5 Rules for Wearing Designer Apparel

In This Issue:
Message From Diana
Feature Article: 5 Rules for Wearing Designer Apparel

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Do you like designer labels? Are you a brand name kind of gal? Then take a look at today's article to discover the five "rules" for wearing designer apparel in this repeat of one of my most-requested articles.

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Not long ago, I happened to walk behind a woman shopping at the mall. She was trolling about in no makeup, a sloppy sweat suit, and paint-stained sneakers. Oh, and she was carrying a Burberry handbag.

Well frankly, a lot. I've always taken issue with people who think so little of themselves that they can't be bothered with a proper appearance when they leave the house, but the Burberry bag made me cringe. Why? Because it implies that she knows better. If she knows enough to carry an "it" bag, then she should know better than to leave the house looking like a zshlob.

Unfortunately, that isn't always the case. The more I work with people, the more I see just how little even professed fashionistas really know about apparel and brand names. They glean their information from fashion magazines replete with advertising from luxury brands, and as a result, don't always exercise independent thought when they go to the mall.

Many seem to think that wearing designer apparel automatically makes them chic. It doesn't. That's like saying that singing in the shower makes you a rock star or putting on a tiara makes you Miss Universe. The potential is there in each case, but nothing is a given.

Thus, I've seen women who can stop traffic wearing $40 worth of clothes from Walmart and others who don't warrant a second glance sporting $4,000 worth of designer apparel. The clothing itself doesn't make you chic; it's in knowing HOW to find and wear the right pieces for you that makes all the difference.

If you've been thinking about adding designer brands to your wardrobe because you are trying to upgrade your image and can afford to pay cash to do so, then by all means, do. But before you spring for a label, ask yourself why you're doing it. Are you caught up in the "me too!" frenzy of a certain popular brand, or are you seeking to establish a signature style?

If it's the latter (and I certainly hope it is), here are some guidelines to consider so that you don't become a "label victim:"

This seems obvious, but many people stumble right out of the gate on this one. When women tell me they like labels and I start quizzing them on their preferences, I either get a short list of the current hot names or the vapid, "Oh, I like all of them!"

Fair enough. Not everyone can spend her days thumbing through fashion magazines.

But if you're going to spend the money, for goodness sake, educate yourself! I've seen people do lots of research before buying major appliances, computers, and travel then thinking nothing of dropping the same amount for apparel they saw on their favorite celebrity. Does seeing Nicole Kidman wear it on the red carpet qualify as due diligence? For some people, it does.

For the rest of us, a few minutes spent clicking around some of the big runway sites like:

Once you start learning more about the different designers, you'll probably find yourself drawn to one or two. You might not like everything they offer every season, but overall, they tend to have a selection that you like.

You'll also find other designers that will make you wrinkle your nose and wonder who in the world buys their stuff. If one of these happens to be a current social or celebrity favorite, you may be wondering what others are seeing that you're not.

It all boils down to clothing personalities, which is discussed in detail in WARDROBE MAGIC:

Some people like ruffles and lace, some like color and drama, some like plain and simple. Once you understand what you like and find the designers that make those kinds of clothes, you're well on you're way to cultivating your own sense of style.

Nothing shouts, "LABEL VICTIM!" more than excess. This can be wearing the same designer head-to-toe, flashing logo accessories on every limb, or even becoming a walking billboard for a brand by wearing the name in big letters on your shirt, pants, etc.

Yes, wearing luxury brands implies that you have some money. But wearing them all at the same time in a conspicuous display suggests that you have no taste. It's like thinking that because a pinch of salt makes a dish scrape-the-plate delicious, adding a tablespoon will make it even better. It doesn't. It overpowers everything else, rendering the food unpalatable.

Knowing how much is too much is what separates the best dressed from the victims, the leaders from the lemmings.

If you're going to walk around and endorse a brand to excess, at the very least, you should get paid for it - don't you think?

Watching the woman in the grubby sweat pants carrying the Burberry bag reminded me of the time I went to a rural wedding where they served champagne in Styrofoam cups at the reception. The premium item didn't upgrade the cheap surroundings; the cheap surroundings downgraded the premium item.

If you're going to go to the trouble and expense of buying designer apparel or accessories, be sure to provide a worthy backdrop to showcase the piece, like a frame around an exquisite painting. Otherwise, people will either assume it's a fake, or that you have no taste. Or both.

If your guy takes you to the couture houses in New York, Paris, or Milan and tells you to get whatever you want, that's one thing (although don't be surprised if he picks out something, like a necklace or pair of shoes, and asks you to model it wearing nothing else).

But if you're spending your own money, let your fingers do the shopping at any of the great discount designer sites online like:

Yes, wearing luxury brands gives you a certain cachet - but only if you do it correctly. If you opt for labels that compliment your body shape and clothing personality instead of chasing the latest fad, you'll cultivate a style that's distinctly your own, turning heads wherever you go. You'll also make your favorite designer proud, instead of reducing him to taking your money and turning a blind eye to your "me too" sense of style.

Need some more help in putting together a wardrobe that works? Download a copy of WARDROBE MAGIC,

http://www.wardrobemagic.com

to see how easy dressing well can be.