For this week’s Frugal Fashionista post, I had planned on sharing what I wore every, single day.
Yes, a typical life in the world of Frugal Fashion doesn’t have to be boring. It can be put together so easily, like this simple outfit.
This $1 brown yard sale shirt with sheer sleeves can be dressed up or down. Paired with my yard sale jean shorts, it’s perfect for running errands, but swap it out for dress pants or a skirt and it’s fancy enough for a night out on the town.
Many of you said you need help with pairing the right accessories with your outfits. Often, it’s just a matter of experimenting. This necklace is actually two separate necklaces from two different yard sales. Alone, they look kind of ugly, but for $0.50/each, I knew I could get creative with them. Pairing them together and adding these fun brown earrings pulls it all together and really dresses up a plain shirt.
For around $5 WITH the shoes, I have the epitome of a day to day Frugal Fashionista outfit.
It doesn’t feel boring at all, until I saw this next photo shoot…
This collage I put together highlights a recent fashion show. Yes, I read the reviews and people RAVED about the use of color, the mixing of patterns, and the wonderful sense of style that this designer created.
I knew that mismatched patterns were the rage this year, but still….I don’t really get it. Do you have any idea the thousands of dollars these outfits totaled? THOUSANDS!
I appreciate everyone’s varied sense of style, but the only inspiration I did receive was the invitation to try anything. That in and of itself is freeing.
Now, you won’t catch me pairing such a diverse set of patterns. I just couldn’t go there, but it’s interesting to me to see just how many people do.
Now both of these white looks, if I could pull them off with my body type, I would wear in a heartbeat. Both are simple and classic, yet the first look is funk at its finest with those huge, chunky heals.
Long summer dresses are every where this summer, and I love them. I have seen women of every size pull these off looking beautiful.
I have yet to find one second hand, but I’ve seen them as cheap as $20, and that would be worth it.
This second look? Another example of big, bold patterns.
How brave are you? Would you be willing to pull off any of these new trends?
I’m like you. I am not a fan of the mismatched different pattern look. I could deal with the other looks but I like my clothes to somewhat match….
Nope, I’m not going to be mixing bold patterns like that! Stacy and Clinton from “What Not to Wear” have made me feel comfortable with mixing a dressy shirt that has a pattern with dress pants that have a stripe, but I only do that on rare occassions.
I do love the mismatch of patterns – but I like them to match colorwise – I have a four year old little girl and I dress her in polka dots and stripes, etc – so long as the colors are the same, it’s completely adorable. The fun thing is she’s started to do it herself and she’s actually quite good at matching the colors, my little fashionista, ha ha. I’m a bit on the voluptuous side – so I try not to do too much pattern, so as to accentuate the positive, but I always try to be a little playful.
I do not understand the pattern mixing in those first pictures. To me, there’s nothing pretty about it. The rest of it is nice and I would wear the last outfit in a heartbeat. I have always liked solid tops with patterned bottoms.
OOOh, I love the pattern mixing. Personally, I’ve tried it and end up looking like a bag lady, but my teenaged daughter takes the exact same outfit from my closet, and somehow ends up looking like she just walked off a fashion shoot. *Sigh*
I’ve actually seen some vintage maxis in thrift stores around me, though for me those come a little too close to things my mother wore to parties in the 70s. My daughter thinks they’re cool. I have managed to find some newer maxi- length skirts to pair with a tank top or tee. They look great with both flip-flops and heels.
You could totally wear those white outfits.
Jen, your brown top is to die for! I think I saw you wear this once to church and almost offered to buy it off of you right then and there!!!! Brown is actually my favorite color (yeah, I know, not many people have that as a favorite), but I wear it A LOT all year! It’s my “go to” color of choice! So for me when I saw you in this top, it was a top-rated choice for me! Just remember, just because you got it at a yard sale doesn’t mean you can’t re-sell it to me whenever you tire of it! As always, you look amazing and your posts are a joy to read! As for the mixed patterns… not for me!
Well, as a self-proclaimed style blogger, I adore mixed patterns/prints and crazy pants. I’m definitely feeling the maxi dress trend (is it still a trend after being popular for the last year???), perfect for those days when you want to feel girly but casual.
Della – I need some of your style. I want to try some of the mixed patterns, but just haven’t taken the leap yet. 🙂 Now the ones on here, I couldn’t pull off, but some of the more subtle ones, I would be up for.
I like some patterns mixed, but not like that first pic – yikes! You could wear anything Jen and you will always look gorgeous and classy! I like the idea of the long dress but I’ve been too afraid to try because of being overweight – feel like it will just make me look even bigger.
@Lisa @ Stop and Smell the Chocolates, With the long dresses I’ve found (I’m a bit overweight, too) that the larger patterns tend to be more flattering. When I try on the smaller patterns, it just seems too much – but I love the water color, swooshy patterns (ha ha technical term) or the larger florals. I’d go to one of the larger outlet stores like Ross or TJMAXX and try on a bunch of different prints to see what styles are your favorite and then that way you’ll be better armed for looking when you go thrifting or garage saling.