More often than not the answer I have been hearing recently is “timeless” because people want their items to last longer than a few fashion seasons. It is the safer option. I have heard this both my from my clients, and in reader comments on the YLF blog.

I see things differently. In a recession you need more of a reason than normal to make a purchase. You want to feel fashionably recharged, and you need the uplifting boost of something new and exciting more than ever. Adding another pair of dark blue jeans, cropped cardigan or classic black handbag into the wardrobe mix might just feed your fashion rut. So try something new and purchase fun items that make you smile.

I am not the only person who seeks the value of something that is different to the rest of my wardrobe during tough economic times. Years ago as a buyer for classic ladies fashion I used this logic to justify a range with many items that my target market hadn’t seen before, but were still in line with her fashion persona. Much to management’s surprise, the strategy paid off and my department outperformed all other ladieswear departments in that chain.

How about you? Do you find yourself gravitating towards trendy items or timeless items when budgets are tight?

These handbags might not be to your taste, but they illustrate the point. The classic handbag on the left is timeless, elegant and streamlined, but the oversized style on the right has a fun, creative edge. That’s the one that would make me smile, especially since I could carry it in three different ways. At less than a third of the price, the trendy piece would win hands down over the more timeless version.