Designer Outfit Under $100

This post was inspired by a seriously sweet score at a Ross store. I had actually gone in with the purpose of finding a few cute new pieces of jewelry. Instead I walked out with my first pair of designer jeans. I swear I may have gasped in shock when I saw these Michael Kors skinnies on clearance, in my size. Ok, I might have wept with gratitude, but whatever.

Originally priced for retail at $99.50, they were priced for $34 at Ross. Even better, they were finally marked down to $20.99 on clearance! How people are able to work clothing retail & not be broke is beyond me. Anyway, these jeans made me think an entire designer outfit for $100 would be a fun challenge & totally doable. When I got the jeans home, I was even more excited to realize I had the perfect shoes to pair with them. I picked up these BCBG wedges summer 2006, on sale from Macy's. I think they were originally $130, but I paid $60.

To complete the ensemble, I needed a top. This Ralph Lauren purple blouse has been in my closet for years. If I recall correctly, I picked it up from a Goodwill in Savannah, Ga for $7. The outfit totals out at $88! It's amazing what can be found on sale + thrifting.

Purple + Turquoise is such a fun color combo. 

The bag I used when I wore this outfit was a 90's Louis Vuitton given to me by my grandmother. It's also the only Louis Vuitton I happen to own.

I heart L.V.

A trendy take. Chevron + Colored Skinnies +Sandals

 Turquoise Skinnies- Michael Kors from Ross, $20.99
                                 
  Purple Button Down- Ralph Lauren via Goodwill, $7

White Wedges- BCBG via Macy's, $60

                                                                   
 Purse- Louis Vuitton, gift, free 

Chevron top- TJ Maxx, $12

Sandals- Target, on sale for $12

Top 10 Tips for Thrifting

I enjoy hitting up thrift & consignment stores mainly for the hunt, though I do enjoy the savings. I wouldn't have nearly as many clothes if it wasn't for them. However, I know a lot of y'all can get overwhelmed when looking. It's really easy for that to happen. With that said, it can also be really fun! Sometimes it can be hit or miss, but if you go on a regular basis, you'll be able to find better bargains.

 My top tips for thrifting:

• Don't be afraid to ask about sales. Many times, there will be 30%-50% off clothes, jewelry, etc.. It's worth it to ask.
• Check the piece you're thinking about purchasing with a thorough eye. Are there any stains, tears or pulls? Hems and seams can be fixed, but if it's stained or torn, pass. 
• Is it a size or two too big? Few inches too long? No biggie! Either alter it yourself or take it to a tailor. They can easily fix it for you. More then 3 sizes I wouldn't recommend though. It can lose too much shape at that point. 
• Think about including it with an outfit as a whole, not just one separate piece. Say you find a gorgeous tweed blazer, what would you wear with it? You could keep it simple with skinnies + fitted tee + flats or wear it with a skirt + heels.
• Can't think of anything to pair a piece with? Check out Pinterest. Type the article of clothing in the search bar and see what creative ensembles pop up.  
• Don't be intimated by the sheer volume of things you see. You'll have to dig. Sometimes you'll get lucky and there will be something so amazing you'll want to tell everyone. I've found Dior, Michael Kors, etc in situations like that. 
• Follow the cleaning instructions on the clothing tags! If the tag is missing, I'd suggest handwashing + lie flat or gentle cycle + low heat. The last thing you want to do with a new (to you) purchase is ruin it in the washer. 
• Look for quality fabrics. You'll be surprised at the designers you can find. People donate just about everything these days. 
• Shoes can be shined, jewelry can be cleaned. Don't let a scuff deter you from shoes that make you sigh with longing. Just use a little elbow grease & make those baby's look new again!
• Most of all, enjoy the hunt. If you're stressing or your mind is wandering, you won't be fully present while shopping. 

Ripped Jeans

Ripped jeans are so much fun. I get such a kick out of destroying denim. Maybe it's my inner rebellious teen trying to come out..who knows. I bought these jeans from Kohl's, on sale + combined with the 15% coupon they normally offer. One sweet cashier told me to connect to their wifi while in line and up it popped. They were too long and just like any other dark wash, boot cut jean. I wanted to change that. I hemmed them, took scissors & a razor blade to a few spots, then finally rolled them, so they were scruffy, cuffed capris. The shirt is thrifted from Goodwill. Originally there was a lackluster lining and elastic sleeves, which I immediately removed. Am I the only one who hates elastic on their arms? It just makes me itch. The bag, I love. H&M via Goodwill. It was buried underneath a stack of so-so bags on top of some shoes. I think of it like buried treasure. The splurge with this outfit was the hat. It says "Love" on one side in sparkly silver, with the 'o' being replaced with the Coast Guard emblem. On the back it has USCG. What can I say? I'm a proud wife.

                                                             

Before

Who doesn't glare at the phone when trying on shirts? I tell ya, it's the elastic sleeves.

After

Much happier....elastic sleeve free.

                                                         

                                                                                                        

Thrifting!

Classic shape + neutral color = keeper

                                                                                                                                    

Shirt- Goodwill, $6.99

Camisole- Forever 21, $3

Jeans- Kohl's, sale + coupon, $9

Shoes-Old Navy, coupon, $10

Bag-H&M via Goodwill, $7.99

Hat- Hand Crafted (check her out on Facebook & Etsy!), $30

Lilly Girl

To say I love Lilly Pulitzer is a bit of an understatement. Her clothes are bright, cheerful and appropriate for almost any social situation. I can't say I've seen any since living in California, but in Georgia, it's more then just a dress. It's almost like a way of life, a religion. A very bubbly, bright, expensive way of life...kind of like a good champagne. While you could wait for the big sale they typically have at the end of the summer or buy it full price, I'd recommend checking out Re-Lilly Group on Facebook. Honestly, it's one of my favorite things to check out when I get on Facebook! I bought this dress from a lovely woman in Georgia for $30. Originally it went for $118 and, last I checked, sells for $79 on Amazon. The phone case is Lilly as well, and purchased from TJ Maxx. What I love the most about Lilly is the timelessness of the designs. I like to think of them as investment pieces. If I love something enough, I'm going to save it for my daughter for when she's older. Thus, the investment. Of course, explaining that to my husband normally just results in a blank stare. ;)

Lilly...perfect for all occasions! 

Lilly Pulitzer Dress-Re-Lilly, $30

Lilly Phone Case- TJ Maxx, $7.99

Monogram- cSa monograms, $2.55

Sandals- Payless, $15 (3 years ago)

Earrings-Walgreens, $2.99 
Bracelet- Zulily, $7.00
Necklace-made by my wonderful aunt  

Gaga for Monograms

I, like many other Southern women, have a thing for monograms. Maybe there's something in our DNA that is attracted those three little letters engraved or embroidered on everything from rings to shirts. All I know is, I love monograms. With that being said, none of this outfit was thrifted. It was, however, done on a budget. The shorts were on sale at New York & Company, the plain shirt purchased from Michael's on sale & the earrings from Walgreens. Surprise, right? Who knew Walgreens had some cute accessories? I didn't until recently. Now, if you're like me and love pocket tee's and seeing the price of one from a regular store gives you heart palpitations... Give this idea a shot. This shirt cost me a whole $2. There are many people out there who do embroidery from home and can give you a much better price on your monogrammed items. Ask around. See if your local craft/fabric/quilt store has someone who is willing to provide that service. You could easily end up saving $10-$20 that way, as opposed to shelling out upwards of $35 or $40 on one top. If you're a huge fan of monograms and embroidery in general, think about investing in an embroidery machine. I'm fairly certain almost every brand has them at different price points, dependent upon your needs. Not only could you have your own projects, you could add a personal touch to gifts. 

                                

Whale earrings are such a quirky little touch.

This outfit feels so springy. 

  Shirt- Michael's $2, pocket embroidery, free (Thanks Mom!)

Shorts-New York & Company, $15

Earrings-Walgreens, $2.99

Flats- H&M, $12
Phone Case- eBay, $2 

What I Sew On...

I grew up in a family of Bernina loyalists, which means no other brand of machine dared enter our home. As I've gotten older, it's also just become my preference. I currently sew on a Bernina 380 & have for the last few years. When we pcs'd (military for permanent change of station, aka moving) from Virginia to California this summer, I even packed it into our already full van. I wasn't taking any chances! The wonderful thing about sewing is anyone can learn. It's not a skill to be intimidated by and it's certainly handy. The majority of my clothes would be too long and baggy if I didn't know how to do little alterations.

Machine purchased from Savannah Sewing Center & Colonial Quilts

If you've ever thought about doing any sewing, look into a local fabric store, community college or ask around to see if anyone's teaching a class. More often then not, someone is typically offering a beginner session. It's worth it to learn! 

If sewing isn't your thing, find a seamstress or tailor. It normally doesn't cost much to have clothing altered so it will fit you perfectly. Better fitting clothes = more confidence. Always a winning combination! 

Rocking with Lace

This linen shift looked incredibly comfortable, which is why I picked it up. 100% linen dress for $7? Heck yes. It needed to be hemmed because short legs + mid length dress = recipe for an unflattering outfit. After a 10 minute alteration, it was ready.

                                               Before 

                                                      

                                             Long & shapeless. Not a good look. 

                                                               After 

                                               

In this first look, I went a little country. Underneath the shift I'm wearing a cream colored top with lace sleeves. The dress worked with the top perfectly, so all you see of it are the sleeves. A belt to define my waist, red boots & a long turquoise pendant complete it. I had the urge to go to a Florida Georgia Line concert after wearing this.

         Look 2 feels more appropriate for an office job or church. By changing the shoes and belt, the dress has a different vibe. A nude belt & shoes have more of a toned down look. Belts are wonderful accessories! They can easily add definition and change a look. Don't be afraid to rock one!

               

                      Dress- Salvation Army, $7          Lace Shirt- TJ Maxx, $12

                       Red Boots- Jessica Simpson 2005...not sure of cost as they were a gift

                                                      Braided Belt- Target $3

                                                      Nude belt- Target, $10

                                                      Turquoise Pendant- Forever 21, $5

                                      Nude Pumps- Dillards...not sure of cost as they were a gift

Modern Hippie

If I could go back in time to the 60's & 70's, just for the fashion, I would. Minus the polyester, clothing was so crazy expressive. With that in mind, this was my modern, mommy running errands & playing with kids take on it. This dress came from Target, via the Salvation Army, and cost me a whopping $7. I had to alter it in the bust as it was a smidgen too big, but with that little tweak, it fit great.

                                                                 Before

After

I added black sandals, a braided brown belt, single bubble necklace, bright blue cuff and adorable little shell earrings. If I could have worn some flowers in my hair, I would have rocked those as well. :) 

Dress- thrifted, $7

Sandals- Target, on sale, $12

Belt- Target clearance, $3

Cuff- Polka Dots of Savannah, GA, $18

Necklace- Caroline G. 

 Sunnies- Target, $12

Accessories

I've never had much luck in the way of finding jewelry I liked at thrift stores. Occasionally, I've found a bracelet or necklace, but not much else. However, there are many places to find cute & fun accessories on a budget. Some are obvious- Target, Old Navy, Kohl's, Charming Charlie's, JC Penney's, etc... Even better is almost, if not all, offer coupons & have sales. Forever 21 is another place with affordable jewelry, just don't expect it to last too long. Some of the most surprising places I've found cute jewelry and scarves were the places I don't normally browse through. Walmart & Walgreens both have cute, contemporary pieces as well. They're also incredibly affordable. I found these earrings at Walgreens for only $2.99 each! Plus they had adorable scarves...and, of course, I grabbed one as well. It's impossible to have too many accessories. They can totally transform your look!

Who doesn't love sparkles + anchors? 

Mad for Plaid

I'll admit, I have a thing for plaid. But shhh! It's a secret. Okay, obviously not. When I saw this dress, I had to have it. Regardless of the fact that it's long, dowdy and reminds me of an old school marm from way back when, it called to me. I knew I could tweak it and make it perfect. Would I wear this just any day? No, but it would be wonderful during the winter as the fabric is thick and it screams Christmas to me. Even luckier, it was marked down and had never been worn. Score!
                                                                 Before

After

I hemmed it by about 7 inches and seriously fell in love. Can it be the holiday season yet? Adding neutral pumps and a red bubble necklace let the dress be the focal point. However, it would be even more fun with sparkly red or gold heels, pearls and a trench.

Dress- Salvation Army, $5

Heels-Dillards, sale

Necklace- Caroline G. just paid shipping 

Caroline G. is my go to for bubble necklaces y'all. She's affordable to begin with, but is constantly offering fun sales. I've taken advantage of 50% off codes and just pay shipping deals. Check her out on Instagram and Facebook! 

Feeling Colorful

It's always amazing what goodies are lurking in the local thrift shop. It can be an inexpensive and exciting challenge to find something with potential. It's even better when the store is having a 50% off day. Who doesn't get excited reduced prices?! I picked up this yellow top at the Salvation Army for about $3 one day. It's meant to be roomy, so I thought it would be perfect to brighten up the basic jeans + tank equation. Dark wash jeans, which were hemmed by about 4 inches (short legs here!), are the perfect compliment to the sunny yellow.

Yellow Jacket- Liz Claiborne, thrifted $3

Tank- on sale, Target, $7

Jeans- clearance rack, Target, $8.98

Bubble Necklace- Caroline G., only paid shipping, $6

Ring & Bracelet are both from Marley Lilly, purchased during a flash sale

Headband is Vera Bradley

My First Blog-- Fabulous Fashions on Finite Finances!!

I am starting this blog as a way to share my love of fashion, which is constrained by our budget, and ways to put together seemingly 'blah' clothes and make something fabulous!  I am currently living in California which has a plethora of resale, thrift and vintage stores.  I absolutely take advantage of all the resources available.

 

I love to pick up basic pieces, like this Liz Claiborne (got it for $3.99!) when I see them to work them into my wardrobe.

I love picking up fun items, like this cute denim dress.
A braided belt, rolled sleeves, cowboy boots & a simple alteration transform the once unflattering dress to something fabulous.











As I am fairly petite, 5'4" tall, I often have to hem my clothes.  I sew on a BERNINA 380 sewing machine, which I love. I'm definitely not a seamstress though.  But, I have a love of fashion, two-small children and a great sewing machine.