By: Chelsea Weintraub (Quinnipiac University)

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A few months ago, my father came home from a business trip in Sin City, raving about a Tom Ford suit he had seen while window shopping at the Bellagio. To me, Las Vegas is the only place where you can trust your deepest, darkest, dirtiest secrets to remain safe. I’m not talking about threesomes, hot tub romps or anything else we’ve seen happen on The Real World. I’m talking splurges. Dabbling in luxury. Impulse buys. For me, I find it completely necessary to spoil myself once a year. So I found it bizarre that my father passed up on such a suave suit in Vegas when I can justify investing in something new every 10-12 months in the real world. My deadline typically falls during the summer months when my bank account is in its prime. I know, I know. I’m a college student. My biggest concerns should be what dress from Forever 21 I’m going to wear out on Wednesday night (for those of you who don’t know, Wednesday is the new Thursday which was the new Friday) and who I’m going to get buy me dollar draft beers [Sidebar: I don’t ever shop in Forever21 and my drink of choice is a cosmopolitan]. But they’re not. My concerns are more along the lines of “how am I going to top last year’s fabulous buy?” I’m all about the finer things. I don’t compromise quality for quantity. Besides, what’s the fun in saving for tomorrow when you can spend for today? If you want something bad enough, don’t you go for it? I know I do, and so should you! Here are the things you should consider investing in & how to justify their outrageous price tags.

  • The investment bag: Quality over quantity. Think about it. The average Coach bag goes for between $200-300. A Louis Vuitton Speedy bag currently retails at about $700. I know, that’s a HUGE difference. But do the math. If you’re going with the standard Coach bag (don’t get me wrong, some of the styles have adapted a more mature look over the past few years), they go along with the current trends. And we all know the deal with trends – they come and go & require you to restock every season. Invest in ONE timeless bag that never goes out of style. You’ll be happy that you did it. AND think of how much you’ll save in the long run.

  • The time piece: Years ago VOGUE ran a piece on watches & their functionality among women. It left a lasting impression and after my freshman year of college my own watch collection started. Some think it’s silly to own a watch when your iPhone or Blackberry is always in hand. I beg to differ. If there’s one accessory that truly makes a statement, it’s the time piece. For women, it’s like another piece of jewelry. A very sophisticated piece of jewelry. There’s such a variety to choose from. Willing to splurge? Look at Michele [note: make sure you’re looking at the actual watches and NOT the bands individually]. Trying to invest in a few pieces and still be able to pay for your mani & pedi later? Look at Michael Kors.

  • The scent: Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel once said herself that “a woman who does not wear perfume has no future.” She believed that is was ignorant to think that one’s own self actually smelled good. I know… what a superficial world we live in. But I couldn’t agree more. Fragrances get pricey, but there are so many to choose from. Test some out and find one that fits you best. It’s an easy way to feel beautiful instantly; and if someone misses your grand entrance, they’ll know you’ve entered the room without even looking up.

So remember, it’s okay to treat yourself from time to time. Best to do it “impulsively.” I use quotations because I have a never-ending “I want” list that I heavily research. Look around and see if there’s something you’re dying to have or have always wanted. You never know what you’re going to find while you’re out, but you’ll know when you spot something randomly that’s too divine to pass up. I’m all about love at first sight – especially when browsing around a department store.

Ciao for now. Xoxo

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