When I was a fashion merchandising student at Cal State LA in the mid to late 80s I was required to always dress to represent my allegiance to fashion at all times.

The problem wasn’t my attitude that made me nervous about this request, but my lack of funds. Even at the deepest discount, I couldn’t afford enough designer gear to dress for one semester so I felt I had a real problem that was also exacerbated by my not owning a car or living in an area rife with retail. After finally analyzing my situation, I realized I have to make do with thrift store, and sale rack finds.

That meant a lot of experimentation and patience in finding just the right things to please my teachers, my fellow fashion students and my inner fashionista. It also meant buying things that would last and look good in heavy rotation. Three garments that I wore then in the still wear today – a black drop-wasted 1960s dress, a navy-blue wool 1970s pant suit, and a black Dan Loper blazer from the early 1960s – have continually helped me look stylish regardless of the occasion. They became my go-to pieces I could instantly rely on and taught me an important lesson about repeat dressing.

From them I learned that not only can you wear something twice or as many times as you want, but you can vary it with an interesting accessory jacket or sweater.

The outfit I chose to wear today – a multicolored Marimekko x Uniqlo shirt-sleeve top and burgundy/white cotton print joggers, also from Uniqlo-has been worn before in a different location with a burgundy red necklace from Kohl’s. This time to vary it to get up I added a yellow print scarf and a burgundy corduroy tote from Forever 21.

Facing what turned out to be a very challenging day it helped me keep my composure and remain Uber chic.