Fashion: High Maintenance or Low?

What do you think of when you hear the term “high maintenance”?

Well, that probably conjures up the image of a girly-girl who spends a lot of time making sure she looks exactly right. The hair, the makeup, the clothes, the nails, the perfume, facials, highlights, lowlights, all of those things that go into making us feel good about ourselves.  Making us feel pretty.  I do admit that having on the right clothes can totally make my mood or break it.  If I feel “cute”, I’m going to feel so much better around people.

I can remember back to my 20’s (and into my 30’s) when going shopping was at the top of my list and I loved hanging out at the mall in the department stores, waiting for the latest cosmetic giveaway to come along from Estee Lauder or Clinique.  Oh, I had my arsenal full of those girly things.  You probably did too.  Shopping for clothes was an all day event, oh what fun that was.  I could spend hours in Lerners or The Limited (that was the ultimate back in the day, buying an outfit from The  Limited!), trying on new clothes and shoes (oh, don’t even get me started on shoes), I just loved a new pair of shoes and was a borderline shoe-aholic.  A new pair of shoes could change my life!  Or so I thought back then.  Of course, I was wearing much higher heels back then too.

Somewhere along the way, I have lost my mojo for clothes shopping. It’s not nearly as much fun as I remember it being.

How in the world did that happen?

Going to the mall now makes me break out in hives and if I had to shop all day, I’d have to stop and take a lot breaks, not to mention looking at the price tags and wondering who pays that much for those things?  It’s just not as easy for me anymore to spend a ton of money on clothes, shoes, and cosmetics.  Am I getting old?  Perhaps, but maybe I’m just getting wiser.  I do like nice clothes, but I’d rather just pop in TJ Maxx or Marshalls and look for name brands there.  Or find them at yardsales. These beautiful boots waltzed into my life at the end of yardsale season this year. One of the last stops I made around September or so and these were sitting there just waiting for me.  Beautiful black leather boots, very gently worn, in just my size, for $5.  Do you think I didn’t scoop them up?  You know I did! And the last find of the yardsales this year was this pretty faux leather snakeskin jacket that fits like a glove.

How much?  $4

Another great find and perfect with jeans and boots.  I picked up the black cotton skinny jeans/leggings (jeggings, I hear they are called) when Gap had a one day sale and all their denim was 1/2 price.  That’s how I shop!  Half price, I’m there.  I got them just so I could tuck them into boots this winter.

So what if I’m 54? I still want to look “cute”. 🙂

These days, this is the kind of shopping that makes me happy.  Spending loads of $$ at the mall or the fancy boutiques just doesn’t do it for me.  I might not be in the top trendiest fashion, but I felt pretty darn diva-ish in this outfit.  I had on a black cashmere turtleneck sweater that my sister bought me several years ago for Christmas.  It’s still going strong.  And the lime green monogrammed scarf was a gift from my friend, Debbie, at Miss Lucy’s Monograms and very reasonably priced.

The zebra purse was a $1 yardsale find.

Once again, I just don’t think you have to spend a ton of money to dress well.  The same concept that goes on in our homes can happen in our wardrobes too.  I’m so glad I came to this conclusion.  It keeps me out of the mall and a little more sane.

I’ve just cleaned out my closet and am decluttering the clothes that I’ve not worn in awhile, along with shoes and purses.  Boy, does that feel good!  And I don’t feel bad about getting rid of some of those yardsale finds, since they were so cheap to begin with.

How about you?  Are you a thrifty shopper when it comes to clothes, shoes and accessories?

Do tell!

Joining up with Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy’s What I Wore Wednesday. Click over there for lots more fashion inspiration.