from fashion toast1

STOP BLINDLY FOLLOWING TRENDS.
Are you honestly in love with your Moschino McDonalds inspired sweater? Your answer is probably not. I always make sure that any piece of clothing or accessory I invest in matches my style aesthetic.

• So if I am feeling very minimalistic this season, I’ll ditch anything that looks like a color palette decided to vomit. The whole point of fashion is to express yourself with what you feel gives a statement about you.

• Trends are not always on your side. I mean, soda is my BFF and would you ever see me rock the crop top trend? No. I choose silhouettes that flatter my body features not highlight the fact that my tummy is as big as a watermelon.

YOUR TAILOR IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.
This is a post-shopping trip kind of thing. You have to know when that jean jacket is oversized and when it’s not your size (too big that is). Tailoring is the key to looking polished all times, even if you just have your day jean and shirt combo on.

• We are very lucky with the whole underground tailor industry in Egypt, being as cheap and accessible as they will ever get. Take advantage of your local tailor and make sure your jeans perfectly fit you.

STRAY AWAY FROM BRANDED ITEMS.
Please, for the sake of high fashion, don’t look like a walking advertisement promoting some brand. Try to be as original and sincere to your fashion instincts as much you can.
• It is fine to own one, two or maybe three bags with LV’s logo splattered all over. I personally am addicted to MCM’s backpacks and wouldn’t mind to buy every single one the brand carries. But again without trying to repeat myself! Always ask yourself: do I REALLY like it?

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LET’S TALK SALE.
Sales are the glorious times of the year in which I choose to invest in a piece I’ve been eyeing for a while. Google lets you know when all sales throughout the year start and end, so thank you Google for not letting me spend my shopping budget a week before sale and then totally regretting it. It is possible that you may not find trendy pieces on sale, so try to look for the basics instead.

• My absolute all time favorite is Memorial Day Sale. You could easily snatch an Alexander Wang bucket bag for half the price on online shopping websites like Shopbop and Net-a-Porter.

• Whether it’s Cairo Festival Mall or City Stars, summer sale is always on fire. Especially right after Eid and during Ramadan when all the good stuff are out. Don’t ever shop during Eid. I recently snatched my favorite all sequin skort for literally less than half the price. I bet you can totally picture the adrenaline rush when I saw the price tag.

SECRET PLACES TO SHOP.
Online shops are your best bet. Sometimes it gets a bit tricky with sizes and fit but most of the time, you will end up with the most precious piece you will ever own.

• My favorites are: Late night eBay shopping for vintage finds, Pixie Market and ASOS for trendy and unique pieces and Khan el Khalili/local designers for authentic finds (and no, not khayameya).

• Zara is my favorite fast fashion go to shop, you will be able to find all the trendy runway pieces of the season with a price we can actually afford.

• Shopping at “Nomrosy” and “Kol Shi2” will give your old jeans and shirts that wow factor; it has been my all time favorite place since styling at The Fashion Studio in Cairo. Also, don’t forget to shop your mom & grandma’s wardrobe; you’ll find invaluable fashion finds.

A model presents a creation by US designer Marc Jacobs as part of his Spring/Summer 2014 women's ready-to-wear fashion show for French fashion house Louis Vuitton during Paris fashion week

IS IT WORTH THE MONEY?
I always ask myself this question and spend from 5 to 10 minutes over the cashier playing mind games with myself.

• I end up always paying with cash; that way I know if the purchase is worth it or not.

• I personally hate blazers, would never ever put one on me, so it’s totally pointless to invest in one. I’d recommend mapping out what you need versus what you want. Indulge in the wants as much as you can, just don’t overlook the clean-cut basics that everything else revolves around.

• Now that you know your shopping needs versus wants. Jot down your shopping budget and spend accordingly. Don’t spend 500 EGP on a shirt if you are on a tight budget.

 

gown-actress-Betty-Grable

Quick tips:

• Forget about the rules (don’t take that literally). Shopping should be fun and sometimes fun is all about bending the rules.

• We all have impulse purchases that we regret 10 minutes later and at a point indulge in a trend that is just blekhh. I blame Paris Hilton and the Kardashians for the spread of Juicy Couture tracksuits and UGGS. Thank you 2014 for tends that we wont regret 10 years later.

• Experimentation is the key to getting to know more about your style aesthetic and persona. And once you nail that, you will start to follow your own shopping rules.

 

Maie Zoheir

FASHION BLOGGER

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