You can't help but laugh at
makeover shows that give contestants $5000 and a list of swanky stores to find a suitable new look. I mean, how could you
not find something respectable to wear with that budget? Most of us are lucky to find an extra $50 to spend at an outlet mall. How's a girl supposed to learn to get a new look when she's low on cash?
Well, first you need to know your
trends. That way you'll realize that a $10 pair of gauchos may not be as good of a deal as a $20 pair of
bermuda shorts, because the bermudas will still look fresh through the end of summer while the gauchos have pretty much already run their course.
Second, learn to put your money into key items that will get noticed first: jeans, handbag and shoes are a good start. Jeans should be updated -- either a superskinny leg in a dark wash, a slim leg in white or a slightly bootcut jean that rests a bit below the natural waistline. You can buy many of these styles for less than $30 at retailers like
Old Navy. Also, look for a
handbag that is inspired by designer styles and shop for
great shoes that are a bargain.Third, you need to learn
how to shop sales like a pro. I once bought a Marc Jacobs leather handbag for $42 on sale. It wasn't a good color (sort of teal) or a particularly cute style. I would never have bought it except it was just such a steal. So I broke one of my own cardinal rules of
learning to buy fashion bargains: never buy because of price alone. (But -- come on! -- $42 for a Marc Jacobs bag?)
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