Money doesn’t mean a damn thing unless you know yourself and your style.
It was a journey for me to become the high/low fashion mixer that I am today.
In my low days, I couldn’t afford a damn thing. I never embraced trends because I couldn’t. I was always two seasons behind so I created my unique personal style from an early age. Even as a teenager I didn’t shop at trendy stores. The once in a blue moon Contempo Casuals and my Limited Too birthday outfit – man do I remember that outfit!
When I was a 20-something with a bit of money, I went on a fast fashion bender for club nights mixed in with my Betsy Johnson pieces that I got with my employee discount.
As I got older and started working in the fashion industry, I was introduced to real designer fashion, and it was ON!
It was all I wanted, and I did whatever was necessary to get the best – warehouse sale, driving to the boonies, outlet shopping, eBay, etc
I went all high but for less.
It was good, and it was bad.
The good – I got to experience fashion on a different level, quality on a different level, and at least I got it at a discount.
The bad? Because a piece was a designer, I assumed it was good – even better if it was on sale. So I ended up with a mismatched wardrobe and a lot of wasted money. This is why developing your style and being clear on your goals is so important.
Today I still believe in buying the best quality you can afford, and I use fast fashion for fun – but only when I shop for it with thought and consideration. Those fast fashion pieces also need to be styled in a particular way to work and tailored when needed.
Recently I’ve been messing with Zara and shockingly H&M! I know, me the H&M hater, is changing her tune a bit.
A few things to think about when buying lower priced pieces
- Is this a staple? Then skip it and buy high quality
- Does this align with my style?
- Would I buy this if it cost more?
What are your thoughts on high/low? Drop it in the comments.
