Exquisite Shopping: Finer things Without Finer Prices

Develop exquisite taste during shopping. Learn how to select and identify value. Find high quality items without hefty price tags.

Synonyms of exquisite taste: discerning, discriminating, sensitive, selective, refined, cultured, educated, cultivated.

Just classic principles:

Discard all clothing that is not flattering. Wear only those that looks good on you. Invest in terrific outfits!

Avoid tight fitting clothes and that shows too much flesh.

Buy a few classics and mix them with cheaper items.

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Shopping at Sales

"You may even get a good deal of satisfaction out of the sales, provided that you are armed with lots of courage and the will power to resist the temptation of some darling little outfit which in the end is terribly expensive when you realize that, while it may have cost you 'nothing', it is worth practically nothing to you."

Never let sales affect your decision to buy. No doubt sometimes you may chance upon something that you always wanted to buy and now the reduction in price justifies it - you may find positive results because you tried something out of your usual.

In retrospect, I hardly use things that I bought on sale because it was motivating me enough to buy it on full price. My mantra now is buy only what you absolutely love.

I usually buy the things on sale only if I've been already thinking about the item for a while, and I have not forgotten about it!

As the quote above says, sometimes buying things on sale end up costing you more.

Quote by Shakespeare on shopping

"Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy but not expressed in fancy; rich but not gaudy, for the apparel oft proclaims the man."

This is to illustrate the essence of good shopping. If you shop badly, you are wasting your money, time and efforts. You also add to the clutter of your home.

Quantity

"One of the most striking differences between a well-dressed American woman and a well-dressed Parisienne is the size of their respective wardrobes." Mdm Genevieve Antoine Dariaux

I've been to Paris before, and I've met some people from Paris. Perhaps I can set the record straight that it is not true that people from Paris dress better than anyone else in the world.

Now I do not claim to be completely sure, though I can safely say that they certainly value quality much more than their counterparts.

While everyone else aims for the cheapest of the range they shop at, they aim to get the best they can afford or sometimes, in spite of what they can afford.

It is common practice to go without buying anything and living without until they find something "good enough" to buy. If they afford the pair of shoes or mink coat, they put money away for months to purchase it.

Basically, they take a longer time to buy anything.

Impulse buys are never.

A Small Wardrobe

Due to that mindset, you can be surprised at the limited size of (not just Parisiennes) a well-dressed person's wardrobe. Every piece is carefully selected, must pass a high standard of fit and quality, and perfectly adapted to the lifestyle that she leads.

Once deciding to buy only what she really loves, is passionate about, the clothes are worn over and over, and seldom are tired of it until they are worn out or out-of-fashion, where they are then discarded. They sometimes go through many states of repair before they are fully done with it.

An elegant person expects their clothes to last.

She owns very few sets of daily wear at one time: items such as socks, lingerie, everyday shoes, gloves and other expendable items but replaces them frequently, though the classic items like coats, purses, handbags, luggages and travel holders are expected to last for years.

For expendable items: Get them in a good department store for reasonable quality. Search for good reliable brands or boutiques and stick to them at least five years or for life if you are completely happy with it.

It is a way of life to either value quality or quantity. It is extravagant and distracting as well as a waste of time and resources to try to have both at the same time. With the time-tested quality which is the essence of exquisite shopping, you'll find that you gain more confidence from your clothes.

Naturally Higher Prices

Due to the high quality which usually comes with high prices, it is bought with very careful consideration and research.

Now as I read many materials on this subject, I do not believe one has to buy everything of superb quality nor subject everything to reputable designers with designer prices. Everyone has different sized pocket book and so I'd rather leave two things to keep in mind when you are shopping.

1) Pick your battles.

Know what is important to you, which ones you use more often, choose the best in some items and compromise (though never on quality) on other. But only buy what you really love, even if it is not on sale.

2) Buy the best of what you can afford.

Mdm Genevieve Antoine Dariaux writes in her book A Guide to Elegance that the answer (to how a young career girl in Paris can afford its high prices) is that she buys very few garments; her goal is to possess a single perfect ensemble for each of the different occasions in her life, rather than a wide choice of clothes to suit every passing word.

Determining Quality

Sometimes you can guess the quality of the type of merchandise by looking at the shop display. How elegant it is, organized, creative, tasteful.

If you have been shopping for years, you'll be able to tell which brands or boutiques carry the 'good stuff'. Unless you are one who has a lot of free time, love exploring new shops or the type who goes into every shop in the mall, there is a good chance that you've already developed a discriminating taste.

If not, make a list of the best shops in your area now.- look for value- quality*- prices within your pocketbook- confidence and reliability of the boutique to meet your standards all the time.

Making this list will give you the peace of mind and confidence when you purchase their things.

I also prefer the shops that tell you the truth.

How many times I've gone into shops and tried on clothes where I feel that something is 'not quite right' but get the adoring praises of the sales assistant who wants to make a sale?

I would have much prefer if they tell me I'm wearing the wrong size or brings another outfit that they suggest might be better for me.

*I've written a little bit on how to determine quality in my page on "Timeless Style - Elegance is Refusal"

Only a few of us can afford to have everything in the wardrobe of the very finest quality, but every budget can be stretched to cover a few basic luxury items, preferably those where quality represent a long term investment and often means a saving in the end.

We all know that a classic fine leather handbag - it lasts for life.

If you can't always afford the best quality, try going for simple ensembles with medium quality.

Invest in a few quality accessories and these can add prestige to an outfit for e.g. a lovely umbrella, a cashmere sweater, a very charming bracelet and give the appearance of a fine ensemble.

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