Fashion Frugalista

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

09 Jan 2009 12:18 PM

It is a great time to get hot looks for less, if you know where to look and employ some strategies. There is no need to go around oversized and frumpy just because you are on a tight budget. Here are my favorite tips for being a fabulous fashionable frugalista!

Shop the trendy discounters

Right now, discounters such as TJ Maxx and Marshalls are being inundated with tons of fabulous clothes from the more expensive retailers. This is because there was more inventory than demand this past holiday season. It takes several months to react to a downtrend, and therefore retail stores had more in stock than they could sell. They are dumping the stuff early to make way for spring lines. Pick up some basic pieces or even go a little trendy. With the huge discounts, you can look fabulous.

Scour the Internet for shoes

I was on a couple of shoe sites lately, and I couldn't believe the prices. There were current trendy and classic styles in fashion boots, party shoes and even every day wear, all at major discounts. I saw a name brand show marked from $75 down to only $9.99. The catch here is that other bargain hunters may be faster than you are, leaving odd sizes. If your foot size fall outside of size 7 to 8, you may have it made.

Do your homework first

Browse through the fashion mags so you know what is in and what is not. Better yet, pick up a stack of magazines for free or cheap and take them home with you. This is the time that the libraries tend to purse their old magazines. Looking through older fashion magazines helps, because you can select some classic looks that haven't gone away, even today, and weed out the "here one day, gone the next" trends.

Happy shopping!

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog, caring for little ones in the Baby Blog and now relationships in the Marriage Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here or subscribe to the blog using the subscription box on the right.

Favorite Deal Websites:

FreeCoupons

Related Articles:

Secrets of the Retail Clearance Racks

Updating Used Clothing

Frugal Upscale Clothing

Shoe Saver Ideas

Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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Tashi (1013) 12 Jan 2009 12:31 PM

Thanks, Mary Ann! Great ideas. I have found some awesome shoe deals online. Most recently, I got 2 pairs of shoes that were each originally $210, for a whopping sum of only $60! AND free shipping. I always scour the Internet for shoes, especially if I can't find what I need and want at brick and mortar stores. Amazon. com and Zappos.com are my favorites. I also got the current pair of shoes I'm wearing from Goodwill, a first for me. They're maybe from Paylerss, originally, but I don't care. They were in fabulous condition, my size, CUTE, and only $6.99. Works for THIS frugal fashionista!

Tashi (1013) 12 Jan 2009 12:33 PM

P.S. I meant "Payless". :-)

Mary Ann Romans (26886) 13 Jan 2009 12:43 PM

That is great. I recently got a nice name brand dress at Goodwill for only $5. I was excited!

Tashi (1013) 14 Jan 2009 12:31 PM

Most of my dress pants and blouses for work are from Goodwill. Although, it takes a lot of time, patience, and persistence to find my size and desired style ideas, as well as items in acceptable condition. I love a challenge, though. Maybe I'll luck out like you did and find some other great deals for $5. :-) Congrats on your find! It's SO cool when that happens, isn't it?

Mary Ann Romans (26886) 14 Jan 2009 04:23 PM

it is definitely cool. I did find a nice skirt, which you can read about today, but I didn't get it.

thequeenofthecastle (413) 27 May 2009 02:38 PM

I just got back from an awesome trip to goodwill and came home with a ton of name brand really trendy beautiful clothing and shoes. I think a lot of success at goodwill and other thrift stores revolves around timing. Season changes are a good time for thrift store shopping because people tend to take vacations around this time and use the time off to clean house and get rid of stuff. For us, we live in a college town, so right after school lets out there are a lot of things students who are moving on to other places and graduating, get rid of. I think that was why I ended up with so many great finds today. Happy Thrifting!!