Money is tight and you're on a incredible strict budget but you are determined to look good. You have the basics (read Building a Perfect Wardrobe on a Budget) but now you want to add some style. What should you be spending your meager amounts of money on?
There are some tried and true things that we should all make the effort to spend some time and money on if we want to look like a woman of style.
Luckily for us these things are relatively easy to get and can be quite inexpensive, which pleases our frugal fashion souls to no end.
1.Lipstick. The best cosmetic ever to be made for womankind. It adds
colour to your face, sophistication to your look and generally pulls
you together. The mistake that many women make is if they have a lot of
eye make up on they should make their lipstick colour more subtle
otherwise they run the risk of looking trashy. It might take some time
to find that perfect red lipstick but it is well worth the effort.
2.Sunglasses. They can add instant glamour what ever you are wearing. This is another item that might take time to find that perfect pair but worth putting the time into. The smallest differences in sun glasses can make them look great or so-so on you. You will probably be able to figure out very quickly which ones you shouldn't buy but if you are unsure then ask someones opinion. Strangers can be surprisingly honest. Sunglasses come in all price points so don't think that it will only be a designer set that will make you look great. Trendy stores often have them on clear out at the end of summer.
3.Great Hair Cut (and hair colour) It is amazing how many women are paying good money for bad hair cuts. Ask a friend how expensive your hair cut looks and you might be in for a shock. Any hairdresser can make your hair look good just as you are leaving the salon but if you can't repeat that look at home then you are not getting your monies worth. Hair dressers can get indifferent and if they don't think that you care that much about how your hair looks then they won't care either. If you are colouring your hair at home you really need to be honest about how it is looking. The one colour everywhere look does not look cutting edge or good, it looks like a cheap colour job. You don't have to use a high end salon for a good cut and colour. Many walk in hair salons have very good colorist and stylist. For under $25 you might be getting a better cut from them than your pricey high end salon.
4. A Wrap. A large sized long wrapped is an invaluble item in your wardrobe no matter what your style. You can use it around your head as a head wear, around your neck as a scarf, around your shoulders as a shawl or around your hips as a cover up. You can go safe and get one in the standard colours of white, black or red but if you have it in your budget get a colour that will make your eyes pop as you will mostly be wearing it close to you face.
5. A Brooch. If you have never owned one you don't know the diversity of a brooch. You can use it a closure on your wrap to make it more like a cloak, you can put it on a plain cardigan to instantly dress it up, you can pin it to a purse to add some style, you can put it on a jacket or coat to add interest. Vintage broaches are an incredible deal and come in so many different styles from mod, funky, upscale, Victorian, quirky and sophisticated that you will be sure to find something that you love. To get a rough idea of what is out there go on ebay and have a look around then start looking for them at thrift shops, garage sales and antique malls.
6. A really good hair removal schedule. This is grooming that you can't do without. If you want to look great in a sleeveless dress both your underarms and legs have to be taken care of. Whether you wax or shave the whole point is that you must be consistent. Doesn't matter how great looking your clothes are, you are not going to wear them if you haven't groomed for them and it you do wear them when you haven't groomed for them you'll look slovenly. Disposable razors are inexpensive and will last longer if you keep them clean and dry them after every use. If you wax at home you'll save a fortune compared to spa prices. Continuous waxing will also make the hairs grow finer and less often. There are new products available that are easier to use than the traditional wax kits. Ask advice from the drugstore sales girls if you are unsure what to buy.
7. A smile. Doesn't matter how great your clothes look if you're walking around with a perpetual scowl on your face. Save yourself from rounds of Botox down the road by relaxing and trying to look as if you are having a good time going through life. Better yet, change your life so you are having a good time going through it.
So envision yourself with your fabulous sunglasses, with your great haircut, luscious lipstick, your legs looking lovely in your sleeveless dress with a fetching wrap pinned with your broach over your shoulder and smiling because you know you look like a woman of style and it didn't cost very much at all.
Copyright Ingrid Talpak 2010
Morestyelthancash
2.Sunglasses. They can add instant glamour what ever you are wearing. This is another item that might take time to find that perfect pair but worth putting the time into. The smallest differences in sun glasses can make them look great or so-so on you. You will probably be able to figure out very quickly which ones you shouldn't buy but if you are unsure then ask someones opinion. Strangers can be surprisingly honest. Sunglasses come in all price points so don't think that it will only be a designer set that will make you look great. Trendy stores often have them on clear out at the end of summer.
3.Great Hair Cut (and hair colour) It is amazing how many women are paying good money for bad hair cuts. Ask a friend how expensive your hair cut looks and you might be in for a shock. Any hairdresser can make your hair look good just as you are leaving the salon but if you can't repeat that look at home then you are not getting your monies worth. Hair dressers can get indifferent and if they don't think that you care that much about how your hair looks then they won't care either. If you are colouring your hair at home you really need to be honest about how it is looking. The one colour everywhere look does not look cutting edge or good, it looks like a cheap colour job. You don't have to use a high end salon for a good cut and colour. Many walk in hair salons have very good colorist and stylist. For under $25 you might be getting a better cut from them than your pricey high end salon.
4. A Wrap. A large sized long wrapped is an invaluble item in your wardrobe no matter what your style. You can use it around your head as a head wear, around your neck as a scarf, around your shoulders as a shawl or around your hips as a cover up. You can go safe and get one in the standard colours of white, black or red but if you have it in your budget get a colour that will make your eyes pop as you will mostly be wearing it close to you face.
5. A Brooch. If you have never owned one you don't know the diversity of a brooch. You can use it a closure on your wrap to make it more like a cloak, you can put it on a plain cardigan to instantly dress it up, you can pin it to a purse to add some style, you can put it on a jacket or coat to add interest. Vintage broaches are an incredible deal and come in so many different styles from mod, funky, upscale, Victorian, quirky and sophisticated that you will be sure to find something that you love. To get a rough idea of what is out there go on ebay and have a look around then start looking for them at thrift shops, garage sales and antique malls.
6. A really good hair removal schedule. This is grooming that you can't do without. If you want to look great in a sleeveless dress both your underarms and legs have to be taken care of. Whether you wax or shave the whole point is that you must be consistent. Doesn't matter how great looking your clothes are, you are not going to wear them if you haven't groomed for them and it you do wear them when you haven't groomed for them you'll look slovenly. Disposable razors are inexpensive and will last longer if you keep them clean and dry them after every use. If you wax at home you'll save a fortune compared to spa prices. Continuous waxing will also make the hairs grow finer and less often. There are new products available that are easier to use than the traditional wax kits. Ask advice from the drugstore sales girls if you are unsure what to buy.
7. A smile. Doesn't matter how great your clothes look if you're walking around with a perpetual scowl on your face. Save yourself from rounds of Botox down the road by relaxing and trying to look as if you are having a good time going through life. Better yet, change your life so you are having a good time going through it.
So envision yourself with your fabulous sunglasses, with your great haircut, luscious lipstick, your legs looking lovely in your sleeveless dress with a fetching wrap pinned with your broach over your shoulder and smiling because you know you look like a woman of style and it didn't cost very much at all.
Copyright Ingrid Talpak 2010
Morestyelthancash
Hello mrs. Talpik,
I absolutely love your blog and read every article!
Thank you,
Rowan