A Different Kind of Shopping

Spring is just around the corner, but winter is still hanging on like a bad trend. So what do you do when it’s between seasons, you need to look chic, but don’t want to spend money on something you can literally only wear for another two or three weeks? You go closet shopping. Either your own, checking the deep recesses of your racks and drawers to see if you can uncover a lost treasure. You can also go shopping in the closet of a good friend or relative, if they’re cool with it.

As you can see from the picture below, I come from a long line of fashionistas. My grandma was the matriarch of my family, both literally and fashion-wise. She was also incredibly generous, and was always down to loan her clothes, and a lot of us gladly took her up on the invitation. One

of my cousins used to call it going shopping in “Susie’s Boutique.” It was a great option, especially if you needed something for a special or one-time occasion. She had a closet of beautifully curated clothes, carefully collected over her years of selecting the most beautiful fashions, and making alterations to fit her petite frame when necessary. That meant a closet full of fashionable goodness, literally tailored to our smaller Italian frames. Of course, we took great care of whatever garment she loaned us, returning it in the condition we found it (that’s the first rule of girl code - and it’s always the right thing to do). And her accessories game was just as fabulous.

Even after she passed away, I was lucky enough to inherit some of those pieces. And the ones I didn’t were housed by my mom and aunt, so her closet was still close by. So, case in point, when I had to attend a wedding, I shopped her closet. Well, actually it was now my mom’s closet, but I ended up wearing a dress that had belonged to my beautiful, stylish grandmother. So I not only looked good, but I also had a piece of someone I loved very much with me.

I chose my grandmother’s short, black dress that she had gotten from Caché, an upscale boutique at the local mall. It features a ruched zipper detail up the middle of the dress, and that same ruching and zipper detail at the three-quarter sleeves. A simple black dress with figure flattering, unexpected and unique details. I paired it with black tights and black velvet pumps to give it extra drama. I wore my hair down, but curled the ends to add texture and femininity. I added some gold layered bracelets, and a black manicure, because it was a night wedding and I was going for maximum effect. I didn’t wear a necklace because I wanted the ruching and zipper details to stand out, and I kept my earrings simple as well.

So, as we approach the change in seasons, no need to hit pause on your style or spend money on something you don’t really need. Just engage in a different kind of shopping that’s just as fun, and maybe even more meaningful.

That’s all for now. Until next time, stay fabulous!

My Aunt, on the left, Grandma in the middle, and mom on the right. All of them gorgeous.