In fact, I only bought 2 things for fall this year. These 2 pieces - a belt and a colorful scarf, together can instantly update a look in no time.
Well ok, I did buy a long deep green "military" coat and a fuchsia North Face goosedown jacket since I never had any serious cold weather clothes prior to my move here. But apart from those essentials, it really all boiled down to a belt and scarf for me! And as if to agree with my current mindset, Vogue in fact came out with an argument for "why less is more" in their November 2007 issue. Women are now "reconnecting with what fashion used to be about: not just the mere act of acquisition but an investment, be it a $9 tee or a $1900 coat, that enriches her look, and ergo, her life with a degree of self-expression and self-respect".
What's more, fashionistas are "evolving". "Feel the pace of fashion is too fast? Think you could do so without so much? Relax. You are not alone.", the article's teaser assured its readers. In fact, it states that there is "a growing number of women who have gladly gotten off the shopping merry-go-round of Always Something New and prefer to live witht what they have unless something truly extraordinary and/or useful crosses their path". Finally, it is fashionable to have less than more! What with the era of conspicuous consumption leaving a bad taste in the mouth, and "the buzzwords of careful, considerate food production and consumption - slow, local, sustainable, gradually filtering into the consciousness of fashion.", we can expect that the likes of Kimora Lee and all those guilty of spending money like its going out of style will soon be out of style.
Now with that being said, choose a few classic pieces that you can use to update the rest of your wardwrobe. To illustrate, let me show you how a belt and scarf can make a 500 peso Gap overrun tweed jacket (bought at the Camp John Hay export overrun store 5 years ago) look more "now", and like it's worth so much more! (Or so I think hehehe!).
BEFORE...
AFTER!
Plus, a tutorial on how to tie the belt the Marni way! The Marni SA at the Mercer Street boutique taught me how to tie the belt the way they just did for the runway!
RUNWAY...
...TO REALITY!
For those back home in the Philippines, belts will look great with your cardigans as well! Try it!
