Recent articles in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal have examined the enormous change in consumer shopping habits. Both articles say that fashion customers who are price conscious are calling themselves “Recessionistas.” How clever to take necessity and call it something chic!

“In an economic climate in which buying a handbag with a four- or five-digit price tag is starting to seem gauche, the free-spending style hounds formerly known as “fashionistas” are rebranding themselves, “ says the Times. While I do know people who quite recently purchased four-digit handbags, I can’t imagine doing that myself. In fact, on Give Simple, we’re very proud of our two-digit handbags! You can get a lot of flash for your cash with Big Buddha and Murval, and feel guilt free!

Were you turned off by Sarah Palin’s $150,000 wardrobe? Most of my friends certainly were. We all can understand how she might have needed to spruce up with a couple of new suits and a few bright jackets. But how can you call yourself a “hockey mom” in a $4000 Valentino jacket?

Probably the first of my friends to start seriously cutting back did not even have an economic necessity to do so. Joy just decided she didn’t need any more stuff, and would try to make it through the Spring 08 fashion season with almost no new clothes. I think she made it with only a few casual tops and some fresh white pants. Now she’d on the same mission for Fall. She did have to have the Give Simple Triple Multi Chain Necklace from Stein and Blye, and that a $55 necklace has given her a wardrobe lift without guilt.

I blogged about the updating my wardrobe on the cheap before my trip to New York a few weeks ago –I didn’t even know I WAS a Recessionista! Cool! Right on fashion trend yet again!

“Cheap is cool,” says WSJ. “Splurging doesn’t feel as good as it used to.” This is creating some interesting consumer behaviors, like dialing back luxury shopping, entertaining more at home, and shopping in your own closet for new looks.

This plays right into the Give Simple philosophy. When the founding sisters started the company, they knew their customers, many of them young, hip moms, did not need four-digit handbags, they needed affordable, quality, fashion right and unusual handbags, jewelry and gifts. We have continued that philosophy as we have grown and expanded Give Simple. With most items well under $100, we’re right where consumers want to be. Hurray!