Advice
Rollasoles Remedy High Heel Pain
What: The excruciating pain from walking home in heels after a late night out might finally be a thing of the past. Or at least that’s the hope of a new UK shoe company called Rollasole, which has produced a rolled-up ballet flat sold in vending machines at bars across England for just $8. The shoes aren’t for sales in the States just yet, but the company’s founder says he plans to start stocking the flats in Los Angeles nightclubs sometime in September.
What They Say:
“He [Rollasole founder Matt Horan] came up with the idea after one too many nights out which finished with him giving his girlfriend a piggyback home to save her soles.”
What We Say: We’re fans of anything that promises to save our feet from pain, and the $8 price tag makes Rollasoles an even better deal. The shoes themselves don’t look too bad either, although we can’t help but wonder: Would you wear shoes that came out of a vending machine?
Dailymakeover.com Offers Fun Virtual Makeover Tool, Beauty Tips and News
Everyone loves a fully stocked resource: get everything you need, all at once! Dailymakeover.com wants to be your “one-stop-shop” for everything beauty related: find beauty tips and tutorials, beauty related news, product reviews, a “makeover” community and tons of interactive virtual make-over content. Their tagline, “Refresh, Reinvenet, Repeat!” and even the website’s name Daily Makeover, underscores how much they want users to come back over, and over, and over again… and often. While they do have a lot of stuff, all of which is fun to browse through and frequently updated, Dailymakeover.com is not necessarily the best website for actual research.
The Makeover Studio: The virtual makeover tool is fairly new, and offers hundreds of different hairstyles, cosmetics and accessories to try on your uploaded photo. Full access to thousands of choices, however, requires a rather pricey membership of $14.95 for three months. Plenty of other websites offer free virtual makeover tools as well, though many of them use dated technology and styles that are no longer on trend. (Taaz, InStyle, Beauty Riot, for example.) The Community Makeover section showcases the latest and most popular versions of user virtual makeovers. Some of the most well received makeovers have nearly 11,000 views and 300 ratings.
The Celebrity Hairstyles: Dailymakeover.com is the brainchild of Rachel Hayes, former beauty editor of Cosmopolitan. She’s big on hair! And it shows - the Celebrity Hairstyle section is huge. Find hairstyles by event (Date Night Looks, Fashion Week styles,) mood (Emo,) and even face shape (Square Face Shape.) And, of course, by celebrity (Ellen Degeneres): thousands of celebrity hairstyles are sorted alphabetically by name (for example, Victoria Prat), accompanied by a style description (“curly flurry”) and helpful key styling tips: “light application of styling spray” and “large hot rollers.” Lastly, each hairstyle offers a “try it on now,” button; click it to instantly jump to the makeover studio program.
The Beauty Tips: Though there are hundreds of beauty styling tips (”How to Make Your Eyes Pop” and “Night Cream for Sensitive Skin” for example,) most are very short. These articles really are just tips; not full tutorials. Keep in mind: you can sort by views or overall rating and number of comments, as a shortcut to get to the most popular (and therefore often best) articles first.
The Product Reviews: The product reviews section is still growing. Many other websites have older, more established and much larger databases with user generated product reviews. (For example: Amazon, Drugstore.com, Makeupalley.com, Beauty Product Reviews.)
The Verdict: Sure, for browsing. Dailymakeover.com offers fun tools and loads of tips and new ideas for experimenting with your look. Fortunately, Dailymakeover.com is well organized and manages a tricky balance between professional and user generated content; there are enough staff created content that sounds authoritative and expert, while constant updates by users themselves provides endless pages of new stuff to look through. On the flip side, Dailymakeover.com is still growing, and lacks full tutorials and a larger database of product reviews.
Kathryn’s Five Greatest Posts: The Budget Fashionista 5th Anniversary
As TBF continues to count down to it’s big fifth annivesary celebration, we’re rounding up some of our top five favorites from the site. Today? Kathryn’s Five Greatest Posts—some of her best advice and commentary all in one place. Have a favorite TBF post of your own? Tell us in the comments!
5. The Perfect Ten: Ten Things That Should Be In Every Woman’s Closet. A must-read for any fashionable woman, budget or otherwise.
4. Fashion Advice: Updating Your Wardrobe for a New Career. Whether your starting a new career or just need to take it to the next level, this advice will help you get where you’re going.
3. Who is The Budget Fashionista? Surprising answers to our most burning question . . .
2. My Thoughts on the Oscars: Stop Dressing Jennifer Hudson Like a Fat Girl and Someone Get Little Miss Um, what would TBF be without just a little snarky commentary? The Oscars, of course, is open season.
1. How The Budget Fashionista Got Out of Debt And fashion aside, this is what it’s all about.
Personal Finance Advice: If It’s On Credit It’s No Deal
How many times have you stumbled across a massive clearance or enticing sale at your favorite store right around the time when you ran out of money until the next payday? If you are like most people, chances are when this occurs your first instinct might be to grab your credit card and start charging. After all, you don’t want to miss the deals the store is offering. 80% off on clothing? Who in their right mind would pass up a deal like that?
If you don’t have the money in your wallet or in your bank account then you should be the type of person to pass on a deal like this. It doesn’t matter if you’re favorite brand of jeans winds up on the clearance rack and the store wants to eliminate the stock pronto. If you’re trying to get your finances in order and get out of debt then you need to avoid situations where you whip out your credit card.
Yes, that includes situations when a great deal is staring you in the face.
Think about what happens when you use your credit card to buy something, even if it’s on a fantastic clearance:
1. You buy your item on a credit card, fully intending on paying the balance off once you get paid. You congratulate yourself for finding such a great deal.
2. If your credit card had a zero balance before the purchase of the clearance item, you are now psychologically equipped to make more purchases on the credit card because of the small balance. You start charging more purchases, still sure that you’ll pay it off when the statement comes.
3. The statement comes, and you’re shocked and bewildered by the balance. You know that you bought a few things, but weren’t they all on clearance?
4. You’re unable to pay the balance in full, and now that you’re despondent over the whole situation you send in the minimum balance and go spend some more money on your credit card.
5. You eventually wind up paying more money in credit card interest charges on your clearance purchase than if you had bought it for full price with cash.
This isn’t an absolute outcome for everyone, but it’s quite a common scenario. You may have the noblest intentions of paying off the credit card purchases once the statement comes, but all too often it turns into something bad. If you don’t have the cash to buy it, don’t buy it. Even if the clearance rack is chock full of fabulous clothes in your size you should first think about the financial repercussions of charging up a credit card that you are desperately trying to pay off (or keep paid off).
Don’t let the lure of a good sale keep you from your financial goals.
Get a Lower Interest Rate: Personal Finance
If you have credit cards, chances are you’re paying interest on the balances you carry. Unless your wallet is packed with cards that are still in the introductory period of no interest, odds are also good that you might be paying too much for interest. After all, if you stay on top of your payments consistently while also cheerfully paying any fees that you incur then that makes you a valuable customer. You may be surprised at how eagerly your credit card company will act in order to keep your business.
Here are the steps you should take in order to get your interest rates lowered:
Find out what your interest rates are right now. If you aren’t sure what interest rates you’re actually paying on the credit cards you have, don’t be embarrassed. You’re in a large majority. Not many people actually know what interest rates their credit cards carry. Check your statement or call your credit card company to find out what your interest rate actually is.
Find out if it’s a good interest rate. You can check to see what kind of interest rate people with similar credit scores to yours are paying by visiting a comparison website like BankRate. You’ll be able to get an idea for what the average credit card interest rate you can expect is, and armed with this knowledge you’ll know if you should insist on a lower interest rate. You may be pleasantly surprised to discover that your interest rate is actually pretty good and you don’t have to do anything further.
Call your credit card company and tell them the jig is up. Remind them that good customers should be rewarded with the best interest rates available, and if they won’t lower your interest rate then there are plenty of other credit card companies who would love to issue you a card with a better rate. Of course, say this as politely as possible.
Persist. If the customer service representative gives you the runaround, ask to speak to a manager. Even if they act like they can’t do it, most people who answer the phone at credit card companies do indeed have the power to lower your interest rate.
Enjoy your new interest rate. If you actually take the time to get your interest rates lowered then be sure to take a look at your next credit card statement and revel in the lower rate. Compare the amount of money you paid in interest charges last month as opposed to this month, and then give yourself a pat on the back for what a fabulous budget fashionista you truly are.
How to Buy Pearls
You might think it’s old fashioned, that you’re too haute and hip for them, but truly there’s nothing more timeless than a string of pearls. Before you go out to purchase yours, here are some tips to follow:
1. Decide on the type of pearl you want. The three basic types of pearls are cultured, natural, and imitation. Imitation are fine for costume jewelry, but if you’re looking for an investment piece, you’ll want natural or cultured. Natural, however, are hard to find and therefore pricier, so those of us on a budget will likely end up shopping the cultured variety.
2. Consider the look you want. Pearl shapes vary, for example, with perfectly round being more common in cultured pearls as opposed to natural. Color is another factor, with cultured pearls coming in tones that range from white to rose to silver to black. How to choose? Try on a few pieces, and select what looks best against your skintone.
3. Get the best quality you can afford. As with all things, you’ll pay more for good quality. Pearls are typically given one of four grades: A, AA, AAA, and AAA+, with AAA+ quality being the highest. Often, the variations between, say, AA and AAA are lost on the layperson, so if the AA is the best you can do on your budget, go for it. Luster, by the way, is a visable indication of quality; lower quality pearls can look chalky, while high-quality pearls have a more mirror-like surface.
4. Size will affect the price. Pearls are measured in millimeters, and the price is based on the size. You’ll need to strike a balance between the look you want and the cost you can live with.
5. Pick a piece you’ll wear. There’s no point in parting with your hard-earned cash if your pearls sit in the jewelry box all but one night a year. For necklaces, lengths range from 10� (for the petite neck) to 16� (Choker) to 18� (Princess) to longer Matinee and Opera lengths. Just like clothes, you need to try some on to see which length works best.
photo courtesy of The Pearl Outlet
Finding a bra that provides support and comfort can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack: frustrating, tedious, and nearly impossible. Here are some quick tips for a finding a bra that fits.
When you find your size, try these bra- fitting tips:
1. The strap around your body should be firm but comfortable. When you stand side-on at a mirror, the strap that runs around your body should be horizontal and should not ride up at the back at all.
2. The wires at the front should lie flat against your rib cage and should not dig in, rub or poke out at the front.
3. Your breasts should be enclosed in the cups and you should have a smooth line where the fabric at the top of the cup ends and meets your bust. You shouldn’t have any ridge or bulging over the top or sides of the cups, even if you are wearing a balconette style or lower cut shape.
4. Get measured by a bra fitting expert. However, don’t be forced into purchasing a bra that isn’t comfortable or is overpriced.
Some other tips to note: When you are trying on a bra, it’s best to start off by fastening it on its loosest hook. That way you will be able to tighten the bra if it starts to give in the back a bit when you’ve worn it a few times. Also, remember to adjust the shoulder straps to ensure that they are not too loose, and you may need to adjust your breasts to make sure they are in the cups properly. It’s a good idea to try a T-shirt or top over the bra that you are trying, so you can see the shape that the style gives you underneath your clothes.
How to Be a Professional Blogger
Dear Budget Fashionista,
I love your site and was wondering if you have any advice or tips for becoming a professional blogger.
Answer: There’s no magic, instant way to become a professional bloggers. I blogged for 2 years before TBF started to really take off. But with hard work and persistence you can make your blog a success. Here’s some tips I’ve learned along the way.
- Be an Original. Read other fashion blogs and do the exact opposite. The celebrity blog has been done and done and done. So have most of the fashion blog topics. At this point in the game, the only way to be a successful blogger in terms of financial success is to be an original.
- Write everyday, twice a day if you can. Write posts that people can use and that people want to link to—limit the personal chatter and focus on providing real information.
- Read blogs about blogs. Read blogs like Problogger.com, Chrisg.com, Dailyblogtips.com, and Techcrunch.com to learn about the tech side of building a professional blog.
- Join a Community. Whether it be Glam, Coutorture or another community. The traffic they generate isn’t going to make you much dough—but it will help you to build relationships with other bloggers.
- Get Media Training. If you really want to be a professional fashion blogger, then you will need to seek and get offline media coverage. I can’t tell you how many times reporters and television producers have told me about how poor bloggers perform in interviews. Learn how to get your message across in 20 words or less, what angles work best for you, etc.
- Learn Search Engine Optimization SEO. Buy Aaron Wall’s SEO Book. It’s the best $79 you’ll ever spend for your blog.
- Buy Your Domain. A-list bloggers own their own domain name. Many folks in the advertising and pr communities use this to determine whether or not you’re a professional.
Prom Dresses on a Budget
Dear Budget Fashionista,
My Prom is right around the corner and I need help finding a prom dress on a budget. I have about $100 spend. Help!
Answer: You’re in luck, the best time to purchase your prom dress is right now. Most stores are having huge sales on their holiday formal wear and you can find a great, perhaps even designer, prom dress for less than $100. If you’re into vintage and know you’re way around a sewing machine thrift stores is a great budget friendly option. However, word of caution: make sure you do the smell test—if the garment smells musty, then leave it on the rack. You might also want to try online stores like SmartBargains.com, Overstock.com
and Bluefly.com
, all of whom often have formal dresses for well under $100.
New Year, New You
It goes without saying that the New Year is all about new beginnings, and here at The Budget Fashionista, we’re thinking about what we can do to start things off on the right (very fashionable) foot. If you’re in the same frame of mind, read on—
Take care of business. Meaning financial business—if your best intentions to create a budget and stick to it fell short last year, now’s the time to start fresh. Take inventory of your earning and spending, and make a budget you can live with. And keep checking back, as this year we’ll be bringing you personal finance tips from experts in the know.
Clean out your closet. Literally. Now’s the time for fashionistas to take inventory—out with the old, in with the new. You know the rules—if you haven’t worn it in a year, you’re not going to wear it. Make a few extra bucks by taking them to consignment shop or selling on eBay, or help someone out by donating to Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc. Then make a list of what you need (and we said need), and stick to it.
Clean out your bags. Make-up bags, that is, and bathroom drawers, vanity, medicine cabinet, whatever. Get rid of that foundation that’s two shades too light, that clumpy old mascara, that sparkly gold eyeshadow that seemed like a good idea at the time. Not only will you clear out the clutter but your makeup bag will be healthier, too. You definitely don’t want to start the New Year with an eye infection. Yuk.
Be nice. Okay, let’s face it—by the end of the holiday season, we’ve all gotten more than a little grumpy. We’re stressed out, worn out, and maybe just spent a little too much. Oh, and it’s winter. Still, it’s all about making it new—so let’s put all that behind us, and face the new year with a new attitude. And remember, it’s not just about being nice to other people—be nice to yourself, too.
~Angela
After Christmas Shopping Tip: Hold the Returns
So, you’re ready to hit the after-Christmas sales, and just happen to have a gift or two that doesn’t fit or doesn’t fit. As eager as you are to make the switch for something you really love—at a discount, yet—we suggest you hold that thought. Return lines are notoriously long this time of year—nobody’s going to be in any kind of festive, good cheer holiday mood at this point, and you’re really just going to make yourself miserable. Wait out the crowds, and if there’s no good sales going on when you do return, take store credit so you can hit the next big markdowns to get something really great.
If you must return (say you got that luxe sweater you’ve been swooning over for weeks, but in the wrong size—and you don’t want to risk missing out), make sure you’re prepared. Receipt (if you can get your hands on it)—check. Plenty of time (not, say, running out in the last 20 minutes of your lunch hour)—check. Comfortable shoes—check. And be sure to check those receipts or the store’s website for their return policies before you go, so you know what to expect when you get there.
The Budget Fashionista College Guide: Furnishing Your First Apartment
There’s nothing like signing the lease to your first apartment. Now instead of sharing a bathroom with 10 people you do not know, you get to share a bathroom with 10 of your closest friends. Hopefully, you got more space than your dinky dorm room, but how do you tastefully furnish (bed, desk, dresser, chair, possibly a couch?) a space on less than $100?
Here are some places I used to furnish my first apartment:
~ Grandparents/parents—Grandparents always have way too much stuff in their houses. Help them liquidate some of that stuff—to you.
~ Salvation Army—I purchased a beautiful folding rattan chair as well as an assortment of vases for less than 10 bucks.
~ Goodwill—Not as cheap as the Salvation Army, but you can still find some good thrift items.
~ Junior League Thrift Shops —Rich people’s junk is your treasure.
~ IKEA—Great place for stylish items, especially sheets.
~ Home Depot and Lowes—If you got the talent and time, make your own bed for less than $30.
~ Rich areas on big trash pick up day —Best bet if you are really broke. Call the sanitation department in your area to find the day that they pick up big trash, like furniture, etc., in the rich area. Got a great couch that way.
~ Your School/University —For your kitchen, how about a nice set of fine dining hall china? On the more legal end, most schools have a store/warehouse where they sell used dorm room furniture. Call the on-campus housing department at your school. Hey maybe you can get your bed from freshmen year!
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