How To Create Unique Style: Dressing Well On A Budget

Now that you’ve cleaned our your closet, you want to know what comes next. Next comes, realistically looking at you have.

• Do you have 25 dresses and only five pairs of pants?
• Do you have absolutely no color in your closet?
• Do you only own one belt, one scarf and no jewelry?

Spend a few hours putting together mixing and matching what’s left over after your closet cleansing, and don’t lay out clothes next to each other, put them on your body and see how it looks in your mirror.

Have all your accessories out too – brooches, necklaces, earrings, scarves and belts. Mix and match.

After you’ve created your outfits, see what pieces don’t have mate.  Can you fill in the gaps in your wardrobe with basic items? Make a list of standard items – a white button shirt, a cardigan or two, black flats, an a-line skirt. You want to buy simple things that fill in the blanks and can also go with the outfits you’ve already created.  Don’t go overboard in purchasing clothes, you can fake a lot with accessories. Tthe next article will cover accessories, which can probably be the most cost effective wardrobe update you can make.

When comes to shopping, here are my top tips for replacing what’s missing:

Buy the best quality clothes you can afford, quality is better than quantity. The longer your clothes last, the less money you spend in the long run replacing them. Also, when you wear quality, it automatically increases your self-esteem and self-confidence. And with self-confidence, your fierceness factor goes up through the roof, watch out world – here YOU come!

1928 Jewelry Necklace #45696 - $48

Buy timeless pieces, the types of things that will weather an ever-changing fashion climate. Instead of buying a cobalt blue v-neck cashmere cardigan, buy a black button down cashmere cardigan. The black cardigan is a staple wardrobe element; it will last for years, not just a season or two.

1928 Antiquities Brooch & Earrings available Spring

Create a color scheme using solid colors. Use colors that look good on you, no matter the trend or of-the-moment style, if eggplant, dark red or baby blue look good on you, then always where them. If a color flatters you, then you can always wear it, that the definition of classic style. Has the little black dress ever gone out of style? I think not.

Silver/Sapphire Enamel Stretch Bracelet: 60369 - $38, Earrings: 29402 - $32

Buy things on sale whenever possible. For those of you that love going into stores, then I suggest Marshall’s, Loehmann’s or T.J. Maxx. These chains get quality, name brand overstock all the time. If you live in state that has premium outlet for stores like Nordstrom Rack, Off Saks 5th Ave or Banana Republic Outlet, you can usually save 50-70% instantly. So take a trip.

For you online shopping aficionados, the best thing you can do is to sign up for your favorite stores mailing lists – I mean, your absolute favorites, otherwise you can always find deals by going directly to a retailer’s site. Certain stores like Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie have granted their devotees the privilege of limited emails; they don’t spam us to death like certain sites. You can also check sites like RetailMeNot.com, Gretchin’s Closet and Toutie for online coupon discount codes to save a bit extra. Want to get some inspiration beforehand? Then jump on Polyvore.com or Kaboodle.com and start mixing and matching outfits.

Tamarindo Breeze Necklace #45814 for Macys.com & 2028Jewelry.com in 5 Colors - $55.00

Save money on accessories by choosing versatile Jewelry choices. The best part about working at 1928 Jewelry is that employees get to go to “the room” where all our goods are stored – it’s better than Willie Wonka’s Chocolate Factory! While 1928 Jewelry has extensive lines and I could wear whatever I wanted, I shop our choices like most women do. I pick a piece I can get multiple uses out of and help me create effortless looks. I’ve featured some of my favorites in the photos in this post. The right earrings, necklace and bracelets can make mean the difference between BLAH and OH MAMMA! Wanna know more? You are goning to have to wait for part three!

Related Articles: Women & Co and eHow.