Curl Up With A Good Book…

According to Victoria, Frederick, Lulu and even Mr. Macy, one of the most special things a woman can do for her spouse is make a little effort and wear something slinky before bed. Quite honestly, I’m in total agreement with all four of them. I, however, am a fan of taking it a step further. If you’re going to put that kind of effort forth for someone else, why not do it for yourself, as well.

At some point in the evening, life slows down a bit. You take a deep breath, possibly for the first time since the alarm went off that morning. This is the time you get to be fabulous for yourself. Just like you don’t have to wear pretty undergarments when someone special is going to see them, you don’t have to only wear your lingerie when someone else is going to see it.

Right before you take that deep breath, go change your clothes. Now, I’m not talking about your old sweats and the extra-large t-shirt with the tear at the seam. No, I’m talking about the floor length satin gown, the silky men’s cut pajamas, the lacy baby doll. Whatever makes you feel sensual and gorgeous.

Pour yourself a glass of wine or brew a cup of tea. Now take the deep breath. Even if you still have to feed the dog and make the kids’ lunches, that’s okay. Seriously. You may even feel silly the first few evenings. That’s okay, too. Eventually though, the everyday events start feeling a little silkier, a little more elegant. Because who says every day has to equal frumpy? Certainly not anyone living a Champagne Life, even on a Beer Budget.

Enjoy,

Pauline

Last time, we looked at where to shop. The answer was consignment and anywhere with a good sale. Great. Now what? Well, now is what to shop for and how to shop. While this may seem easy enough – what to shop for is whatever we need and how to shop is by going to a store – let me explain. On the one hand, it is that easy. On the other hand, shopping like that is, for me anyway, a guaranteed way to blow both my champagne life and my beer budget. Here’s what I mean…

It’s easy to buy something simply because it fits and it’s functional. But how much was in your donation bag that fit and was functional and yet you still avoided wearing it? We’ve just gotten rid of everything we didn’t love wearing. It makes no sense to go replace it with clothing that is nothing more than well-fitting and functional. How many pairs of jeans and pull-overs (or hoodies or sweatshirts or sweater sets) do you really need anyway? Set yourself a higher standard than “fits and is functional.” After all, living a champagne life is more than about saving money; it’s a commitment to yourself and treating yourself well.

Yes, look for clothes that fit, but also for clothes you love and will feel good wearing. For clothes that match the style you have or the one you want to have. If you have a favorite summer outfit, try to find its winter equivalent. For example, when I gave this piece of advice to my mother regarding her favorite summer outfit – culottes and a flowy tank top – she found thick palazzo pants and lovely long-sleeved t-shirts to wear during winter. The same outfit? No. A seasonally appropriate choice that makes her feel as good as her summer outfit? Absolutely! Because as we have said so often, when you feel confident and beautiful, you look confident and beautiful. And that’s a Champagne Life on a Beer Budget!

Enjoy ~

~ Pauline

If making sure our “unmentionables” are nice makes us feel better, imagine what knowing our outer layers will do for us!  Which means it’s time to tackle the closet.  Many people have many suggestions around this.  To be honest, I’m lazier and less organized than most of these suggestions require.  My personal champagne life is pretty low-maintenance.  I’m not going to take pictures of each outfit to ensure it looks good.  I’m not going to hang compete outfits on the same hanger.  In fact, I’m lucky if my clothes get put away and not just stacked in a pile mentally labelled “clean.”  Still, maybe that’s just me.  If you are more ambitious than that, absolutely take pictures.  Hang outfits together.  And more power to you and your personal champagne life.  Either way, start here:

Make sure every piece in your closet works for you.  Does it still fit? Is it missing buttons or zippers?  Will you ever really replace the button or mend the zipper (and be honest with yourself here, regardless of how hard it is or how good your intentions)?

Some people have a one year rule  If you haven’t worn it in a year, throw it out.  But what if it was a mild winter?  Or a rainy summer?  I extend it to three years because, well, things sometimes happen.  My other rule? Don’t keep it if you don’t absolutely love it.  So what if it fits?  So what if it’s practically new?  Odds are good that if you don’t love it, it shows when you wear it.  If you don’t love it, why own it?  The opposite of this is true as well ~ if you love it (and it fits and all that), keep it.  Who cares if it’s out of style or you only have few occasions to wear it?  If you really love something, it shows when you wear it.  You feel better, more confident, more attractive, more you. And it’s your champagne life so keep it!  Just be honest about the fit and condition.

This doesn’t need to be a long, painful process.  Simply put your hands on each item of clothing once.  If it’s a keeper, move on.  If it’s not, throw it on the floor and move on.  And there.  You’re done. Probably with a large pile of clothing to get rid of and a little (a lot?) of space in your closet.  Which is full of clothes you love, you feel good in, and that make you happy to wear.  You know what that is, right?  It’s a Champagne Life on a Beer Budget!

Enjoy ~
~ Pauline