Christmas in February
Or by another title, 'How to Get Winter Boots and Accessories for Cheapity-Cheap'.
By yet another title, 'The Lifespan of the Retail World's Version of Winter'
This winter season I have to admit I was very naughty.
Despite living in a northern region I was loath to buy a pair of boots and skated by mostly okay with just my regular shoes. I know you're thinking 'Is she crazy?!?!' - but in my defense my northern region while being impressively chilly simply wasn't producing much in terms of the white stuff.
Thus it wasn't till a storm actually hit that I realized how damn desperate I was for a good pair of boots. I was annoyed to see most stores sold out or in stock either with styles I hated or sizes I couldn't wear.
If I was a lesser woman I might have given up then and shrugged it off 'What are the odds we'll get another storm' - well pretty good as we got several more. Each one only increasing my desperate need for some cute winter accessories.
Finally I put my fashion brain to work.
You see in the retail world there's a careful amount of supply and demand. In order to stock the shelves with countless tantalizing styles of boots they have to be produced in the summer (some dedicated designers starting even in late spring). In order to set a fashion trend you have to stay ahead of the game and this means laying all your cards on the table at one stage in order to spend your time planning for the next fashion season.
For most designers winter accessories and clothes start appearing around the end of September slowly evolving to become thicker and more concealing around October. November signifies the start of the full 'winter season' for the retail world stretching towards December which as we all know is when they try to get the majority of their items off the shelves with countless sales leading to the BIG one, day after Christmas.
With the economy being what it is many of those items are simply staying on the shelves leading to a wonderful situation for the fashionista with her eye on the ball.
Most stores fully recognize that even though the designers are pushing their wares around February for the upcoming spring the weather is still perfectly synchronized with a 'winter wonderland' theme. I'm sure we've all experienced the painful irony of seeing pastel sandals well in stock while it's snowing outside. Some of the smarter designers release their winter styles in installments spacing them out till the weather outside actually reflects what's in stock.
For this reason the gal who called winter's bluff is proudly stocking up on discounted styles for future snowstorm's to come.
Some tips.
1. If you feel like you can't live without it - don't. I saw a pair of painfully cute white fur ear-muff's one day at an unintentional visit to the mall. They haunted my dreams forcing me to go to the mall the next day only to find those were the last pair and the online store was cleaned out. This was in December till NOW those lost ear-muff's haunt me. But...and I mean this. Weigh it out. If it's totally not budget proof and you know you've got other things that really need your paper - WAIT. Those muff's may haunt me, but I've found several beautiful cheaper options on the internet. $6.95 anyone? (and yes, they're made of the same material. Key)
2. Know what's going to fly off the shelves and what won't. In reality there are your fast movers and your slow movers. A simple pair of black boots without anything distracting or unique on them is going to be gone. Period. Many women prefer to have atleast one pair of really simple boots and since this is a mass-appeal item it's going to sell out quickly.
If you're going to go for something slightly plain, then look for the small details that smart it up. Case in point, the lace featured in this boot gives it a classic feel with a Victorian twist. Oddly enough it's a costume boot, but that makes it even better.
Currently: $ 39.95
On the other hand if you see a pair of red patent leather boots with a platform heel the reality is...odds are those will be slow moving styles.
alice + olivia for Payless Red Rivington Ankle Boot
It's not to say they don't look amazing and you can't totally rock them it's to say that there are some women who don't got the stones to have and thus...you can actually linger. Keep an eye on them for any deals that will appear both online and in person. Finally don't be afraid to hold out till you feel comfortable and bounce from site to site. I was vaguely interested in these boots from Payless but wasn't ready to pay 55 dollars for something I wasn't even able to see in person. Thanks to the power of the great American sale I'm now planning on plucking them up for $13.75.
3. I know a lot of people suggest picking up your basics and some good staples every wardrobe needs and etc etc. but that's never been my style. In my own mind I've come to realize that what is a staple is different for every person based on their age, style, carreer and needs. A staple for me (excessive shoes) may seem like an absolute frivolity to someone else. What I suggest honestly...never have a simple piece. In order to be a hardcore stylist I have to look and act the part. I like buying items that are bold, colorful, that can be paired and layered to magnificent effect.
Currently: $27.80
I've come to realize confidence is something we all slowly grow into and while it's great for you to look as confident as you feel it's also great to look as confident as you don't. Crazy right? Not at all. It's strange the amount of power you can get from standing out, from making a choice to not wear a t-shirt and jeans but a silk top with sequins. You stand out - no denying that but you also STAND OUT. Some people deep down will envy you for doing that whether or not the words ever cross their lips and when you catch an image of your reflection in the mirror unexpectedly I hope a smile crosses your lips.
I feel more confident and in control when I'm prettied-up to the 99's than I do if I'm not.
Currently: $19.90
Bumming and slumming for a day is fun, slipping into crowds with ease like a princess incognito amongst the town's people - but soon you're just craving your crown back.
4. Know shoppers. If you learn how to follow basic patterns in shopping trends then you'll always come out ontop of a good sale and a great item. Earlier I mentioned that the majority of designers simply lay all their fashion goods on the table for a season before moving on to design for the next. I also mentioned that on the other hand some designers work with stores to ensure that for each shopping period they have items come out until the season TRULY ends. Example these alice + olivia boots which only recently launched.
The key to snatching up a faboo item like this for cheap (I'm a how-low-can-you-go kind of girl) is knowing your enemy (or in this case your fashion competition). You see the majority of people whether they realize it or not have been buying different items since the start of the winter fashion season in September. A scarf here, a pair of boots there, etc. etc. Item after item they've plucked up ravishing new styles and final sales alike until they find themselves in a quandry for the late installment items. Maybe you've heard it from a friend, maybe you've thought it yourself, it goes something like 'I have four pairs of black boots, I can't in good conscience buy another pair of black boots' Some will, no guilt there, but the majority won't. This means less items purchased and that the amount of time the stores have to sell the boots ticks by until they REALLY need to get spring items on their shelves and slashes are priced deliciously. Look for this, it's the sound of the earth rumbling before oil shoots out.
5. Wait for perfection. That's an oxymoron I know. There's really no such thing as being perfect, but in the design world there is such a thing as mastery. I know we elevate them to god-like levels awed at their talent and skill but let's face it designers simply aren't perfect. Her'es a great example, in the middle of the night a designer is awoken by intense dreams of lanky-legged models rushing past a grey background hailing a taxi in toe-less sky-high booties. Gorge right? How painfully grating then when the style is replicated, copied, and just plan manipulated to greater success or failure. Boo-hoo for them but on the plus a true stylist won't have another peaceful night until they've taken their idea to the next level and created something unique and beautiful.
Case in point.
Currently: $129.95
It's not budget proof I know, that comes with patience and careful watch, what it is however is unique. I've seen dozens upon dozens upon hundreds of black open toed booties. This is the first studded pair I've seen. I'm only speaking in generals but there's a greater chance of finding some truly unique items near the end of a season, if you hold out you stand a chance of being the girl in a sea of sames who's different.
It's a good thing.
6. Plan ahead. Some lessons can only be learned through experience. I was betting on winter to be it's usual bad boyfriend, late to the proverbial party or not showing up at all. I've had my bitch and moan fest, I've learned my lessons, and now I've got a mental list. I know what I want in the future, how I want to look and be. Sure new styles and trends pop up all the time that's a given. Who knows according to the mags I may be painfully 'so last year' or some other nonsense. One life lesson learned darlings - NO ONE can dictate your personal style or tell you what's right or wrong. You'll know exactly what fits and when you feel like a fashion goddess it will show. Your personal style will become a thing of envy and people will be looking to you
posted by Luxe at
12:39 AM
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