Dress rich on any income

Fa s h i o n
for
grownups
Dress rich
on any
income
prop stylist: deborah hilert. photo, zeta-jones: pbg/abacausa.com
go ahead, make
people think
you’ve spent a
bundle. here’s
how to look luxe
for a lot less
homage to
Hermes
What the lower-priced
versions capture: the
original’s bold patterns and fiery colors.
echo silk twill
scarf ( far left), $85,
and silk scarf (left),
$98; echodesign.com.
psst: “fashionable”
has nothing to do with
what you spend and
everything to do with
how you shop. What
to choose? Start with
elements that are
iconically luxe, like a
perfectly draped dress
or a vibrantly printed
scarf. In today’s retail
landscape, lush with
top design at lower
prices, bang for your
buck is yours to be had.
—Susan Swimmer
Catherine
Zeta-Jones
(above)
in Hermès
photographed by Gisel Florez
april 2012
| more.com
35
dress rich on
any income
1
long dress
Runway
looks
for less
2
So like: Chloé. Delicate
pleats and a color
that wows are winning.
calvin klein polyester
blend dress, $138; Macy’s,
800-289-6229.
like these
designers’ catwalk looks for
spring? snap
them up now
for a sliver of
the cost. HEre,
our fashion
team’s top picks
2
envelope clutch
So like: Céline. The rectangular shape and color
blocking are über-chic.
1
aldo patent leather clutch,
$45; aldoshoes.com.
3
chandelier Earrings
So like: Oscar de la Renta.
He loves a cluster of
brights, and you can, too.
fantasy jewelry box
stone and metal earrings,
$25; fantasyjewelrybox.com.
4
shiny mary janes
5
So like: Marc Jacobs.
Metallic MJs (similar to
these) ruled at his show.
sam edelman leather
pumps, $120; 877-932-7726.
5
3
floral dress
7
So like: Nina Ricci. This
one (and the original)
works well for day or night.
kai-aakmann polyester
dress, $120; Albertine,
212-924-8515.
6
nude blouse
So like: Lanvin. This gorgeous cream is spring’s
nonbright of choice.
raoul silk top, $235;
Finale, 732-886-3600.
6
7
metallic skirt
So like: Prada—our
editors were verklempt.
h&m acrylic skirt, $50;
hm.com for stores.
true that
“Whoever said money can’t buy happiness simply didn’t know where to go shopping.” —bo Derek
36 more.com | april 2012
runway photos: FirstView (7)
4
dress rich on
any income
budget bling . . .
that would fool a jeweler
Crislu cubic zirconia and
sterling silver earrings,
$80; crislu.com.
1
luxe details
1
Peplum Top
More for less, thanks
to structure and
simplicity.
4
2
H&M polyester top,
$30; hm.com for stores.
pono by joan goodman resin necklace,
$140; Femmegems,
203-861-2531.
2
leather belt, $95;
jmclaughlin.com.
6
woven tote
Utilitarian wicker gets
a major upgrade
with pops of shine.
The unusual color
combination and
saturated hues
mimic high design.
trina turk wicker
and vinyl tote, $298;
trinaturk.com.
tibi cotton skirt,
$275; tibi.com.
7
7
6
38 more.com | april 2012
accent belt
j.mclaughlin
graphic skirt
chunky wedges
This style is right
off the spring runway; the price isn’t.
bacio61 leather
wedges, $134; must
haveshoes.com.
The first budget babe: In
the 1986 cult classic Pretty
in Pink, Molly Ringwald
played a girl from the wrong
side of the tracks who’s
desperate to fit in with the
uppity crowd. When she
gets invited to the big dance,
she doesn’t let a lack of
cash flow keep her from looking prom-tastic. Girlfriend
cobbles together a fab frock
out of thrift shop finds and
castoffs, and thus a fashionforward recessionista is born.
my
Thrift
∫
Turning nada
into something
5
aldo leather purse,
3
fab print
calvin klein polyester blend dress, $128;
Bloomingdale’s, 800555-7467. echo polyester and chiffon scarf,
$38; echodesign.com.
chloe+isabel goldplated necklace, $34;
chloeandisabel.com.
Easy value added:
Remove the dress’s
self-belt and replace
it with luxurious,
grommeted leather.
$45; aldoshoes.com.
via spiga leather
wedges, $225;
viaspiga.com.
3
draped dress
This outfit’s neutral
color scheme
(soft sheath, scarf,
shoes, etc.) chases
the cheap away.
sleek bag
It’s the color of the
hardware—rose
gold—that amplifies
the chic.
5
4
secre t
“A two-foot strand of
fake, oversize pearls that
I bought in Chinatown for
$10. I wear them from the
office to TV-land to dinner
and, once, right into bed!”
—Barbara Corcoran, nyc Real
Estate legend, star of shark tank
“Forever 21 is a perfect
store for adorable
shoes at great prices.”
­—Giuliana Rancic, TV Host
photo: pretty in pink: © Paramount/courtesy of Everett Collection. earrings: courtesy of crislu
These
outfits only
look
expensive
go-to look:
Big square shades.
Air kissing is
optional. Elizabeth
and James plastic
sunglasses, $185;
piperlime.com.
dress rich on
any income
For instant
class: tortoise
caution!
how “rich”
turns into “cheap”
a veritable trifecta
of good taste, these
accessories go with
all, flatter every complexion and have a
je-ne-sais-jet-set vibe
Leather clothes can look
rich, and embellishment can look rich, but
embellished leather
clothes look cheap.
Leopard print can look
rich, and zebra
print can look rich, but
leopard and zebra
together looks cheap.
c wonder
Polka dots can look
rich, and color
can look rich, but
resin and 14k–gold
plated necklace,
$68; cwonder.com.
trina turk
gold and resin ring,
$85; trinaturk.com.
multicolored polka dots
look cheap.
christian
siriano for
payless gold
faux–patent
leather flats, $43;
payless.com.
Shop-yourcloset guide
They could
spend more,
but why?
Kate Middleton
Her Zara dress
(right) cost only
about $80, but its
of-the-moment
color makes it chic.
Smart tip: Her
above-the-knee
hem is as classy
as knee length.
Michelle Obama
When she wears
J.Crew (center,
$298 for the cardigan, $158 for
the skirt), women
the world over can
relate. Why she
looks so great?
The tailoring is
perfection, and the
mint hue is unexpected and special. Smart tip:
Subtle embellishment adds oomph
to a day look.
Jessica Alba
Her Aldo shoes (far
right, about $125)
are not one of a
kind, but their mix of
woven ethnic prints
makes them seem
so. Smart tip: The
neutral bag thwarts
any matchy-matchy
cheese factor.
40 more.com | april 2012
First, edit what you have.
Find your most honest friend
and let her help you purge.
If a piece is damaged, unflattering or woefully out of date,
get rid of it.
Can’t let go? Store your
edits in the attic for six months.
If you forget about them,
say sayonara!
Take what remains and hang
everything left to right (the
way you read), light colors to
dark, arranged by item (pants,
then skirts, then tops).
Keep the dressiest clothes
(i.e., least-often worn) in a different section of your closet.
Store costume jewelry in
ziplock bags so you can see
what you have.
Make a list of five things you
want to buy and shop until
you find exactly what you need.
Then stop.
more from melanie
at clos-ettetoo.com.
celebrity Photos, from left: Getty Images, afp/getty images, ppny/gsny/splash news
Organizing expert
Melanie Fascitelli says,
“To feel wardrobe rich,
buy less—and wear
what you already own”