Walking into a room with my Louis Vuitton bag, designer jeans and expensive Italian leather shoes, you might mistakenly think I have money and lots of it. A far cry from reality. The truth is, I can’t afford to buy cheap clothes. And neither can you. Let me explain. I don’t have enough discretionary income to be able to buy a $20 pair of ill-fitting boots that are going to fall apart in six months and require me to purchase a new pair. What I can afford is saving that money and buying a $150 pair of well-crafted boots that with tender loving care will last me for years. The bonus is, of course, happier feet in comfier shoes.

I love the Italian philosophy of La Bella Figura, which essentially boils down to always putting your best foot forward. For me, it doesn’t mean spending thousands of dollars on clothing, makeup and jewelry. What it does mean is being selective, purchasing timeless, classic styles and choosing quality over quantity.

Something you will hear from me again and again is the philosophy that “less is more” - a belief not very common in the American consumer society. But in some European countries that we admire for the pleasure they take in creating a quality life, it is par for the course. In the style bible, Simple Isn’t Easy, by Olivia Goldsmith and Amy Fine Collins, a famous French architect is quoted saying “American closets shock me. So much, too much. No one can dress well with so many clothes.”

In the same book, shoe designer Manolo Blahnik is quoted saying “It is a question of selection, to choose less. That is something Americans do not understand. They think that more is better.” So, yes, I have a gorgeous purse, but it’s the only designer bag I own and one of only three purses in my closet. Again: it’s a question of choosing less not more. (And in this case, a little bit of luck didn’t hurt: my mother spotted the bag at a garage sale and the owner sold it for a song to rid herself of memories of an ex-lover!)

For me less is more means I would rather scrimp and save my money to buy a beautifully cut pairs of jeans that flatter me and will give me years of wear. And sure living this way most likely means delaying instant gratification. Saving money to buy what you want is not something we are used to in these days of instant credit, mass mailing of credit card approvals and the ability to purchase almost anything we might desire online in the privacy of our own home.

What it will mean is an increased satisfaction and appreciation for the things we do own and the desire to care for them so they will last and give us as much pleasure for as long as possible.