(via jak&jil)
Lately I’ve gotten some e-mails and comments from readers asking how I can afford designer clothing considering that I’m a student and not in the least wealthy. I don’t really like talking about my economy but since you asked so kindly, I’ll give it a shot.
To be frank, I’ve never had a proper job as in I haven’t been hired by an employer. When I was fifteen-years old, I was quite fortunate and got the opportunity to tutor two children piano. I earned far from 100 bucks a month. Until I turned seventeen, I realized that my closet was packed with useless, low-quality rubbish, which I obtained on sale at H&M. Additionally; I was utterly determined to stop drooling over luxury items. Rather, I wanted to get hold of those items. Such a puzzle! How can someone like me afford luxury, which is simply out of my league? Evidently it didn’t take me long time to figure out how to be able to afford high-quality clothes, particularly because I experienced this nightmare:
I remember the four weeks I spent in Paris a couple of summers ago. I managed to save the money I got from tutoring, roughly 800 euros, which took me almost a year to save up. At that point, I didn’t care much about quality and prioritized quantity. Accordingly, I spent half of my savings on cheap, secondhand or poor quality clothing that I didn’t try on before buying, because they were so cheap. I was a maniac and impulsive shopper, and my days were spent in thrift stores merely to find steals. My over-consumption resulted in two enormous suitcases bulging with clothes that had a funky smell. Most of the clothes did not even fit me. That said, I spent 3 euros here and 3 euros there, which eventually turned out to be the same price as a pair of high-quality designer boots. The worst part of this summer was the surprise trip to London after I came home from Paris. To my surprise, I didn’t spend every penny in Paris, so I could continue the futile shopping in London. I spent the rest of my savings on clothing from Primark. Period.
That’s how my new era started. With my savings, I could have afforded a designer bag or a delightful pair of quality shoes. Instead, I wasted my entire savings on… yes, clothes that I ended up donating to charity shops after I’d thrown 800 euros out of the window. One year later, I obtained my very first designer item in London: A Balenciaga city bag. My first designer purchase was a result of saving my monthly earnings, avoiding the shops, and overhauling my closet. I resold practically everything in my closet, which resulted in money for the bag I had been dreaming of ever since I was fourteen.
Nevertheless, it’s all about prioritization. Most people have this idea that buying heaps of cheap high-street clothes is way more economical than purchasing a luxury item that is made of the best quality material. Through trial and fail, I acknowledge that it is attainable for even a young student to wear designer clothing if she prioritizes it. I swear I’ll never ever go back to being that kind of consumer I used to be.
On the other hand, I’m not fifteen anymore. I just turned nineteen and I feel wiser, already. It wasn’t before last year that a lot of parents wanted me to tutor their kids. To answer your question: That’s how I afford designer clothing combined with prioritizing – not that I own a great amount of designer pieces. I rarely ever walk into high street stores – and if I do, I am completely capable of resisting buying rubbish. In fact, I’ve developed a fastidiously picky behavior, so I don’t really need to worry if I visit a store.
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So, the very first step to afford designer clothing is to stop purchasing clothes every week. Every time you’re about to purchase something because of your shopping habits or because it’s cheap, on sale, or you think you’ll save a great deal of money, etc – put the money in a box and see how much money you manage to gather in the end of the month. Voilà, perhaps you’ve gathered enough money for a designer item you’ve coveted for months.
I rarely comment on blogs, but I've made an exception here. I just have to commend you on this blog. It is refreshing to see a fashion blogger writing about their own economy, but in this case, it is even more so, as you write so candidly about how you acquire your designer pieces. Too often, it seems that many blogs are a medium in which people purely showcase how many/which high-design items they own, without going beyond the item itself. You provide a fascinating insight into the process of sensible commerce, and I am impressed by this maturity! When I was nineteen, it was all about the quantity of clothes I had, rather than the quality – exactly what you wrote about. The advice that you offer makes your blog, for myself, a daily must read.
A: I feel honored as you just left a comment on my blog :) Thank you!
I totally agree with you. It's better to have few clothes that are of great quality and timeless design, rather than a wardrobe full of H&M stuff that will barely last a few months.
Love this. I'll be purging my closet soon, if my desire for productivity doesn't fail me.
You're absolutely right. I feel this way as well. Although I don't purchase designer pieces, I still like to buy higher end things sometimes, and I usually try not to buy random frivolous things just because they're "cute" because I know I can save the money for something else.I'm not as disciplined as you, however! I'm still working on taming the shopping urge (like retail therapy for when I'm sad) but I'm definitely getting better, and I've been making lists for things I NEED rather than want.Your blog is an inspiration for me! It brings me down to earth and helps me remember I don't need to feed into the usual materialism.
Someone asked me the exact same question a while back and my answer was the same. there was a period in my life when I used to impulse shop, shop because i could, spend every penny on something ridiculous just because i had money. I had a cupboard full of cheap chain store clothes and vintage grabs that neither fit me properly nor worked in my wardrobe. Everything changed when, like you, I decided to re-think my wardrobe and have a serious edit. What emerged was a desire to fill it with things I loved, really loved, and not things that were bought on whims. The result is I have more money to spend on lovely things rather than cheap things. And i feel much much better!Well done, and a belated happy 19th birthday :)X
Very, very nice blog post :)I think the issue of finances + designer clothing, though understandably, is not touched upon enough among bloggers. Not that I am saying that everyone should now lay bare their finances and justify how they manage to buy designer clothes all the time, but the picture some bloggers draw about themselves as well-off brats with tons of designer bags is misleading and confusing. Or maybe I'm just jealous, but your story shows the necessity of being rational about it.
Oh, and also, I totally used to be "that" person too, wasting money on cheap items only being happy and proud of myself because I thought I was a really smart bargain hunter. What stupid ways that I am now really glad to have laid off.Sorry for spamming :)
i really love the way you write. it is so genuine and very constructed. when i go blog hopping i usually just look at pictures but your blog is an exemption. keep up the good work!
I've noticed you know how to mix it up pretty well with classic items Cos and Urban Outfitters too – which is a feat in itself!
I completely agree, it is so much more worthwhile to save your money to buy something designer. You feel much more satisfaction afterwards I think. Thanks for the tales of your shopping, I used to be really bad at shopping in sales but as I said in another comment (I think earlier) you have inspired me to be more selective and clear out the things I do not use in my wardrobe!
Does anyone else have this problem: that you may save up to buy nice things, but you're afraid of what others will think if they see you with items that are "for rich people", when you are not rich? That others may think you are doing something shady? I'm afraid of that.
Thanks for the input, people :DAnonymous: I couldn't care less.. because the designer clothes I buy are understated pieces that doesn't scream DIOR or FAKE LOUIS VUITTON or something. But if I bought a chanel bag I'd think that people in the area where I live would think that my bag is fake.. haha. But in my opinion, it depends on your style and outfits. If you look like Erin Wasson and wear that celine bag posted above, I'd be confused. Otherwise, designer items aren't made for rich or poor people. They are made for people with good taste :)
V.: I absolutely agree with you. I don't want to give the impression of being superrich when I'm not. Haha, i don't think you're jealous.. at least I'm not, because I don't want to own 1000 designer bags. I just want to own the bags that I covet. And If I were rich, I wouldn't consume 24/7.. Rich or poor, I'd stick to my rules, no matter what.
oh i agree! my mum has always said: "i'm not rich enough to buy cheap things" .
Christian Louboutin helped bring stilettos back into fashion in the 1990s and 2000s, designing dozens of styles with heel heights of 120mm (4.72 inches) and higher.
I loved this post! I do exactly the same thing. NOW! I didn't always use to think this way, but you get wiser as you get older, I guess. But it sounds like you realized this when you were much younger than I was!
I am currently in the process of doing this to my closet- I have been for awhile, and I have been lucky and been able to sell most of the stuff I have impulse-bought. It does require a lot of saving to buy designer items as a student, but it is do-able. My biggest problem, though, tends to be buying "novelty" items, when I do buy designer things. I buy really impractical garments that stick out.
Wow you buy and return clothing after worn? How unethical..
Thanks for the commentsAnonymous: Yes, everyday I buy new clothes, wear them once and return them as if they're new.. yes.. EVERR FRICKIN DAY! ;)
I've been shopping A LOT this past year, mostly as, well..therapy. I feel bad, I go out, I find something, buy it, and feel better because it puts my mind somewhere else for a while. It's not been good. And, eventually, my constantly growing closet has given me a bad feeling rather than a good one. But, being more or less depressed, and finding a way out of it, and all the crap that put me at that state, also made me mature more, and made me realize what I really want. Like, neutral, earthy colours. How they really suit me, and how they really never go out of fashion. So,some weeks ago, I went shopping..and, what I bought felt good. And it still feels good, and looks good, and I know I can keep it for a long time, and wear it lot's of different ways. And when I came home from that little shopping spree, I went on My Wardrobe dot com, and I bought a pair of Day Birger et Mikkelsen boots. They were 180 pounds sterling, and I would've never done that a year ago, but now it feels right, as I know what I want with my clothes and style. So now I've made a little list of a few more items I want to get for fall, and some I want to get for spring. Tory Burch Reva flats..a Burberry trench coat..A Marc Jacobs Classic Q Natasha bag. Simple, classic pieces that I can keep for as long as I like, and that I know I will feel good about, and know I deserve.
And, by the way, after I posted that comment I had a look at next months budget, and decided to buy a Acne Ramos cardigan, which is on my list for this autumn..because I can. Thank you for your great inspiration!
You have valuable insights to share, but I recommend that you have someone edit your work before posting online. I spotted quite a few malapropisms; these small – avoidable – errors make your writing less creditable.
^Well, would you like to edit my work? English is my 3rd language which is pretty obvious I guess…
Dear Fleurette!!!I adore your blog. ….its exactly what I needed. and your english is great!
I know this is an old post, but i read it a while back and just trailed your blog to find it again. This is my favourite post, what you say just makes so much sense to me, you make me want to do the same thing despite my shopping not being a worry at all (in fact i'm quite cautious and have the same mindset, apart from the designer tag). You're just so inspiring.