Fabulous Financials

Sharon Harvey Rosenberg, also known around the web as The Frugal Duchess, is currently on a virtual book tour to promote her book, The Frugal Duchess: How To Live Well and Save Money.  I was more than happy to spread the word about her book tour and she’s offered to share frugal fashion tips with my Fabulous Financial readers.  Here’s a post about her “frugal uniform.”

I work in a uniform. I party in uniforms. I shop in a uniform.

My uniforms are not standard-issue, mass-produced garments. They are not pre-packaged items, but rather outside-the-box, one-of-a-kind creations.  These haute — so hot! — uniforms save money because my wardrobe provides an easy fashion guide for the different roles that I assume in life.  Here are the uniforms that get me through the week:

• Work uniform. A little while ago, I started working in a very corporate setting. To fit in, I wear a black pencil skirt (one of several), a tee-shirt (in a variety of colors) and a matching cotton cardigan.
• Formal party uniform. Black skirt, sleeveless shell and a short black bolero jacket from Yves St. Laurent (a hand-me-down) or a tuxedo jacket.
• Shopping uniform: Denim skirt (long or short) and a tee-shirt with three-quarter sleeves. A cardigan is optional.

Occasionally, I’ll wear fabrics with patterns, but for the most part, my wardrobe consists of skirts, shirts and sweaters/jackets in a limited range of solid colors. By picking clothes, in a small field of colors (mostly blue, pink and orange), the pieces in my wardrobe readily match each other and are easily re-arranged to create new looks. I add a little drama with accessories: a funky necklace, pearls, great shoes or scarves.  Here are the other benefits of my system:

• Time-saver: Uniforms save time, because I can just randomly grab a shirt, a skirt and a cardigan and still look polished. Dressing has become a no-brainer.
• Thrifty editor: My uniform approach instantly narrows the color, style and shape of garments that I load into my shopping cart. This disciplined approach to dressing and shopping forces me adhere to self-directed fashion rules, thereby limiting impulse purchases and fashion mistakes.
• Creativity spark: Matching and swapping around the various pieces of my wardrobe forces me to look at my closet with fresh eyes. I’ve become more creative by finding new combinations for old clothes. Additionally, the various uniforms save grooming time and enable me to spend more time on other creative pursuits, including time with my kids and my keyboard.

The Frugal Duchess also writes for the Miami Herald on topics related to frugality and personal finance.  If you’re interested, check out her blog, subscribe to her blog feed, or buy her book.