Financial diet meets fashionphile

The family is undertaking some pretty aggressive financial goals for the foreseeable future. My husband and I realized that we have reached a point in our lives where we are ready to commit to an agressive plan to pay off our home in an abbreviated period. Can we do it? Time will tell. And situations change. But it all comes down to the small choices we make each day.

I know. You are currently thinking, "how boring!" What's more boring than being fiscally responsible?! Well let me tell you. Its driving to your nice restaurant in your nice station wagon singing Depeche Mode's Black Celebration album at the top of your lungs like you are still in 8th grade. Yes, folks, middle age has arrived and the winds are shifting.

What does this mean for my love of fashion? For starters, all the care I have taken for my clothes, shoes and accessories should pay off in being able to wear my wardrobe without a lot of replacement for several years to come. For example, I still have my black trench from 1999, my red wool coat from 2006, and my D&G gold sandals from 2008, and they are all in great condition. There are some basics that will have to be replaced during this time, like under garments, but the cost of that is significantly less compared to the wardrobe investments (read: leather coats and cashmere sweaters) that I've made in the last few years. Secondly, I will use any small clothing budget I eck out during this time for wardrobe styling instead of clothing. That's right - mix and match is the magic to refreshing a look. Finally, it means maintaining my weight is critical to maintaining my wardrobe. This was one piece of advice I received early on working with personal stylists. And it is so true. You don't have to keep buying clothes if you previously bought quality items, care for them, and maintain your weight for your wardrobe.

So fun purchases are off the list, but fun styling is even more important. This ever evolving blog will morph to more frugal fashion selections. And maybe the occasional financial post for my friend Marina.

Yours truly,
(Now Frugal) Style Illiterate

This is what I live with

You may have heard me talk about my fashionable husband in the past. Here he is in his full glory heading off to work without any help from personal stylists. Yes, those are baby blue pants with cognac shoes. Under the funnel neck pea coat, he is sporting a purple shirt, navy tie and grey v-neck sweater. And he is just going to work at some technology company. How could I not try to step it up from my dead head t-shirts and tevas?! Or maybe a better question is how could he fall for a girl like me looking like he does? I think its my loud laugh. In any case, this will be 15 years of wedded bliss this September. And he still inspires me to stretch my fashion skills on a daily basis.