of the top 12 essentials she was lacking and more. The picture of the receipt and several pictures of the labels with the discount tags are posted for you to see.

Because she is an Associate for Premier Jewelry, we also took time to put outfits together for her shows. This was vital because just buying clothes is not what makes your wardrobe work. Knowing how to mix and match these items to make dozen of outfits with just a handful of garments is the secret. So I showed her how to put together outfits with her fabulous jewelry. These too can be seen in the pictures to the right. I also hold true to the fact that great clothes are just your foundation. GREAT accessories make the outfit. Good quality jewelry is very much a part of that. You can see how the jewelry has given each outfit a polished finish.

How did we get such great deals? We went into the stores and LOOKED! Remember I said earlier you must be present. What I mean is you have to get out there and look. You go to places like the Outlet Malls, TJMaxx, Marshall's, Ross, H&M, and more. Take note of when the Department Stores are having their sales with an ADDITIONAL 25% off their already reduced prices. Then there might be a deal worth getting. I snagged a $59 white blouse with fantastic details unlike any of the blouses I have at a Macy's sale for $5.98. Now that was worth it. You have to be in the stores digging through the clearance racks in order to find the deals. Believe me, they won't come find you, you do have to go and find them.

So if your ready for an adventure, or if your wanting to make some changes, or if there is a few specific items you have been hunting for, but can't find, I am here for you. I will be your SHOPPING CHAPERON. We will hit the discount stores and squeeze every nickle you have to spend until SCREAM 7 cents. It's fun, it's rewarding and it's worth it. So email me at cleartheclutter4u@yahoo.com or give me a call 209-298-5140 and let's plan a day to shop and learn. I'm looking forward to getting into YOUR closet!!!