The Budget Fashionista

figleaves.com - One of the biggest online lingerie stores in the UK now has a US based site and if you have a hard to fit bra size, this is the place to buy your bra!. They have a huge selection of designer undergarments, sleepwear, and swimwear from Dolce and Gabbana, La Perla, Chantelle, and more. They also have great online coupons and a huge selection of bras from sizes AA to JJ. Alternative Outfitters. Prior to discovering Alternative Outfitters, when …

I never knew how hard it was to find affordable, age appropriate clothing for children until I became an aunt.  It’s next to impossible to find a cute dress for a girl for under $50. Is it too much to ask to pay less for a boys suit than I pay for a suit for my husband? After 9 years as an aunt and now that I’m starting a family of my own, I’m a woman on a mission to find …

Dressy outfits
When you want to spend a little more on either a good suit or party dress, head to the outlets of the big expensive department stores, like Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Nordstrom. The outlets of these stores all have children departments, with designers like Betsey Johnson and Ralph Lauren for kids. Nordstrom has an amazing selection of shoes for little ones as well.

Avoid department stores that tend to price children’s clothing at the same price point as adults. There is no justification for a 4T Ralph Lauren Skirt to cost that same as an adult skirt. However, if you’re a department store shopper try stores like Macys, which offer great deals on children’s clothing during their major sale events, and SEARS, where the clothes are guaranteed to last thru at least one kickball season.

Saving grace - The internet
The Internet has revolutionized shopping for children. Long gone are the days of having to meander through stores with a screaming three-year-old. Put the kids to bed, grab a cup of chamomile tea and start to shop. Check out these great online stores:

GapKids- A wide selection of causal and dress clothes for girls and boys. Great clearance section.
Zappos.com- Great selection of shoes from designers like Bibi and Kenneth Cole.
Target.com - Cheap and Cool. A great combo.
Overstock.com - A wide selection and rock bottom prices. Great for coats.
Babystyle- Adorable clothing for babies and toddlers. Make sure to search Google for coupon codes before shopping at the store.

There were three things you HAD to have in your closet in order to be cool in the 80’s: a pair of acid wash jeans, an off the shoulder sweat shirt, and a closet full of leggings. Fortunately, the fashion gods spared us the return of acid wash jeans and let the more fashion friendly black leggings return.  Black leggings are not only incredibly comfortable, but offer a great covering options for those days when you don’t have the energy …

Gray is this fall’s MUST have color. Whether a heather gray jersey dress like the one above (at Old Navy) or a steel gray cashmere coat, everyone should try to incorporate a bit of gray into their closets. Here’s some tips on how you’ll wear it: Pair a gray dress with a pair of bright red, pink, or blue stockings for retro 80s look (try Target’s Xhilaration line of stockings) Wear a gray suit with this fall’s hot new shoe, …

Here’s some of my top picks for early fall from one of my top budget shopping spots Old Navy. Wide Woven Leather Belt—Black, $24.50 Women’s Sleeveless Sweater Tunics, $29.50 Women’s Special Edition Skinny Jeans, $36.50 Women’s Sparkle-Trim Suede Flats, $19.50 Women’s Resin Bangles, $7.50 fashion advice fashion trends shoes fashion shopping weblog budget fashionista Clothing Fashion Expert budgetfashionista retro

QI have to wear flat shoes for health reasons and I’m also on a budget. I feel like I spend days or weeks looking for fashionable, non-frumpy flat shoes which I can afford. What are some good sources for flat shoes on a budget? Target.com Zappos.com

A I’m a big fan of flat shoes and wear them on a daily basis because I do so much walking (New York is such a pedestrian city). Here’s some of my favorite places to score flats for a reasonable price:

Baker Shoes— This mall base store is a great place for trendy flats under $40. Never, ever pay more than $40 for a pair of flats from Bakers because several of their shoes are manufactered by the same folks who make shoes for Payless. Sometimes, you can even find similar styles at the both stores.

Aerosoles—In store, Aerosoles can tend to skew a bit grandma like—but online the store has a wider selection of stylish flats.

Old Navy—Old Navy has a solid selection of ballerina flats in leather and other types of materials for well under $20.00. The shoes won’t last you about 10, maybe 15 wears, and then you’ll have to throw them away. However, from a cost per wear standpoint, the shoes are only $1.50 to $2 per wear. A solid value

Urban Outfitters—Almost always has a few very trendy flats, usually well under $40/ most under $30. Be aware that many of the shoes sold at Urban Outfitters aren’t leather.

Steve Madden—Huge selection of stylish flat shoes in a ton of different colors from patten leather with pilgrim buckles to your basic ballerina flats in cheetah prints. Prices tend range from $29.99 to $89.99. If you see a style you like that tends to fall on the higher end of the price range, wait a week or two—they almost always go on sale.

Barefoot Tess—Great online based store with a HUGE selection of flats from folks like Jeffrey Campbell and Delmans. Most flats are around the $50 to $60 range.

Bluefly.com—Sometimes you can find a deal or two on designer flats from Kate Spade, Delman, Christian Louboutin, etc. Not exactly cheap, but definitely cheaper than retail.

Nine West- Another mall based store with a solid website. I actually think the website is better than the store. Every year, it seems like things get pricier and pricier. However, it’s definitely worth taking a peek at the store.

and Zappos.com, of course.

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Fueled by a recent down turn in sales, Old Navy is getting both a new head and a new outlook on style. According to the San Francisco Business Times, the store is planning to go back to its style for less roots. Now, I’ve shopped at Old Navy since the beginning and I remember it always focused on the basics—head into an Old Navy anywhere in the country and you know you can find a pair of jeans for $29 and …

Dear Budget Fashionista, It seems like department stores target two types of shoppers—Lindsay Lohan wannabes and little old Ladies. How can I, a mom in her late 30’s, continue to look hot without looking like a teen pop star or my grandma? Help, Hot Mama Target.com SmartBargains.com

Dear Hot Mama,

Is there a happy medium between a teen that wears many different trends all at once and an unfashionable retiree who might not wear any trends? You betcha.

The key to looking relevant, but not too young, is to always pair a trend with a basic and to only wear one trend at a time. For example, a pair skinny leg jeans with this summer’s tunic, gauchos with a basic tee or fitted blazer, red wide belt with a basic black dress, animal printed tank with a basic black suit. Feel free to try some of this season’s other top trends.  For example, wrap dresses continue to reign supreme and is something that is both in fashion and easy to wear. Add a fabulous necklace, a pair of this season’s platform shoes for support, and a pair of Assets by Spanx (at Target Stores) for a dressier look or pair the dress up with a pair of black leggings and ballerina flats. This fall skirts, pair up a knee length pencil skirt from Isaac Mizrahi at Target with a graphic t-shirt from Old Navy and pair of black microsuede knee high boots from Isaac Mizrahi at Target—again mixing a classic piece (wrap dresses, pencil skirts) with trendy pieces (platform shoes and graphic t-shirt).

Once you get the kids in bed, go online and browse to stores like Nordstrom, Coco-Delilahs, Gap, and Smart Bargains for great up to date finds that are grandma-free and affordable. For single hip pieces check out Asos.com, Bluefly.com and Old Navy.com.  Last but not least, find a great tailor who can tailor your clothes to give it that finishing touch.

Happy Shopping,

The Budget Fashionista

Dear Budget Fashionista, Could you post a topic on the newsletter about suggestions for a long weekend travel wardrobe?  I seem to run into the same problem every time I prepare for vacation—how to pack to look chic, but also be comfortable. I tend to do a lot of walking while on vacation. I want to look chic, which is difficult to do when you are hobbling around because your feet are killing you. Please help—I’m heading to Paris in a …

Bridging dressy and casual can go horribly horribly wrong, but this look from Eva Longoria Parker hits just the right note for a summer evening event that’s not too serious, but not a cotton sundress occasion either. Oh, and it’s super sexy without showing a ridiculous amount of skin. Want it? You can have it without that Desperate Housewives salary or a basketball star husband (though either would be nice, right?). Our picks: Executive Pencil Skirt, $24.80, Forever21.com Plus size …

What: Not ready to get back to black? Navy is another great neutral that’s not too heavy for the hottest part of summer . . . The Lowdown: Black will be hot this fall, but it’s still, well, hot, so summer is by no means over. An alternative neutral? We’re all about the navy—it’s summery (think nautical), classic, and easy to match. No, really—pair it with other neutrals (white, khaki, gray) or muted metallics (which are, of course, the new …

Katie Holmes’ new short ‘do has captured all the media attention lately (and it is pretty darn cute) but we’re still sort of increasingly enamoured with her style—she seems to always hit the right balance of ease and chic. This look caught our attention mostly for the high-waisted wide-leg pant, which takes the jeans-and-t-shirt combo to the next level. We’ve put some budget pieces together so you can look this good running around town, but one note: finding a navy …

Katie Holmes image courtesy of People.com

As August starts to wind down, thoughts turn to fall . . . and fall fashion. While we’re always anxious to jump into the season’s latest look, there’s the pesky matter of weather to contend with—and while the calendar may say it’s fall, there’s that in between time—when the mornings are brisk but by noon the mercury’s hit a sticky 80 degrees—that is soooooo very challenging to dress for. Of course, any fashionista worth her salt knows that layering is the …

What: Drapey, open front cardigans as an alternative to the jacket or traditional cardigan What We Say: Because it’s feminine and interesting, we like it—however, we have some reservations. 1. Too much draping could add a whole lot of bulk where you don’t want it. 2. All that extra fabric in front could get in the way if you are, say, doing anything other than posing for a catalogue photo shoot. We wouldn’t recommend cooking in it . . . 3. …