All content is taken from JustLavishlyBroke.wordpress.com, my personal blog.
There are a few items I have been told I need to own in order to functionally and stylishly exist. A few years later some of these are still a must have. Other items simply aren’t as appealing as they once were. The problem with these universal essentials is that it becomes extremely hard to decide where to buy them from. It becomes a never ending battle between quality and quantity. There really is no happy medium.
This is especially when stores start to get a bit overly excited and throw a little something different on an essential piece of clothing… yes I’m talking to you Mr.Price, stop throwing a quirky slogan and embellishment on a perfectly fine T-shirt.
When shopping for staples the cheapest one always seems like the easiest option. It really isn’t.
A staple is a staple for a reason, it will be worn continuously and thrown in and out of the washing machine making the quality change over time. So you need to ask yourself, “am I willing to buy this over and over again?”. If not then it’s best that you do your research, I can honestly say that I’ve had some of my jean’s and T-shirt’s for years and they’re still as good as new. If there’s one thing I’ve learnt, the label is there for a reason. Read it, study it and know that it’s there for a reason.
Although we are taught that the most expensive option is sometimes the better quality it really is not the case, in some instances you’re often paying for the brand. This is why the label is your best friend, it tells you the truth like you just paid R500 for a polyester dress. So you can tell yourself it is okay because it’s a cool and trendy brand.
Some time’s the cheapest option is the best option, only because it is made to be machine washed and tumble dried because it speaks to a specific market, usually students. Mr.Price usually keeps it’s prices quite low, this is because it targets students and young adults, this is reflected in its advertising. Whereas stores such as Zara target wealthy young adults and aren’t always the highest quality, but the brand is worth enough for people to continue shopping there. Although they are price conscious in a European market, in a South African market as they maintain the same prices despite the economy changing.
Whether it’s a spaghetti strap instead of a wide strap or a tight plain white tee instead of a looser version of the same shirt, staples will always vary. So fit is so important. Just because it’s a staple, it does not mean it is YOUR staple. In order to truly be fashionably broke, you need to be able to accept that what looks good on Kate Moss, may not look so good on you. Remember money makes everyone ten times hotter. So on the other end, we have to use our intuition and sixth sense tofind the right piece. So while others prefer to wear a tank top, my personal preference is a body spaghetti strap body suit since I have never been one to keep a shirt tucked in.
If you need a little help, I suggest going from store to store, making a day out of shopping. Go in knowing what you’re looking for and find some inspiration. The only way to shop for staples that work for you is to know your own style.
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