Height of elegance
Chipo Mapondera Fashion
As the velocity of the fashion industry continues to increase, trends become mundane a week after they are stated as the next best thing.
One key driver of this is that in most stores around the world, we are presented with a barrage of new products on a fortnightly basis, fuelling the constant hunger for the “new” among consumers.
More than any other consumer product, fashion asserts a certain pressure on people to keep up, thus ensuring a constant cycle of consumption.
However, in reality it is quite impossible to makeover a wardrobe every season, let alone add to it weekly.
Nowadays the high costs of living make fashion a minor priority in one’s budget, and rightly so as there are more pressing matters.
However, this presents a double-edged sword since one’s image, and how they portray themselves, is more vital in today’s society than ever before.
What it takes to keep a balance between reality, and the fantasy that is fashion, is incorporating a few tricks that make your pieces look completely new.
This is as easy as changing buttons on a regular shirt, or ditching the belt that came with a cheap dress. As I have said before, it is important to know which items you must invest in, like watches, shirts, and a good pair of trousers, but then there are those items that can look just as good as the designer version, but for a couple of dollars, like a good white t-shirt.
So when it comes to updating pieces, where do you start? Tailoring is vital to how clothing looks on the body. One can always tell a cheap suit by how ill-fitting and uncomfortable it looks. When buying in affordable shops, there is rarely any consideration of individual fit.
In fact, it is quite impossible, given the fact that this type of clothing is mass-made. However, a quick solution for an off-the-hanger outfit is a pin and tuck at your tailor, and suddenly you find yourself with a bespoke piece that looks sharp and tasteful.
Keeping clothing in good shape is important to its longevity, and does not take as much effort as one might think. Washing and ironing clothing in the correct manner is vital to maintaining the quality of a garment, and taking care of small signs of wear and tear will increase its lifetime.
As the proverb goes, a stitch in time saves nine, so darn your socks, and mend small holes as soon as you see them.
Footwear easily gets scuffed so stop by the shoemaker and get them to replace heels and soles. This approach to maintenance will save you a lot more in the long run as it is far more economical than buying a whole new outfit.
As well as cleaning and care, storage is just as important. Hanging knitted sweaters can stretch them out but folding your white shirt ruins its crisp appeal when you put it on. Take note of the fabric of your pieces and how best you can keep them crease-free, without having to iron them, and thus weakening the materials, too often. Wrinkles can make even expensive clothing look cheap so take heed of this (very simple) rule for dressing.
Accessories continue to save the day when it comes to polishing up a look. Throw on some bold costume jewellery, or even colourful, chunky, plastic pieces, and your look becomes new.
Not only are accessories a more affordable way to invest in your wardrobe, they also last longer and are used more often, offering you a smarter cost-per-wear, so both bags and shoes are worth spending a bit more on.
When shopping for bags, I always go for real leathers now, to avoid peeling and cracking materials that look very cheap, very quickly.
Also simple styles with little embellishment are more discreet and will not giveaway a budget buy.
I suggest faux suede instead of faux leather or patent leather, for shoes. Suede looks far more refined than its fake leather counterparts, and you can clean it at home cheaply, and easily.
Timeless pieces should be the bones of every wardrobe. I cannot think of anything else that represents chic better than a classic pair of wing-tips, a pin-striped suit, or an A-line skirt.
Moreover, when worn in neutral colours like muted black and navy, or in one bold shade, rather than a cacophony of colours, signs of a budget buy all but disappear.
Classic fabrics like tweed, cotton and linen look expensive, and are often passed on from one generation to the next, proving that they can stand the test of time.
Pieces like this are so immune to the threat of trends, that my favourite way to “shop” at one point, was in my grandmother’s closet, which was an archive of timeless chic.
With classics as a foundation, even if these are jeans and leggings, for a casual look, you can add trendy, fashion pieces to fill out your look. In a mixed high-low look, that mixes both cheap and expensive pieces, the classics make the trendy look refined but individual.
Being well turned out does not mean turning out your wallet. It just takes some extra consideration when shopping, and careful care of what you have. These days, I am happiest in a pair of five-year-old jeans, paired with my pale, silk shirt. Why? I know they were worth the money that I paid for them, and I feel comfortable and confident whenever I wear them, which is what great style is all about.
chipomapondera@gmail.com