How to Build a Killer Wardrobe on a Budget

I have spent a lot of blog posts showing you where to find discount or low price fashionable clothing for all occasions.  However, planning an awesome wardrobe that helps you look great and save money takes some careful planning on what to buy, and where you buy it.  For some things, it makes sense to buy something low-quality and low price, and for others, you should look for higher quality so that you can wear it longer.

Don't Spend a Lot of Money: 
 Low quality clothes are not a great buy for the clothes that you wear every day because they wear out fast, they get pilly, and they begin to fall apart.  However, there are some things that a girl has to buy that it just does not make sense to spend a lot of money on.

1. First on my list of things is a dress you're only going to wear, once. If you're talking prom, wedding, or that magical sorority formal you'll talk about forever, then it makes sense to splurge for a special occasion. However, how many times do you really think you're going to wear that spring semiformal dress? How many times are you going to want to look at the pictures, if any were even taken? For occasions like this, if you don't have an old dress that you want to wear, you should buy something low-quality and low price so that you can look great once, and then never think of it, again.
Example:

This cute rosette dress from Forever 21 will make you stand out in a good way at semiformal, and it only costs $22.80. Just don't plan on wearing it more than a few times.

2. The other major thing you don't want to spend a lot of money on is trendy clothes.  Before you buy something trendy, ask yourself if you would be embarrassed to wear that item if public three years from now. If the answer is 'yes' then don't spend a lot of money on it.  Do you need some examples of these flash in the pan trends? Does anybody remember the shrunken tie tops that hit high schools around 2004? How about the bubble skirts that hit around 2008? Some trends just hit one high school, others sweep the nation, but in general, they don't last. Are you a trend setter, not a follower? If you're thinking about trying something new and crazy, this is also a good way of trying out a look without making a huge commitment. It's easier to try out something like zebra print jeans if you're spending $10 than if you're spending $100.

Example:

If your school hasn't gotten tired of the shrunken vest trend, it will by the end of the year. If you want to partake, don't spend a lot. Get this one at 599fashion.com for $5.99.  But remember, never wear a trend that doesn't fit your body type - paying money to look bad is never a good idea.

When You Should Splurge:
In the long run, there are some items that it just makes sense to invest in, so that you can wear them for years to come. These pieces should be versatile, and have a classic look - don't invest in a high quality top that will hold up over the years if it's going to go out of style next season.
1. The Little Black Dress is a classic that you'll find yourself wearing again, and again.  Women wear LBDs to the office, to class, on dates, and to go out with the girls.  Choose one that is versatile enough to wear on several different occasions, is made from good materials (no polyester, please) and shop around to make sure that you get a good deal.
Example:

This LBD by Armani Exchange will last for years without losing its shape, or color.  It's sexy but conservative enough to wear to work, and it's on sale for $79.99.

2. Our bras are the little-celebrated superstar of our outfits.  They not only affect how good "the girls" are looking every day, but they also affect how comfortable and confident we are. Don't make the mistake of thinking that just because nobody can see your bra through your shirt (hopefully) it isn't important. Also, don't just buy expensive - buy smart.  La Perla might be sexy and cost more than a black market kidney, but it doesn't offer support for to day to day. Get a bra that give you support, and looks sexy.
Example:

Victoria's Secret bras might tend toward the pricey, like this Body by Victoria demi-cup for $46.50, but treat one right, and it will give you comfort and fit for years.  Remember, the better you treat your breasts now, the better they will look in 20 years.  

Try these tips, and stay within budget, and you will be looking great in the short-term and the long-term, and nobody will know how much you saved. 

As always fashionistas,

Happy Shopping :) 

Save Your Money for Clothing!

I have given several posts on where to find affordable, fashionable clothing, but sometimes that isn't enough.  As a (very) broke college student, I have had to find a few different ways to cut costs.  One of the most pointless expenses for me was laundry costs.  You live 18 years of your life with a washing machine and dryer in your house for free, and then all of a sudden, you have to pay $1.50 to wash and $1.50 to dry - wtf?

Solution: Get a drying rack.

I would do two loads of laundry per week, so by buying a cheap drying rack from Target, I saved $3.00 per week in laundry costs.  This might sound small, but it adds up,  and it helps the environment because drying racks use no electricity (like the ancients used to do_.  Added bonus: you avoid the risk of a horrible apartment/dorm coin run dryer shrinking your sweaters down to doll size.  Still at home? Get one anyway, and discuss with your parents whether you can pocket part of the monthly savings from switching from a dryer to a drying rack.

After a year of using a drying rack, you'll save about $150, which is like getting this awesome ABS dress ($146 at bluefly)  for free: 

Here is how not to spend your money. 

Everyone knows that I love Marc by Marc Jacobs, but this $137 puffer lime green tote looks like something a  grandmother in Sarasota would pull out of a bargain bin. You've hung laundry on a line for a year! Have standards with how you spend that money!

Happy Saving, and Happy Shopping, Fashionistas :)

Be Vivacious this Valentine's Day

I am sure that everybody knows that this Tuesday is Valentine's Day. For those in relationships, this day can be filled with heavy expectations of romance and magic that may or may not come true. For you single ladies, it can range from crying into a bowl of cookie dough to hitting the town with your girls and celebrating all of the love in your life.  No matter what your plans are, however, it can't hurt to look fantastic while you're doing it.  Whether you want to be sweet and demure, scintillating and sexy, or just not acknowledge Valentine's Day at all, here are some picks to look and feel great.

Tactful:

If your Valentine's Day plans include meeting your boyfriend (or girlfriend -no haters here) in a little bistro, lunching with your sisters, or just dressing up for cocktails with the girls, this is the dress for you. Tadashi Shoji flat out knows how to dress for a woman's body. This dress is sweet and simple, but it's girly, it flatters the waist, and it mayy make men want to give you flowers....maybe. The amazing part is that it's 73% off at bluefly.com.

Tantalizing:

My personal fashion motto is "Never Apologize". If you're going to dress up, don't hold back.  Whether you're single on Valentine's Day, or trying to impress a certain someone, there is no reason not to go all the way romantic and ravishing.  This v-neck red ruffle dress is sexy without going sexy, and is unapologetically in the spirit of Valentine's Day. As a special tribute to one of my heroes, Ellen Degeneres, I chose this dress from the store that chose her to be their spokesperson, JC Penney.  It's $50, not on sale, and in my opinion, it's worth every penny. 

Tuesday:

If you associate February 14 with the anniversary of the beginning of the Polish-Soviet war in 1919 or the day Pope Gregory VII excommunicated Henry IV in 1076,  then this is the dress for you. Just because it's "just Tuesday" doesn't mean that you shouldn't look fabulous in class or at work.  This Antik Batik flame silk dress is perfect for looking great on an ordinary day.  Its long sleeves are weather-appropriate, its color scheme is neutral, and the flame print adds a little spice to an everyday dress. Get it now at Gilt Groupe for 59% off.  

Remember, fashionistas, no matter what your plans are this Feb 14, love yourself, love your body, and look great.  What are your Valentine's Day plans? Let me know in the comments!

Happy Shopping :)

Just Thought this was Funny

As many of you know, I am studying in France, and an coming back to the U.S. in 6 days (!)  I have a feeling that this will pretty much describe my life. 

Belle Noire

Before reading my post on Belle Noire, please take the time to vote for your favorite designer.  Next month, I will publish a post on where to find great deals on clothes by the winning designer, so keep a look out for that!

Black is a pretty complex color, it can evoke the feel of the roaring twenties and vintage glamour, or the feel of a cutthroat, modern, businesswoman. An obvious upside is that black really is instantly slimming (not myth, I swear) and it is pretty versatile.  A downside is that it can sometimes send a message you don't want to, like looking accidentally gothic when you were going for sophisticated.  Here are some cute and chic ways to wear black, without going too far.

The Ruffle Jacket:

This Green Dragon cropped jacket is totally adorable.  It creates an abstractly military feel with the button placement, but the ruffles keep it feminine and fun. It is only $39.99 marked down from $105.00 at beyondtherack.com, so check it out, and you can look covered up and cute all at once.  

The Bag:

I am in love with this Sonia Rykiel embellished suede shoulder bag - like true love kind of in love.  It gives off an edgy-glamorous feel with the bows and crystal-embellished bird, but it is still casual enough to take to class without feeling overdressed.  It is big enough to hold all of your necessities, but not big enough to make you feel like walking down the street is a resistance workout.  In short, this bag is little less than perfection.  Of course, in my opinion, the thing that makes it the most perfect is that it is 70% off at the Outnet, so definitely look for it there first.  

The Accessory:

You have to be careful with black jewelry, because there is a very fine line between dark and sexy, and just plain creepy.  These black rose hair clips by Olini Floral take you up to the line without going over.  They are elegant and formal, with a vintage feel, and just a little bit off-beat.  They would be perfect for helping a cute dress "grow up" for a semi-formal, or for adding a dramatic flair to an outfit for school.  They are only $35.70 on Etsy at http://www.etsy.com/listing/78298410/15-off-ends-at-midnight-set-of-2-black?ref=sr_b1d4533cbf2a0192f3472b6a85b0ec2b0047a6d4ac168f0909dfe62ebae8ed36_1320591097_14099232_black_flower, plus you would be supporting an artisan accessory designer.  

Happy Shopping :) 

Cold Weather Clothing

It is no secret that I have a hard life. One of the most difficult things for me right now is living in the south of France for a semester; while my friends from home were able to start wearing sweaters back in September, and I have been forced to wear sundresses, little tank tops, and bathing suits all fall.  However, all summers eventually come to an end - even on the Mediterranean - and now I am exploring fall fashion in a serious way.  And because I am still a broke college student, and living in a country that uses the Euro (which has a deadly exchange rate against the U.S. dollar), I am turning to the discount American web sites we all know and love to stock my cold weather wardrobe.  Read on for my selection of affordable autumn clothing.

The Sweater:

Okay, I think that we have all bought something from the Victoria's Secret catalogue because it looked so pretty on the model, and then found that it was completely unwearable in real life.  This blue sweater with leather buckles is not one of those items; it covers enough to be warm and classy, it is long enough to prevent tragic gapping that can sometimes occur, and the leather on the bottom is totally adorable.  It also happens to be 49% off the the Victoria's Secret web site, so it is a good investment for winter.

The Coat: 

This is a Lafayette 148 New York wool short sleeved coat.  I became a fan of Lafayette 148 New York because of designs like this; it is chic and easy to wear at the same time.  Depending on wear you live, the short sleeves may or may not be a huge problem, but for a coat like this, I think it is worth shivering a little at the bus stop, because you will look fabulous.  This piece is 48% off at the saksfifthavenue web site, but unfortunately even with that discount it is still $470.99: so sad. 

The Boots:

Boots are a necessary item for winter because they keep the foot warm and dry from snow.  More importantly, these Mina high heeled boots by SM will make you taller, and give you a snow-bunny meets New York kind of feel that does not come along very often.  For the PETA fashionistas, please note that these boots were made with faux fur (real leather, but then you can't have everything) so no real snow bunnies were harmed to make you look great.  They are 41% off at DSW, so look for them there, and take on the snow with style.  

Enjoy the cold weather, everybody, and

Happy Shopping :) 

Have a Chic Thanksgiving

It is easy to be chic for just about every holiday with the exception of Thanksgiving.  For Christmas you can wear jewel tones and adorable winter hats, for the 4th of July you really only need a patriotic bikini and to starve yourself for a week, and Halloween offers no end to fashion-forward dress-up ideas if you are so inclined.  Unfortunately for us all, however, Thanksgiving is not exactly a vogue holiday.  The images that come to mind when one thinks of Thanksgiving are pilgrims...and turkeys. Hot. To make matters worse, it is a holiday that you celebrate by eating as much wholesome (fattening) food as your stomach can possibly hold.  Again, not something one would normally associate with fashion.  However, for those of us truly dedicated to fashion, it is possible to look good this Thanksgiving, with a few key elements.

The Dress: 

This babydoll sweater dress by French Connection serves two very important functions in Thanksgiving fashion: hide and distract.  The mercifully loose fit around the stomach hides any signs of gluttony, and will remain comfortable even after your second slice of apple pie (I am, of course, assuming that everybody eats as much as me every Thanksgiving). And of course, black is instantly slimming, and will forgive one night of indulgence.  Second, the dress is short enough to divert the eye straight to those legs - they won't be suffering from the consequences of turkey at least.  Get it at bluefly for 30% off, and feel as close to sexy as possible on a holiday of eating.  

The Tights:

If you follow my advice, you will be wearing a minidress in late November. Be reasonable: protect your legs from dry skin, and overall death with cute tights like this Anne Klein pair, $8.99 at kgstores.com  

The Scarf: 

It is time to break the homely color-scheme of Thanksgiving brown and burnt orange.  This hand-painted Moon Waves silk scarf by SilkScarvesColorado will add excitement to a black outfit, and will keep you from looking like a pilgrim - trust me, there are no fashionable pilgrims.  It's not a sale item, but Thanksgiving is a holiday of indulgence, right? And it is only $52.00 on Etsy, so this statement piece won't break your budget.  

The Shoes: 

One of the best parts about Thanksgiving is that it is a time to sit down and count your blessings, and sitting down means that you can wear completely unpractical shoes without killing your feet. These stiletto booties by Rosegold are so beautifully unpractical that it is like they were made specifically for Thanksgiving.  Plus, don't forget one key element of this outfit is distracting the eye from your stomach to your amazing legs.  For us mortals without natural born amazing legs, these boots will work wonder.  For the near future, they are 46% off at gilt.com.  

I know Thanksgiving is a couple of weeks away, but start shopping early to have your perfect holiday outfit prepared, and as always,

Happy Shopping :)