The stylist's recommendations for the discount period
Best pieces to order during the sale? Any coat with a classic design and the "investment" pieces, which you buy at a better price.
Traditionally, January is synonymous with the season of winter discounts : they start in the first or second week of the month and apply either to the entire autumn-winter collections, or only to some selected items, whose red label signals a "best deal" ( best deal).
One of the aspects of my work as a stylist is that, periodically, I follow these offers, online or in stores. What's more, I sort by criteria - quality, versatility, design and so on - of what really deserves to be bought at a discount.
I approach things this way because I encourage neither (fashion) consumption nor random shopping or as a substitute for other activities . Precisely because it presents us with so many temptations, the discount period should be crossed with a minimum planning of what we want to buy, with an estimated budget of the expenses we are willing to make, calmly and taking into account the image of our style in as a whole, of our entire wardrobe, not just the garment seen now, in the window! Of course, but so often we end up regretting the purchases made...
From my perspective, a pragmatic approach to your style purchases involves two things: adding to your wardrobe a few versatile pieces with classic cuts, a timeless design , quality materials and/or buying those pieces that have been sitting on a shelf for a while "wish list" and the purchase of which you have postponed for various reasons (usually financial). Taken together, these two directions help you build a quality wardrobe and be a more responsible, more informed, more educated, more attentive shopper.
So where do you start shopping? What is worth putting on the list? What are those pieces that do not lose their charm and quality? To make your choices easier, below is my 6-point list with recommendations from the Izabela Măndoiu collections.
- A neutral, trans-seasonal piece . Something you can wear anytime, in any season and at any time of the day: the white cotton and linen blouse with lace .
Why? Because it is the more feminine and elegant equivalent of the white shirt . It's ultra-versatile , you'll be able to wear it with jeans and office pants, with shorts or long velvet skirts, with pleated skirts, and with fabric culottes. Depending on the rest of the outfit and accessories, it fits equally well with a daytime outfit and an evening dress code.
- One or 2 pieces for special events in 2024
In this category, I've included an evening dress (my favorite is this off-the-shoulder black dress with a Parisian flair), a pair of smart pants (I recommend these velvet pants , for the balance between refined fabric and modern cut), and a skirt ultra-elegant maxi (for the princess moment).
Why? Of all the categories of women's wardrobe, the one dedicated to occasion wear is (often) the most neglected. Rare are the women who, when they receive invitations to an opening, a gala, an evening at the Opera, a civil ceremony or a festive dinner, smile quietly knowing that they already have the right pieces in their wardrobe. So, you can consider this recommendation as the anti-stress solution, the antidote to the heartburn before that event. Any of the suggested pieces suit all shapes, ages and styles.
- A layering piece for the rest of winter, spring and fall .
For when you're a little cold, but not cold enough to wear a thick sweater: the fabric vest. On beige, black , gray or navy blue , those neutral colors to which you can match any other colors.
Why? Because layering adds an extra dimension to your outfit, makes it less basic, and the style of this vest allows you to wear underneath an outfit that took you two minutes to put together (a black leggings+black pants, a blue sweater+jeans...) . If in the following months the vest supplements the knitwear, in the spring months it will replace your jacket, trench coat, thin quilted jacket.
- A piece to renew and prepare your office (spring) wardrobe .
A piece that you will wear with impatience and joy and which, perhaps, will even symbolize spring: a dress-shirt or a party dress .
Why? I return, in the mirror, to the reason in paragraph 2. This is the year we return, after more than 3 years spent working from home, in the office. If you're used to staying in jeans or house clothes all day, if you don't like the old clothes you wore to work anymore/ they don't fit you anymore/ they don't represent you anymore, if you know that your mornings will be rushed and you'll wants you to get dressed quickly or if you want to mark in any way this return to the community and the professional space.
- A piece you wanted before Christmas.
Maybe it's that white lace dress you've been dreaming of for a while, but you know there's no upcoming event to wear it to. Maybe it's that asymmetrical quilted jacket in a lovely shade of pink, but the thought that you already have a black coat that you rely on every winter has stopped you. It may be the most feminine pleated skirt , but the one you wouldn't dare wear for fear of staining it...
Why? Because, as the L'Oreal commercial says, you deserve it. Once a year you can buy a piece of pampering, for the simple reason that the clothes you wear - everyday or on occasions - should delight you, awaken your joy and reconnect you with your inner femininity , not just either utilitarian. You also need clothes that make you look beautiful, not just clothes that fit you and keep you warm.
- A new coat for the new year.
A coat that stands out from all the black coats and jackets you see on the street. A coat that is the outer layer of elegance , added to your outfit. A coat made of a quality fabric , made of 100% wool that does not shed or get ugly. An impeccably tailored coat , just like the old days and in a bright color.
Why? Because such a coat can be worn for more than 10 years, without becoming outdated or damaged. Emerald green is a friendly color that can be combined with neutral shades, but also with many other colors: light pink, cherry, electric blue, solar yellow, lime yellow, orange, lavender purple.... It is a coat that- and worth the money.
To remember:
...a pragmatic approach to your style purchases involves two things: adding to your wardrobe a few versatile pieces with classic cuts, a timeless design, quality materials and/or buying those pieces that have been on a shelf for a while" wish list" and the purchase of which you have postponed for various reasons (usually financial). Taken together, these two directions help you build a quality wardrobe and be a more responsible, more informed, more educated, more attentive shopper.
