Welcome

Friday, April 13, 2012

The fashion show is over, but hopefully you were
inspired by what you saw!

We wanted to give you a little more “Springspiration” for this
season’s wardrobe, with 5 looks that are accessible, affordable, and on trend.
Each of these looks is complete with shoesand accessories,
but remember that these items can be used with many different
outfits so don’t let the total price tallies scare you off.
If you are working on smaller budget look for
some basic items and a statement piece or two with versatile accessories
that can dress up or dress down your look.
Check out some store-specific tips at the bottom!
Look 1
Every girl needs a simple weekender look and this fits the
bill for just over $90! Bright colors are all the rage right now,
so throw on a jade dress and grab a bright yellow
bag and you are good to go!
Look 2
Ringing in at $105, this works perfectly for a casual summer
day. Gold is making a comeback with these metallic earrings
and the espadrilles kick it up a notch!
Look 3
You’ve probably noticed the brightly colored skinny jeans
hanging on the rack in virtually every store these days. Don’t be shy, try on a pair!
These statement pieces are extremely versatile and can be dressed up or down
for any occasion. In this look, we’ve paired it with a whimsical
bird print blouse and nude pumps. Again we’ve added some gold accents,
and the orange shoulder bag pulls it all together.
The price tag on this one totals $165!

Look 4
As you saw in the last look, prints are in, and the bolder
the better. We’ve done this dress in two ways –
Add a little funk with cowboy boots and a thick brown belt,
or
Add a little spunk with some brightly colored flats, a
shimmery clutch and some peacock inspired jewelry.
Version one comes in at $113 and Version 2 is $101, but you
can snag both looks for $176.

Look 5
For an evening out with the girls, or a date night with your
man you need to get your glam on! A simple black pencil skirt is paired with
an on-trend peplum top and adorable pumps. The clutch brings out the color
of the tie on the waist and adding earrings and a ring with some bling class it
up! The final tally is $155.

If you are loving the looks but overwhelmed by the costs,
here are a few tips from a self-proclaimed cheapskate!
Target is a favorite of mine, and since I am already going
there for something most of the time, it’s easy to browse through
their racks if I’m in need of something.
Their clearance racks are pretty well organized and they have a mark down schedule.
Women’s Clothing on Tuesdays,
Health and Beauty items on Wednesdays
and Shoes on Thursdays,
so if you are watching a clearance item, keep this in mind!
Getting a Target Card can get you 5% off your purchase, but don’t go down that road
unless you have the discipline to pay off entire balance each month. http://www.mommysavers.com/2011/01/deals-at-target-clearance/
Kohl’s often has coupons in their ad for % off purchases.
These are coupons worth clipping! They also have “Kohl’s Cash”
in which you purchase items during an eligible period to earn “cash” that can
be used toward a purchase during a redemption period.
A Kohl’s card gives you access to extra discounts 12 times a year,
but it’s never a good choice if you carry a balance.

Old Navy is one of my favorite stores of all.
They also offer “Super Cash” which is the same idea as “Kohl’s Cash”.
By joining their mailing list, you receive many emailed coupons and alerts of store specials. Always take the time to complete their online survey,
it is worth the discount and helps them out as well.
Their clearance racks are a little overwhelming,
but if you can buck up and forage through it,
you can get some steals!
Also, if you sign up for an Old Navy card, you receive 10% off every Tuesday
and earn reward cash for every purchase!
Once again, do not sign up if you won’t be paying it off in full each month.
Happy shopping!

[Thanks to Sarah Homme and Sheena Collins for compiling and formatting these ideas!]