I got into the designer handbag game quite late. To me, bags were always utility first, fashionable second. Part of the reason I couldn’t look past their utility, not to mention their hefty price tags, is because I’m really hard on my bags. I can’t tell you how many white/light ones I’ve ruined thanks to my love of denim. I put them on the ground, throw them in the trunk of my car and generally stuff them way too full.

When it comes to my wardrobe one of the questions I often get asked is “where did you get that?” which is usually followed by, “how did you get such a great deal?” It got me thinking about how I’ve procured things over the years, so I thought I’d share some tips for how I find the best items at great prices.

1) Window shop often.
By far and away, the reason I find unique pieces at great prices is because I’m always window shopping. It’s really that simple. Always be on the lookout. Get to the point where you know your favorite store’s merchandise as well as the sales associates. When your radar’s always up, you can hone in on the diamonds in the rough.

Think of it this way. Ever wonder why interior designers have such stunning homes? Sure, they have great taste. But they’re constantly sourcing items for clients, giving them access to hundreds of pieces each week to choose from. Knowledge is power.

What if you hate to shop or can’t shop often? Recruit a friend who does like to shop (we all have one). I know the shoe and dress sizes of all my close friends and family members. Anytime I come across something I think they’d like, I text them a picture.

Or, embrace the beauty of online shopping and flash sale sites. Gilt, Hautelook, MyHabit, Rue La La and Ideeli are your friends. I recommend setting up alerts when your favorite brands or items go on sale for even more of a leg up.

2) Shop without agenda.
I used to get annoyed when I walked into a store and an associate asked me, “what are you shopping for” until a friend told me it was a perfectly acceptable question to ask. The only time I’ve ever been able to answer that question is while searching for my wedding dress. Case in point? To find the best deals you have to shop without a specific agenda. It is 1000 times easier to find an amazing dress at a great price when you aren’t even looking for it. Ignore the little voice that says “but I don’t have anything to wear this to”. Trust me, that moment will present itself. Studies have shown that when you’re searching for something specific, you won’t find that perfect item or you will vastly overpay for it.

3) Shop girls/boys.
Like many things in life, it all comes back to who you know. By building relationships with sales associates at your favorite stores, you gain insider access to the best information so you can pounce on it first. Ask when they get fresh trucks each week so you know when new merchandise hits. The awesome ladies and gents of Nordstrom’s shoe and handbag departments send me a text anytime something comes in that they think I’d like. This also applies to sales, or if there’s a return of a hard-to-get item in my size. Sales associates love helping people find items they covet and they want to build their book of business, so it’s a win-win relationship.

4) Know your sizes.
A lot of the best deals are found online, especially in the flash sale sites noted above. Also check out Matches Fashion and Farfetch (free shipping on your first purchase by signing up through the link), two of my favorite online shops for finding unique pieces. When it comes to online shopping, the biggest obstacle preventing us from clicking “Purchase” is the worry that it won’t fit, coupled with a cumbersome return process.

If there is a particular brand you’re interested in owning, go into their store and try the line on. By knowing what size you are in say, Rag & Bone jeans, you can take advantage of online sales much easier by eliminating any sizing and fit uncertainty. Again, knowledge is power.

Happy shopping!

To usher in the weekend, here is the second installment of Fashcap. Click the links in the descriptions below. Happy Friday!

1)  I’ve purchased high heel protectors for events in which I’d be outside in the grass, but German company Heelbopps takes it to another level. With solid color and jeweled options, I can’t tell if these are crazy or crazy.

2)  An amazing look into the life of screen siren and style icon Lauren Bacall.

3)  To add to my post about caring for your clothes, check out this former Elle intern’s advice for tips she learned on the job. There is more than one way the freezer will save your garments and beauty products!

4)  Fashion and food blogger Luxirare is back after a one year hiatus with a new, raw, sweet-with-the-sour outlook. Let’s just hope she goes back to designing insanely masterful pieces like this one.

5)  At Start-up Weekend San Diego, I heard seven amazing pitches for new start-ups, but it was the second place winner that really caught my eye. Style Me, set to launch this Labor Day weekend, is an outfit sharing app where you upload images of your clothes and create events around each ensemble. You’ll never have to ask your friends “What are you wearing?” ever again.

Selecting my wedding dress was nothing short of destiny. I didn’t find it. It found me. It fell into my lap when a wedding was the furthest thing from my mind. Even when I saw it I thought, “Ooh, I’d love to wear that to the (bank, grocery store, movies, new restaurant by our house…) When the time came, as much as I tried to be objective and try on dozens of other dresses, it all ended up being for naught. But I had fun!

When you find something that truly speaks to you, never let it go. And protect it with dear life.

During the alterations process my amazing seamstress Alana told me she was the envy of her colleagues. They all wanted to work on something different than the traditional white selections. She would hang my dress away from all the other dresses and proudly tell people, “that’s my bride”. No one touched it but Alana. I loved her intensity.

After the wedding I scoured reviews of dry cleaners. Although the salon where I bought it recommended a pro in New York, I wanted something local. It was just easier. So I found a well reviewed, moderately priced dry cleaner that specialized in wedding gowns and went on my honeymoon not thinking twice.

Until I picked it up three weeks later.

I nearly fainted.

My gorgeous, voluminous work of art was now a wilted flower. For weeks, I had nightmares. I couldn’t shake the sick feeling in my stomach of regret and disappointment in making such a hasty decision with the most important piece of clothing I own.

I grew up with the “take care of your things because you’re only going to get one” mentality, so over the years I’ve learned about how to ensure your clothing lasts. That knowledge, coupled with my wedding dress disaster, is what inspired this post for how to properly care for your clothes.

1)  If you want something done right, take it to the best. Not the second best or third best, or the best one closest to your house. The BEST.

For extra special garments – wedding gowns, family heirlooms – I will never go anywhere but J. Scheer & Co. in New York. Jonathan, the owner, is my fairy godfather. A genius among geniuses, his knowledge of fabrics and textiles is beyond extensive. He restored my wedding dress back to a work of art so someday when Anna invites me to the Met Institute Gala I’ll have something to wear. And he listens. He understood and empathized with my maniacal ways and kept me apprised throughout the process. His service is like a white glove treatment on steroids.

2)  Invest in a (good) garment steamer.

The steam emitted from a professional grade garment steamer is 212 degrees – hot enough to kill E. Coli, Salmonella and dust mites, and eliminate any odors. They are safe to use on the most delicate of fabrics because they won’t scorch things like an iron. I reduce the number of visits to the dry cleaner by steaming my clothes after each wear. Not only does this save time and money, it also protects my clothes from continual exposure to dry cleaning chemicals. Recommended brand: Jiffy Steamers.

3)  For denim, skip the washing machine.

In college one of my friends told me she was amazed by how none of my jeans looked faded or worn out. My secret? I don’t wash them. Okay, I know what you’re thinking. But trust me, this makes a night and day difference in the look and feel of your denim. If you absolutely must wash them, I recommend two things. For fancy jeans, put them in the freezer for 24 hours to kill any germs. For workhorse jeans, fill the bathtub with cold water and a very small amount of laundry detergent. Lay your jeans flat on top of the water and let them soak for 30 minutes. Rinse with cold water being careful never to twist them to wring out. Air dry.

4)  Build relationships with cobblers, dry cleaners and tailors.

If you don’t already have a trusted cobbler, dry cleaner or tailor, I recommend taking a test piece to start. Choose something that can be easily replaced in case it gets ruined. For shoes and leather goods, I recommend regular check-ups just like we do for our health at the doctor or dentist. Don’t wait until the tip of your heel has fallen off. Preventative maintenance always wins. Leather and suede should always be treated with a protective conditioner prior to first use. Recommended products: Cadillac Conditioner for smooth leather, Synovia spray for suede.

A little birdie told me that the variance between household dry cleaners is only about 15%. In other words, don’t assume that more expensive means better quality. Make your selection based on customer service and attention to detail. For example, the places I go know to never use pins on my clothing. My tailor marks everything with chalk and my dry cleaner loops their tags through the garment tags on my stuff. These little details add up in the long run.

5)  Storage

Are your clothes lying in a pile on the floor? Do you return your handbags to their dust bags after each use? Going the extra mile to properly store your stuff makes a huge difference. Sweaters should be folded, not hung on hangers. I put foam padding on the clips of skirt and pant hangers to avoid permanent creases, and anything suede or white is always stored in a dust or garment bag.

Also pay close attention to the condition of your closet. Do you have a window? Make sure anything near the window is protected with a dark garment bag or box to avoid fading. If your closet is adjacent to a bathroom, make sure there is proper ventilation to avoid mold. Humidity and condensation can wreak havoc on certain types of fabrics (not to mention hair-dos).  🙂

Photo cred: Swoon by Katie