Make a Wish!

It’s the beginning of a new year and I have started to think about my wish list for 2020. My list usually is comprised of items I’d like to acquire over the course of the year and if I don’t it’s fine……But it definitely helps to have a list that motivates me to not make impulsive purchases of things that I truly do not want! This year I’m focused on growing my bag collection, but you can utilize these tips for clothing, shoes, home decor and furnishings as well!

Being completely transparent, my pocket is not long! I love luxury items but my purchases are few and far in between. These rare treats take some planning, budgeting and saving!

Here are a few tips on what I do to afford some splurges without financial turmoil in my bank account!

1. Look at your bank account log and/or statement. What items do you spend a significant amount of money on that you can cut down? For example, before having my son, I went out alot on weekends….dinner, happy hours, lounges etc. with friends. When he was 3 months old, I noticed more money at the end of the month and couldn’t figure out where it was coming from. Finally, it dawned on me that my social cutback inadvertently saved me some money. All the friday night tabs were adding up and I hadn’t noticed it!
2. Research and think about buying preloved! I won’t go into a lot of detail, because honestly, I can talk about this all day, but designer retail prices are insane! Fashionphile, Tradesy, Ebay, Yoogi’s Closet, Vestiaire Collective and The Real Real are just a few of the sites I utilize on my hunt for great deals! Keep in mind, you want to research and make sure you are getting authentic items! Also, there are many reasonable authentication services you can use. Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and Poshmark always yield steals for everything from baby items to furniture but caution is definitely warranted.
3. Test drive a designer trend before investing in the specific item you want! And please, as just a disclaimer, this does not mean a counterfeit item! A lot of mainstream retailers make variations of popular designer items. I really love the Chloe Nile bag in small, but wondered if it would be something fleeting that I’d regret and not use. I found a cute circular handle bag in a middle of the mall stand for 9.99 and have carried it a million times! You have def seen it on the blog! I love the size for nights out and the interest of the handle. Needless to say, I will be investing in my Chloe this year if I can!
4. Think about the idea of purchasing an alternative material for the specific designer item you want. For reference, my holy grail bag is the Chanel Jumbo classic flap in Caviar leather, silver hardware….long description but I have literally dreamed about that bag for over a decade! The retail price, I refuse to say, let alone type, but trust me, it’s ridiculous, even on the preloved market! However, I could possibly save a ton of money by considering the same jumbo classic flap in a different textile, for instance the Chanel jumbo patent leather. This is much cheaper and honestly fits my lifestyle! As a new mom, I need something that I do not have to be careful with and that I can wipe off. Non traditional colors are also always a way to save. Your basics hold more value of course but I am not opposed to saving some coin by a cool statement color! You only live once.

The reality is, a wish list may just be that, a wish. That is definitely the case for me, but hey, dreams can come true, so put a plan in motion. Either way, I find it fun to aspire for things I want to add to my closet eventually and they can also serve as inspiration and a muse for your own style mantra. What are some of your wish list items for 2020? What trends do you see yourself investing in? Do you like designer items or don’t see the value? Make sure to leave me a comment down below!

Also check out my complete wishlist and let me know what you think about it!

Jessica’s Luxury Wishlist 2010

1. CHLOE Calfskin Small Nile Bracelet Bag (any color)
2. CHANEL Caviar Quilted Jumbo Double Flap Black
3. CHRISTIAN DIOR Mini Lady Dior Black
4. LOUIS VUITTON Monogram Montsouris MM Backpack (vintage)