The Budget Fashionista

We’re already into August and the issues are sizzling here on TBF’s daily polls.  In case you missed them this week, here’s a recap of what you had to say:

~If you’ve opened a magazine lately (or saw Kim Catrall in the SATC movie), you might have noticed that the ‘80’s are back with a vengeance.  So, a ‘90’s comeback might not be too far behind, right?  Well, 37% of you said you hope not, but if they do, 30% said choker necklaces would definitely be back in style, while 15% gave their vote to chunky black loafers, 11% to big flannel shirts, 4% to baby backpacks, and 2% to light lipstick with dark liner.
~With everyone worried about the economy, you might be looking for ways to save on beauty products and certain non-traditional beauty tricks just might be your wallet’s saving grace, even if they’re a little strange.  37% of readers said they’ve used toothpaste as a zit cream, 16% have used lemon juice as a hair lightener, 14% have used sugar as a sweet exfoliant, 8% have used mayo to “bring out the best” in their locks, and 5% have used a little Preparation-H to get rid of under eye bags.  Although some of you ladies and even some celebs swear by one or more of these remedies, 16% of readers thought they were just a bit too odd and haven’t tried any of them.
~Fashion guru Kathryn Finney writes about it herself in our favorite book How to Be a Budget Fashionista, so we wondered if our readers put her tips about cost per wear to good use.  We’re pleased to say that 59% of our savvy shoppers do consider the cost per wear when making a pricier purchase, while 26% do not, and 13% had never thought of it before, but will definitely do it next time.
~When two friends both want the same it-bag or bit of bling, it can be a cost effective option to go in on the purchase together and “share custody” of one item.  But it clearly doesn’t work for everyone.  69% of readers said it’s definitely not an option for them, while 3% had tried it before and learned their lesson the hard way. 21% were open to the idea and 4% had done it before with great success.
~Moms aren’t always known for their impeccable style (we’ve all heard the term “mom jeans"), but we like to think that our readers haven’t let motherhood turn their wardrobe from “hot momma” to “matronly”.  Only 15% of readers said their look has suffered since becoming a busy mom on the go.  25% said they don’t have as much time as they’d like, but still make an effort to look great and another 12% said they’re still looking as good as before they had kids.  For those of us without little ones, we were evenly split on our future projections.  Half said they thought motherhood would change their style, but the other half were determined it wouldn’t.

Need a place to speak your mind?  Look no further than our daily polls, where you can voice your opinions all week long.  Then check in next week for the lowdown on all of the hot topics!