Here’s a chance for you to share your favorite purchase of the year with my readers and to possibly win a cool gift. So start sharing! You could win one of my favorite fashion, style, image, or branding books. Winners will be chosen randomly.
There are no qualifications to win as long as you acquired the item in 2010. Just tell us all what’s your favorite purchase of the year and why you bought it. What makes it the standout above anything else you’ve added to your wardrobe?
So what’s my favorite purchase for the year? Since I really only buy clothes and accessories I love and are of high quality [as I wrote about in last week’s blog post and inspired this idea], this isn’t as cut and dry as you might think, if you know me well. But my answer came pretty quickly when I considered the options for the year.
My favorite item is something I have coveted for some time. It’s an Hermes belt. Though I held back on getting it for quite some time, I could kick myself now because since getting it, I seem to find a way to wear it nearly every day. It looks great with everything and goes with everything. It’s a signature item that defines my personal taste and style. Though it could have just as easily been purchased in San Francisco, it was acquired in Paris, like a great memento of a wonderful trip, and of a first-rate shopping experience at a fabled store located at 24 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.
The leather options first had to be examined and determined, followed by the hardware options, in order to customize the item. In the end, my Hermes brown and black reversible belt with gold “H” buckle is as versatile as about a dozen of my other belts combined! Since getting this belt, I only occasionally gravitate to other belts, when the color or hardware of the Hermes belt don’t properly accentuate my chosen outfit and footwear choice. But it’s rare. It’s definitely the top choice of the year, and one I’ll enjoy for years to come. I look forward to collecting an additional strap to expand my shoe options to other funky, cool color choices. You know I love to be original.
Okay, now it’s your turn. And I would also encourage you to keep coming back and reading each other’s comments. If you read someone’s story and like it, go ahead and use the “Like” button and give someone some love for sharing their story. Let’s have fun sharing our favorite purchases of the year. I think we can learn a lot by sharing with each other.
Joseph Rosenfeld helps high-profile individuals revitalize, manage, and be secure in their personal visual brand. Visit JosephRosenfeld.com for details.
I recently thought it would be great to look good while getting fit. To that end, I discovered my favorite fitness apparel store – Lululemon Athletica located in Santana Row. I now have matching and functional tops and shorts designed for my running and weight-lifting regimen. Now, I don’t exercise without wearing the complete ensemble.
This is such a great point because the better you look when you’re exercising, the more it helps you see how you’re progressing toward your goals. When I see people hiding behind oversized gym clothes, I know they’re out of touch with their bodies. Excellent purchase!
It wasn’t a new purchase but a repair purchase… My favorite shoes, it costs half as much as getting a new pair but when they are a staple in your wardrobe sometimes the best something new is fixing an old item back to new… They are shinny and black with new soles and still the same favorite shoes.
Report, side-tie boots in Brown suede. I have lived in them for the past month. I do a lot of shows and I am on my feet all days. These boots are stylish and soooooooooooooo comfortable. I might never take them off!
That’s the greatest – when you get something you never want to take off. And with two women talking about feet, you can tell how much importance we all should place on our footwear. Guys, that means us, too.
Ha-ha. Even though it’s not a “new” purchase, I love your answer all the same. When you have a favorite item and its life could be extended by some TLC, a little repair work goes a long way. In fact, I recently had some of my favorite shoes resoled, too. Excellent!
My favorite purchase was the gown I wore to the 2010 Black Tie Dinner in Dallas. It wasn’t a retail purchase. It was the purchase of a custom-made design experience for a design student at El Centro College. This was a 9-month project for Norma Cuevas, which resulted in class credit for her, a valuable addition to her resume, and an fabulous addition to my closet. My 3-piece ensemble – short and sassy claret red sheath dress, charteuse green and red irridecent silk taffeta jacket and coordinating silk taffeta stripe over shirt – received rave reviews. I felt like a red-carpet celebrity in the gown. And, I’ve worn the various pieces with other coordinating pieces to a couple of Holiday parties…lots of mileage for an evening ensemble!
Maggie, that’s a great story. I know how you like supporting the student community and local designers. In one outfit you did both, and got something you can wear in different ways. Talk about an ensemble of great value. Love it!
Joseph what a great idea! My favorite purchase of the year is a brown wide brim hat with a green ribbon band I found in Hawaii. It makes me feel fun & kicky, with a little sophistication at the same time – especially with big sunglasses. It was actually an easy purchase; as soon as I saw it my whole being perked up & putting it on perked everyone around me up so that was that. So,not only do I look & feel great, it protects me from the sun, too.
Jaci, it’s great you got something fun from Hawaii. And since you’re so fun and social, it’s no surprise you’d choose something that would add to your social [and style] quotient! I want to see you in this hat and big sunglasses.
my favorite shoe purchases for the year are my Jimmy Choo motorcycle boots and glittered wedge penny.. my wardrobe revolved around it, or I must say I made it revolve around them ;-)!
Olen, with a wardrobe like yours, you could easily make it revolve around some formidable new shoes. Sounds as fierce as your style!
Got a new sport coat this year that works with so many colors. I have a pair of pants (sort of a blend of olive and brown) that never quite seem to match up with anything else, but goes great with the sport coat. The coat has goes great with brown, blue, grey and so much more.
It’s great to own versatile items in the wardrobe. Your story about the pant that never went with anything is a great reminder to think about shopping in terms of outfits so you get the value out of what you buy. Glad it eventually worked out for you, Jeff!
Where do I start? I love clothing and accessories. Among my top of the list are my AGL ballet “slippers” made in Italy and oh so comfortable (I bought them in 3 colors) and my Pliner mules. I have to say that my absolute favorite accessory purchases of 2010 (and they all happened this month), were by Alexis Bittar. I get so many compliments on this jewelry because it looks completely different than everything else out there. http://www.alexisbittar.com/product.php?productid=21704&cat=249&page=1&defvarid=15125.
Great post, Joseph!
Glad you enjoyed this post, Dawn. It’d be hard to narrow this down to “just one favorite” considering you self-identified a favorite for its uniqueness, but also liked something else so much that you got it in three colors! Both statements tell me something about your personal style…
The first purchase is an Oscar de la Renta ring at The Wynn shop in Vegas. Here’s a link for those who are interested:
http://www.bergdorfgoodman.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml;jsessionid=BR1FD0JPAYQ34CQAAKMBPVQ?itemId=prod58790047&ecid=BGALRJ84DHJLQkR4&ci_src=14110925&ci_sku=Y0GE0
My next best purchase was something that initially caused buyer’s remorse. A pair of jeans from Barneys that were priced above my usual comfort zone. However, after washing them and getting the right alterations, they are my favorite pair of pants! They feel like butter, hug where they should without squeezing, and easily dress up or down.
Thea, there must have been some instinct you had with those jeans that kept you going prior to the buyer’s remorse or you would have likely returned them prior to washing them. It sounds like you’re totally happy with them. Sometimes we have to push ourselves beyond previously set limitations so we may experience our best personal style. Fun ring, too!