I had a very funny friend in graduate school who objected to the idea of “investment” clothing. “If it’s on your ass,” she would say, “it is not an asset.” She had a point: With the exception of a very small niche of pieces, clothing has no resale value. But that doesn’t mean that investing in your wardrobe is a waste of money — on the contrary, investment dressing is a smart financial and fashion strategy, particularly in a bad economy.

Before you start to lecture me about how frivolous shopping is and how you’re not paying $45 for a t-shirt, listen up: When you buy well-made basics, your wardrobe will go further and last longer. Investing in your closet doesn’t mean forking over thousands of dollars for designer ready-to-wear; it means choosing the best quality that you can afford, and sticking with pieces that will work for your lifestyle.

The key to investment dressing is to do three things: Identify your go-to basics, decide what your budget is, and then buy pieces that can be accessorized.

We love Mrs. Obama because she wears the same things over and over — like this Tracy Feith dress. Photo courtesy of Mrs.O.org.

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I turned 41 this spring; right before my 40th birthday, I reached the point where reading glasses were a necessity. At this point, I’m about ten minutes away from being one of those women who has a pair in every single room and three in my handbag.

Reading glasses from Anthropologie

Thank goodness so many places make such cute reading glasses. It almost makes getting older just a excuse to accessorize.

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We’re past the midpoint of summer, but there’s no end in sight to the hot hot weather. But because we’re just weeks away from Labor Day, stores are clearing out the summer wear — which makes this the perfect time to buy some sandals!

This year, I’m all about embellishment for my feet; if I’m going to spend the summer in sandals, I want them to be pretty. Look for bright colors and added jewels and beautiful materials; look also for quality construction that will last beyond this summer.

I’ve found a dozen pairs — all for under $50.00 — that fit the bill.
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I’m an online shopper through and through. I’m not really into crowded malls, and would much rather spend my time sitting on my couch drinking a latte while purchasing this season’s most darling [insert clothing item here]. Plus, with the majority of my favorite stores implementing easy and free returns, why not?

However, I’ve been stuck in an online retailer rut - not really venturing out into new online shopping territory. That is, until Lucky Magazine published their 100 under $100 online shopping guide in their July issue. Woohoo! More ways to spend my money!

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