Are You a Recessionista?

You know when Forbes publishes a list of The Thrifty Billionaires, the times they are a-changing. Robert Frank, writer for The Wall Street Journal Online examines this growing trend among the uber-wealthy to curtail conspicuous consumption in his article The Penny-Pinching Billionaires. He predicts that with the downturn in the economy, "Thrift will become the new bling; the absence of status symbols will become the best status symbol of all."

Enter the recessionista. According to Word Spy, a recessionista is "a person who dresses stylishly on a tight budget." The word entered the language around 1993, but has recently become a real buzzword. In the last month I've run into this term countless times....before that, merely a handful. It would seem that being thrifty is not only wise, but hip, as well. Everyone wants a seat on the recessionista train.

Which is a really wonderful thing!
If it's done well.
Because there's frugal...and then there's cheap.

I still maintain that 1) a woman should purchase the best quality clothing that fits in her budget and 2) we don't need nearly as many clothes in our closets as we've been led to believe. Buy fewer clothes, and you'll have more to spend on the clothes you do buy. This philosophy applies to all budget sizes, and works in all economic climates.

Another key idea is to divorce yourself from the status of the label. Become very familiar with what quality looks like and feels like, because you can find quality at every price point. Granted, the really good quality items are probably going to be a little more spendy, but not always.

I have a feeling that the word "recessionista" is only in the beginning stages of popularity. The word is cute, it's catchy, and it puts a positive spin on what could otherwise be a really touchy subject.

Are you a recessionista? How do you feel about the word?

See you next time...same blog time...same blog channel....

(For more information on wardrobe planning, or to sign up for my free e-zine, please visit my wardrobe planning website.)