Periwinkle and Pearls: marc jacobs

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Thursday, June 6, 2013

Your Investment Handbag

Neverfull MM [Photo Credit]

I previously wrote about what fashion pieces to invest in, specifically, handbags, clothing and shoes. Currently, I am in the process of investing in a Louis Vuitton 'Neverfull MM' in the classic Damier pattern. Before making this decision, I went through a whole cluster of investment bags I had my eye on. After deciding on the MM, I had to choose a color. Then, I had to decide on a timeline for saving. After that, I had to decide where I was going to purchase it from--straight from LV or secondhand? In a nutshell, I know how complicated it is to choose your dream investment bag! I've made this guide to ease the anxiety/worry/anger in choosing yours.

Step 1: Narrow Your Choices Down to Five.

Alexander Wang Rocco Duffle [Photo Credit]

You may have your eye on 10 bags, but you have to be honest with yourself. Pick five that will outlive you style-wise. Pick five that fit your lifestyle. Pick five that would be you in a nutshell. If you only have five bags (or even less!) then you're already ahead of the game.

Step 2: Do Your Research

Marc Jacobs Stam [Photo Credit]

You're probably like, "Duhhhhh!!!" But let's do some serious research. Act like it's for a history class.
Here's what to research:

Dimensions--Height, length, width. Tote, handbag, top handle, or multiple strap options?
Usage--Are you taking this to the office, classrooms, or dinner parties? Find your handbags environment.
Price--How much money am I investing?
History--I don't mean go find out when it debuted, but you need to see where this handbag is usually seen. Is it practical for your lifestyle?
Versatility--Can this handbag easily transition from day to night? Is that a quality you want?
Stuff--What can I fit in this thing?!

How to do your research:

YouTube is seriously the beacon of handbag research. It allows you see your handbag functioning. There are YouTube users like, bjtaylor02, who model designer handbags, show you much stuff you can fit in them and compare them to similar handbags. For example, when I was deciding on whether or not a Neverfull MM or PM would be best for me, I watched her video where she compared the two. It showed me that the PM might be too big for me and that the MM is a bit smaller and more functional. Also, "What's In My Purse?" videos are great for getting to know your bags.
PurseBlog not puts up kickin' handbags for your to droll over, but they put up pics of celebrities carrying your dream bags. They do reviews of collections, too. Most importantly is PurseBlog has a forum of real people who buy/have bought your investment bags. They aren't being paid to review the bags and they give honest opinions. Look up your bags!
The actual purse is the best place to do handbag research. Seeing your bags in person can be the moment where you realize that its the one and vice versa.

Step 3: Pick Your Bag (and color):

Gucci Striped Monogram Boston Bag [Photo Credit]

This is probably the hardest step, because you're like, "I just want them all!" and your bank account is all like, "No way!" But think of the bag you put on your list first, think of the one your mind keeps going back to, and most importantly, think about the one that your gut is telling to you to get. The decision is easier than you think, you just have to really think about it. Depending on your bag, there might be various colors/patterns. Once you choose your bag, this will so easy. Pick what matches your wardrobe more and pick what you'll want to wear more.

Step 4: Determine a Savings Timeline [Optional]:

Determining a savings timeline for your investment handbag, if you need to save up for it, will keep you on track and will show you how good or bad your willpower is. You make a calendar for your savings or have a jar. You can set-up a cute box in your bedroom. You can save a certain amount everyday or week somewhere. This step is optional though because maybe you're going to use your hefty income tax check to pay for your dream bag. Choose a savings plan that you can commit to and will enjoy carrying out until its time to buy your bag.

What's your investment bag? How did you go about choosing it?

Thursday, September 13, 2012

When To Invest: Handbag, Clothing and Shoes

[Photo Credit: Tumblr]

Fashion can get pricey, especially when you love clothes more than you love most things. Clothes can become a great passion and a great excitement in people's lives. Sometimes the thrill of shopping can brighten up the darkest of days, months and weeks for people. While it's great to find the Chanel scarf of your dreams at a consignment store for $5 [as I did], it's even better to buy the Louis Vuitton bag or the Chanel bag or the Alexander Wang or the Balenciaga bag...you get the point...of your dreams from the store, in the brand name bag, with the brand name dust bag, with the cards saying it's REAL!!! and the satisfaction of having said bag in your possession forever! This would be called an investment piece.

An investment piece is usually timeless. Timeless can also be subject to your own definition but to me, timeless is a piece you wear often, is ALWAYS in season, on trend and relevant; something that matches your wardrobe to an everyday extent; something you will love when you're 85 years old.

Handbags

(Source: We Heart It)

A designer's classic bag (Marc Jacobs' "Stam", Louis Vuitton Damier "Speedy 35/40", any Chanel quilted handbag, etc.)
Not trendy or limited edition
Made of materials that aren't PVC, plastic, rubber, etc.
Work well with your wardrobe, which doesn't mean your wardrobe works with the bag, the bag works with your wardrobe. If you have more of a classic, preppy style, a nice Louis Vuitton or Chanel would work well, if you're more of hippie/rocker girl, Balenciaga is the brand for you....in my opinion.
What do you find yourself drawn to when you're at the mall? Walking to class? Shopping? Online window shopping at? For me, it's a Louis Vuitton 'Neverful GM' in Damier!
Something you will sport often.

Investment handbags don't have to be designer. My mom has a handmade, leather knapsack that my dad had made for her on their honeymoon. She loves it, she uses it more of a briefcase but still, she uses it often. Investment pieces are made to be worn often. Investment pieces wouldn't be the limited edition Chanel PVC tote bag you saw in Teen Vogue one month. They are the bags you see old ladies in Macy's carrying around, durable, made well, life-long friends.

Clothing

(Source: We Heart It)

Clothing can be more difficult to justify as an investment, in my opinion, because it varies person to person. I love Free People, Anthropologie, Equipment, Ralph Lauren and 7 For All Mankind. I could literally live in those clothes for the rest of my life and be content with my life. Those are brands/stores I invest in.

What you should consider when choosing investment clothing:

What do I wear often? I wear jeans a lot. They are the basis of most of my outfits. I spend good money on 7 For All Mankind jeans. Usually I catch them on a sale. Stores like Nordstrom's, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales and Macy's rotate clothes often. I check sales section online and in stores. Macy's usually has some kind of coupon on holiday weekends and sometimes 7FAMs will be on sale there for no reason at all. I buy them whenever I have the money and whenever my AE jeans aren't doing me justice any longer. 7FAMs are usually around $178-250, they're an investment to me.
What do I usually go for an everyday outfit? This question is kind of the same as the first but now we're talking basics. I usually go for a flowy top, and nice jeans or leggings. My investment pieces are Free People, Anthropologie or Equipment shirts. Usually, I wait until a sale just like I do for jeans which brings down my PPW or Price Per Wear, which I'll go into more detail about below.
You're running late, what's your go-to outfit? What in your closet can you throw together and have it work instantly? Polo and jeans? Button up and leggings? Think about it.
Basics. I love H&M tank tops. While they aren't super expensive, they last pretty long for me and I buy about 5 at a time in white, black, grey, tan and navy blue. I also wear v-necks quite often. Investment. J. Crew has great v-necks. I have invested in a few and they outlast my Old Navy, H&M and Hanes ones in the long run.
Which brand do I like the best? Don't go with a brand that is popular at the moment. Shop around, try things on at the store, walk around the dressing room in it for a little bit and see if you like it on you. Don't buy J.Crew v-necks because I buy them and don't buy Hollister Co. tank tops because your friends wear them. If you want your clothes to last a long time, you need to chose brands that conform to you with a style that you will love forever. Don't be a follower, don't be a trend-chaser, and don't do what someone else tells you to do.

Shoes

(Source: We Heart It)

Shoes are girl's best friend. Any shoe lover will probably describe something along the lines of Jimmy Choo or Christian Louboutin as their dream shoe. The great thing about great shoes like Choos and Louboutins are that they are made fabulously. Seriously! They are made so well and it is no lie when they promise a lifetime of wear. I don't wear heels that much so they aren't a great investment piece for me right now, but as far flats, boots, and sandals go, I'm willing to spend a nice chunk of change on nice shoes.

Here's what to consider when choosing your investment shoe:

What type of shoes do I wear often? Sneakers? Heels? Sandals? Boots?
Invest in weather appropriate shoes. A good pair of winter boots, rain boots and even cowboy boots (my favorite) can last you a long time and will survive the weather! I highly advise spending $100+ on winter boots if it snows where you live, rather be safe than sorry when it gets snowy out! Also, rain boots are practical. I didn't realize this until I got to college and it rained and the floors in the lecture halls were tracked with rain.

Price Per Wear

Price Per Wear is the best fashion math. It's very simple.

Take the price of the item and divide by how many times you think you will wear it in a month. Then multiply by 12.
Then take that and divide it by how many years you think you will have it.

Example:

Your Dream Jeans= $178

178/14= $12.71

Each month, if worn 14 times, you pay $12.71 a month to wear these jeans or 90 cents per wear.

$12.71*12= $152.52/year

Each year, you pay $152.52 to wear them. Meaning in a year, your price per wear is almost equal to the price you paid in the store. You still have $25.48 more, so you'd have two more months of wear before you surpass your retail value. This is a good investment.

Say you'd have then for about 10 years....

$152.52*10= $1525.20 worth of wear in a lifetime. You get 10 times your retail value in 10 years. Owning them and wearing them for a little over a year, your price per is greater than your retail. This is what you look for. A lot of people go by a $1 per wear, in this case, these hypothetical jeans were less than that.

Doing this simple math will help you determine (and justify) an investment piece. It will also help you determine whether something would actually be an investment piece for you.

I hope you liked this post, let me know what you think!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Marc Jacobs Spring 2012 Ready-To-Wear

I really loved this collection, I feel like Marc just gets better every year. He never slumps. He always tries to revamp what he has done and this show proves that.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Why We Should Be Fearless for Fall 2010

We have a lot of color to work with: For example, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Oscar De La Renta and many others. They are rich colors, vibrant ones. You have to be bold. You have to go out on a limb and experiment.
We can have our cake...and not worry about the calories: Babydolls are back in...I hear the stampede to the stores already. As reported by fashionista.com, we can wear our favorite loosy goose shirts that make us look like pregnant women...who cares?
We Can Wear Sweaters: Even the crazy "Grandma, you shouldn't have made me another sweater" sweaters. Look to ADAM for direction.
We have a chance to be Goths: Diane Von Furstenberg's dark eyes on the runway are incredibly inspirational. Let's all go buy black, shiny eyeliner and eyeshadow and not care about it being messy. Thank you, Diane!
We can all be cool as the New York hipsters: Can you say leopard print coats and fedoras? The fedora trend hasn't died yet and the leopard print coat one isn't going anywhere... Like Rebecca Taylor did, combine them to make sweet, fashionable harmony.
We can make all black not look so plain: Like Jay-Z but better. Your all black pants, your all black shirt with the black belt and gold buckle and your favorite black Louboutins won't be criticized. You can wear them together, go and prepare.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

New York Fashion Week Favorites

If I did a detailed post about everything that I loved about NYFW besides the Cut's tweets or Fashionista's reviews, or being jealous of everyone who got to attend NYFW... anyways, here's my favorites.

Oscar De La Renta

Fall 2010 Ready to Wear

Photo Credit: Style