Feature

Fashionista Turned Recessionista? Here’s How to Stay Fab.u.LESS

Sunday Mar 1, 2009 – By Arlice Nichole

Spring is on the way and that means fresh new fashion and fun trends to play around with and add your 2 cents to. But in this economy who can afford to spend money revamping their wardrobe? Me either. But, following these simple steps to style can save you tons of money and may even keep you from having to spend at all.

* “You can start by doing a little spring cleaning,” says Allyson Leak, celebrity fashion designer and President and CEO of Ally Marie Couture Jewelry, www.AllyMarie.com. “Go through your closet and this time instead of getting rid of everything you don’t wear just think twice about it. Ask yourself if there’s a way you can incorporate it in your wardrobe for the season or is there something affordable you could buy to wear with it.”

* “After seeing what you have, then you can figure out what you really need,” says Allyson. If there are things that you’ve decided you can do without forever, throw them in a box and have friends come over with their old things for a swap soiree! Someone else’s junk could be your next fabulous fashion find.

* Know of any aspiring fashion designers? Support them by offering to be their first muse. It’s a great way to gain some unique new fashions you won’t see anywhere else for a discount or maybe even for free.

* Raid your grandmother’s closet! She may have held on to some things over the years, and that could mean original vintage and fashionable goodies for you.

* Lots of times people need or just want t to give to charity the things that once belonged to loved ones. So scour thrift stores, leaving no area unchecked for funky shoes, boho bags or maybe even sequined clutches and coin purses!

* Concentrate on purchasing crucial pieces instead of whole outfits. “The key is to force yourself to have fashion will power,” say Allyson. Items like beaded belts, crocheted hats and jumbo leather bags are what make an outfit made up of mostly basic pieces stand out. “I think that being a fashionista today is all about being a smart shopper,” says Allyson.

* Ever had your own vision of what you’d like to wear but can’t find it? Maybe that’s your inner fashion designer dying to come out. Massive job losses have given many people enough reason to try something new. So think about making your visions a reality and testing your products out on Etsy.com.

* Give your hair and your wallet a break from chemical services. A press is just as good for straightening your hair and more affordable. Also, many are going natural so this could be the perfect time to try a new and different style that doesn’t require salon upkeep.

Christina Jones says:

February 15, 2009 at 6:51 pm

I absolutely love these tips, particularly the one about pressing your hair rather than spending the money to get a perm! I’ve been doing that one for about two months! That’s an extra $40 a pop!

I also love the shout out to etsy, since I am a handbag designer who actually sells on etsy myself!

↑ Reply

Arlice Nichole says:

February 16, 2009 at 12:53 am

Christina,

I’ve been getting my hair pressed and haven’t had a perm since early fall and I still can’t believe how healthy and strong my hair is!

You must let me know where on Etsy I can find your bags. :)

Alicia/InstantVintage says:

February 16, 2009 at 11:11 pm

Nice list – all are particularly helpful now that my wallet is pinched. LOL. You should also try your hand at estate sales. Great places to find rare jewelry and accessories. =)

February 16, 2009 at 11:32 pm

Ooo good tip Alicia!

Janell Necole says:

February 17, 2009 at 1:21 am

The hair tip is great! It helps to have a momma that can still do hair too. Hah! :D Also, I’d like to add that my other fav blog collegefashion.net shows websites weekly that are having sales! This has been my life.
I just bought the most amazing yummy shoes from Urban because they went on sale!

Go on it ladies!

Vixenlibra says:

February 17, 2009 at 6:30 pm

Im in my grandmama’s closet all the time! She was very fashionable in her younger days, and still has some of her items hanging up and in good condition. She has started giving me the eye whenever I start looking in her closet so I might have to scale back a lil. In this photo above I am so loving the pink wallpaper. Anybody know where I can get some similar wallpaper at a recessionista price?

Ashley says:

February 24, 2009 at 2:01 am

Nice article!

Black Girls have been Reccessionistas forever!

Dreamer says:

March 3, 2009 at 5:04 pm

Ashely …. if you ever read this page again ! You aint tellin no lie honey! We have had to get by on less, and make it look like the best.