1. Use your resources.
With technology nowadays, it is so easy to find great deals on that perfect piece you're looking for. Unless you happen to stumble upon that OMG-I can't breath-I must have it item that you absolutely can't live without, there's no need to to rush into purchasing something not knowing if you could be paying less for it. Use your resources! My absolute favorite fashion resource is shopstyle.com. With their search tool, not only can you find hundreds of results for the item you're looking for, but you can also narrow your search by price range, color, size, etc. Come on people! It doesn't get any better than this! Compare prices before missing out on a good deal.
2. Cost-per-wear.
Now after you research and get a few options you'll probably be debating on prices. One little handy fashion merchandising tool to consider is cost-per-wear. When you're on a tight budget, you probably shouldn't be spending a couple hundred dollars on a single piece that you'll only wear once or twice within the season. Cost-per-wear helps you figure out exactly what you're paying each time you wear the piece and it's a very simple equation. All you do is divide the price you pay for an item by the number of times you wear it or anticipate to wear it. Let's say you purchase a pair of bright yellow skinny jeans for $200 and given the color and style along with what's currently in your wardrobe, you end up only wearing them 4 times within the season. Basically, you paid $50 for each time you wore that pair of jeans. Is that a good investment for a young ECONOMICAL fashion savvy diva? You be the judge.
3. Staple items? A must!
One key to being economically fashion savvy is being able to mix and match pieces to give yourself a variety of looks. Wanna know how to master this? Invest in staple pieces! This can include a little black dress, a pair of pumps, a cardigan, a black business suit, etc. Staple pieces are items that never go out of style. Now of course, what is considered a staple item varies with age, gender, and personal interests (this includes hobbies and occupations). However, for example purposes I did a little mix and match of what I like to include in my wardrobe that can be worn in various ways, whether I'm going to class or out on the town. The specific style of these items may change, but it's general category (ex. a pair of jeans) are what I consider key items in my wardrobe. All of these items can be purchased together for under $200 ($197.94 to be exact) and when mixed and matched I came up with 7 different looks.
Here goes...
First set...
Second set...
The skinny jeans, print tunic dress, jacket, metallic belt, and scarf can be purchased from Forever21. The cardigan is from Alloy, the leggings are from New York & Company, the white tunic top is from ArdenB, the boots are from Charlotte Russe, and the pumps are from WetSeal.
One thing I can appreciate about a short tunic dress is that it can function as a dress or as a top when worn over jeans. When they have a print pattern, like the one above, the colors can be played with and you'd be surprised what difference it makes when you switch it up. Also hair and makeup truly complete your look, so make sure you spend just as much time figuring that out as you do putting an outfit together. Seriously, how many red carpet disasters have we seen simply because someone's hair or makeup artist dropped the ball? Don't be that disaster. :-)
Happy shopping. Later!
