Fashion for the Recession

I was surprised at the results of a recent survey which found that one-third of women do not plan to purchase any clothing during the coming year. At first I thought I hadn't heard correctly. One-third of women are not going to buy any new clothing for a whole year?? Really? No colorful bags, no beautiful shoes, no trendy new skirts and jackets?

The economy is, of course, the driving force behind this development. And while husbands across America were heard to let out a collective "Hallelujah!" at the news, it's a startling sign that even an uber-materialist society like ours has now seen a need to change it's spendthrift ways.

A big challenge is ahead of all who have decided not to spend any money on new clothes this year. For those of you who have taken the recession fashion pledge, here are some tips to help you avoid wardrobe fatigue:

Fortunate is the woman who has a good friend, sister or other relative with whom she can exchange clothes. If there is someone in your life who wears a similar clothing size, ask if you can exchange some items of clothing with her. It will give a boost to both of your wardrobes.

If you have a special occasion coming up, consider borrowing an outfit, from the foundation garments to the purse and shoes, from a friend or relative. Be sure to dry clean or launder the outfit before returning it.

Spend an afternoon going through your closet and combining clothing items in new ways. Try some new color combinations such as pairing a red silky blouse with a purple pencil skirt for a bright and sophisticated work outfit. Take the black blazer you usually wear with a matching black skirt and try it with the tan pants your normally wear with that brown sweater.

Use some pieces of your summer wardrobe during the winter. Try layering summer tanks under low-cut winter sweaters to add a pop of color. Combine a summer skirt with a tunic-length sweater and tights.

Use accessories to spice up your wardrobe. A very plain top and pair of pants or a skirt can look like a new outfit with the addition of a colorful scarf. You can also change the shape of a sweater or dress you already own by adding a belt to it. Another way to bring new interest to an old outfit is to layer necklaces and/or bracelets. Don't worry about matching your accessories. A sharp contrast to add interest is what you're after.

A little good old-fashioned American ingenuity will help you get through this recession looking like a million bucks!