i heart cobbler

not the dessert. well, i actually do like cobbler - but that's not relevant here.

in the interest of planning all the delights i may want to bring into my life from the rush of fashion week, i have been thinking of ways to cut costs and corners in the wintery season. (and i know - i still must pontificate on things on point that will spark your lust - i promise i am getting my act together and weeding through...i blame the stomach flu)

one such genius method is finding a cobbler you like. i have found a place just a few blocks from my home. when you find this person - your life will be forever altered. (no pun intended) shoes and boots you thought had met their demise come springing back to life in new found glory. i had a pair of boots that i thought were dead to the world, and i was quite upset, as they were not of the "inexpensive" variety. BUT my cobbler slapped a new sole on, put some rubber on there to boot (hahahahaaaaaaaaa) and somehow erased every bit of evidence of the scratches and niks that had made them nearly dead. amazing. and then - the handbag. you know i do go on about spending on bags and shoes, as investment pieces. one of said investments, this bag, was a bit messy from a few years of tough love. the leather at the bottom had been ripped and in a few places worn to the bone. i was crazed at the thought of having to lose it - because i had seriously invested.... so i gave it a shot and took it to the lovely cobbler and my god if she did not make it new again. i was in awe when she pulled it out of the brown paper bag to show me. somehow - and i honestly still can't see seams or anything - i think perhaps she is magic... she made it perfect again.

i don't know why fall makes me all cobblery - maybe it is dessert related. but i will be taking another of my bags and a couple of pairs of shoes in - to breathe new life into them. (thereby saving me money from not buying new - and allowing me to go a bit more spendy for spring!)

bulls and bears of shopping

i've yammered on in the past about "investing" in pieces. and it's not me doing the thing i do so well - justifying purchases... that is a horse of another color, and one that i shall not speak of at this time... i do that mainly for tim anyway. :)

if you are into fashion, into style, into looking good and being smart - then listen up. you can absolutely buy some stuff at lower prices. most especially - trends. it's truly not worth spending a lot on a trendy piece - because by its very nature, it will be out of style next season. so as much as i may drool over all the studding - i'm not out buying the high end bits of it... may lust and love, but most likely will not buy. so - trends, and then t-shirts, undies, socks, things like that, you can also get away with not spending a lot - because they are replaceable, they get worn out. but certain things are truly worth spending for. things that you know you will wear forever. a good coat, a good bag, good shoes, good jewelry, the perfect pair of black pants... there honestly aren't that many examples - those are the examples in my own closet.

a good way to calculate whether something is an investment worth indulging in, is by doing the "cost per wear". for example - this bracelet by Ippolita - i bought it right before i was laid off almost a year ago. oops. oh well... so for the sake of argument, let's say it was 300 days ago. (that's almost a year) and i wear it pretty much every day - which means it's already being worn at a dollar a day cost wise. gimme another year (and i'm sure i'll keep wearing it daily) and we're down to 50 cents. so -- what i'm saying is - that for less than a cup of coffee, i get to wear this beautiful thing every day. makes sense, right? and i make coffee at home, any way. voila!

you can't apply this to purchases made on a whim - it seriously does have to be a piece you LOVE and will wear all the time - doesn't have to be daily - but all the time. (thank god for ebay - so the mistakes that are made can be sold!!) shopping on a whim in general is a bit dangerous... do the day rule - if you see it, wait a day. if you really love it, you'll make the effort to go back.

so THINK when you shop. a 50 dollar bag that falls to shreds after wearing it twice is not a good buy... spend wisely and you will spend happily. and you can tell people you're an investor.

if you're feeling sale spendy...

let's discuss "investments" for a moment. in terms of style. there are (and any person you find in the fashion industry will agree with this) certain pieces in a person's wardrobe that are worth an investment. a good shoe, a good bag, a good coat. all of these are things that you will wear often, and for years and years. so if you apply the old "cost per wear" calculation, these things end up being more worth it than the cheap dress you buy that starts to look like crap after the second time you wear it.

now i am not suggesting you break the bank and go all carrie bradshaw spendy. all i'm saying is that it is well worth considering purchasing said items IF they fit into your wardrobe. (2 good guide - are there at least 3 things you already own that you would wear it with? are there 3 scenarios in your REAL life you can imagine wearing it?) and look for sales. an investment can certainly be made at a discount price. it makes it a more exciting investment if you ask me.

ok - so that is a style lesson for the day. the sale gods have spoken, and there is a pretty big selection of Christian Louboutin (the holy grail of shoe investment. seriously. amazing.) at the Outnet - at up to 70% off. (great sale site - sign up!!) even if you are not buying - it's worth looking to get ideas for another rainy day. it doesn't hurt to look at the menu, even if you're on a diet...