Frugal Fashion Fav

My First HauteLook Purchase

I thought I’d go ahead and continue on this fashion and accessory trend and share my latest purchase (yes, another one)! I love statement necklaces so when I saw that HauteLook was having a statement necklace event, well I couldn’t be one to decline the invitation, now could I?

HauteLook is flash sale site, on par with Rue La La and Gilt Groupe, which offers high quality merchandise at a fraction of the price – provided you can join the sale promptly at 11 AM EST and get your merchandise in your online shopping bag faster than you can say “I have to have that!” Hautelook offers designer fashion and accessories – including jewelry (obviously), sunglasses and purses, and has expanded into home wares, beauty products, men’s and even children’s clothing.

I’ve ordered my fair share of goods from Rue La La and Gilt, but not HauteLook. I’ll be sure to give a detailed review upon receipt of my newest purchase. And, without any further ado, here she is:

Neon pops of color are perfect for the spring and I’ve been on the lookout for a tasteful, but bold statement necklace. Normally priced at $56.00, I got it for a steal at only $25.00 + $5.95 shipping and handling.

I am already dreaming up outfits which will be perfected by this lil’ gem!

 

Warehouse Sales Galore!

In an effort to save some cash, I didn’t shop the entire month of January. Ok, this isn’t entirely true…I did purchase a dress at Nordstrom Rack for a friends wedding. BUT it was only $20 and a necessity – you wouldn’t have me go to a wedding without a dress would you? I didn’t think so. Plus, when you compare this one measly purchase to my typical monthly shopping bill, well, let’s just say I’m saving a small fortune.

Yes, it has crossed my mind that I might have a small, but manageable addiction to shopping. Hi everyone, my name is Kerry, I am addicted to shopping. There, we’ve got that overwith. So, back to the original point of this post, after being deprived for a month, here comes February teasing me with not one, but TWO warehouse sales in the DC-metro area! Yes – TWO!

This weekend, mosey on over to Old Town Alexandria for the Alexandria Boutique Warehouse sale put on by the Old Town Boutique District! On Saturday, February 4th from 9 am – 4 pm, 15 of Alexandria’s best boutiques and another half a dozen designers will be featuring droolworthy merchandise at discounted prices. Head on over to the George Washington Masonic Memorial – walkable from the King Street Metro, to check out the steals from Apple Seed, Diva, Gossypia, Hysteria, La Cuisine, Lawrence Miller & Co., The Little Monogram Shop, Mint Condition, Mystique, Periwinkle, Pink & Brown, Red Barn Mercantile, Stanton Gallery, The Shoe Hive and Treat.  Now I have a busy weekend coming up…I’ll have to plan my trips to Old Town and to Luckett’s! Phew, my bank account may be just a faint memory after this weekend!

If you don’t blow your entire paycheck at the Alexandria Warehouse sale, then you can add yourself to the waitlist for GiltCity’s Gilt Groupe Warehouse Sale at Long View Gallery. On Saturday February 11, you can peruse “be racks stocked with dresses, blouses, suit jackets, denim, cardigans and polos for men, women and children. For your home, think bedding, blankets and decorative accessories. And, of course, you can expect hundreds of top brands, from both lesser-known designers and veritable fashion houses.” Always the pioneer of luxury on a budget, Gilt’s Warehouse sale will also treat shoppers to mini manicures, blow outs and cocktails while you browse.

I thought I acted quickly, attempting to buy tickets within just a few hours but, to my horror, the event was sold out! However, ye of little faith, I added myself to the waitlist and am now the proud owner of TWO tickets! I consider myself blessed by the shopping gods. However, don’t get too disheartened! You can still add yourself to the waitlist here. The full day pass is sold out, so you’ll have to choose a time of arrival (12pm, 2pm, 4pm). What are you waiting for? Hurry up and get on the list! Hopefully, I’ll see you there!

 

Is Your Man a Dapper Dresser?

Men and fashion is kind of like going to the dentist. Things either go really well and you leave with a perfectly bright white smile; or they go horribly wrong and you’re left facing a root canal.

However, whether the wardrobe of the man in your life needs just a routine cleaning or some major surgery, you should have him check out Trunk Club.

Trunk Club: there should be a better way for men to find great clothes

This ingenious company has found a way around the major deterrents which keep men from embracing some wardrobe rejuvenation. Trunk Club does everything for their clients. The man in question just simply has to fill out a profile, either online or on the phone, to help the expert stylists understand a bit more about his likes and dislikes. Then Trunk Club packs a literal trunk full of clothes for him and mails it to his house. He chooses what he wants and sends the rest back in said trunk with a pre-paid FedEx label.

It really can’t get easier or more fail-proof than this, ladies! Before you start asking,  what’s the catch, here is some more info:

  • Members only pay for the clothes they keep
  • There is no membership fee
  • Wardrobe selection is classified as upscale casual wear; think jeans, chinos, shirts, sweaters, etc. – no suits!
  • Prices range from $70 (for shirts) to $250 (for pants and denim)
  • Trunk Club buys clothes wholesale and then charges retail prices, the same you’d find at the Nordstroms of the world, which is how they make their money
  • ….allowing the service and shipping to remain entirely free of cost

Like the sound of it? Buy your man (whether it’s your significant other, dad, uncle, brother – any man in your life!) a gift card for him to try it out for himself!

 

Wedding Fashion on a Budget

I know firsthand that a wedding budget can get out of hand as fast as you can say “I do.” Floral, catering, hair, makeup, favors, photographer, videographer, the list goes on and seems to never end. Your big day fashion moment can also eat up your cash flow pretty quickly if you don’t make an effort to manage it.

Don’t get me wrong, I believe that a woman’s wedding day is the one time it is ok to splurge on ostentatious, luxurious items in which she would never otherwise indulge. Manolos? Go for it! Monique Lhuillier? Of course, darling! Oscar de la Renta jewels? Do it up, bride! This is IF you have the budget. If you splurge on your wedding day wardrobe, then cut somewhere else. The key is to pick one item to splurge on and save on all of the rest! Where can you save on all of your wedding day fashion items?

Amsale Arianna Gown

The Aisle New York! An online, members only site that provides you access to high-end bridal fashion and accessories at a fraction of the price. Dresses, shoes, jewelry, accessories and more from the industry’s top designers can be found online at The Aisle. Amsale, Thread, Monique Lhuillier, Angel Sanchez, Rivini, Anne Barge, Lela Rose, Isaac Mizrahi are just a few of the designers featured on The Aisle’s weekly sales and the prices are typically half of what you’d expect to pay at a bridal salon.

A few tips if you want to try out The Aisle for your wedding day:

Angel Sanchez Silk Gazar
Trumpet Gown
  • Do your research. Go to at least a few bridal salons and figure out what type of fabric, shape, style, color and designer you like the best and looks best on you. The same goes for accessories. If you’ve already selected your dress, don’t click buy unless you’ve tried on something similar to see how it looks. How much you save is irrelevant if you can’t wear it!
  • Buy The Aisle’s return insurance. For $200, you can return your dress for a full refund within five days. When saving thousands, a few hundred is worth it!
  • Are you working with a short timeline? Most dresses take 2-4 months to arrive once you order but many of the dresses on The Aisle are ready to ship same day!
  • Find an amazing tailor. Your odds of needing some serious alterations to your gown are as good as getting a regift from a distant cousin. 
  • Do you have a dream dress and a long engagement? Find it at a local salon and keep an eye out for it on the site. Watch the designers on The Aisle too as they tend to have some favorites. 
  • Are you the charitable type? Well good news, ladies! You can feel good about your purchases because 2% of all dress sales go to a charity of the designers’ choice. 
The site is members-only, so find someone you know who is a member who can invite you OR request an invitation. Take some time to peruse the site, familiarize yourself with their merchandise and more importantly, make sure you know what YOU want before taking the plunge – for the dress, of course! 
 

The Perfect Leopard Flats

Ok, so I know I just recently posted about those amazing leopard booties but I just bought these awesome leopard print flats to cure my animal print cravings. Personally, I think Kohls is one of the best places to go for seasonal essentials and some trendy pieces without breaking the bank. This past weekend, I was able to visit a Kohls store which was somewhat off the beaten path and I scored some major bargain finds, one of which was these fabulous flats:

The BEST part? They were $27! Absolute perfection!

 

The claws will come out for these leopard booties!

A friend of mine recently purchased the most amazing pair of leopard print shoes, I just had to share them:

These Nine West booties reach so many levels of fashion fabulousness that they are a must-have! The leopard print is on-trend right now with all of the animal-inspired prints and furs showing up this season. The texture is enough to be unique and interesting without looking cheap and the red lining is the perfect pop of color! The best part – they are just a little more than $100 full price and right now, they are 30% off so you can get them for less than $85! Pair them with a pencil skirt and a button up for work and some skinny jeans, a tank and a cute blazer for a date night! Get really sassy and sport them with your favorite LBD for a night out on the town. They will last you all season!


 

Frugal Fashion Fav!

The holidays are fast approaching, which means it’s time to think more about others and less about myself, but I also sometimes can’t help myself with all the pre-holiday sales going on! Friends and Family sales are in full swing at several retailers, one of which – Ann Taylor Loft – is a personal favorite of mine! I’ve found ATL isn’t great for everything, but for specific items I can usually hit a home run. Typically, the accessories are trendy without breaking my budget, they always have great dresses for work that can transition to play and I always love their blazers and jackets! Here is one jacket that I am drooling over:

It is the perfect jacked for casual weekend wear with a touch of sophistication. At full price it is $98, but with the Friends and Family discount it is 40% off! Can’t beat that deal!

 

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