Cost-per-Wear

Most of the time “shopping” is not compulsory but is made out of fun or out of boredom. When we are sad we like to buy nice dresses or bags for ourselves to feel better. When we are happy maybe we want to do the same thing again.

Photo by Dolce Vita

  

That is why the experts suggest staying away from the shops when your feelings are so uncontrollable.

However there are ways of clever shopping. One is the “Cost-per-Wear” method. It is easy to calculate. 

And here is the magic formula: The cost (price) of the item / the number of days that you will wear or carry it = the result (Cost-per-Wear)

If you buy shoes for 500 euro and wear it 100 days a year, it will cost you 5 euro per wear. However if you buy a very low price t-shirt for 20 euro and wear it once a year, actually it will cost you 20 euro per wear!!! 

So buying cheaper items may not always be advantageous as long as you don’t wear them enough. That is another dimension of finding out the real value of an item. Now it is your turn to make your Cost-per-Wear calculations and to find out how many “luxury” cheap items you have actually…

Shopping in London

I like wandering around the world and learning new cultures. But these trips aren’t always just culture trips. I find it also as a good opportunity for shopping. Unfortunately in our day it is really difficult to find different things. “Thanks” to the globalism you see everywhere the same brands, the same products and even the same shop window designs. So I like finding out little boutiques, local shops or outlet departments which you can’t see everywhere around the world. And in that regard my favourite destination is London!

 

Let’s start learning about shopping world of London. The first stop is the Oxford Street. Of course you will see many familiar shops there. But it is the main shopping street and you shouldn’t leave London without walking along the street from beginning till the end. Because there are still so many places to be discovered. 

Let’s start with Topshop.  The address is Oxford Street 216. If you ask what I found there more different than other shops, I can say the bijouterie department. They have really different jewelry of many designers. And the prices are reasonable. You can spend the whole day there. It is huge. Bags, shoes, clothing… Just like a shopping centre. These are the earrings I bought there.

And Primark. It is a must in London to visit. In Oxford Street I have visited two Primark stores. The addresses are Oxford Street 499-517 and Oxford Street 14-28. It is one of the stores that you can spend the whole day. From man, woman and child clothing till bag, shoes and households there is an enormous range of products. And what is the best are the prices. With low prices you can buy high fashion clothing. Would you like to see some samples? Here they are…

TK Maxx is another big store for shopping. It is in 120 Charing Cross Rd. It is close to the Oxford Street. The difference between Primark and TK Maxx is that you can find in TK Maxx also many famous designer products with up to 60% sale. I have seen some products of the big labels such as Versace, D&G and Moschino too.

And now I will tell you about my favourite place for shopping. It is Notting Hill. Here are my little boutiques along the road. You can go there by travelling by metro till Nothing Hill Gate station. After getting out just walk down the Portobello Road. There are many nice shops around the street and you can find nice dresses which are in British style. 

However the Saturdays are the peek time. In the world famous antique market you can find many different products from bags and clothing till jewelry and of course antique goods.

I couldn't just look and go when I saw that necklace and the earrings in the market.

 And for those luxury lovers, Harrods is a good option. You can find it in Brompton Road 87-135. It is possible to write hundreds of pages about the shopping options in a big city like London. But I prefer to write just about the places I visited. Here is more information based on my visits. Some shopping streets and markets…

1. Old Spitalfields Market: It is an indoor market which is open for seven days. It includes, bars, tea shops, boutiques and design stores.
2. Camden Market: Open seven days till 18:00. On the stalls you will find designer products. Mainly jewelry and clothing.
3. Carnaby: Fashion, food and shopping events… You can find many independent boutiques there.
4. Selfridges & Co: One of the biggest department stores in Oxford Street 400.
5. Harvey Nichols: You can buy fashion and beauty products and also eat on the fifth floor. Knightsbridge 109-125, Westminster.
6. Regent Street: It is a street with more than 100 shops, restaurants and cafes. You can visit also the department store Liberty London in the street.
7. Bond Street hosts many big labels such as Tiffany, Prada, Hermes, Cartier, Burberry and Louis Vuitton.
8. Covent Garden is a souvenir paradise.

Cabins or internet?

Today we will learn what fashion or shopping means for Senay Tura. She works in a textile company as a marketing expert. Although she likes shopping as each woman, cabins are not her favourite place.

Can you tell us about your style?

I like to wear casual and comfortable clothes. 

I prefer generally white, red, blue and green colours. I believe they fit me better. They fit my skin colour. For instance the colours orange or yellow don'’t look nice on me. I feel myself more energetic with light colours. 

I like décolleté in dresses or tops. I usually don'’t wear things that closes the whole neck. It should be a little bit open over the breasts. In summer I prefer clothes without sleeve.

How do you get dressed at work? Is it different than during the day?

I wear skirt or trousers made from cloth at work. But during the day when I go out I wear jeans or denim skirts. Mostly sportive. 

Even if I go out for a special night I try to look sportive. There should be some elements that show me energetic. I don'’t prefer very classical dresses or suits.

Do you go shopping very often?

I mostly go shopping when I need something. I also buy if I see a nice dress, shoes or bags while I am wandering out. I never say “"I am bored. I should go out and buy something”". 

Do you like trying clothes at the shops? 

It is not my favourite to go to a shop and try the things hours and hours. I don’t like the cabins. I know my size. I just look at the thing I like and say “Yes, it fits me” and I get it. My size is M or L. Something between. But I understand when I look. I buy often white shirts. Anyway you can’t try white shirts or dresses. It is forbidden here. I sometimes try just the skirts to see how long they are. That’s it. Cabins are horror for me.

 

What about internet?

It is easier to buy in internet for me. It is written there already M or L. You just click and buy. It is easier. 

Which brands or designers do you like?

LC Waikiki, Lacoste, Polo, Adidas… There are some Turkish brands also such as adl, DeFacto. I buy there a lot… I find Cengiz Abazoğlu’s designs nice. He is a Turkish designer. I also like Jennifer Lopez’s style. I like the way she gets dressed.

  

As far as I see you don't like very showy things? What about the accessories? 

Oh, they should be showy. I strike a balance between casual clothing and very showy accessories. For example huge hats or glasses are sine qua non.

The jewelry is also important for me. They should be large too. 

Necklaces, bracelets, earrings or rings with huge stones...

However pearl and starfish figures are very important for me.

Do you have an offer for women to hide their weights?

Short skirts with narrow cuts make you look thinner. I suggest never choosing pencil skirts. The ladies with unwanted weights should prefer also shirts, t-shirts or skirts with long vertical lines. 

They should try wearing long cardigans or jackets. Wide leg trousers are also not good. And last tip: Leggings! Never!

Thanks Senay for sharing her likes and dislikes with us... My next interview will be with a fashion designer...