Fashion/Beauty Friday: Back of the Closet

I was one of those people who had to have something new for every event, especially speaking engagements. I had it bad! And to make matters worse, I always had some stupid ass rationalization of why I just had to have something new. But that reality has changed for me.

As of late, buying an ensemble may mean that a bill will not get paid. In recent weeks, I have well documented my financial crises here on my blog and in the April issue of Ebony. I'm struggling like most of America is!  While I understand this, I have a reality that must be addressed, I still have this urge to shop. Maybe this demon is wrapped in childhood drama.  Mama was complex. While she beat and cuss me, she always bought me new clothes absolutely every pay period. So the more she bought, the more clothes I asked for. I think somewhere along the way, I equated these new things with love. So here I am at 47 years old, fighting this demon. And believe me it's a struggle. Like last week, when I went to speak at Florida A&M University, I had to talk myself out of buying a new ensemble that I really couldn't afford.

I debated and debated and after after much consideration, it was settled! Something new was out of the question. Then that little fashion demon started talking to me. It went something like this, "Well Rae, you at least need some new red pumps." She had a point and I was listening.  So I made my way down the Mag Mile as the fashion demon whispered to me, "See, its like this, you have an image to keep up Diva." She was right again. LOL! And I kept on walking and she kept on talking. "This event is a Red Pump Bruncheon and your red pumps have been seen on Facebook, Twitter and your blog A LOT in the last 4 weeks. "Come Onnnnnnn Diva," the fashion demon whispered, "You know you got to come with it."

I made my way down the Mag Mile straight to the door of Neiman Marcus. But as I entered reality set in. Rae, you CANNOT afford anything new!  That was a reality that shook me out of what was about to be my stupidity.

Yes, I love to look good and people except it from me. But the truth of the matter is, you don't always have to buy something new to look fabulous. Often times we have the  perfect ensemble in our closets, we just have to take the time and thought to pull it all together.  So I went home, opened my closet and pulled together a great outfit.

When coordinating an ensemble, you need a starting point. Red pumps were mine and I worked from there. Second, I knew I wanted to go with a light color and a light weight because I was going to the sunshine state.

This Ann Taylor silk pant suit was perfect! It's five years old and I have only worn it maybe three times. In the past, I paired it with a brown and beige shell and brown and beige spectator sling backs. But this time around, I gave it a fresh look to work with my red pumps.

I paired it with a  lace shirt that added  a little texture to the ensemble. This v-neck, cap sleeve shell is from Banana Republic and it is eight years old.  I originally wore this shell with a cream satin skirt suit to a black  tie affair.

Accessories are key!  My 10 year old  beige Gucci belt was added to draw my waist line in and give my boxy body a shape. Because this was a women's brunch I wanted to add femininity. I love pearls and they are perfect to achieve that goal.  On a side note, I LOVE pearls and own them in every price range.  My 10-12mm South Sea pearl post earrings are some of the best you can own because of their incredible luster.  I paired them with a 100 inch strand of freshwater pearls that I doubled and knotted at the bottom and added a 24 inch strand of cultured pearls for that layering effect.

And of course I followed a Diva Rule, an ensemble is NEVER complete without a bracelet. I am almost never "matchy-matchy," but after trying twenty different bracelets with this ensemble, these were the perfect match. It helped to bring the entire ensemble together best.

The red coral stackable bracelet is from my Celebrate America Collection 2009. The pearl bracelet is fabulous. It is designed with tiny pearls that have been weaved together to make each individual ball. I then took twenty-two balls to craft this bracelet. It's a one-of-a-kind in my personal collection. To sell this bracelet the cost would be no less than $300 because of the weaving.

While I use real pearls, you can achieve the same look with faux pearls. However, I do believe that every woman should invest in at least one pearl necklace, earrings and bracelet.  It will become an heirloom that you can pass from generation to generation. And just so you know, there are always affordable freshwater pearl bracelets in my collection.

OK... I think I pulled it together pretty nicely and in the process, I proved to myself that I didn't need to spend any more money to look fabulous. All I really had to do was go to the back of my closet, take what I already had and give it a fresh look.

The point for me is to always look well put together.  You only have one time to make a good first impression. It does not take money to achieve that goal, it takes a little thought and time in your closet.

P.S. The event was wonderful! While I ministered to these young people, God also ministered to me. This was my Facebook status the next day:  

I went to FAMU to minister to these wonderful young people yesterday. But in the midst of it, God ministered to me. He gave me the reminder that I NEEDED. "I planned my life, but miscalculated. God planned for my miscalculation." My life belongs to God. My purpose is His purpose. Anything extra is a gift. Stay focused my daughter. I'm doing some awesome work in your life.