personal style | playing in the rain

if you want to get me out of my blogging uniform (high-water sweat pants & oversized t-shirt) - invite me to happy hour. i'll drop everything for good cheap sushi and $3 margaritas!

central Texas weather is bipolar. moody. confused. it was the second Saturday in March and temperatures didn't get above 55. and it rained. all day. my friend Chris and i had planned to spend the day together weeks earlier and we weren't gonna let the dreary conditions stop us.

i don't like wearing bulky, heavy stuff so this denim jacket from New York & Co is my winter coat equivalent. the black long-sleeve crew neck tee is from WalMart and the cargos are from Rue 21 about a year ago. i've gotten more than my $3 worth out of them. not quite sure why, but Target put the polk-a-dot scarf on clearance for $3 back in November, regularly $12.99.

this was my first time wearing this combination and i like how it looks. didn't require much stretching of the creativity muscle, but it works for me. although a colorful scarf would've 'brightened' it up a bit. what do you think?!

money-saving style | head-to-toe for less than $40

are you ready to see me put together an entire new outfit for less than $100? 

what about for less than $50?

well...the wait is finally over.

buying individual pieces at rock-bottom prices is always fun, but the real rush comes from combining them into a brand spankin' new outfit from top to bottom. and when i say bottom - i mean the very bottom. as in new shoes too!

floral button down | $2

trouser jeans | $9.99

shoes | $17.99

TOTAL = $29.98

yes. it can be done. no thrifting required. 

and did you see how my floral top has the same exact high-low hem as the more expensive similar one?!

i put this on strictly for the purposes of taking pictures for the blog. so where would i go in this outfit?

• a daytime networking event
• an evening mixer
• lunch meeting

separately, the top and jeans can be combined with so many other pieces to create a variety of different looks appropriate for any occasion. 

i'm looking forward to getting alot of wear out of these. 

next time you're out shopping, try to find an outfit for less than $50. think you can do it?!

money-saving style | comfortable wedges

wedges were on my spring/summer wish list. i didn't have any color preference, but knew i wanted neutrals that would go with everything. 

after buying a super high cork heeled pair, i saw these:

the only thing left on my wish list is colored skinny jeans. i'm seriously thinking about crossing those out and penciling in colorful purse. something i'm sure to put to good use. 

the gold accents and two-toned wedge drew me in. they're the same olive grey kinda color as the cargos i'm wearing, but you can't really tell in the photo (fyi: the goal here isn't to become a pro photog - the main focus is always on the savings).

the $20 shoe rule applied and they were a steal for $17.99. 

the thing about shopping at Ross is the stuff you see today may not be there tomorrow. i had to make a split decision to exchange the ones i bought a few days earlier. i'm glad i did!

money-saving style tip: hold on to your receipt until the date you can no longer make returns/exchanges in case you stumble across something else you like better.

money-saving style | large clutch

this is the second installment in the Top 10 Bag Trends for Spring/Summer 2012. i've got three more to share with you and i haven't stepped foot inside a store. don't you love it when that happens?!

i'm pretty good about knowing where i got certain things, but if i bought it a while ago i don't always remember how much i paid for it. some stuff stays in my memory bank more than others. 

large clutches landed on the Top 10 list at number 2. this roomy red patent one (or faux patent...who knows) came from Express about five years ago while on a day-trip to San Antonio. i'm gonna take a guess and say i paid somewhere in the $9.99 range for it. don't quote me on that, i'm just estimating based on my typical threshold for similar items. 

if i were to see this clutch today - i wouldn't pay over $10 for it. looks expensive doesn't it?

the inside is lined with zebra print. i didn't notice until i went through the pocket to see if maybe the price tag was still in it. stop looking confused. i've carried this purse before, but it's not uncommon for me to hold on to price tags for future reference. so when someone asks, "where'd you get that from?!", i can go on and on and on with the whole story...

remind me to photograph the inside of it when i put it together with a complete outfit. don't forget.

Express.com has purses starting at $16 and they go up from there. the most expensive clutch is $80.

and even at eighty bucks, that's still a helluva lot cheaper than this designer envelope-style:

$475 | image courtesy of ysl.com

if your price range is more aligned with mine, head over to Forever 21.

$12.80 | image courtesy of forever21.com

this one will set you back less than $15. you can get the complete product description here.

in case you missed it, this is the first trend i showed you.


have you shopped your closet to see how many handbag trends you already have?!

money-saving style | trouser jeans

after a distressed pair, a dark wash trouser jean is my second favorite. i got my first ones at New York & Co a few years ago on clearance and i've worn the hell out of them since then. they used to be black and now they're a shade you might call overwashed and hanging on by a thin greyish thread.

in my opinion, every woman should own at least one pair. these are from Rue 21. i told you not to discredit stores that cater to juniors and this steal is a prime example of why you shouldn't. 

i saved over 60%, so that makes buying these a no-brainer. they were regularly $26.99 and i found them hanging out in the back of the store on clearance for $9.99. 

a wardrobe essential for about the price of two lattes. can't beat it. 

a number of fashion bloggers have styled a look with trouser jeans. they're usually from Gap and cost at least  $70 - seven times as much as mine. 

right now you can pick up a pair online from eddie bauer for $29.99. 

if you spot some cheaper, please tell us where you got them!

personal style | repurposing transitional pieces

i shared with you how i shop and the need to have clothes that transition from one season to another.

here's an example:

top look: i wore this outfit in January to a Saturday happy hour with my friend Monica. and yes - it's really warm enough here to leave the house in something as lightweight as this cardigan and not freeze to death. it's from Ross and i probably paid around $7.99 - $9.99 for it last winter. it comes in handy this time of year when the days get warmer, but the nights are still cool. as soon as the weather drops below 70°, women start pulling out their boots! you never know how long the "cold spell" will last, so you gotta make sure you take advantage of it. the ones i'm wearing are from Nine West...bought in 2000.  one of the reasons i love their shoes is because they last forever. 

bottom look: this is something i'd wear to happy hour again when it's warm enough for my arms and feet to be exposed. now that i think about it, i actually wore this to the movies with my sister, but with big colorful earrings and no necklace. 

the $5 white tee is from Forever 21 and the jeans are my favorite pair from New York & Co. a few years ago, plum was the must-have color and i got the purse from Ross. 

you will definitely see all of the above again!

do you tend to dress more up or down when hanging out on the weekend?!

personal style | how to shop

1. if you ever want to come to grips with the amount of stuff you have - blog about it.

2. when tempted to buy new stuff - see #1!

here's the good part about it though: rarely do i ever go out and buy something for a specific event. you won't find me running around a store at the last minute saying, "i'm going to a _____ and i need something to wear!"

photo credit: Emerald2810

in a nutshell, this is how i approach shopping:

• buy individual pieces instead of complete outfits. look for things that can be mixed and matched with other pieces you already have. 
• take inventory of what you don't have. for example, most of my costume cocktail rings are made of metals...only a couple have color. next time i'm in Forever 21, i'll look for a red ring to add to my collection.
• buy transitional garments. you can't really distinguish one season from another here in central Texas, so it's important for me to have things that can be worn in July and January. a strapless dress and lightweight cardigan/jacket can make an appearance in both months.
• experiment with trends conservatively. if you aren't into neon skinny jeans or color blocked pumps - don't buy them. you can opt for a timeless bright colored top or a figure-flattering color blocked dress. neither will go out of style.
• purge often. some people clean out their closets annually. i go through mine a few times a year. i think it's better to have fewer pieces that you wear often instead of tons of stuff just taking up space.
• avoid high maintenance duds. i found three "on trend" things in my to-be-dry-cleaned-hopefully-soon basket. i no longer needed to be on the lookout for something polk-a-dot. buy things that can go in the wash. throwing them in the dry clean pile means "out of sight out of mind".
• make a wish list. just like you shouldn't head to the grocery store hungry without a list - the same rule applies when shopping for clothes. i make a list of three new things i want, how much i'm willing to spend for each, and then i look for those things. wedges, a floppy hat, and colored skinny jeans are on my spring/summer list. i'm happy to report i already found the wedges and floppy hat!
• always carry a calculator (i prefer my old fashioned one vs. the one on my Android). math has never been my strongest subject and i want to track every penny i'm spending - after tax and including discounts! give yourself a predetermined CASH spending limit and stick to it. 

what's your strategy for shopping?

money-saving style | chain handle purse

what do you call a recovering mild-to-moderate impulse buying purse junkie?!

you call her Me. hi. my name is Donna. and i covet purses.

you might refer to em as handbags (i can't..sounds way too formal). to me - they're purses. i honestly don't think i could ever have too many. according to my wants - not my needs.

since starting this personal style blog, i've been paying attention to trends. not a whole lot, but just enough to see what practical stuff is showing up in Fashionland that regular women like us can relate to. i came across a list of Top 10 Bag Trends for Spring/Summer 2012 and then headed to my closet to see how many i already own. 

this white chain handle purse has been in my closet since the day i bought it. in 2008. i got it because "i had to have it" for my trip to Florida. after coming to SOME of my senses, i realized i didn't want to get it dirty going through airport security. nor did i want it to crumple and loose its shape packed away in my luggage.

well guess what?! it still got dirty (like permanent dye stain dirty) just from sitting in the damn closet.

something on the closet shelf rubbed against something else which rubbed onto the purse. this is the second white purse to fall victim to the mystery dye. the first one was totally ruined and tossed in the trash. thank you purse gods for limiting the damage to only one side. the non-photographed side.

as such, i'm throwing this baby on my arm with the ugly part facing inward and i'm keepin' it movin'!

i refuse to let my $16.99 find from Marshalls go to waste. can you blame me?!

in true discount thief style, here are a couple that cost twenty times as much as mine:

$360 | image courtesy of reissonline.com 

$468 | image courtesy of saksfifthavenue.com

money-saving style tip: no matter how inexpensive an item may be, if it's not practical, put it down and walk away. impulse buying can lead to shopping addiction.

i'm NEVER buying another white purse as long as i live. 

how do you resist the urge to splurge??

money-saving style | taupe platforms

i'm the kind of girl who would pick animal print flats and bedazzled flip-flops over heels any day. unfortunately, you can't wear either everywhere or with everything. trying to convince that to other people who live here is a whole'nother story. 

the place i call home is one of the 40 Worst-Dressed Cities in America, so it doesn't take much to raise the style bar.

on any given day, the most expensive thing i'm wearing is shoes.

and i have a rule when it comes to buying them: if you see a pair for $20 or less - scoop em up!

turns out, Carlos Santana, the man who plays guitar and owns a chain of restaurants called Maria Maria (there's one here and the food is delicious!), also has a thing for shoes. i admire his talent, but love the foot candy bearing his name even more. 

my first pair of shoes made by him was a pair of platinum strappy sandals. i saw them at Nordstrom...oh, back in 2006 probably...and had to have them. for less than the $80 retail price, of course. i hopped on eBay and scored a brand new pair for $35 (yes - after all these years, i still remember the details).

the one pictured above is the Destiny 3. they're on Carlos Santana's site for $79.19, originally $98.99.

i got mine on clearance at Ross for $17.99, originally $27.99. 

it was the last pair and they had a few minor scuff marks so the store manager gave me an additional 10% off the $19.99 clearance price. 

i never met a Ross i didn't like. i don't understand why more women won't give this store a try. 

the best time to go is weekday mornings. i already know what you're going to say. "i work....i CAN'T go at that time!". then plan to be there Saturday morning when the doors open. if you're a Ross virgin, stay away - i repeat -STAY AWAY on weekend evenings. it can get crowded and overwhelming. 

i did some digging and found the Destiny 3 on Amazon for $59.99 - $99.95. you can find a similar pair at Target for $29.99.

image courtesy of Amazon.com

                                 

are you more comfortable wearing heels all the time? what's your favorite place to shop for shoes?

money-saving style | where to shop

my formula for clothes shopping is pretty simple - alot of discounts and no high-end labels.

as i lurk around the existing fashion blog landscape, i have to admit i've never heard of the majority of designers they feature. i know Salvatore Ferragamo (not personally, but you know what i mean) because someday i'll buy one of his purses. and i'll compliment it with a classic outfit by Elie Tahari.

but until then, when someone asks the question, "So who are you wearing?!" - my answer is SALE!

photo credit: antwerpenR

here's a quick breakdown of the places i frequently shop and the items i buy from each:

ROSS | my one-stop shop for tops, summer dresses, purses, and shoes. if you're into "mainstream" brands like Nine West, Guess, and Ralph Lauren - you can always find them here. they even separate the more expensive stuff and put them on racks labeled "designer brands" or something like that. and yes, it's the real thing. i've bought tops for as little as $5.99, dresses for $12.99, and quality purses and shoes for around $29.99+.

BODY CENTRAL | carries the best selection of earrings, bangles, dresses, and tops. and if you spot a trend you want to try, but don't want to go broke in the process - they've got you covered. i found this store in 2008 while at a speaking engagement in Melbourne, FL. my first time ever in that city and it took me all of 10 minutes to locate the nearest mall. i joined their mailing list and ordered from the catalog until a store opened locally. with everything from maxis to floppy hats to cropped denim jackets, you can create a stylish look with pieces priced under $40.

FOREVER 21 | i've never seen so many accessories in one place in my life. seriously. rarely do i make it past the front of the store. just about all of my rings come from here and the most i've spent on one is $7. same goes for earrings and necklaces. i have quite an impressive stash thanks to F21.

NEW YORK & CO | also known as NY&C. this is the ideal place to shop if you want to build an affordable professional and/or business casual wardrobe. when i was confined to wearing "office attire", this was my go-to place. get on their email list to receive coupons (like $30 off a $70 purchase kinda coupons!). they frequently advertise BOGO (buy-one-get-one) promotions too.

T.J. MAXX & MARSHALLS | i grouped these two together because they're sister stores. the single most thing i love about both is lay-away! that's right. they still offer it. if i see something that's a bit pricier than what i'd normally spend, i can put a small down payment on it and pay the balance over 30 days. aside from that, TJX Companies, Inc. is the leading off-price retailer of fashions in the U.S. you can find a large assortment of brand name merchandise for up to 60% less than department stores. read this to find out how they do it. 

one of the biggest misconceptions i hear about discount stores is that they're stocked with irregular clothes. not true at all. don't get me wrong, i've stumbled across a few items with bad stitching, but that's not the case for all merchandise. it's merely a one-off situation just like you'd find at any other store.  

it's a challenge to find pants and jeans to flatter and accommodate my wide hips. once my spending plan allows for it, i'm investing in a "good" pair (it's on my vision board so it has to come to fruition). i'm not spending over $100 for them either - no matter how good  i may look from behind!

money-saving style tip: if you see a BOGO promotion and don't need two of the same things, call a friend to go in on the deal with you. when NY&Co has a BOGO sale on jeans, i get a pair and my friend Michelle gets a pair. the lesser pair is free and we split the cost of the other pair. make sense?!

what's your favorite shopping destination? 

money-saving style | denim alternative

the girl and i were hanging out one day over in the central part of town at a retail and residential complex called The Triangle. the plan was to have dinner at an Italian deli and then window shop. well, we only window shopped because i forgot the gift card to the restaurant at home. 

we left there and headed down the way to a strip mall. i'd seen a tv commercial for Francesca's and wanted to check it out since we were close by. 

we were greeted outside the front of the store by a sidewalk sale clearance rack. my heart started racing as i thumbed through a few pieces and saw tags marked $9.98. somehow, i completely missed the big ol' sign on the end that read, "TAKE AN ADDITIONAL 50% OFF". 

heaven. i had arrived in heaven!

it didn't take me long to find these:

image courtesy of francescascollections.com

i'm sure Tim Gunn and Stacy London would tell me to stay as far away from skinny cargos as possible. per the experts, girls with curves shouldn't wear pants with pockets like these. whatever. that's what i like about personal style. you have the freedom to do what you want without being confined to rigid fashion rules.

these olive gray Vigoss cargos were regularly $48. the first markdown lowered them to $34.98. by the time they found me, they were $9.98. i made them mine for $4.99 (thanks to the additional 50% off!). 

celebs are paying as much as $230 for theirs. i'm sorry. but i'd rather not wear my electricity bill.

the outfit possibilities are endless too. jazz em up with a sheer feminine top and platforms like the picture above or throw on a tee and cardigan with your favorite animal print flats. create your own unique look to reflect your individual style. 

if you're looking for a comfortable alternative to denim, look no further. you're in luck because Amazon has a similar style available for less than $11.

money-saving style tip: women's jeans sizes in the U.S. are different from European sizes. save yourself the hassle of a return by making a quick trip to the fitting room.