Shopping for keeps reaps rewards, says fashion expert Anna Murphy. She selects the 10 items you’ll still be wearing in a decade
Many fashion women have a kind of ‘uniform’. They buy the very best versions of the items they like – and that like them. Items that will ideally last them a decade, if not more. They buy for keeps, in other words.
Take Elizabeth Saltzman, who styles celebrities like Uma Thurman and Gwyneth Paltrow. She may pick out all sorts of wondrous red carpet-appropriate flights of fancy for her clients, but for herself she has what she describes, without a hint of embarrassment, as her uniform. (This woman wears the best navy trousers and cream silk tops I have ever laid eyes on.) What’s more, “None of it is new,” she tells me. “I don’t understand the phenomenon of buying to throw it away.” Nor does she purchase endless multiples of items she likes. “I edit. That’s what I do. My wardrobe at home is one rail.”
It makes sense for us to learn from Saltzman. To buy less that is better, therefore maximising value for money and the space we have in our wardrobes, while at the same time minimising our fashion footprint.
That means investing in quality. One beautiful ever-after cashmere sweater, for example, not four more run-of-the-mill woollies. For me, it also means searching out pieces that combine functionality with a certain kind of specialness. A coat that looks killer. A pair of boots that will make every outfit in your closet seem contemporary. And some jewellery that signifies you’re worth it. Because you are. Here are my 10 picks that will last you for at least 10 years...
1 The modernising ankle boots
Esta historia es de la edición June 2019 de woman & home South Africa.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición June 2019 de woman & home South Africa.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Till death do us part
It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages, said Nietzsche. He may be on to something, says Lorraine Kearney
Hit the ROAD
Ensure your vehicle is as ready as you are for your long-awaited summer road trip
Make a meal of it
There are two basic rules when it comes to wine and food pairing: acidic wine with acidic food, and low acid wine with savoury food, Lorraine Kearney learns
Update your GARDEN
Now's the time to refresh your outdoor space
the art of INTERIORS
Colour and texture are the stars of this apartment, writes MARGARET RAFFERTY
FALLING OFF THE DIET WAGON isn't a disaster
Changing your mindset is key when it comes to smashing your health and fitness goals, says Annie Deadman. Already let things slip? It's not over yet
LIFE after BETRAYAL
Broken trust can take on many forms, but there's always one common denominator - a feeling of hurt that can last for decades
The Ties That Bind
We're all humans, which means we all need relationships to survive. stands to reason that good relationships are the best kind to have. There are ways to get there, says Lorraine Kearney
A beauty REVELATION
The self-care sanctuary Nylde Hoffman and Riëtte Lategan introduced to Stellenbosch has become a sought-after location. We spoke to them about how clients and staff are equally important in their success
Love me, LOVE MY MONEY
Married people are generally wealthier than their single counterparts. But finding peace with your partner when it comes to finances can be a tall order