Means of glamour and state-of-the-art chicness + Slideshow (part-2)
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Part-1.....So here is how I go about it.
I have a person, who is also a friend now and whose services I employ for almost a decade now (she has other clients, She is not an employee of mine).
She does everything related to clothing and accessories for me. She coordinates the tailoring and the pairing…in addition to sourcing the clothes.
She knows my colors, my personal style, my lifestyle, my social and professional calendar, my cultural sensibilities, and my budget of course … she even knows the pyjamas and lingerie my husband likes.
Her services with me started as a shopping assistant/personal shopper, but we both have developed a system unique to us as time went by, she is a fashion library and a very resourceful person. I helped her launch her styling business and expand her clients list when she wanted to get back to work after having her babies and I took full advantage of that fact ( don’t worry she is okay with me writing this, don’t come for me).
We do 2-3 wardrobe updates per year for outerwear and 2 essentials and basics updates per year ( Staples, loungewear, PJs, socks, underwear, bedding, towels… Everything that’s essential in every household)
The 3 outerwear updates are not limited to known designer brands or new collections, I have a pretty classic non-extravagant fashion style. I rarely follow any fashion trend. But I do love a good cut and a luxurious fabric…
Outerwear & accessories :
First, it started as a collection of pictures and mood boards we would send each other to make a list of items for her to source for me… We would go back and forth and discuss the availability and cost of some of these items.
She would suggest alternatives to certain things that she deems not worth it or previously disappointed her in the quality or the finish (now that I am writing this I realize how much money she saved for me, time for a sweet text of appreciation)
As our relationship evolved, it became more organized and much more focused on what I like and what she knows matches my measurements, my colors, and my style.
These last few years I rarely decline any of the options and ideas she proposes since she is very good at her job.
I am also very welcoming of her input given that she is a passionate professional with a sense of integrity.
The process usually begins like this:
My beautiful shopper/stylist prepares a big PDF every month with style inspirations, fashion houses' new collections, New drops of niche designers, outfit pairings, her suggestions for tailoring, her suggestions for things that are worth their price when it’s a high one ( quality of the material, sewing details…), suggestions for things to make from scratch, accessories, shoes…. Along with a breakdown of the cost ( logistics + tailoring+ estimation of the made-to-measure cost and time…)
You might think that it’s easy because I am writing about it in a brief manner, but in reality, she does work a lot especially when it comes to sourcing the clothes. Most beautiful and elegant items (big-fashion houses or not ) are not always available. Sometimes it requires a lot of back and forth with different stores in multiple cities to secure it in the required size and the right color.
Sometimes (often lately) it requires an enormous amount of research as the new trends in fashion are not to my taste nor my style, which makes it challenging to curate sophisticated and unique outfits.
We also both focus on finding new emerging designers all around the world who use high-quality materials and fine workmanship.
There are many benefits to this approach besides the lower retail cost (that gets higher in logistics), it's the uniqueness of certain items, and the flexibility of these brands if we request adjustments or customization…
Another bonus is their cultural inspiration, whether it’s in the sewing patterns, prints patterns or how they pair certain colors and fabrics. Which adds to the distinctiveness of the resulting product.
Now, I do have a large collection of expensive clothes from many established high-fashion houses that I have acquired throughout my life… but I also have lots of beautiful garments from small brands around the world that haven't made it to the global fashion scene but who deliver a level of excellence parallel to the opulent European couture houses, especially in developing countries in Africa, Turkey, India, Indonesia, eastern-Europe, Korea, Egypt… and the whole middle east. Brands I would have never discovered and accessed if not through a dedicated and knowledgeable professional.
I am not going to pretend that I do it out of the goodness of my heart or to support local economies since I know that high-end brands (even the small ones) in most countries do not pay their workers more than what’s required by the local government (Which is far from sufficient). It’s a vanity choice, not a charitable one. I prefer to help in more direct and efficient ways (topic for another day)
I know all this might sound like some celebrity fluff-pretentious talk, but as I mentioned in the first part of this post … there is a certain social pressure to always have a dashing allure (not complaining at all). Expectations and means go hand in hand. To live up to the standards of a demanding and competitive microcosm and thrive, one must employ the necessary tools.
Since anyone in that realm can buy anything from any runway you could think of, it becomes an exercise of tastefulness, attention to the finest details, and of course “poshness”.
When the social and professional network is large, the little family or social events become weekly activities in which repeating an outfit or a dress is equal to sinful when you can afford not to.
Having an enticing appearance is the product of a myriad of elements, each meticulously adjusted and refined to near perfection. Having it every day takes an enormous amount of energy and time.
Aside from the styling aspect, it’s mostly about efficiency and time management. Even if I enjoyed doing everything mentioned above… there is research, coordination with the tailor (or multiple if we are making something to measure), tracking shipping and returns, maintenance, closet organizing, endless browsing, phone calls, and follow-ups…This makes it extremely difficult to find the time to dedicate to intellectually stimulating activities and hobbies, work, household management, and nurturing important relationships without feeling burned out.
In addition to all those amazing benefits, it’s actually cost-efficient in the long run compared to just buying designer clothes since she gets preferential pricing and has access to private sales… knows what to invest in and what to cut back on… where to look for alternatives, when it’s valuable to play brand politics, when prices are justified and when it’s hype marketing…
Putting aside all of these rational arguments, the power of a well put-together elegant attire is undeniable and. Making use of the technology and means (financial and mental) available to us in pursuit of such important aspect of our social identity is essential to success in hypergamy, career and business.
Hope you like this post. Feel free to reach out to me by responding to this email and join the conversation on Facebook this week.
Celine, with love ❤