It's Thursday, time for our Style Source Faves segment - and this is where we usually recommend a book, store or website as a source for -  design inspiration, terrific merchandise, or guidelines for elegantly dressing yourself and your interiors.

But this morning's a little different.  I keep thinking about a segment I saw on The Today Show.  It was all about how to update your look, your wardrobe, for very little money.

Considering the current economic conditions, spending less on a wardrobe is probably not just a good thing - but a necessity.  But therein lies my beef - my problem with the entire notion.

Most people have closets JAMMED with clothes they rarely, if ever wear.  And why?

Well, in many cases it's a size issue: the clothes don't fit anymore, perhaps they never did.

Or maybe the clothes were from the latest and greatest trends of several seasons ago, and now the items are hopelessly out of fashion.

Or maybe the items were bought On Sale, or on a whim - just because the wearer wanted something new.  But they never really liked them that much in the first place; consequently,  the items got worn once or twice, if at all.

Does this sound familiar? 

So, back to the segment on updating your wardrobe: if you have a closet filled with items that you never wear, why would you go out and buy more just because they're inexpensive?

I have several hilarious book in my house that are all about the differences between Americans and French, Americans and Italians, etc.  And they all have a chapter comparing American's overstuffed closets to the skimpy closets of their chic, stylish foreign compadres.

So, why is it that our French and Italian friends have much less, but tend to look so much better?  (Not all, of course, but there's a reason for stereotypes.)

I go back to the saying in the first pages of A Guide to Elegance, by Genevieve Dariaux:  I cannot afford to buy cheaply.  And back to my own mother's advice when I was very young:  If you have $100 to spend (I was young enough to think that $100 was HUGE) you don't buy 10 dresses for $10, you buy one dress for $100.

Which brings me back to my beef:  many have closets stuffed to the gills - but much is garbage!  That's why people look inside and say, "I have nothing to wear!"

So, if money's tight - don't go out and buy ANYTHING!  I know this sounds bizarre coming from a boutique owner.  After all, I sell fashion accessories!  But, I'm tired of the mentality: just go out a buy a little something - as though that's going to make it all better.

WRONG!  Save your money.  Buy quality.  Buy the very finest you can afford - and if you can't afford it today, save up for it.  That way, you'll be filling your closet with items you truly love - items that are well made, of beautiful materials - items that are elegant and classic.

And the result: you'll be wearing and enjoying them for years to come, getting rid of them only when they're worn out, or totally outdated.  And don't you know it - in the long run - you'll be saving money!  And you'll look good!

Spend less money in the long run - look uber-chic, elegant, classic - Hm...  enough said!