October 2, 2013 by Debbie Roes

How to Tell if a Piece is a Classic

The following is a guest post from Erin DePew (this is Erin’s second guest post – read her first one here). Erin is a web developer and graphic designer who happens to love shoes almost as much as “hackathons.” She also enjoys musing on minimalism, client-side scripting, and the pursuit of the perfect pumps.

If you have an idea for a guest post on “Recovering Shopaholic,” please connect with me to share your thoughts.

Every woman knows that having a closet of classic pieces is the secret to a versatile wardrobe. Of course, actually finding classic pieces is a lot easier said than done. While top-ten lists and fashion blogs are a good place to start, it’s important to take the time to learn your own personal style and to find out what your classics are. Because at the end of the day, some of us are just never going to wear a white button-down.

Can you tell if a piece will stand the test of time?

Even if you know what your personal classics are, it can be overwhelming to wade through the myriad of options out there. Here are five simple ways to tell if a piece is a classic or a trend du jour. Continue reading →

July 24, 2013 by Debbie Roes

Forget Fast Fashion! Join the Slow Fashion Movement

The following is a guest post from Erin DePew. Erin is a web developer and graphic designer who happens to love shoes almost as much as “hackathons.” She also enjoys musing on minimalism, client-side scripting, and the pursuit of the perfect pumps.

If you have an idea for a guest post on “Recovering Shopaholic,” please connect with me to share your thoughts.

Slow fashion is a movement that has been steadily gaining traction over the past few years. As you have probably guessed, slow fashion is the opposite of fast fashion. But if you consider fashion to be one of life’s small pleasures (guilty as charged), there’s no need to fear having to give up shopping entirely. Instead, slow fashion is about consuming less, thoughtfully and with purpose. So how can you join the slow fashion movement?

Slow fashion is about consuming less and being purposeful.

Continue reading →

June 12, 2013 by Debbie Roes

The Real Investment Pieces You Should Own

The following is a guest post from one of my blogger friends, Robert Wall of Untitled Minimalism. Robert is a reformed packrat who writes witty and thought-provoking articles on the topics of consumerism, minimalism, simplicity, and frugality. He also hosts a regular podcast dedicated to the practical aspects of living a deliberate life. I love his posts and I hope you will, too!

If you have an idea for a guest post on “Recovering Shopaholic,” please connect with me to share your thoughts.

Let me start by saying I’m not a believer in the idea of “investment pieces,” at least not in the conventional sense. I’ve read bloggers who talk about buying handbags, shoes, and other fancy stuff as if it was going to last them the rest of their lives: “Invest in that designer piece you’ve had your eye on, but make sure it’s something you know you’ll love forever.”

Forever? Seriously?

Will you really love that designer piece forever?

Continue reading →

May 17, 2013 by Debbie Roes

Buyer Beware – The Dangers of “Fast Fashion”

The following is a guest post by one of my loyal readers, Deby. This story was originally submitted as a comment to “Why Continue to Shop?” Since it’s such a powerful story with some excellent points, I asked if I could use it as a guest post for wider exposure. Deby graciously agreed!

If you have an idea for a guest post on “Recovering Shopaholic,” please connect with me to share your thoughts.

I have a recent shopping story to share. Always interested in new trends, I read several fashion magazines each month. Most recently, I thought it might be fun to have a sheer shirt to layer over a camisole for summer. Since I began downsizing my wardrobe, I decided I was only allowed to have one sheer shirt and it had to coordinate with at least three bottoms. Placed floral prints are very popular now, so this was what I was looking for (I often focus my shopping expeditions to look for very specific items).