BritUgly's Chic Blog

When Annabel posted her fantastic Money Saving Tips, it felt like she was almost telling herself as much as us to work at saving the cash.

Similarly, this post will hopefully help me as much as it helps you in overcoming/dealing with a fickle attitude towards fashion.

If there is one thing that catagorises my style and my wardrobe it is it’s rapid turnover. While I have a few treasured items I have worn and loved for YEARS, I tend to tire of most things I buy incredibly quickly and am always looking for that next fix. And there’s nothing worse than a wardrobe full of clothes you don’t want to wear.

Lacking a millionaire’s bank balance – and feeling slightly sickened by my constant rampant consumerism – I’ve devised a few ways to cope with my throwaway attitude to fashion and style.

Shopping ban
One way to ensure you stop buying frivalous items that you’ll only wear a few times is to impose a blanket ban on shopping for as long as you can handle. That means ABSOLUTELY NO CLOTHING PURCHASES. For some, a week without any new buys will seem a lifetime; others will manage a month and barely notice. Pick a length of time that will really test your resolve.

If you’re really craving something new (anyone else think this is starting to sound like addiction counclling?) then a new eyeshadow or nailpolish could help to temporarily fill that aching void.

As well as saving cash for bigger and better future purchases, taking time out from acquiring new stuff forces you to get reacquianted with the contents of your wardrobe and figure out what you really want or need, rather than constantly topping it up with unnecessary bits here and there.

Step away from the magazines/blogs
You’re reading this on chictopia, so you’re already a consumer of online fashion – if you don’t read fashion blogs, I bet you at least flick through magazines on a regular basis. While blogs and magazines are an incredible source of style inspiration, many can also brainwash you into slavishly following TRENDS.

Lace, tartan, gothic, etc etc… we all know what’s we’re supposed to be wearing next season. Putting the magazines down for a while allows you to realise YOUR OWN personal style rather than obsessively grasping after the Next Big Thing. Trends come and go in the blink of an eye – if you only really bought that tartan mini because Vogue said it was cool then you’ll want to bin it the second as they declare tartan passe.

Pin down your style
Hopefully the previous tips will help you pin down some features of what your style is all about. Obviously most of us are keen to develop and improve the way we dress, but it pays to recognise certain things about out ultimate likes and dislikes to avoid making purchases we regret 3 weeks later.

Readers of my personal blog always comment that they’re amazed at how I manage to put together whole outfits using just black and grey without them ever looking boring. In truth, this isn’t an amazing skill at all – it feels completely natural and ‘right’ for me to dress this way.

I really admire the style of those who dress bright/girly but I can’t seem to completely pull it off myself. Thus, I’m always seeing brightly coloured items which I love, but after I’ve bought them and worn them a few times I lose interest because they’re not really me.

If you find a particular style / cut / colour that you feel confident in, don’t fight it!

Stay tuned for part II…