Quiz Answers

How did you do on the Fashionista Quiz? Did you take the Fashionista Quiz from last weeks blog? See what your answers mean here! Read them all for further insight, or just scroll down to A, B, C, D, or E to find your answer.
	For Question #1: If you identified with A, YOU ARE THE LOYAL SHOPPER:
You are the type of gal who falls in love with a product and is utterly convinced nothing else out there will ever make your butt, boobs or your skin look so good. There is an underlying reason for this psychologically, but for today’s purposes, lets stick to the surface issues. Listen, we all hate trying on a pair of jeans that just won’t fit over our hips, or a shirt that makes us have a third boob, but at the end of the day I promise you there is more to life than that one pair of size 30 jeans that you bought back in 2002. Take a deep breath, relinquish control and give me a
little trust. I know I am a complete stranger but I promise, I too have your disease - and I am in total remission. It just takes knowing where to shop, understanding your budget, your body, and your time. WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER SISTER!
	If you identified with B, YOU ARE THE BARGAIN SHOPPER: This is my favorite type of shopper, because I swear all of my friends from the midwest fall into this category. We love to say, “Look at my $40 shoes, they look just like the Manolos Sarah Jessica Parker wore except they don’t cost as much as my rent!"
Unfortunately, we leave out the bloody blister staining the back of our heels. Last month I went through my closet and found four pairs of shoes that were worn once. WHY? Because they killed my bloody feet! I totaled up the cost of each pair of shoes (that were under 50 bucks mind you), and discovered the four pairs cost as much as my Stuart Wiseman gold heels that I have worn down to the ground because they are so comfy. Now, I am not saying we all have to run out there and buy Prada shoes, plenty of designer shoes are just as painful. What we have to become is smart shoppers. I have some great affordable designers that I will turn onto in the next few weeks, but again, we are going to change the way you think about shopping. Bargains are great but you need to throw out the “NO PAIN, NO GAIN” slogan when it comes to fashion.
				If you identified with C, YOU ARE A COMPULSIVE SHOPPER: This is a Bargain Shopper on crack. Addicted to the sale and the high of feeling she has found a bargain, she overflows her closet, her husband’s closet, and most likely even the trunk of her car, with things she will never wear or share. (Yes we like to tell ourselves it would make a fantastic gift and that is why we are buying it.)
I can say this without guilt because at one point in my life I too have fallen ill to this shoppers addiction. In fact, my family can identify this type of ailment as being hereditary, for sure. The solution is simple; a bargain is not a bargain if it breaks the bank. A bargain is not a bargain if you never wear every single one of those precious white tees over and over again. And most importantly, a bargain is not a bargain if it creates clutter. Clutter creates chaos, which affects how you feel about yourself and those around you.
I believe the origin of this type of shopper came from the great depression. The “stocking syndrome” was necessary for those who survived that era. However, we cannot justify hording a life supply of turtleneck sweaters like our parents and grandparents justified stock piling canned beans.
			If you identified with D, YOU ARE THE TRENDY SHOPPER: The trendy shopper has so many layers to her. She believes it must be fantastic because they sell it at Bloomingdales! She looks forward to her gossip magazines not just to find out who is sleeping with who but who is wearing what. When I got into fashion I think they greatest disappointment I encountered was the discovery that celebrities are human.
			They buy crap and wear crap just like we do. Listen, I would love to believe Cameron Diaz is amazed with
our bags and legitimately wore them over and over because she couldn’t believe how great the quality, idea and prices of our clutches were! The truth is, I will never know. And here at Solas we have been around long enough to get feedback that, yes, the majority of our clientes wear our bags because they love our designs and our ingenuity.
But sometimes celebrities wear something because they love it, sometimes they were it because someone gave it to them for free, sometimes it happens to match their shoes, and sometimes they wear it because someone told them to, like a stylist. Whatever the reason, we don’t buy things just because they are in a magazine or on a TV show. You use the media as a tool. You need to become an investigative shopper. I have found that if I see a product consistently in the press, 9 times out of 10 it is a quality product. But if it is a quick trend that I saw once in a magazine, I am greatly disappointed - like when the chain breaks on my new $100 necklace. If you see something that you like in Neiman’s or In Style magazine, it doesn’t mean it won’t fall apart in the wash. What we are going to work on together is learning more about quality shopping. There is nothing wrong with shopping at Neiman’s or buying what Jessica Simpson wears, just make sure you know the product is right for you, in your budget, and makes you feel fabulous.
If you identified with E, YOU ARE THE IMPULSE BUYER:
		The impulse buyer is a combination of The Trendy Shopper and the Compulsive Shopper, on 8 cups of coffee. Why? Because she is delirious when it comes to her pocket book.
No one needs to buy anything they must put on a pedestal.
Trust me, I learned this the hard way. I have a gorgeous pair of Prada shoes that are orange, brown, and wood. The shoes, worn by J.LO in a magazine, broke the bank AND my feet. My family has a fantastic story they love telling, about the one time I wore the shoes in Miami. I was mad at my sisters so I stormed off in my heels and told everyone I would meet them at the restaurant two blocks away. Well, two blistered feet later, I was wobbling down Ocean Drive with my Dad driving 3 miles an hour next to me, giggling out the window, “I think you should get in the car for your own self preservation.” Damn did those shoes look hot on the shelf and in that magazine, but I have flat feet and I rarely wear ornage, so it was a very expensive lesson.
Listen, if you try on a $1000 bag and you love it and you must have it and you know you will wear it, then save for it. And in the meantime, there are little tips and tricks you can learn that will allow you to satiate your addiction. But buying it when you are not ready, or when it’s not right for you will only leave you feeling like you have just had a bad one night stand.
kk