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by ammophotog
Every Fall, I voraciously inhale stacks of fashion magazines, like most people consume Thanksgiving dinner! There are so many fun and fascinating styles emerging on the fashion scene this season! Lately, however, I’ve been changing the way I shop and view fashion – moving away from loading-up on seasonal trendy pieces, and choosing instead to invest in long-lasting, well-made classics that (hopefully) won’t wear out before I grow tired of them. It’s a mental shift in how I utilize my budget, and has been an interesting learning curve…
Recently, instead of buying a bunch of new fall outfits, I saved up & splurged my entire budget on one amazing Coach handbag, the Borough (see photo, above!). I fell in love with its clean, classic lines, hand-stitched workmanship, and luxurious materials. This, I decided, is my first big “investment piece.” I intend to get much bang for my buck from this bag, because of how many times I will use it, year after year! This classic style won’t go out of fashion, anytime soon.
But then I spotted this dress “Etienne” dress at Anthropologie, and fell in love! Sigh, I’m not going to spend $178, even though it’s oh-so-lovely; my budget is tapped out!
Some time later, I received an email from online shopping site Pink Blush, offering to let me try some of their fun clothes & accessories to highlight on my blog. Lo and behold, I found this Navy Blue Mesh Striped Dress, for only $37! Looks pretty similar to the Anthropologie dress, doesn’t it??
I added a glitzy necklace for $11, a unique bracelet for $13, and $27 Chinese Laundry shoes from Ross, and I’m all set for a fashionable business meeting downtown. My swing coat is vintage from a local thrift store; I paid around $10 for it, seriously!
Put everything together, and my entire look is LESS THAN $100, apart from my Borough bag!!!
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The key to looking luxe for less is in the details. Focus on investing in statement pieces that people will notice; quality shoes, iconic handbags, and stand-out coats are a great place to start! And if you ARE going to buy inexpensive clothes and jewelry, look for materials and craftsmanship that LOOK more expensive than they really are. This is called mixing high and low… And it’s brilliant, because not all of us can afford to wear head-to-toe designer brands every day, like Kim Kardashian.
Do you have a favorite “bargain” treasure shopping find? Tell me about it in the contest below!
One lucky person will be drawn at random to receive a $25 gift card to Pink Blush, where a little can go a long way.
Good luck!!!
XOXO,
Style Spy Girl 
Great pics! Very useful information. The Borough bag is beautiful and definitely makes a statement.
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Thank you, Christina! I adore my Borough bag – it’s my everyday tote now. It goes with everything, and always looks classy!
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Really hard to pinpoint my favorite bargain find coz I got a lot. Although there’s 1 that stands out… it’s ann taylor loft brocade dress that I saw on clearance for $14.99 & when they rang it it actually was $4.99. How crazy was that?? I’ve always been a bargain hunter, 80% of my wardrobe is probably thrifted. I’ve got a lot of j crew, loft, anthropologie, urban outfitters in my wardrobe that I mainly look for at either consignment stores or thriftstores. It just feels good to find those gems next to nothing.
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That’s so cool, Marren! Don’t you love the thrill of treasure hunting? 🙂
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I have a shopping “issue” some people call it. I’ve been able to take an entire extra room in my house and convert it to my dressing room 🙂 with that stated, everyone always assumes I’ve spent a TON on my wardrobe, when in all reality, I only spend a bit on shoes and purses (for the reasons you’ve listed above). Everything else I’ve spent anywhere between $3.00 to $25-ish on, with the exception of a few pieces I’ve fell in love with. My secret is to shop ahead. What that means for me, since I really enjoy shopping, is wait till the season ends, THEN hit the clearance racks only for the items that I will wear next season. I almost always find key pieces that are classic and will last (for season after season) for 70-90% off!!! The hard part is waiting to wear them until the next year, but the savings alone is well worth the wait! When the season turns, I have new stuff and get to feel that excitement of when I first bought it, all over again 🙂
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Brilliant strategy, Lindsay! I love it!! One of my favorite pairs of boots are classic brown Nine Wests, that I bought off-season at Macy’s. They ended up being less than $30, despite originally costing around $150! The key in those purchases is finding things that aren’t trendy, as you know, and will still be stand-out fashion pieces for years to come. 🙂
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We sound exactly alike! Like right now at Macys they have tons of $6.99 items. I picked up some cute American Rag, Roxy, and Jessica Simpson dresses that I can pair with boots and a sweater for Fall. I love this time of year
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I love Coach but only if I find a good deal on them. Today at Again Consignment in Eagle I got a Coach iPad case and a Coach wallet for around $50 total for both! They had just gone 1/2 off and I sped over there. I also got a pair of Michael Kors boots at Ross last week for $49 on clearance. I had been eyeing them and snapped them up once they were marked down. I love to browse and I find that helps you find good deals. you just have to be patient
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As they say, it’s all in the details! You definitely got a steal with the Pink Blush dress – who would’ve guessed? Your heels and bag make great accessories, and then that dreamy vintage coat adds all the class you need. Love how you mixed high and low pieces, and your tips! I’m inspired now 🙂
The Dragonfruit Diaries
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Thank you so much for your sweet comment, Linda! Love your blog too – super cool!!
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first image is amazing!!! it make me crazy!
Chiara
♡EFFENSHION
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