In a recent post I mentioned that I have been devoting all of my time to shopping, writing, and reading for all of you loyal fans. Though reading actual books, not magazines, isn’t usually part of a fashionista’s rise to fabulous, I’m different. I am taking in fashion from every possible angle, even if that does include neglecting the magazines for a few days and throwing myself into a pile of books. If that’s what it takes, right? Vogue can wait.
First book on the list is not exactly about fashion, per say, but it is more of a guide on how to live the life of a fashionista, even if you are on a budget, say, equal to mine. The work in question is Nina Willdorf’s City Chic: The Modern Girl’s Guide to Living Large on Less, and it is filled with tips and tricks on how to live a glamorous city life when you’re just starting off and not exactly getting a paycheck even close to Anna Wintour’s just yet. I didn’t write down everything, and believe me, my notes don’t even include the half of it. The book is filled with useful information such as make-up and food lifespans, recipes, websites on just about everything, advice on buying and brewing coffee, alcohol spending tips, dry cleaning do’s and don’ts, and heaps more. Just a little FYI, I would pay close attention to page 181 and on (The Modern Girl’s Look), which are all about, well, clothes!
So, here are the notes I took, directly off that pages of my notebook. Some of them are not too detailed, and if anything doesn’t make sense to you, don’t be scared to just ask me! You can send questions and comments, like always, to justtalkingfashion@yahoo.com. ;) Now, the sooner you read, the sooner you’ll save, so read on!
A Few Tips and Money-Saving Tricks from City Chic:
Home
1. The color blue is an appetite suppressant. The book says to keep it out of the kitchen, but if you want to save extra money, maybe painting your kitchen blue isn’t a bad thing.
2. The best season for curbside loot would be the end of the semester. International as well as local students will be cleaning out apartments, and it would be quite hard for some of these kids to fit couches in their carry-ons.
3. Double Takes: CD or coaster? Milk crate or shelf? Old bottle or antique vase? Soup can or pen holder? Goober jar or creative glassware?
Body
1. Exercise: no gym membership required, just Nikes and 30 minutes of jogging 3-4 times a week (600-700 cal/hr)
2. Pilates (Puh-lah-tees): The Basic 10
1. Hundreds 2. Roll ups 3. Leg circles 4. Rolling like a ball 5. Stomach series 6. Spine stretch 7. Corkscrew 8. Saw 9. Side kick 10. Seal
3. Long layers last. This is one haircut that will grow out nicely, and if you always keep it up and take care of it, you’ll save lots.
4. Some salons offer complimentary trims in between major cuts. Definitely something to look into.
5. Water + Shampoo = more bang for your buck and leaves the same effect
Price-Saving Pantries
1. Grocery shop when you are full, with a list, and with a budget.
2. Farmer’s markets and fruit stands have the freshest and often the cheapest produce.
3. Seasons: spring - avocados and spinach, summer – tomatoes and broccoli, fall – mushrooms and apples, winter – grapefruit and oranges
Entertaining
1. Meet up for coffee or for lunch instead of dinner
2. Go Ethnic! A hole-in-the-wall ethnic restaurant is usually much cheaper, and turns out, a bit tastier.
The Modern Girl’s Look
1. “We are not looking for endless variety – we are looking for fashion.” –Diana Vreeland
2. The book gives you a choice of 5 identity types that you can pick out of to describe your personal style. I, for example, relate most to ‘Hip Helen’, and the book suggests blazers and wide framed glasses for wardrobe must-haves.
3. Bluefly.com
4. Famous Trend Mavens: (Note: This version of City Chic was written in 2008)
1. Chloe Sevigny
2. Winona Ryder
3. Sarah Jessica Parker*
4. Sophia Coppola
5. Sienna Miller*
See what I mean? The most random, most useful things can be found in this book. How to make a room look bigger, how to give your closet better variety while still fitting your personal style, should I eat it or can it? Everything about anything budget wise is in this book for us Modern Girls. And since we are all on a budget, how about checking to see if the local library has City Chic instead of spending part of your precious paycheck on it? I just discovered my local public library, and have, obviously, benefited from it already.
Happy saving,
Brooke
