The Three F's of Bargain Shopping

Like many women, I love to shop for clothing and accessories, but I can't always afford to pay full price. Unlike many women, I make my (barely adequate) living as a fashion model. This circumstance has enabled me to spend long days up close and personal with clothing that costs a few months' rent, which I inevitably fall in love with and long for. At the end of the day, I have to let the fantasy go as I change back into my own, lesser clothing, and walk out the door.

However, being in such close proximity to fashion greatness has taught me a few things that help me to find great values at the discount stores so that I can fake it 'til I make it. I always keep these three things, all of which begin with an "F", in mind at the checkout:                    

Fit: Whether you're looking for a bargain or are ready to pay retail, fit is the most important thing about a garment. Just as the three most important factors in real estate are location, location and location, the fit is the thing in fashion.

Every body is different: designers know this, which is why they might have dozens of girls, all of whom wear the same size, come try on a clothing line before they pick the one girl with the perfect dimensions to help sell the collection to store buyers. As anyone who has ever bought a pair of jeans knows, fit is not as simple as a waist and a hip measurement. One could easily try on a dozen pairs before finding the style that is just right. Wearing clothing that fits properly makes everyone look chicer, sleeker and more put-together.

So no matter how much you might love that sale sweater that sold out in every size but medium, resist the temptation to buy it anyway if you're a size small or large. Even if the sweater is 100% cashmere for $59.99, it isn't a value if the fit is wrong. It won't do your figure justice, so hold out for the one that will.

Fabrication: Fabric matters. Fine clothing is made from the best, usually natural, materials, like silk, wool, linen and even cotton. These fabrics feel better on the skin and look richer than inferior materials. Can't afford 100% cashmere, even on sale? That's OK, plenty of designers are blending quality fibers (i.e. 20% cashmere with 40% wool and 40% cotton) in ways that maintain the beautiful look and feel of the real deal at a lower price point.

Also keep in mind that just because a garment has a designer label, it does not mean that the best fabrics were used. I've come across more beautifully designed sweaters, that upon closer inspection, turn out to be made of acrylic, rayon, or some other synthetic blends than I care to recall. On the other hand, some of my favorite and most complimented pieces are from labels I had never heard of, but I purchased them because they were made of choice materials, and they have lasted and become staples of my wardrobe from season to season.

Frugality: Don't forget that you're shopping at a discount store or in the sale section for a reason. Even though those fabulous $2,500 thigh-high python designer boots may be the deal of the century at $300, that doesn't mean that you must have them. If it's beyond your budget, it doesn't need to go home with you. It's not for nothing that we're currently in a credit crisis, and sometimes, even if it's "worth it," it's not worth it.