Q&A with Niki | Understanding your Style not Brand

How many of us get caught up in designer brands and wanting to buy something simply because of the label on the back? I get it, I’ve been there and so has every other shopaholic. Style goes way beyond brand and there are so many other ways for us to shop smart and on a budget! Today on the blog I am so happy to have Niki from the blog Style Not Brand where she will be answering all your question about focusing more on style and less on the designer label. I met Niki through Instagram and I was immediately was drawn to her based on her awesome sense of style and always purchasing identical clothing! We could seriously share closet sometimes and that’s probably because she has great taste.😉 Now I don’t want to give too much away about Niki because she has a lot to say about her self and the blog but I really appreciate her sense of fashion by really focusing on style and educating women that ‘you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to look fashionable’. Can I get an Amen?

 

1.What is Style not Brand? Why did you decide this name for your blog?

Style not brand is all about being stylish and confident on budget. I believe every woman is able to look and feel fabulous without spending lots and lots of money on designer labels. I decided on the name because it fits most with what I believe in! I have never been the girl to die over a brand name; if I like something the label doesn’t matter to me.

2. What made you decide to start blogging?

I always loved fashion as long as I can remember. Before the blog, I would spend hours looking through Pinterest and then going through my closet to make similar outfits. I love teaching but I knew my inner self/ alter ego wanted to do something a little more creative. I started to notice how my friend would always ask me details about my outfits and be shocked by the low price point. It was around that time when my creative side took over… through a blog, I can do BOTH: teaching and fashion! I wanted to create a blog where I share my finds and styling tips. I could show how to stay on budget and still feel confident.  After sharing the “random” idea with friends and family and seeing how supportive they were I knew I had to give it a try even if nothing came out of it!

3. What are some of your current fashion obsessions?

I’ve recently started to re-watch Mad Men and the whole retro fashion of the 1950-60’s has my heart! Cat eye sunglasses, high-waisted jeans and knotted tops are just to die for. I would say I’m definitely obsessed with high-waisted jeans are they are so flattering on any body type and I love how they elongate the legs.

 

5.Where do you shop? And why?

My go-to stores have to be Forever 21, H&M, Urban Planet, and Shein. I find these stores are able to provide the style I want in a budget friendly manner. I also love that they often use high end brands as inspiration by creating dupes at an affordable price point.

6.What is your goal for your blog Style Not Brand?

Ahh.. this is definitely a tough one because my goals for the blog is always shifting and changing as I continue to grow. However, my ultimate goal (since day one) is to collaborate with Walmart and have my own line of clothing: Walmart X SNB.

That would be a dream come true!

7.What is the message you want to portray with Style not Brand. 

I want every woman to feel confident and stylish regardless of their budget. It’s all about how you style your outfit not the brand you’re wearing.

8.Why doesn’t a brand matter as much as style for you? 

It doesn’t matter as much because when you look put together and feel confident, that matters more to me than a hidden tag. I also get a thrill out of saying, “it was only $40!” after getting a compliment on my outfit. It’s even better when you’re in a room full of people with outfits double or triple that price!

9.Do you keep a budget for your shopping? If so do you have any tips on creating a shopping budget?

I don’t necessarily keep a budget, but rather look at the price and think about three things:

1. Does it look expensive or does the fabric or style make it look cheap?
2. How many times will I wear this item? Is this a fad or a staple?
3. Can I style this item 3 different ways?

I go through these questions whenever I’m shopping to ensure I’m not buying something I’ll regret later. I know it may seem silly since everything I buy is not overly expensive. However, all the little things can add up and before you know it, you’ve spend $200 on items you don’t really need.

10.Could you recreate a branded look and show us how it can be affordable? 

 

So for this I used Shein (affordable) and Nordstrom (high end) to show you 3 looks.

1.I focused on jumpers since they are a staple for spring.

This two items are very similar except their price point! The Nordstrom one is $174, while Shein is just $23.

 

2.Bow detailing on any dress is always so cute and perfect for spring. So I decided to show you an affordable version ($20) of that ($700) dress.

3. The last item is always a staple for spring: white eyelet top! It matches perfectly with jeans or a pretty pleated skirt. The Nordstrom one is $384 while Shein has a very similar one for $30!

11.Even though you are a huge advocate on style and not brand, are there still big name brands out there that attract you?  Or do you strive to save your money and find a similar item somewhere else for a lower cost?

Generally I love using higher end brands as inspiration and try to create a similar affordable look. I also tend to calculate my hours of work when spending on an item and I can never get myself to spend a large sum of money on just ONE item. It eats away at me knowing how hard I work and how easily it’s gone.

12.What is the best place to purchase cheap and decent quality clothing that is on trend?

See number 5 J

13.Do you have any tips on reusing/re-wearing items in your closet season after season?

My biggest budget tip would have to be to buy staple items rather than what’s in style in the moment. Yes it’s very hard not to go overboard with pretty bell sleeves, but all those tops will no longer be in style in a year or two and now you’re stuck with 7 bell sleeve tops. Buying staple items that can be in your closet forever will also make it easier to wear them season after season. Some examples would be:

1.trench coat: layer it for fall and wear it with a dress in spring

2.pleated skirt: can be worn in spring and fall with booties and heels in summer

3.Stripped button up top: can be worn in fall, used as a layering piece in winter and wear it over a bathing suit in summer.

It also helps to buy these items in neutral colours to ensure it fits nicely with other items already in your closet. Now this doesn’t mean don’t ever go for that one statement top but strategize and cut on down what you really need.

14.How do you purchase your clothes? Are there specific rules to how you shop for your wardrobe?

What I usually do is go on Pinterest and save looks that I’m really loving. Then I go through my closet and see how I can create similar style using items that I already own. If I don’t own a similar item then it goes on my “shopping list”. I write a list for every month and go shopping once I’m confident I need those pieces.

15.What are the benefits to focusing on style rather than brand name items?

Lots of benefits! More money in the bank to travel and save away to pay off student debt or a house mortgage! Also, don’t forget how amazing it will make you feel knowing your outfit looks like celebrity style but on a Walmart budget!

 

Thanks, Niki for sharing your amazing tips and tricks to getting the dream wardrobe every girl needs without spending a ton of money! If you want to check out Niki’s blog or follow her on Instagram you can do so by clicking here.