Fashion Recession

UPDATE: Sources revealed that Zac Posen has put his diffusion line on hold. “In light of the current economic conditions, any plans for a secondary line are on hold,” said a company representative. “Our focus is the collection and servicing our current retailers.” Boo. Better late than never . . .

Zac Posen on the cheap — could it be true? Well, according to sources, Posen is currently working on a diffusion line of clothing and accessories. "We've been in the process of building our lower priced collections," said Posen. Zac's low-priced items are slated to follow the launch of his highly anticipated Fabien Baron fragrance.

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In a fashion recession, shopping smart is the way to survive. I normally try to shop smart, but with the holidays around the corner and money top of mind, it's great to have some survival tools.

I told you about SaleHabit.com, a site that allows you to only search the best of the best sales right now. But here's another savvy tool. The ShopStyle we all know and love has kicked sale alerts into high gear allowing you to choose your favorites brands and items and be emailed when they go on sale. You receive easy emails when the chosen items are reduced and you can happily shop from there. I am currently monitoring a few of my favorite brands — Alexander Wang, J.Crew and Marc by Marc Jacobs — and can't wait to see what turns up on sale tomorrow, and the day after that! Happy sale shopping.

Tear. After a long, hard struggle, Steve & Barry's will finally cut its losses. The current flailing economy has forced the retailer to file for its second bankruptcy. Steve & Barry's, which featured fun collections from the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker, Amanda Bynes, and Venus Williams, plans to liquidate all assets. Another one bites the dust. This one will be dearly missed.

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By now, you've already given yourself a monthly shopping allowance and reintroduced yourself to your closet. Let's move forth.

Tip #6: There is no better time to hit the sale racks than now. My Online Sale Alerts can help, as can SaleHabit.com, a.k.a. the Google for fashion sales. Be careful not to buy more just because the items you're finding are so cheap. There's no use in discount shopping if you're going to spend frivolously.

To hear more, read more

What to do when you have an old jacket that is still Fab, but has gone drab? No need to be dramatic and rid of it, just take another look and see how it can be revived. This was what I did with a 5-year-old DKNY olive green jacket. When I first got it, I wore it to death. Ever since, it has just sat in my closet, with old memories to keep it company. The reason I loved it so was because I realized an olive green jacket pretty much goes with everything. It can be utilitarian, sporty, chic, or just plain casual. The neutral hue works for both Summer and Winter, and it doesn't go out of style.

I knew my old faithful could be revived. What I love most about this jacket is these complex seams along the back and shoulders — I would never tire of those. So I started with the sleeves, and simply rolled them up, for a more distressed style. What really stood out as an eye sore was the drab buttons; these pale green medium sized buttons just camouflaged with the fabric. I thought if I simply changed the buttons — something even I know how to do — the jacket would be refreshed.

To see the process, and to read the rest of my jacket salvation story, read more

I hope that my Guide to Savvy Shopping, Part I has already inspired you to adjust your spending habits. Doesn't it feel good? There's more where that came from, so let's continue . . .

Tip #3: Don’t go shopping if your monthly allowance has run out. It's an obvious fact but one that needs to be reiterated. If that means not going out to "window shop," so be it. Out of sight is usually out of mind in fashion. The less you see the less tempted you'll be. When you do shop, make a list of items you want. That way, you're less prone to get sidetracked. If fashion magazines tempt you, try glancing over the pages as opposed to studying them.

To learn a couple more tips, read more