Shopfrugality Tip: Inspiration

Plain and simple: Fashion is an expression of yourself therefore in order for your fashion to develop, you need to develop yourself. Here are the ways I find inspiration:

1) As often as possible I create "lists" on 1 sheet of legal-pad paper of words, images, ideas that pop in to my head (usually at night before I go to bed). For instance, my most recent list included: Bolero! with RUFfles!, Blue eyeliner-shadow lower lid-reverse cat eye, black lace, leather/lavender, The Perfect-T, octopus, fringe necklace, fish bones, and a few sketches of skirts and what I think a reverse cat-eye eyeliner should look like. Sometimes these things mean nothing, sometimes they inspire me to create/try new things. It's basically a daily exercise in being creative--tuning in to what I'm feeling day-to-day.

2) Magazine cut-outs. This is the oldest trick in the book. If you see a great pair of thigh-high Chanel patent stiletto boots that you LOVE, rip the picture out at put it on an "inspiration" board. Even though you could never afford the real thing, having the image close at hand trains your eye to be on the look out for similar styles.

3) pictures. I'm bad at this one, but really, carry a camera with you everywhere. A street sign might inspire you in a moment. It's beautiful that every moment is new and individual and if you don't have a camera to catch it...it will never be caught.

4) search the web! Seriously, it's lame but important to know what's going on: looking at what other people are wearing, knowing trends, knowing designers, knowing Ebay, knowing Gap/Old Navy/BR, knowing low and high, high and low...KNOWING KNOWING KNOWING. And that good ol' saying, knowing your body!

Afterword: This entry was not so much a tip, but rather information on one approach I take to the vast realm of fashion. I'm transforming this into a tip by saying this: INSPIRE yourself, constantly constantly constantly. Not only in fashion, in LIFE. If you find something that inspires you every day, every day is successful. Life is inspirational. Bring that inspiration to the stores. Every now and then buy things on a whim. That's the beauty of shopfrugality, you are spending relatively small amounts so there's no such thing as buyer's remorse; buy the magenta dress because it makes you happy, even though it's three sizes too small and will only hang in your closet. Fashion is art. Fashion is life. Fashion is inspiration.