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Twenty-Something

and

Loving It!

Let's face it ladies, it's hard to stay fashion-forward and not break the bank when you're right out of college. The first time you are paying for everything on your own, rent, bills, clothes, clothes, clothes. But, being in your twenties should be your prime fashion time! There is no reason to let the old check book keep you from looking like a million bucks! 

I have to admit that I'm a bit of a fashion snob. My jeans have to be well-made. I am also very picky when it comes to slacks and jackets. These items have to fit well. But, there is no reason to go out and buy designer everything! Now, I know what you're thinking: Oh great, another "dress for less" plot. Well, that is not what I am advocating at all. My key to success when it comes to fashion, is having a tasteful eye, and building a solid wardrobe that will serve you for a long time.

Building this to-die-for wardrobe will require some higher-end purchases, but then mixing it with less expensive items. You have to have at least two pairs of really well-fitting and well-made jeans. A very dark pair for dressing up, and a lighter wash for daytime. Some of my favorite brands are David Kahn(these fit hour glass figures really well), Joe's Jeans (great for curvy women, and high-waisted girls), Paige (good for slender, long-legs), and AG Jeans (these fit everyone well). Jeans will cost you between $120-$250, but you have to look at it as a staple in your wardrobe! Another item that simply cannot be cheaped out on, is a pair of tailored slacks. They should be altered to fit you! It's worth the extra $15.00. A cheap pair of slacks immediately shows all of your flaws and can be incredibly unflattering. Jackets are another item that can be very telling if they are cheap and poorly made. So, go ahead and invest in these items. It will serve you well. One black blazer would go a long way, with suits, jeans, over dresses, the possibilities are endless.

Now that you have the expensive, well-made staples in your wardrobe, the fun part is coming up! This is where you can go to lower-end stores and find fun patterned shirts, and brightly colored scarves, costume jewelry, and lots of layered tees and tanks to go under your jackets and with your jeans. The key to shopping in inexpensive clothing stores, is keeping a watchful eye. Don't get seduced by the bright colors or layers of lace. Make sure you honestly look at the item and decide if it looks more expensive than it is. If it does, then it passes the test. Look at fabric, this can be a dead give away. If the fabric looks cheap- then the garment will look cheap. Cotton usually looks the same no matter what, so that's a pretty safe bet. Also look at the construction, maybe a sweater has cheap looking buttons, but you could go buy some really cool buttons, and sew them on yourself. This automatically made your cheap sweater look unique and more expensive. Overall, look for fun and cute items in these lower priced stores to enhance your wardrobe for less. These are items that you don't break the bank with, but you keep a tasteful approach to your shopping, so that everything looks like you bought it at Neiman Marcus.

 A tasteful eye, and good fit are the two most important things to keep in mind. Make sure pants are the right length, they should break a little, but not pool at the foot. Make sure jackets fit correctly at the shoulders. Make sure sleeves aren't too short. These are all things that make an outfit automatically look more expensive and flatter your body more, as well.  Your goal should be to trick all of your friends into thinking you only shop at Barney's, Neiman's and Bloomingdale's. And when you pair your designer jeans with your bargain basement tee and your GAP jacket, you will have a look that passes for high-end, but it in reality is a combination of all the price points. Build a wardrobe for yourself instead of spending your money haphazardly, without considering your entire closet. Mix and match items from all price points, and you will save money, and always look like a million bucks!