We have a new trend upon us. The label is "recession chic."
Many women think it is rude to buy the high label items at their high prices, but you cannot stop a woman from shopping. Thus, some are on a "spending fast," and some are refusing to spend even if they have it.

What has emerged is that if a woman finds a designer purse, for example, in a line that costs four or five figures, she will go to a place like Target and get a less expensive copy by the same designer!

After the recession of 1989, designers came out with lower priced lines, such as Donna Karan, who is expensive under the label name "Donna Karan," came out with DNKY. This was to make money even though there was a lack of spending money amoung the people.

this time, there is a syle that has been adopted. Women will still buy one or two expensive items but are going to stores like Target, Kohls, Uniglo, or even Payless to save money and get knock offs. This is prevalent even in middle class. (There is a store equvalent to these in the UK, Mountain Ash, I think it is H + M or H and another inital? Perhaps you can help here.

The clothing bought can even be capris, carpenter pants, levis, (501) and cargo pants from Military surplus stores.

The palette is dark. and a severe silhouette. I happen to like it myself. It is practical, a change, and shows the state of the union.

This could be one reason why Palin is under fire for her expensive clothing. The trend is for women to go to the less expensive stores and Nieman Marcus, which I LOVE, is the most expensive besides Barneys, but to her credit, Palin's bill at Barneys was very low.

Soon we may have "Depressionists!"

For young people graduating college and on the job hunt, the trends are pants that fit well on men and women, T's that say something or have a picture of meaning on them and a blazer over all of it. It is the new relaxed workplace attire, esp. for the budding Dot com.

Have you ever found anything in these stores? I know the nurses I work with, (some,) use military surplus for belts to hold all their instruments, tape, etc...

Please share if you find someting in these lower priced stores that match the higher priced items just fine.

I've not of yet found anything I can really use but I wear and have always worn, what are called "boyfriend jeans," which are men's Levi, 501, in a baggy size, with a tighter shirt. It just makes me comfortable if I'm running errands, or even if I am at the hospital in the E.R..

To all recessionistas, good luck! How are your clothing budgets?

Dancer