London Calling
- Jamie Banks
- Aug 19, 2016
- 4 min read
My husband and I are leaving today for London. He is conducting business and I am well, you know...shopping. Can you imagine how excited I was when I read this (and immediately emailed it to my hubs)?
“Brexit has turned Britain into a haven for luxury bargain-hunters...The United Kingdom
has become the cheapest market worldwide for luxury goods since voters decided in a referendum on June 23 to leave the European Union, sending the British pound
plunging by 10 percent to its lowest level in 31 years.” – Women’s Wear Daily
What the what? The only two words I see in those sentences are luxury and bargain. Yesssssss. This got me thinking – how do I define a luxury item? My first thought is expensive followed closely by quality. Yes, luxury pieces are expensive, but they are also investments and in most cases, works of beautiful craftsmanship.
I tell my clients to think of luxury items as "will pieces". You know, the pieces in your closet that are so special you will pass them down to some lucky person when you die. I have a few of these articles earmarked for my nieces with one condition: don’t ever get rid of them. If you are smart about your approach they retain their value and beauty forever. Due to the emotional and economic investment, it’s important to think through these purchases.
Be Strategic
Really think about what designer pieces you like/want and why (is it an impulse or have you wanted it for a long time?). Make a list of your favorite designers and conduct research. Subscribe to their newsletter and follow them on social media. I promise you will be inspired and you also will get ideas of how to replicate their aesthetic with pieces in your wardrobe. I like to collect items from notable design houses; Chanel, Fendi, Dior… It brings me joy to know I own something from these houses steeped in history and beauty. I would rather have one or two pieces from designers I truly admire rather than a closet full of one designer. Don’t get me wrong, if I became Karl Lagerfeld’s muse I wouldn’t turn down a Chanel wardrobe but that seems (highly) unlikely.
Think Classic not Trendy
Focus on classic pieces and silhouettes. As you become more familiar with your chosen designers, you will be able to identify their iconic pieces. You know a signature designer piece when you see it – think Chanel tweed jacket, Yves St. Lauren smoking jacket or a Burberry trench coat. These are all signature items to the design house, but not anything that will look foolish in a year or two. Following this strategy also ensures your new pieces can be easily incorporated into your current wardrobe. Mixing these luxury items with less expensive and trendy pieces is where the fun starts and your individuality shines through.
Location, Location, Location
This doesn’t just apply to real estate. Whenever possible, I like to purchase luxury items in their country of origin. You usually get a better deal, and there is something about adding to memories of a trip. Every time I wear certain clothes I am transported back to the place I purchased them. That is the magic of fashion – some think its vain and shallow, but it can be meaningful and beautiful. It’s all about what you are into – some people buy knick knacks when they travel – I buy clothes. Which brings us back to London. What designers are on my list that I want to add to my collection?
When I think of Ms. Westwood I think of subversive street wear and the wedding dress Carrie Bradshaw wore for her not to be wedding to Mr. Big. Known for her punk aesthetic and her cool take on traditional tartan plaid, this brit has remained relevant for more than three decades. I’m thinking I need something plaid – like this jacket, or maybe a handbag. The choices…the struggle is real y'all.
Alexander McQueen was a brilliant designer who expressed the great love and great pain in his life though his work. Sharp tailoring and the juxtaposition between beauty and the grotesque are McQueen signatures. He had the unique ability to turn the unusual and grotesque into beauty and art. In 2011, a year after his death, The Metropolitan Museum of Art curated Savage Beauty, an exhibit of McQueen's contribution to fashion. When I think of McQueen's work dark fabrics, embroidery and skulls come to mind. Any (or all) of these items would fit the bill.
Although she comes from royal lineage (Beatles anyone?), Stella has made a name for herself as a top tier fashion designer. Focused on modern and eco-friendly pieces, Stella was the first high fashion designer to make a non-leather bag an “it” luxury item. Her clothes are a go-to for celebrities and she collaborates with Adidas on her own activewear line and you saw her designs on the UK's Olympic athletes during the Rio Olympics (I wish she designed ours).
If I followed my own advice, I would purchase Stella's iconic Falabella bag, but I cannot pay a $1,000 for a bag not made of leather (here me Louis Vuitton?). I guess it’s my rational Midwest background. I will however, pay for this "all-in-one" which apparently is the British word for jumpsuit. I could dress this up with heels and jewels or make is casual with kicks and a jean jacket.
Regardless if I come home with any of these items, it will be a great trip and I will enjoy walking the streets of London perusing my favorite design houses. Shopping is my version of sightseeing and it's even better than visiting a museum. You get to witness works of art and take them home! I am confident my three pronged approach (strategy, classics and location) to buying luxury items will indeed answer London's call.
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