GUEST POST: DRESS TO THE NINES ON A DIME – A GUIDE FOR FRUGAL SHOPPERS

The fashion world is known for its high prices.  Scan the prices listed in any high fashion magazine and you might wonder if there is any hope for someone of average means to dress to impress.  Shopping for clothes can deplete your resources fairly quickly, so it’s important to have a few tricks up your sleeves like utilizing consumer-savings sites such as CouponCraving.com, especially for large retailers like Macy’s.  But what can you do to save money when it’s time to go shopping for clothes?  Give the following tips a try the next time you want to update your wardrobe.

  • Set a budget:  Marie Claire suggests, before you go shopping for the latest styles, set a realistic budget for what you can afford to spend.  Think about all aspects of your wardrobe that you might need to update, casual and formal wear, work attire, shoes.  Plan ahead how much you will spend on these items, or whether you actually need to spend anything.  Do your shoes really need updating yet?  Don’t forget to factor in your other expenses as well.  It wouldn’t do to forego paying your utilities in favor of that new pair of pants.  By having this in mind ahead of time, you will be less likely to splurge on something you can’t really afford.
  • Do It Yourself:  Often we look to celebrities for the latest in fashion.  But what they’re wearing are often the items we are least likely to be able to afford.  Instead, it’s a good idea to look at what you already have in your wardrobe for things that can be modified to mimic the latest styles.  InStyle gives three examples of celebrity looks that can be copied with what you already have in your closet; two suggestions for changing skirts, and one idea for adding decorative dots to a pair of flats.  With this tip you’ll spend much less money than if you actually went to a department store looking for something comparable to what you saw in the pages of a magazine.
  • Mix and Match:  If you do end up going shopping, as will likely happen at some point, there are many stores that offer quality clothes for reasonable prices.  Think of H&M and J Crew.  As GQ points out, it’s important to buy items that can work well with many different things in your closet.  Mixing and matching your new clothes will help you save money.  Avoid buying something that has only one match in your wardrobe.

Fashionable clothes always cost some money, but there are ways to avoid spending all your hard-earned cash on just a few items.  Make sure you follow these tips the next time you’re thinking of planning a trip to the mall.  You’ll be happy with what you’re wearing as well as with what you saved.

JESS THOMPSON

LEVI’S PRINT WORKSHOP!

This afternoon I went down to Levi’s Jeans store on Regent St to see what their Print Workshop #printlondon was all about. Now I don’t know if you know but I’m totally down for anything hands on creative, especially when it has anything to do with personalising/customising clothes or accessories, so as you can imagine I was super excited about this one.

There’s a full on screen printing and heat press in the Levi’s Flagship store until the 3rd August. The interactive project is a collaboration with renowned Graphic Artist Anthony Burril who came up with a series of London inspired slogans/quotes of six words or less to be printed on to tees in store; starting with today’s quote “WORDS HAVE POWER”. A selection of quotes and different colour tees are available to buy off the shelf in store, with an exclusive print being sold at the pop-up store in Box Park Shoreditch. However if you fancy getting hands on he’s passed the buck on to the members of the public to tweet London inspired slogans to @levis_uk including the hash tag #printlondon; as of tomorrow the public will be able to screen print chosen tweeted quotes. Levi’s have already tweeted tomorrows quote by @Kittus “LONDON HAPPENS HARDER” I want this so bad but its only available for one day! Get tweeting your quotes, you never know you might just see one walking down Oxford St!

Don’t forget to tweet your quote of 6 words or less to @levis_uk with the hash tag #printlondon, alternatively if you don’t have a twitter acount you can always pop into the store and leave your quote/s on the pin board.

COUTURE: CHRISTIAN DIOR AW 12

I’ve long been a fan of Christian Dior, its one of my favourite fashion houses to watch in awe. I was so pissed at John Galliano for what he did which led to his dismissal from Dior, I always looked forward to all of his collections. Well now I can get over it! Raf Simons delivered a wonderfully chic vision for the fashion houses AW12 Couture collection. He took elements from the New Look of 1947 65 years ago and made it newer for 2012! There were so many personal faves from this collection the tip of the iceberg are the orange and check strapless dress, the red T with full skirt, the red coat dress, the gold belts, the lack sleeveless coat dress, the strapless peplum tops, the…

What are your faves?

COUTURE: GIVENCHY AW 12

As always Riccardo Tisci’s latest collection for Givenchy Couture AW12 had me spiraling! Starting with Joan Smalls in a fully beaded fringe ombré top over metallic pants; followed by an intricate floor length fringe cape dress and another banger and another banger! The black and red beaded cape dress along with the black leather and velvet jumpsuit sent me over the top! I would gladly leave the couple of brown  and red with fur pieces but the rest – ugh come to momma! In my eyes The House of Givenchy can do no wrong!

COUTURE: VERSACE AW 12

Show me a piece of rose gold and I’ll be lusting over it for a while, Donatella’s first look for Versace Couture AW12 had me reeling! An A-line trench of ivory patent woven through rose gold chains; absolutely sexual! The collection was full of pastel hues, scarf prints, beaded dresses with slash detail. Personal favourites were the blush and gold toned dresses; particularly the shoulder less, sheer, beaded, dress cinched with a wide belt modelled by Karlie Kloss! If I could, I would!