The Cheap Girl

This list is a work-in-progress and will be updated. This post will be placed on the side bar with a link. Come back soon for updates!

*Tips with links are highlighted

FASHION

1. Shop off season

2. Shop at thrift and vintage stores

3. Shop at ethnic stores for beautiful and unique pieces. Why pay top $$$ for a cashmere scarf when you can get it from a direct dealer for 1/4 of the price? Read my scarf story.

4. Shop at outlets

5. Do a price comparison before making a purchase

6. For designer labels, check online first for deals.

7. Sample Sales

8. Shop your own closet

9. Shop your someone else’s closet

10. Attend a swap shop event

11. Sign up for newsletter updates from your favourite shops.

12. Re-evaluate your wardrobe often and keep a mental note of things that you need to buy.

13. Quality over quantity. It will save you money in the long-run

14. Update your accessories to give your current wardrobe a boost

15. Save on the trends and splurge on the classics

16. Shop at upscale vintage shops for designer labels

17. Use the cost-per-ratio before making a purchase: divide the cost by the number of times you will wear the    item

18. If you’re petite, shop in the kid’s section

19. Check online for in-store coupons and online discount codes. Google is your best friend!

20 Ask someone to buy it for you.

21. Ask for a gift certificate from your favourite store for your birthday and christmas

22. Give your wardrobe a second life by altering your clothes to make something new

23. Ask your friends and family for clothes that they don’t want anymore that you might like

24. Borrow clothes from friends and family

25. Keep your receipt for price adjustments and read the return policy

26. Make friends with the sales associates to get the inside scoop

27. Check the sale rack first when shopping

28. Shop at garage sales

29. Dye your clothes in a different colour

30. Re-dye your clothes to give life back to the look of the fabric

31. Hand wash your clothes

32. Learn how to sew

33. Watch DIY fashion videos.

34. Mix and match your clothes and take picture for future reference

35. Don’t follow every trend

36. Shop on Craigslist, Ebay or Kijiji for discounted deals.

37. Learn how to remove stains

38. Mix and match what you already have in new ways to create new outfits

39. Make your own accessories

40. Rent designer accessories

41. Learn how to score online deals.

42. Find online shops that offer designer discounts (Shopbop, Labellush, Ssense)

43. Learn how to shop wisely.

44. Find a good tailor. Good tailoring can make clothes look even better. This is useful when buying items such as suits that that are on the inexpensive side.

45.  Buy only things that you absolutely need or love and will wear multiple times

46.  To save on luxury designer goods, join for private shopping sales.

47.  Back to Basics: Practice basic grooming and hygiene

48. Learn how to develop your own signature style

49.  Shop at Costco for Jewelry and Designer Accessories. Can you believe that they carry Chanel and Fendi?

50.  Commission a student studying fashion design to create clothes. This is a great way to get a one-of-a-kind item at a fraction of the price.

BEAUTY

51. Have the basic items.

52. Do a price comparison online before making a purchase

53. Diane Irons is your best friend when it comes to budget beauty

54. Paula’s Choice. Effective ingredients without the price tag

55. Use what you already have at home

55. Learn how to create a spa atmosphere

56. Create a spa day for you and your friends

57. Sign up for spa updates and discounts

58. Stretch regularly and find an exercise routine that you like

59. Drink lot’s of lemon water

60. Sleep on your back and invest in a beauty pillow

61. Learn how to use your cosmetics in multiple ways

62. Eat balanced meals with lot’s of fresh organic vegetables and fruits

63.  Use natural ingredients that can be found in your kitchen for cosmetic purposes

64. Use cayenne pepper or gently brush your lips with a toothbrush to get a natural pout

65. Groom your eye brows. Get it professionally done first to get an idea of what shape to follow

66. Develop an “easy” exercise routine that you will follow at least once a week

67. Take advantage of your work benefits (massage by an RMT at a beautiful spa)

68. Get your hair done by students at a hairdressing school

69. Learn how to do your own manicure and pedicure

70. Learn how to create multiple looks with your make up

71. Learn how to create basic up-dos.

72. Curl your hair with a flat iron.

73. Keep a bottle of lotion near your bed and moisturize often

74. Use a body brush to remove excess toxins

75.  Shop for discount cosmetics online.

76. Ask for samples

77. Take advantage of cosmetic bonuses

78. Ask a beautiful and stylish woman that you admire for her beauty tips

79. We are so lucky to live in such a diverse world. Read about beauty secrets from around the world.

80. Cut back on sugar, excess carbs, alcohol, cigarettes and caffeine.

81. Use organic, cold pressed olive oil as a moisturizer, hair mask, cuticle cream…

82. Learn how to create the 5 minute face

83. Beauty Basic: VASELINE.

84. Know where to splurge and where to save on make up

85. Research the ingredients and read the reviews before making a purchase.

86. Delegate a weekend every month for cleansing and detoxifying

87.  Go to a make up counter and ask for a complimentary make over

88.  Shop at factory, warehouse clear-outs for discounted cosmetics.

89. Shop after the holidays for deals on perfume box sets and make up sets

90. Practice good posture. One of Tim Gunn’s fashion and beauty tips!

91. Buy Diane Iron’s books or watch her videos on using everyday products for beauty.

92. Learn how to create hair highlights at home

93. Give yourself an energizing facial massage.

94. Avoid tanning. Opt for a faux glow or learn how to enhance your natural colour.

95. Sleep more.

96. Local Deals: Check out The Best Canadian Fashion and Beauty Deals for discounts

97. Take 5 minutes a day to meditate and breath deeply

98. Chew, taste and savour food slowly. The faster that you eat, the more you will eat.

99. Learn how to say no, be happy and make time for yourself.

100. Subscribe to The Cheap Girl — See the side bar

XOXO

{images via fashiontribes.com & dreamstime.com}

The Work Wardrobe

I’ve always thought that the standard office uniform was quite dull and boring and I always admire people who can pull off looking polished and chic every day. When I had to do the whole 9-5 routine I hated getting up early in the morning just to look presentable. I am the first to admit that I am not a morning person. I am the type of person who likes to sleep in and be out the door in 15 minutes or less. To solve this debacle, I decided to come up with a way to get dressed without thinking to much about what I was going to wear. I wanted to be able to pull out things from my wardrobe with my eyes shut and come up with something fabulous.

Hence, I present: The Work Wardrobe  (Things that every one needs to pull off a 5 day look in a business casual setting)

TOPS

5 Short sleeved tops

(Suggestion: 3 Basic tops in neutral colours + 2 trendy tops)

I think that tops are a great way to add some life to an outfit. Think about wearing the standard basic pants and shoes and then putting on a fantastic top.  What I love about this is that if the top is a show-stopper, one can do without accessories.

5 Long sleeved tops

(Suggestions: 3 basic tops — black cashmere sweater, wrap, cardigan + 2 trendy tops)

BOTTOMS

3 pairs of pants + 2 skirts

(Suggestions: neutral colours such black and grey + 1 pencil skirt)

DRESSES

The Little Black Dress + The Day Dress

SUITS

1 Suit in a neutral colour in the best quality that you can afford. Tailoring and fit are key to a good looking suit. Plus you can wear the jacket and skirt separately and make multiple outfits.

SHOES

Pumps + Boots + Open-toed heeled pumps + Flats

ACCESSORIES

Having fantastic accessories is a serious way to add spice to the basic work wardrobe and it is a great way to keep the look updated and current. Wearing the season’s IT necklace can pump some life to an outfit that has been around for many years.

WHERE TO SHOP

H&M – Trendy and a great place to get accessories

Zara – Trendy + Sophisticated. Keep an eye out for the end-of-season sales

Jacob - They exemplify “office chic”. I highly recommend this shop. The clothes are classic and the best way to get deals is to shop at the Jacob outlet.

Tristan – Well made, classic clothes

Dynamite – Affordable, fashion-forward and they carry the best day dresses!

Smart Set – They carry really affordable suits and pieces that will surprise you.

Banana Republic – The mecca for office attire. BR can be quite pricey so watch out for sales and coupons.

I recommend reviewing what you own twice a year (once in the spring and once again in the fall) to see if any updates are needed.  This involves physically removing the clothes from your closet and looking at your 5 day inventory. What I love about this list is that once you have your bases covered, you will spend less time getting ready and still manage to look great.

I hope that this helps!

XOXO

Online Shopping Tips – How To Get The Best Deals!

* Shop at the end of the season to take advantage of sale prices.

* Ebay, Craigslist, ssense, labellush, shopstyle, beautyticket and Shopbop are good sources for shopping deals. A good tip is to try things in-store first then buy the item on online for a cheaper price. When buying designer goods on Ebay or Craigslist, do some research, read the reviews and ask a lot of questions before making the purchase.

* Do a price comparison before making a purchase. Sometimes you might get a better deal in-store than online (or vice versa). For an online price comparison visit shopstyle.com or shopwiki.com

* Sign up for newsletter updates from your favourite stores and budget fashion sites where you will receive perks such as sales alerts, free shipping codes, and coupons.

* Private Shopping sites that offer members-only access to designer sales (Beyond The Rack, Keep it Simple, Enviius, Ideeli, Row Nine)

* Always read the return policy!

Budget Fashion Tip: Transitional Fashion

Fall is just around the corner and I am still clinging (very tightly) on to  to my summer wardrobe.  Summer was just too short this year and I am not ready to give up my summer dresses yet. I want many, many more days of summer sunshine!

So the question is: How to wear summer fashion in the fall season?

To soften the blow and to make the most of your summer wardrobe, try to incorporate your summer items with your fall/winter wardrobe.

Here are  a couple of  tips on how to stretch/transition your wardrobe to the next season:

* Wear tights with this year’s jumper, skirts, and summer dresses

* Add a few more months of wear to your tank, tee, or dress by pairing it with a cardigan or a blazer

* Wear tunic dresses with skinny jeans or tights

What are some of your summer to fall wardrobe tips?

{Image: Polyvore}

Town Shoes Sale

Save up to 50% off on entire spring and summer collection

Get a an additional 10% off with discount coupon (valid until June 8, 2009)

Click on the image to print the coupon

This is one wacky deal. Old Navy is offering coupons (US and Canada) but you have to search for it on their website. So you basically have to click and drag items until a notice shows up to asking if you would like to retrieve the coupon or continue hunting for another coupon. You can only retrieve one coupon per week. I haven’t found all of them. Here are the ones that I’ve discovered

Drag the stripe orange tote to the girl in the purple dress—-get a $20 coupon off a $100 purchase

Find a head in the sand and drag it to the headless mannequin’s neck —-$10 off a $50 purchase

Double click on the yellow bottle that the girl in the green is holding—-$5 off a $50 purchase

*I am sure there are more hidden. Send me an email if you find something!

***Happy Hunting***

Click on the image for the link

I found this video from Elle Girl that shows you how to update an item of clothing with a tie dye technique. The host and her guest work with a plain white shirt dress and apply 2 colours in tie dye fashion. It’s super easy and it looks like a lot of fun.  Tie dye is not really my thing. It’s too flower child/bohemian for my taste. But I loved how they paired it in the end with a classic black blazer and a slouchy belt to give it instant chic. I might actually try it.

Image: timeinc.net

Tie Dye Tips

- To keep the look classy and chic, make sure that the item fits you well (if not, use a belt for a slouchy modern look)

- Pair with subdued and classic accessories. Designer duds work. Anything too loud will compete with the funky pattern of your dress.

Simone Harouche (A-list stylist to the stars) talks about how to get the Christina Aguilera, Nicole Richie and Avril Lavigne style on a budget! Great tips for petite fashion!!! Watch the segment below.

Visit Shopflick.com | Go to the Hall of Style

Related Post:

Shopflick Hall of Style ( Kardashian Sisters segment)

Hi Everyone!

I want to share a fabulous new site that I viewed today. Shopflick.com’s Hall of Style features fashion segments on the hottest new styles from up-and-coming designers.  What I love about the website is that you can purchase the items that they have on the show directly from the site. Easy peasy! The show is hosted by the uber-stylish Davida Hall who contributes to Genlux and BritishVogue.com.  One of my favourite episodes showcases the Kardashian sisters and their style picks. I personally love Kim Kardashian’s look. She’s so beautiful!

On May 6, 2009 Hall of Style is having a segment on “Celebrity Style for Less” featuring stylist to the A-list stars Simone Harouche. She has styled Jennifer Lopez, Nicole Richie, Christina Aguilera, and Avril Lavigne.

Simone Harouche with Christina Aguilera

Image: zimbio.com

In this episode Simone will reveal:

- Inside scoop on celebrity style tips

- The latest must-have dress styles this summer

- Tips on how to recreate celebrity style on a budget

Tune in tomorrow! This is a must-see episode for all frugal/budget fashionistas!

UPDATE: Click here to watch the episode!

XOXO

Kim in a gorgeous Ava dress from Shopflick

50’s style rockabilly vintage roses cotton sundress.

Knee-length vintage pinup look sundress in rose art print. Fully lined in satiny fabric with light padding, flirty vertical ruffles and tie at bust. Adjustable straps. Jr Sizes S-3X.

Price $ 29.99 USD

Loving it? Buy it here!