Winter staples

These are some great questions posted by AC;

AC: 1. Basics for each season - good prices and how to get past being overwhelmed in department stores/malls. Coats, sweaters, stuff that can be versatile and lasting. (Avoiding "paper clothes" that only last a few washes)

I've been meaning to educate you all on basics and how to shop, it's an art you know, how to shop. If you're rich, which most people aren't, you're watching your money, you want to look good  but not spend your rent money. I get it. So the question is how to look like you spent a lot of money without doing it. I know how. 

Here are some tips on how to shop. Right now is the time to shop for your winter basics. All the stores are having sales plus 20%-50% off. Now of course,  some of the sale items are there because they didn't sell, that's because they shouldn't have sold! They are ugly, over trendy, and no one was dumb enough to buy them when they were at full price. I'm not talking about that stuff. Keep in mind, all my fashion tips are from my point of view, my taste. When I'm hired by someone to style them, that's when I get to ask questions to see what makes them tick and I style them in clothes that are their taste with a little "Katya" spin on them.  So since you're not here with me, all my suggestions are solely my taste. 

Here's how I shop, I start looking at these clothes when they first come out, towards the end of summer. I try them on and make a mental note of what I like and wish I could buy. For example, I am a fan of Jcrew, their clothes are made extremely well, they aren't super trendy and the styles look good year after year. I know my size because I've tried everything I like on in the store. I've been wanting a cream colored coat to go with my browns, but it's a want, not a need......so I wait. I'm like a clothes hunter, I wait and wait until the time is right, then I take my shot!  The coat I've been eyeing was $425 (rich lady price!) It went on sale for $249 (still to much mullah) then Jcrew had a 40% off sale items. Booyaa I got the coat for $149 - free shipping. Now that's a beautiful thing. 

I don't impulse shop, I try not to "special occasion" shop, meaning, I have to go somewhere so I need a new outfit right now - this is when I buy the wrong items at a high price and regret it every time.

For staples, 1st you have to decide on color group you're going for. We've all heard, browns and blacks, but what does that really mean? Black - goes with anything almost and it's the easiest to start with in basics. Blacks go with grey, light blue (not dark) purple, red, pink, bright greens (not forest green) and white. Black does not go with orange, brown, forest green.  Browns go with navy blue, green, yellow, orange, white (no grey, no black). This isn't an exact science, just a guide. 

I'm going to assume you need black staples, here are my suggestions. Just a note on staples, they can't be cheap, no matter what. The staples I am listing below, if you buy them from Target, Forever 21, or other cheap stores, they always look cheap, they wear bad and don't last. Don't be tempted to buy cheap staples ever.

Shoes (all leather, leather heels and leather uppers - no fake leather)

• Riding boots - they are on sale right now for $100 at Nordstroms and they were $300
• Great with leggings, skirts and skinny jeans
• Boots with heels 
• I only wear these with skirts, if you wear these with leggings you look sleazy (it's just my opinion)
• Some cool black shoes with heels
• You can wear these with fancy jeans, boyfriend jeans, or skirts

Coats; you don't have to be super conservative with these styles, but don't be super trendy - a little flair here and there never hurt anyone. All of the coats I'm describing below can go from jeans to office:

• One long coat that hits right around your knees. Big enough that you can wear layers underneath, don't buy it super fitting
• One shorter coat, depending on your height. If you are 5'3 and under, get a coat that hits at your waist or just above your hips. Similar to a pea coat but with a little more style.
• If you have extra spending money, buy one more in a fun color. 

                             

Skirts:

I own a lot, I have a ton of different colors and patterns, pencil skirts look best on me. For winter staples I would buy black, grey, a pattern like plaid or houndstooth. All the skirts must be lined, they look better on you and don't show every nook and craney, plus that means they are made well. I have 1 label I've stocked up on, Jcrew the "No 2 Pencil skirt in double serge cotton" I wear these in summer and winter, they look great and fit great. Normally $110, I wait for them to go on sale and then on sale again, I just bought a cream one for $36. Again, booyaa

Sweaters: 
If you buy cheap they get little pillys on them and look yucky. Now that doesn't mean I haven't bought cheap, I just know they won't last for more than 2 years and for the price I'm ok with that. I have some Old Navy sweaters I buy in XL or XXL and wear them with leggings or skinny jeans. For the sweaters I've invested in, they've lasted for years. For staples I would buy:

• Tight, fitted sweaters in black, grey and a few in your favorite color (pink, blue, purple, etc). These sweaters you can wear under suits when it's cold, with your pencil skirts, or with jeans and your jackets. They basically take the place of t-shirts for me when I want to stay warm. I don't buy wool, it makes me itch, so the sweaters I buy are a cotton blend with rayon or nylon. All cotton tends to fall apart. 
• Big sweaters to wear with leggings and skinny jeans.

Then to make my outfit a bit more exciting, I buy scarves in all kinds of colors, textures and patterns, and that's how I dress up my outfits.

Places to shop in the mall that have quality not crapola for staples:

• Banana Republic - you better not buy anything at regular price, everything goes on sale there.
• Jcrew - try everything you like on in the store then shop online until it goes on sale.
• Nordstrom  - not the teen department, everything in there is crap. But  the other deparments have good items, also, check on line regularly for sales.
• Max Studio - they have quality, fun styles and usually have sales going on. I love their sweaters.
• Bloomingdales - they have great sales if you can handle going through all the racks (I can't).
• TJMaxx and Marshalls - if you know your clothes, you can find some good brand name items there. They always have Calvin Klein and Guess winter coats which I like. 
• Ebay - If you know what you are looking for, you can find it on ebay for much less than you bought in the stores. 

I hope that helps........