That All Important Buying Decision – How Did It Happen for the Wedding?

In this picture, you can see the great
seaming in this jacket.








Fashion purchasing decisions. I have spent a great amount of time since I began this blog last summer pondering why we buy what we buy. In my lifetime, I have taken a semi-truck load of clothing to Goodwill simply filled with decisions which never should have left the store. I am actually embarrassed that it has taken me almost 50 years to begin to understand what I am looking for when I shop.


Coco Chanel’s statement, “Fashion fades, only style remains the same,” is one I have pondered for a long time, so I hope in the future as I share my quest for “What is Pam’s style?” that the posts coming up will also help many of you. Every woman needs to face the question: What do my purchasing decisions say about me?


There is no better place to begin than with the wedding outfit selection. Some of you might remember I began here:







When I first fell for this gown, I was thinking of these components:


1. Evening wedding in a formal setting


2. Black to go with the B & W tux my husband would be wearing


3. Gigi was standing there saying: THIS IS AMAZING! YOU MUST HAVE IT! (Peer pressure has much to do with decisions!)


4. I felt amazing in it!


What stopped me from walking out with the dress was my lack of hard, cold cash. I petitioned my husband for the dress and in his wisdom he said, you know I think it is just too much dress….it costs more than the bride’s dress…and he believed I would be very hot (literally, hot, not sexy) in it. He would have been exactly right.  I looked at the picture of the first dress and thought: what do I really want to say about me at this event?  OK, yes, I want to look and feel younger…I want to look thinner…I want to be classy and chic….and feel confident.

The suit included a beautiful
jacket and classic pencil
skirt. Topped off with
Aerosoles



So, I waited and kept trying to formulate a picture of what I saw myself wearing. That was when my friend, Kerry, called. She represents New York designer, Jana Kos. Kerry was the one who said, I think you need a fabulous suit with a great fit. Her reasoning was that a well- tailored, classy suit met the occasion and I would get much wear out of it. She had the courage to point out, (and I agree with her), that many of the looks I currently wear on my blog are oversized or do not fit well. This is mostly due to my weight loss and a closet in transition. She said, “YOU NEED TO WEAR A LOOK THAT FITS YOUR BODY!”


When I went to her workplace to try on samples, I was amazed. The Jana Kos fit was nothing like anything I had ever put on …so flattering and classy. It really opened my eyes to how expensive clothing can be worth it if it looks like it was designed just for you! I tried on several pieces and wish I could have left with more than two, but the jacket and skirt I wore for the wedding were perfect (and I know you will see them again on this site, just styled differently. I would have been out of place in the other dress and, perhaps, faint from heat. The silver and black in the jacket created a very chic, formal look which went perfectly with the tuxes and the occasion. My husband even surprised me with a beautiful necklace …the creme de la creme of the entire look.


Now, I am a proponent of affordable fashion. I love a good deal just as much as the next woman does, but I do want to say that this experience taught me that often times, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. Jana Kos is expensive, but I have never worn anything I felt this good in! Parents of my students gifted me the money for the outfit and I cannot tell you how grateful I am for the gift, but I am convinced that her line of clothing is worth establishing a little savings account and occasionally buying a treat for my wardrobe! The lines, the cut, the fabrics are fabulous!



Later this month, I will attend a show introducing the Jana Kos Fall 2011 line and bring you a detailed report of what I discover there! Until then, remember to ask yourself when you first look in a dressing room mirror…do the clothes fit your body and the occasion??  We are beginning together to discover what leads to our purchasing decisions!

http://www.lmfj.com/
My husband gave me the perfect
accessory for the total look!!

Can’t wait to see the line in a couple of weeks!

28 Comments

  1. Pam, I think your suit is fabulous, 11/10 as Faux Fuchsia would say, and is a much more contemporary look than the heavy dress. That jacket looks like it was MADE for you and you look *fantastic* in it!!!

  2. Pam, you look gorgeous in your suit! I love it. It will forever be infused with happy memories and I hope it brings you joy every time you wear it. Your daughter is drop dead gorgeous and her dress, wow, amazing. Who made it? Congratulations to you and your family! More pictures please!

  3. Since you asked…my daughter's dress was a special affordable line of wedding dresses Vera Wang did for David's Bridal called the WHITE Collection!! She wore my veil and looked much better in it than I did!!

  4. How is it that you should be blogging about the very topic I was pondering as I was pulling from the hangers the pieces I would wear today?

    And can I relate to your opening paragraph when you say… that you've 'taken a semi-truck load of clothing to Goodwill simply filled with decisions which never should have left the store……. what am I looking for when I shop?

    As love as the gown is, I think you look 'perfect' in your suit!

    Now I'm taking some time to ponder this more.

  5. You definitely made the right decision! That suit looks stunning on you and so does that gorgeous necklace! I can't wait to see how you remix the pieces of your new suit!

  6. You both look positively beautiful. I too am realizing that a classic and well tailored outfit is well worth the money. The French do have a handle on that… “Quality over Quantity.”

    BTW – your huband is very good to you. Love the necklace.

    Nan

  7. You look gorgeous, the perfect mother of the bride, and your daughter is stunning! (Looks just like you!)

  8. It's a beautiful suit. Especially the fabric of the jacket. I have begun to worry what I will wear this September and only know that I want to avoid too matronly a look. I look forward to your feature on this designer.

    What a fun surprise from your husband and your students.

  9. I think now that I see it, the first dress was too much dress compared to the bride's look. I love the suit also, and you can wear the jacket with other things. What a wonderful find! I am still in the process of discovering my style.

  10. Pam, while the first dress looks divine on you….you absolutely made the right choice. You look so elegant and classic. I sometimes, too, ponder my style. And I'm deciding that it's certainly classic eclectic. I don't want to be pigeon holed into only a certain type of clothes or look. It's fun watching YOUR style evolve…and I would term it "modern classic"! Hugs! ~Serene

  11. The suit you chose was perfect for the Mother of the Bride. It is classic. You looked beautiful. So glad you are enjoying the cook book, hope you find some new favorite recipes! xo

  12. Gorgeous. And how wonderful that you can continue to re-mix the same pieces! I love separates for this reason. It's sort of a challenge — and SO much fun — to get different looks from the same items. Congratulations on the wedding. You were a truly glowing Mother of the Bride.

  13. you look stunning in the suit! your husband has great taste…the necklace is beautiful! i do believe that you get what you pay for…and sometimes the quality is well worth the price.

    rockoomph.blogspot.com

  14. You and your daughter look so beautiful – congratulations, Pam!

    I so agree: you must buy clothing that is quality, and it must fit your body NOW. I love seeing you in this gorgeous suit. Be very very proud of yourself, Pam. You look incredible.

  15. You look like I bet you felt — beautiful and put together! Congratulations! I know how hard that search can be.

  16. Pam~I'm so glad it wasnt your typical "mother of the bride" dress–you achieved all you wanted; thin, chic, young and confident! (and Happy–I can tell!) Congrats on all counts–you should be proud. Love Paula

  17. I think you ended up with the perfect look. These sort of purchases shouldn't be impulsive. We need to consider what we want to communicate, what is appropriate for the event, can we afford it?

    Thanks for sharing your story— I have absolutely been there!

  18. Hey Pam! You so made the right decision to go with the suit versus the dress. While the dress is beautiful, I think the suit "suited" you and the occasion much better. As everyone else has said > you look gorgeous and will get so much wear out of that fabulous jacket and skirt!
    Best wishes to the Bride!

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