Looking Fly During a Recession

It can be very hard to keep up with the latest trends and styles during this difficult economic time. No one wants to be broke trying to keep up with The Halle’s, Kim’s and Beyonce’s. Don’t fret! You no longer have to choose anymore weather to pay your Visa bill or get those new stilettos. Here are some helpful tips when shopping on a budget or during a recession.

Leave the debit and credit cards at home. Debit and credit cards give you too much freedom. Paying with cash gives you an instant visual indication of how much you’re spending. This controls your spending. When you are out of “real” money its time to go.

Head to the outlet malls. Shopping at the outlets of your favorite stores and designers can save you a bundle. Bigger cities usually have the best outlet malls, so remember that when you are on your next vacation to NYC, Chicago, or ATL.

Remember the 70/30 rule. Fashionistas with limited budgets should follow the 70/30 rule. 70% of your closet should be classic pieces, 30% trendy pieces. Go as cheap as possible on trendy items because they have a short closet lifespan; purchase these pieces at stores like H&M Target, Forever 21, Wet Seal, etc. Go designer on classic pieces like black suits (Donna Karen), coats (Burberry, Max Mara), evening (Armani), and purses (Coach and Marc Jacobs).

Use Accessories to Create Different Looks. Once you have the classics in your wardrobe, you can create dozens of looks just by getting some new accessories. Just by getting a new hat, necklace, or by changing the shoes you wear, you can create a new look with the same shirt, pants, skirt, or dress. You can find the accessories for a lot less then other pieces so utilize this to get the most of your outfits.