Cheap + Chic

For Nina W.'s first "Cheap + Chic" column, she decided to mine a source close to home: her cousin, Addie. Take it away, Nina!

WHO: Adelaide Wainwright, Literary Agency Assistant

STYLE PROFILE: Vintage maven with a practical streak

WRITES NINA: My cousin, Addie, has had amazing personal style longer than she's had a personal bank account. And she's always done it on a tight budget, so even though the stock market is looking all washed up right now, her wardrobe isn't. Here's what she had to say about cheap chic dressing:

AW: Scour your mother's--and your grandmother's--closets. Try to look past retro shapes and see how they might work on your body. Cinching belts can do wonders. And, fortunately, near-vintage looks are de rigueur right now. And learn some sewing skills! 

NW: What about eBay?

AW: If I shop on eBay it's when I have something very specific in mind, like espadrilles or huaraches. Shoes on eBay, actually, are a boon. Shoes are such an easy way to make a statement and I feel like it's difficult to find anything really special in stores without spending a ton of money.

That really goes for anything: I know that for this spring/summer I wanted to buy a pair of chunky platform sandals (check), an African print cutout bathing suit, and a pair of sophisticated shorts. Beyond those, I'll surely buy some simple T-shirts (Uniqlo is a wonder for those: well made and very cheap) and other minor incidentals.

NW: What's your best shopping advice?

AW: I won't buy anything serious on a whim. It's a practical way of building a wardrobe: if you concentrate on really beautiful pieces, be they $3 vintage dresses or $250 bathing suits, and take care of them, you'll be in great shape in the long run.