Summer Sale Shopping Tips

As the great Billy Joel once said, “This is the time to remember – but it will not last forever…”

You may have noticed in June that many stores were announcing new summer merchandise, but everything was full price.  Now that July 4^th has officially come & gone, it’s a very different story.  July is THE best time of the year to shop clothing sales.  This month is especially great if your wardrobe needs a major overhaul.  You can get a lot of clothing at a great price. However, beware the pitfalls of sale shopping. 

5 rules for shopping sales:

• Go as early as possible for the best selection - both in the day and in the season.
• Don’t get sucked into the sale vortex.  There is a lot of merchandise and it can be overwhelming.  The sales are so good that it’s easy to buy a bunch of stuff just because it’s cheap.
• It’s best to have a clear objective of what you are shopping for before you go into a store.  You can pre-shop online to find some shopping goals.
• A bargain is only a bargain if the item is right for you – in terms of style, fit, color and price.
• If you are not entirely certain about a purchase, ask about the store’s return policy.  Most stores offer a full refund within 2 weeks with a receipt.  So – you can take it home and think about it.

Also - have fun!  It's summer, which is full of color and prints and...

If this is all sounds like your worst nightmare, it’s a great time to hire a personal shopper.  Give me a call. 

Bonobos Fall Menswear Challenge

A great menswear line called Bonobos reached out to me with a challenge to submit some looks to compliment their new Fall line of suiting.  I love dressing men and can dress them up or down, but my all time favorite thing is a man in a great fitting suit.  Or, even better - a tuxedo.  Below is the Bonobos look I chose.  I love the textured patterned fabric and the smooth, dark shawl lapel of the jacket paired with a narrow satin tie.  The flap pockets on the jacket also give the look more texture and versatility.  It's a modern take on a classic tux - urban chic with a nod to a bygone era.

   

Often my work is not about putting together a style piece by piece but simply finding it and defining it for my clients.  I was inspired by the ensembles below while pre-shopping for a new client. 

There is a lot of dapper, British inspired suiting being shown and worn right now - and I for one approve wholeheartedly.  I love this ensemble by Ted Baker because it is contemporary and also quintessentially English.  The grey tweed is very traditional but the bright blue and green in the tie and lapel pin give it a playful vibrancy and the tiny dots in the striped shirt make it not so corporate.    

 

This next look from Black Brown 1826 at Lord & Taylor is studious but still stylish and the maroon in the tie brings a richness to the baby blue patterned shirt.  And in 2014 - the choice to wear a bowtie versus a long tie is a major statement.

This look below could be in the same guy's closet as the Bonobos tuxedo - just for slightly less dressy occasions.  I love the two tone and piping on the jacket, which is obviously inspired by a private school uniform.  And again - the bright colors in the tie perk up the black & grey and the pattern on the shirt brings more fun to the whole look.  The only thing I don't love is the button on the jacket, but that is very easy to alter. 

 

I apologize for this not so great photo of these super great pants.  I love this bold plaid pattern from Ted Baker (and believe me, they look so much better at the store)!  One of the reasons I flipped for these is that they are unique statement piece that can be dressed up - with a crisp white shirt and a black tuxedo jacket, or dressed down - with a dark turtleneck.  And plaid is always slightly preppy, so they still have that classic element. 
 

Thank you again Bonobos for inviting me to take your Style Challenge!  I am very excited about dressing my clients this season and will see you at one of your Guideshops soon...  Happy Fall everyone!