Luxe for Less

Before the year ends and while all the major winter sales are still going on, I wanted to circle back to a look I wore in London recently. This look conveys two key ideas I keep in mind when sale shopping as it pertains to (1) shopping for investment pieces, and (2) shopping for a trip.

Sale Shopping for Investment Pieces

After the holidays, we are inundated with emails and ads and all sorts of info promoting the latest and greatest sales. There are truly so many great deals to be had! It would be easy to get carried away shaping up every trendy piece you see.

However, I challenge you to look at the sales differently. Rather than going for quantity, go for quality. Focus your sales scouring on finding high-quality investment pieces that you an wear over and over, season after season.

What exactly is an investment piece? Well, my partner who is a bottom-line businessman through and through jokingly tells me that nothing is an “investment” unless I plan to sell it at some point. And we all know that I don’t plan to divest of my Chanel bag or Valentino shoes anytime soon! Ha.

When we are talking about “investing” in your wardrobe, we are talking about spending money on those pieces that anchor your wardrobe. These pieces can be worn over and over in a given season and / or even season after season.

Some nerdy people (like me!) even look at it in mathematical terms of “cost per wear.” That is, take the total cost of the item divided by the total number of times you anticipate wearing it. The lower the number, the better the deal! The Coveteur explains this fashion math theory more in a fun manner here.

My own personal preference is to invest in outerwear, shoes, and handbags – particularly if I can find high-end versions of these pieces on sale. In the case of this look,

In the case of this look, the bold statement coat may appear dated in a few years because of its distinctive color and pattern. But I have already worn it so many times this season that it was worth the sale splurge. (More on that below.) As for the Gucci over-the-knee boots, I have no doubt that these will work with my wardrobe for years to come.

For more on investment pieces, check out Real Simple’s 10 Staples for Every Woman’s Wardrobe and The Everygirl’s 19 Tips to Shop Smart When Buying Investment Pieces.

Sale Shopping for Travel

When you are browsing the bargains, also keep in mind any trips you may have coming in the future. For travels, I like to anchor my suitcase around a couple statement pieces and then add in basics that will mix and match well.

For instance, for my recent trip to London, I centered my packing list around this Peter Pilotto knit coat and these super comfortable, reasonable heel height Gucci over-the-knee boots. (No joke – I walked miles and miles around the streets of London in these boots!)

Then, the rest of the packing was easy. I packed a little black dress, some black jeans, some black leather pants, a tissue turtleneck, a gray sweatshirt, and a cozy striped sweater. Then, all of these pieces could be mixed and matched effortlessly, depending on the dressiness of the occasion and the weather conditions for the given day. All of this fit neatly within a carry-on!

Statement Coats on Sale

 

Over-the-Knee Boots on Sale

 

My London Packing List

 

Details of My Look

 

Peter Pilotto track ribbed stretch wool blend coat | Gucci horsebit-detailed leather over-the-knee boots | Kenzo patterned dress | Bao Bao Issey Miyake prism tote bag | Deborah Lippmann blue orchid nail polish | Dior lipstick

I’d love to hear your feedback on the two topics… How do you tackle the massive sales going on online after the holidays? What’s your best tip for packing light for a trip?

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you had a great holiday.

 

Photos by Holly McGlynn