In todays video I’m wearing the Best Selling classic, Carrie Name Necklace from my shop, shopjulimarie.com. It has been the #1 popular piece the past 5 years. I have 3 of them in different sizes and chain lengths. Lately (and shown here) I’m wearing the Classic Carrie Name Necklace in gold on a 14″ Chain.
WHO ELSE HAS BOUGHT A NEW TOP BECAUSE YOU “LOVED IT SO MUCH” THEN MONTHS LATER IT STILL HASN’T BEEN WORN?
We’ve all been there! There has been a time in our life we’ve walked in our closet looking for something to wear only to be reminded of the items we purchased but still haven’t worn, tags still attached and all.
When we make impulse purchases we end up with a closet of one offs that we only have one other item to wear with it, if even that.
When we make impulse purchases we end up with a closet full of clothes yet still have NOTHING to wear. WHY are we like this?!
In 2013, after losing 20lbs, purging 90% of my closet and only having a clothing budget of $150 a month I was in desperate need of a high functioning wardrobe. That is when, why and how I created my #1 shopping rule, The Rule of 5.
I knew in order to still buy quality pieces I loved I was going to have to get creative (and disciplined) and that’s exactly what I did. Every single purchase I made for the following year was well thought out and 100% intentional. I had no room for impulse purchases, the function of my wardrobe couldn’t afford it.
I bet you don’t like throwing your money away, do you?
We all deserve to hit our financial goals (and best wardrobes) and a great starting point is to become more intentional with what we spend our money on.
I want you to be great in everything you do so I wrote a 24 page book to fully share The Rule of 5 with you. There’s even worksheets for you to brainstorm your goal wardrobe!
Just enter your email below for your FREE Rule of 5 guide to get started on your best wardrobe yet!
If you need more help building your wardrobe my e-book,Build Your Dream Wardrobe on a Budget is a great tool. The 12 steps I take when planning and shopping for my wardrobes each season is covered in detail with examples for you.These are the steps I take to ensure each purchase is intentional, it’s also the strategy I used to budget to purchase my first Louis Vuitton handbag. In fact, The Rule of 5 is one of the 12 steps in the e-book.
In todays video I’m wearing the Best Selling classic, Carrie Name Necklace from my shop, shopjulimarie.com. It has been the #1 popular piece the past 5 years. I have 3 of them in different sizes and chain lengths. Lately (and shown here) I’m wearing the Classic Carrie Name Necklace in gold on a 14″ Chain.
WHO ELSE HAS BOUGHT A NEW TOP BECAUSE YOU “LOVED IT SO MUCH” THEN MONTHS LATER IT STILL HASN’T BEEN WORN?
We’ve all been there! There has been a time in our life we’ve walked in our closet looking for something to wear only to be reminded of the items we purchased but still haven’t worn, tags still attached and all.
When we make impulse purchases we end up with a closet of one offs that we only have one other item to wear with it, if even that.
When we make impulse purchases we end up with a closet full of clothes yet still have NOTHING to wear. WHY are we like this?!
In 2013, after losing 20lbs, purging 90% of my closet and only having a clothing budget of $150 a month I was in desperate need of a high functioning wardrobe. That is when, why and how I created my #1 shopping rule, The Rule of 5.
I knew in order to still buy quality pieces I loved I was going to have to get creative (and disciplined) and that’s exactly what I did. Every single purchase I made for the following year was well thought out and 100% intentional. I had no room for impulse purchases, the function of my wardrobe couldn’t afford it.
I bet you don’t like throwing your money away, do you?
We all deserve to hit our financial goals (and best wardrobes) and a great starting point is to become more intentional with what we spend our money on.
I want you to be great in everything you do so I wrote a 24 page book to fully share The Rule of 5 with you. There’s even worksheets for you to brainstorm your goal wardrobe!
Just enter your email below for your FREE Rule of 5 guide to get started on your best wardrobe yet!
If you need more help building your wardrobe my e-book,Build Your Dream Wardrobe on a Budget is a great tool. The 12 steps I take when planning and shopping for my wardrobes each season is covered in detail with examples for you.These are the steps I take to ensure each purchase is intentional, it’s also the strategy I used to budget to purchase my first Louis Vuitton handbag. In fact, The Rule of 5 is one of the 12 steps in the e-book.
BODYSUIT: I’m pretty sure I’ve styled this turtleneck bodysuit at least 15 ways this season and I’m not exaggerating when I say it chics up and elevates every single look.
LOOK 2
SHIRT: I don’t know how but this top was only $7 at Nordstrom Rack last Summer, it’s full price $35 currently.
SNEAKERS: I bought the Puma Cali’s this past Summer to wear with all my all black looks for Fall Winter. I 100% got my monies worth, they are at the point where I feel like I have to clean them after every wear. I swear I buy a new pair of all white sneakers each season. The structured silhouette of this sneaker is great to wear with dress and skirts come Summer too!
BAG: last summer I wanted a light airy handbag that didn’t consist of straw so I went to Amazon look for a PVC handbag and this one popped right up. It’s right up my alley, comes with a strap that can be crossbodied, keep in mind I’m 5’4″ anytime I say something can be crossbodied. Later I found out that this bag is actually an Hermes dupe which explains why I liked it so much. My bag is the large size. If you want it I suggest buying it ASAP if the link is still good. Because it is a designer dupe it doesn’t get taken down very quickly. I don’t believe it’s a full fledged knock off as there’s no logos or labels which makes me feel better about the purchase.
LOOK 3
UPDATED HAT: I picked up this hat in the Men’s section at Target almost 10 years ago. They updated this style last year, I like the new one even more!
BOOKBAG: This was my birthday handbag I bought myself last year, I wore it allll Spring and Summer and I’m pretty sure I’ll be bringing it back into rotation soon.
LOOK 4
SHIRT: This is a thrifted men’s button down that I scored for $4, then cropped it with cutting sheers for an on trend look. All thrift stores have nearly an entire rack with men’s white button downs.
LOOK 5
SWEATSHIRT: I made some really good purchases this past F/W but this turtleneck sweatshirt is in my Top 5. It’s only $25 from Zara, I wear mine weekly. My favorite black sweatshirt from last winter was a $25 Zara ribbed waist. I have a strong feeling Zara is going to come through for me again next season. Prayers up!
LOAFERS: I bought these last Summer so I was good and ready for the cool weather when it came. These do ship from China so they took a few weeks to get in, I suggest ordering before you need them if you want them.
If you haven’t noticed I am a quality over quantity girl, I low key preach it on every Rule of 5 post. How do you think I wear the same piece once a week, every week for a year without it falling a part? … I buy quality, that’s how! When you buy quality especially in classic silhouette’s you’ll have an item for years if not decades.
Case in point, this pair of high waist, paperbag, wide leg trousers were purchased 15 years ago. While I don’t wear them weekly, they have managed to last through every purge I’ve made in the last 15 years making them 1 of maybe 20 items ….. hey, I LOVE a good purge!
Why have they managed to make it through my extreme purging?? …
They’re excellent quality, still look, feel and wear like new.
They are a classic silhouette that is always in style.
They are insanely flattering! They cinch the waist, making it took “tiny”, elongate the legs, and accentuate the bum justttt right!
If I ever need a professional pair of pants, these are the ones I grab. I could also make these chic/sexy etc for GNO or date night with a bandeau top and strappy sandals … wait for that look when my abs arrive!
Versatile as mentioned above 😉
WHY???
If I purchased a pair of lower quality pants, they would not have lasted this long. I would have had to throw them out years ago from a hole or piling. In addition, quality tends to come with a better fit. So the way these hang, cup the booty or highlight the waist wouldn’t be the same if they were lower quality pants. I’ve found the fit of the booty is the biggest benefit in quality pants, that alone is worth the money!
OUTFIT DETAILS
BODYSUIT: This is a shaper bodysuit so it really holds you in and smooths you out. Because it is a shaper it’s tightttt so I recommend sizing up or be prepared to squeeze in. You can make it work and it will fit but getting it over your shoulders and buttoning the crouch will be a struggle at first.
TROUSERS: These pants are a solid 15 years old from Express, while they do have similar style now the quality isn’t on the same level of this old pair. During the last recession Express started doing 40% off sales and they never quite recovered so they continue to do 40% off sales because that’s now the only way they sell anything, unfortunately they conditioned their customers to expect their products to be 40% off. In order for them to still turn a profit they had to lower the quality of products so that there was no difference on their end money wise after that 40% off deduction. While I love Express, the quality of the products has decreased since this pair of pants was purchased.
In todays video I’m wearing the Best Selling classic, Carrie Name Necklace from my shop, shopjulimarie.com. It has been the #1 popular piece the past 5 years. I have 3 of them in different sizes and chain lengths. Lately (and shown here) I’m wearing the Classic Carrie Name Necklace in gold on a 14″ Chain.
WHO ELSE HAS BOUGHT A NEW TOP BECAUSE YOU “LOVED IT SO MUCH” THEN MONTHS LATER IT STILL HASN’T BEEN WORN?
We’ve all been there! There has been a time in our life we’ve walked in our closet looking for something to wear only to be reminded of the items we purchased but still haven’t worn, tags still attached and all.
When we make impulse purchases we end up with a closet of one offs that we only have one other item to wear with it, if even that.
When we make impulse purchases we end up with a closet full of clothes yet still have NOTHING to wear. WHY are we like this?!
In 2013, after losing 20lbs, purging 90% of my closet and only having a clothing budget of $150 a month I was in desperate need of a high functioning wardrobe. That is when, why and how I created my #1 shopping rule, The Rule of 5.
I knew in order to still buy quality pieces I loved I was going to have to get creative (and disciplined) and that’s exactly what I did. Every single purchase I made for the following year was well thought out and 100% intentional. I had no room for impulse purchases, the function of my wardrobe couldn’t afford it.
I bet you don’t like throwing your money away, do you?
We all deserve to hit our financial goals (and best wardrobes) and a great starting point is to become more intentional with what we spend our money on.
I want you to be great in everything you do so I wrote a 24 page book to fully share The Rule of 5 with you. There’s even worksheets for you to brainstorm your goal wardrobe!
Just enter your email below for your FREE Rule of 5 guide to get started on your best wardrobe yet!
If you need more help building your wardrobe my e-book,Build Your Dream Wardrobe on a Budget is a great tool. The 12 steps I take when planning and shopping for my wardrobes each season is covered in detail with examples for you.These are the steps I take to ensure each purchase is intentional, it’s also the strategy I used to budget to purchase my first Louis Vuitton handbag. In fact, The Rule of 5 is one of the 12 steps in the e-book.
Before you splurge on that new trendy handbag you’ve been eyeing or a fun trendy pair of jeans give a similar (more affordable) version a spin first.
For instance, while I mostly purchase quality denim that typically comes with a $100+ price tag there was no way I was going to drop that on this trend, Slouchy jeans. By purchasing and wearing this affordable option I’m able to give the trend a test spin to determine if this is a style worth investing in for me.
As of now, spending more than $35-$40 on this style of denim is a no-go for me but I’m really enjoying this affordable pair.
However, on the flip side if I loved these jeans so much and started reaching for them a couple of days a week I’d say YES, it’s worth a splurge!
Long story short, if there’s a trendy item you want to splurge on buy a less expensive option. If you wear it TF out then you have the green light to splurge. You’re welcome!
SWEATER: Fits, TTS. Very soft and cozy. This billowed top and cinched waist gives the illusion of a slimmer waist which we are all here for!
COAT: If you’ve been here before, you know her! Her name is Celeste, she was thrifted last year at a local thrift store for $20 ish. She’s vintage from the 80’s or 90’s, 100% wool *praise hands*
DENIM: While brainstorming Spring Summer looks I couldn’t come up with much besides fun denim and bodysuits (or tops that look like bodysuits). I had my eye on the Slouchy Jeans from Zara so when they got marked down during the Winter Sale they were an immediate purchase. I bought my TTS but starting a new fitness challenge (aka working to get off the last of this weight I gained) they should get slouchier which I’m very much into. The styled at Zara is selling out, Luckily, I found a new pair HERE
YOU DON’T NEED A NEW OUTFIT, YOU NEED TO RESTYLE SOMETHING IN YOUR CLOSET
Each Tuesday I like to share a “new” outfit with you guys along with a shopping or styling tip/trick. As a blogger you can easily get caught up in buying new clothes every week but if you know about The Rule of 5 or anything I stand for you know I don’t buy clothes for the sake of showing you guys. At my core this is who I am, I live pretty minimalist, I don’t support anyone being that wasteful with their money or the materials that it takes to create the clothes you may only wear once. I believe we all have goals in life like purchasing property, saving for retirement, putting your children through school and that’s just to name a few. We should prioritize our end game goals over a new dress every week because it makes us happy in that moment.
Don’t get me wrong, I update my wardrobe each season with new purchases however, I don’t buy clothing for the sake of showing you something new every day. That’s not real life, at least not my real life. Sharing ways to make old pieces new with restyling is far more my speed.
With that being said, it’s the end of Winter at least in the South. Most retailers are transitiong from Winter to Spring and there’s nothing new out right now that I would spend money on. However, I own and run a blog solely about fashion and style so I had to come up with something. Instead of buying something new I went back to my roots walked into my closet and looked for pieces to restyle.
While I’ve shared this coat and these boots more times than I can count, I’ve only shared this dress maybe once. That was back in the Fall with no layering just mini UGG boots and a plaid hat, very casual and Target run-esque. That’s when I decided to restyle this sweater dress for you guys a little more sassed up with these hiker booties I purchased a year ago along with my favorite wool coat I thrifted last year as well.
It would have been super easy to hop on my laptop and make a new purchase I wouldn’t have to think about styling but it took less time and $0 to walk into my closet and pull this look together for you guys.
The excitement of a new purchase is a quick fix and nice adrenaline rush but making something older new again with restyling can be just as exciting. Not to mention, your bank account, goals and future self will be proud of you too!
The next time you “have nothing to wear” and want to order something new I CHALLENGE YOUto walk into your closet instead, find a piece you love, go to pinterest and search styling ideas for that item, then let that creativity help you pick out a new outfit from your closet!
If you’d like to see more styling ideas featuring this dress it was a feature item in last weeks Rule of 5 post. Check it out HERE
DRESS: This was a clearance purchase I made in July. Originally, I saw this dress the season prior but I wasn’t sold on the $75 price tag. When I saw this dress at Nordstrom Rack on the clearance rack for $20 in my size I didn’t even think about, it was an immediate purchase.
COAT: Another cost friendly score, I found this vintage wool coat at the thrift store for $20 ish. It’s without a doubt the best thrifted purchase I’ve ever made!
