Shop your heart out without breaking the bank…in your closet!

With history often repeating itself, the same goes for fashion. We constantly see new trends revived and freshened up with a slight twist. Chances are, you already have a stack of essentials tucked away in your wardrobe. Recession or not, there’s no better time than now to spend a rainy Saturday indoors fishing for these pieces as many designers have begun reinventing classic pieces.

Statement Earrings

Zac Posen 2009

Model Kate Moss triggered the comeback of chandelier earrings last summer. Designers followed suit and you can find some I have handmade at www.u-fhern.com/earrings. Glamorous statement pieces are easy to dramatise any ensemble.

New Neutrals

Flesh tones are the colour choice for Spring. Designers have used the colours for nearly every silhouette including evening gowns, casual dresses, pants, jackets and skirts. So be on the hunt for any pale khaki pieces hidden away in musty boxes and pair them with similar colours.

Classic Cardis

The light pieces always follow me on my travels as I can throw them over anything whether it be a t-shirt and jeans or a girly dress. Even if the one you dig out has been bitten by bugs or moths, no need to chuck them out just yet because distressed is in.

Mummy Dearest

Whenever I’m back home and in search for something new to add to my wardrobe, I’ll go through Mum’s. No matter how many times I’ve done it in the past, I still manage to find something new and unique and I’m always surprised by the shopping habits she possessed over two decades ago. A few things that I have found, and you just might too:

• Costume jewellery
• Old school handbags 
• Well preserved heels (thank God Mum and I have the same sized feet… it really has saved me a fortune) ~ Mum has had a pair of bright yellow Manolos tucked away in her shoe rack, and long before SATC!

Of course I’ve been able to inherit all these lovely vintage items because I have a lovely Mum, and I tell her if I take her old things, she can get Daddy to get her new things...That’s a fair deal to me! But what I love most about raiding Mum’s wardrobe, is that everything that’s been passed to me, I have not seen the exact same item worn on anyone else. Having said that, one of my favourite moments was seeing this gold ball from one of Mum’s Chanel’s handbags swinging off the arm of a Miss SZT.

I was glad to find out that she too joins the club of inheriting classic goods from Mummy Dearest. I love Chanel, and probably always will due to the pure sense of sophistication the brand creates from the black and white packaging to the polished looks of the store representatives with neat bows in their hair. 

However, in recent years, I have seen more and more girls carrying Chanel bags. With Mischa Barton sporting a Chanel bag in most episodes of the O.C, it is no wonder that young girls have followed suit. I only have one of my own (which only makes an appearance conditional on my outfit, and more importantly, the weather ~ I’d rather I get wet than it get stained from the rain), the rest are from Mum. I think I will continue to carry the ones Mum passed down to avoid walking into a bathroom at a club seeing an 18+ girl bent over the toilet bowl puking carrying the exact same bag. Plus, its financially a much wiser move!

Kitchen Queen

I love Nigella Lawson. Not only is she so pretty to look at but she presents her cooking shows like no one else does. With her British accent and the luscious descriptions she gives her ingredients, she can make even a lemon seem so special.

Nigella - the ultimate domestic goddess

I can hear her on the Food Channel as I type away and she has the capacity to transport me from my lounge into her kitchen

Since we don't all inherit the DG gene, here are a few tips you might find handy in and around the kitchen:

Keep your recipes clean:

Place a fork prong up in a glass and weave your recipe through the prongs and place the glass in an easy to see place on the counter. Instead of touching the piece of paper with icky hands, just move the glass around.

Sticky servings

Sticky ingredients are a pain to measure because once you get the measurement right, you hardly ever get the full amount transferred into where it needs to be. So next time, spray your measuring utensil with cooking oil beforehand. There will be no need to frantically scrape residue lining your tools. 

Ladies... we're most definitely better at multi-tasking

911 for cooking disasters

How to save your cooking from the following:

Saltiness

Add one to two tbs of olive oil or lemon juice to counteract the saltiness

Spiciness

Adding dairy to curry will tame the heat hence many Indian dishes are served along with yoghurt, Stir about 2 tbs of low-fat yoghurt into an over spicy dish and offer more on the side for those who still can't handle the heat.

Mushiness

If you have vegetables that are too soft, make the problem look ask though it were intentional. Whip up a puree with the vegetables in the food processor or blender then season with salt and pepper. 

Ring-a-ring-a-roses...We all fall down!

Like falling dominoes, the meltdown has made financial markets everywhere about as rosy as a polar bear. With the collapse and absorption of the biggest banks, my Dad asked, “If its no longer safe to put your money in a bank, where is it best to keep it?” I thought under your garden patch, under your mattress or maybe stuffed into the pockets of your coats, boots and heels.

Back when the new season’s designs were on the drawing boards, the world was a better place. But with the new year, a completely different mood and climate was ushered in.

So sweet...(As my brother would say, "Wah wah wee wah")

History suggests that during a recession, hemlines come down and necklines go up. But I don’t feel fashion should be overshadowed by the doom and gloom of the economy. It should offer a sanctuary from the harsh realities of the greed fueled doings of the corporate world. Designers have most definitely served up an escape in their collections. Recent runway shows have been exhibiting all things nice and pleasant to take our minds off all the negative news. While the economic crisis is forecasted to continue into the next year, I hope fashion will keep producing fantastical creations so we feel that at least tomorrow will be better than today.

So as we cross our fingers and wait for things to recover… why not feast your eyes on these pretty things...(all can be found on U-Fhern.com)

Final reminder: Half of profits from February and March sales are going towards the Bush Fire Appeal here in Victoria. Please lend a hand! xo

Firenze

Tiny Dancer

Metallic Jungle

Food For Thought

Shop On Fridays

Instead of pub crawling for after work drinks, try scheduling in your supermarket shopping instead. An audit of supermarkets suggests that you can cut 20% of your weekly food bill by shopping on Fridays.

Shop Local

Groceries do a whole lot of traveling before arriving in your shopping trolley. Source food at farmers' markets so you do your bit for the environment and save on transportation costs.

Shop At The Deli

Instead of buying packaged meat, cheese and olives from the supermarket, go to deli to avoid all the extra packaging. It works out cheaper and you only buy exactly how much you need.

Take baby steps

Try make a difference one step at a time. For example, try buying products with less packaging. When buying coffee, bring a mug with you. If you forget just ask them to forget about the plastic lid.

Take your own bag

I leave the green bags near the door so I don't forget when I'm on the way out to the shops. I find that they are easier to carry compared to plastic bags when the load gets heavy, so why not kill two birds with one stone?

Thrifty Thursday

While Friday is the day to shop for groceries, Thursday is the day for fashion buys. Thursday evening 6-8 weeks after an item arrives in store is when prices start dropping. Late night shopping was just meant to be!

Beauty Bargains

Ask your beauty therapist or hairdresser where they buy their products. They just might know a wholesaler who sells to the general public. No harm asking!

Recession Proof Your Wardrobe!

Confessions of a Shopaholic starring Australia's own Isla Fisher is coming in March!

I am sure this movie will be a hit amongst the ladies. Want a cheap movie ticket? Check out Village Cinemas for their offers. I got emailed an $8 movie ticket from a friend the other day. You might have to wait till next month for March's offer. But in the meantime, catch new movies at Village Cinema's Bargain Screen.

~*~

‘Recessionista’ is a popular word floating around the fashion forum during this economic downturn we are experiencing. With ladies jumping of the Hermes Birkin waiting list, its mucha more fashionable to stay stylish on a budget. There is no need to add to bleak financial talk. Instead, I have come up with some more tips for women who wish to continue being savvy and stylish during these difficult times.

Let’s take the short cut
Go raid your closet for shorts! Stylish shorts have become a fashion must with designers creating matching shorts and jackets to give the classic suit a modern take. Mixed with a slouchy jacket and funky heels, no one will be able to tell that your shorts had been shoved up in the attic for years.


Belt it out
The female silhouette is still in. So pull out the box of belts you have stowed away. They are an easy accessory to be inventive with, and can update your look instantly.


Bargain Hunting
Enough with the old and in with the new...Ever find that you’re often one step too late to finding out about a designer sale? Fear no more! There have been an explosion of fashion blogs on the internet and some are dedicated just to sales and good finds. Some handy ones to keep bookmarked:

• Missy Confidential (Australia)

• Tongue in Chic (Malaysia)


There are often lines before doors open, especially for the bigger sales.. so get in there early!

Chic & Cheerful

I have always loved shopping (which I can officially declare is a gene I inherited from my Mum) and probably always will. I have learnt that the key to a sizeable savings account is not so much how much you earn, but rather how much you save. As I begin a new chapter in my life and slowly embark on a journey towards financial independence, I’d like to think that with the money I earn, I will have the capacity to do what I want, when I want. And that includes shopping! But to restrain from breaking the bank, I have devised a fewhandy tips to stay reasonably chic during a recession:

Buy a beautiful pair of nude pumps that will carry you through all the seasons. They’re classy and are easy to match with all the au courant trends. I bought these pair of patent beige pumps from Beijing whilst on exchange. They are now a must even on my travels. The snake skin print on the heels give them a funky edge, except Mum once thought I got stuck in the mud wearing them but eventually realized that they were oh-so-pretty.

Please meet Suria. She was purchased on 10 December 2008 and was lost that evening somewhere in Melbourne. If found please return :)

Instead of splurging on the latest runway looks, use accessories to stay on top of trends. Dress up your basic block coloured t-shirt or LBD with a chunky necklace, a massive cocktail ring or over the top earrings ~ One of the reasons I started U-Fhern.com was because I wanted to create exclusive yet affordable jewellery. All pieces have been handmade by moi and there is only one of each design! So there is no chance you’ll see anyone else sporting the same look. Jump onto the site and you might find something special to reward yourself with. For cheaper alternatives, you can hit stores like Diva or Sportsgirl and you’ll find racks of affordable jewellery.

Zac Posen for Target

Want to continue having your doses of designer wear? With many labels having multiple denim lines and big name designers teaming up with retailers, its still possible to in a thriftier manner. It’s fashion’s new edge. Previously recruiting Kate Moss, the new season has Matthew Williamson in store for H&M fans. Locally, we have Allanah Hill spreading some of her romantic designs into Jeans West and Target exhibiting works by the likes of Stella McCartney and Zac Posen. 

There is a Chinese saying Mum often repeats when she finds that after purchasing a cheap good, they turn out to be of poor quality. But I have found that with Australia’s regulations surrounding consumer products, I have not yet (touchwood) encountered any poor quality local products even though the price tags attached are not excessive. Work clothes with a twist from Cue and pretty dresses from Review have allowed me to purchase classic basics and current stylish pieces at a decent price. 

On the topic of decent prices, the most valuable items for work are my Shanghai tailored shirts which I acquired in bulk for a mere AUD$13 each! The tailors are fabulous. They are able to rush last minute alterations and there are so many options offered from beautiful materials, collars, cuffs and embroidery of whatever you like, wherever you like. And if you buy in numbers like my friends and I did, the tailors just might throw in a few cuff links for free!

Recommendation: Mian Liao Shi Chang
Apart from the Xiao Long Bao, Shanghai is also well known for its awesome tailors. Mian Liao Shi Chang is a market filled with tailors who can make dresses, coats, qi paos, suits and shirts. So take your time in choosing a tailor (though I suspect there must be a factory somewhere else, because there is no way these front men can alter a dozen pieces overnight), bring a photo of the design you want or better still, a sample of a shirt you like and want the style copied for instance.