Stylish And Skint: How To Be A Recessionista

The recession…credit crunch….redundancy; these are the words shaping the time we find ourselves living in. I don’t know about you, but when I feel depressed or unmotivated, I feel the need to part with some hard earned cash on gorgeous, and possibly unnecessary clothing, which will undoubtedly make me feel happy the moment I clutch the carrier bag greedily in my paws, but, as soon as I get home and realise just how much money I have spent - the guilt sets in.

In the last year thousands of people, have found themselves in the position of being made redundant, myself included…thanks, economy! no probAlthough nothing makes me happier than fashion and shopping, even I have had to pull the reins a bit, and it seems that designers and the fashion mags are following suit. When asked what trends she will be adopting for the forthcoming season, Fashion Director of Elle, Anne-Marie Curtis, stated she would be “wearing last season's clothes with this season's style.” So where does that leave the rest of us?

I am a huge fan of the Great British high street. We have some of the best shops in the world open to us but during these penny-pinching times we find ourselves living in, perhaps the high street is not always the best place to go to bag a bargain. Autumn/Winter 2009 styles are ready to be uploaded and, despite only just getting the first glimpses of summer, the fashion savvy amongst us are chomping at the bit to see which styles and trends the high street will have reproduced from the AW09 catwalks. However, if you want to shop savvy, get set for the new season, and be a real trendsetter, here are the golden rules for looking chic on the cheap:

Hunt Down The Sales
At that first glimpse of sun we find ourselves hitting the shops to bag our summer wardrobes, and before you know it, that gorgeous silk blazer you bought for £80 is now hanging sadly on the sales rack for £20! It is very easy to go a bit ballistic during the sales, feasting your eyes on the multitudes of bargains to be had, but remember: if you didn’t need it in the first place, then it isn’t a bargain! Unless you are jet setting off for a last minute summer holiday, is it really necessary to buy all of those flimsy lightweight dresses, kaftans and sandals? Items which will be completely unsuitable and out of style when the new season hits.

Your best bet during the sales is to take your time and really think. Make the effort to get to the shops as they open. You might think this is tortuous on a Saturday morning, but trust me - the sales racks look a whole lot better first thing, before everyone else has had their chance to rifle through them.

Before you head off, do your research. Go online, or flick through a magazine, and take note of what the big trends are going to be next season, and when you hit the shops, try and find pieces, which will reflect those trends. It may be harder to find them, but trust me, they are there; blazers, harem trousers, city shorts, prints and sequins, all of these trends were big for summer, and they look set to return for AW09.

Become an eBay Queen
Ebay is an online Aladdin’s cave of fabulous fashion finds. Not only can you find one-off pieces, but also they are usually at a much more desirable price than on the high street. After spotting sequins featured on several AW09 runways, I decided to try and find something a bit sparkly, which I could purchase now without the whopping designer price tag. A few clicks and I found myself whizzing through hundreds of sequin dress options. A simple silver sequin shift would suffice: countdown four hours and, being the highest bidder at a whopping 99p, I won the dress! Two days later plus £2.50 postage and packing, and I had in my possession the slinky little number. Runway style with a charity shop price tag!

The main problem people have when buying clothes on eBay is the sizing. It’s very difficult to commit to buying something when you have no idea whether or not it will fit. Most sellers put every detail of the item next to the picture, including measurements, but, to be safe, you can always send the seller a message to make sure it really is for you.

Shopping on eBay is also a lot of fun. It’s a bit of a gamble, but the prices make it worth a go! Have a look at the new season trends, and see what you can find. Remember, one on trend piece, such as a blazer, a belt or a bag can update your old outfit. Again, don’t buy for the sake of it; go online with an idea of what you are looking for, and make sure you are happy with the price and P&P price before you confirm your bid!

Rifle Through the Rails at Vintage and Charity Shops
It is oh so fashionable to rock a piece of vintage clothing nowadays (sounds so much better than second hand!). Many people have given into the vintage craze, and if you are yet to have a piece hanging in your wardrobe, what’s stopping you? So many of the trends that we will see filtering down onto the high street, can easily be found in a vintage shop near you! Camel coats, which were seen on the Chloe runway, exaggerated shoulders demonstrated by Balmain and sequins so beautifully conveyed by 3.1 Philip Lim, are all trends and looks which have been interpreted before. Wasn’t the 80s all about sequins and big shoulders?

London’s Brick Lane is the Mecca of vintage shopping, where every other store is teaming with delectable one off vintage finds. Don’t just go to the big, obvious spots (Beyond Retro, Absolute Vintage); try out some of the smaller stores off the main strip, where prices will be even lower. Invest your money in truly beautiful pieces, which you know will keep you looking sharp and chic well into the new season and beyond.

Charity shops are another great place to find some special pieces. Head to affluent areas, where the pickings are destined to be a bit more interesting. A lot of the time the staff are not always aware of what they have had donated, so the price tag will be all the more affordable.

Despite the economic doom and gloom, there are ways to get around the feeling of guilt that a harmless retail therapy session might bring on. If you are among those tightening the purse strings, why not try a trip to a vintage shop or a peruse on eBay? Stick to the rules above and be a true Recessionista, and remember that being out of pocket, doesn’t mean you have to be out of style!