Around the World

Up to this point in my life, I haven't had many opportunities to travel far distances. The extent of my journeys include one cruise and multiple trips to Florida. This upcoming year, I'm looking forward to two trips that I'll be taking to uncharted territories (well, uncharted by me.) I've always envied girls in the airport toting around fancy, patterned luggage and carry-ons. It seems like the perfect accessory for a comfy plane ride ensemble, but I could never legitimize spending hundreds of dollars on name brand suitcases, especially since my standard navy blue one has yet to fail me. Although I'm still unsure of whether I'm going to splurge on new luggage, I found some fashionable and affordable options that are definitely worthy of consideration.

These Victoria's Secret wheeled duffel bags are 128.00 each.

This rolling bag is my favorite. It's 69.95 and comes in other colors also.

Tote and toiletry bag, 29.95.

This bag is on sale from 140.00 to 49.99.

Hung by the Chimney with Care

If you're on a budget, buying holiday presents can be a stressful event. It's difficult to find gifts that are affordable but also thoughtful and high quality. My favorite part of Christmas morning is opening my stocking. It is usually filled with little treasures or simple items that I always need and appreciate receiving as a gift. A creative and affordable way to give during the upcoming season is to fill a stocking with a plethora of small and inexpensive gifts. If you don't celebrate Christmas, the same gesture can be done by filling a bag (a fashionable bag can even be part of the gift!)

Here are some perfect stocking stuffers for your female friends and family...

Urban Outfitters headband, 16 dollars.

Four piece holiday nail kit, 20 dollars.

GAP scent, $14.50.

Yarn cable gloves, $12.99.

Lauren Conrad's Style book (lots of great tips!) about 12 dollars.



Silver bangles, 22 dollars.

   

the little Gucci dress, the little Gucci dress, or the little Gucci dress!

Since this is an affordable fashion blog, it would be sensible that I would be writing an entry on Black Friday. Well, the reason I'm not is because I think it is a big hoax. In my experience, the sales are on items that nobody wants, and it's simply not worth it to fight through crowds to save 20 dollars. I usually opt to try shopping online on midnight of Black Friday. This year,when I made this attempt, there were hardly any sales, and in most stores, free shipping was only offered on minimum purchases of at least 50 dollars. Therefore, I've come to the conclusion that Black Friday is useless, but what isn't is the little black dress...

I was first introduced to the little black dress when I was seven and saw Spice World. Back then I didn't really understand the importance of the wisdom Victoria Beckham was spreading, but I certainly do now. A LBD is an important piece for every girl to own. It's essential to find one that fits you perfectly, will remain in style for many years, is the right length for both going out and more conservative occasions, and that you truly love. Then, the dress can be worn uncountable times and always appear different. Whether it's paired with tights, stilettos, boots, a blazer, a cardigan, costume jewelry, or simply worn alone, the LBD is an essential, versatile item.

Here are some affordable LBD's...(Some are slightly pricier than what I would normally suggest because a LBD is often an investment that can be worn for years.)

Forever 21, $19.80.

Free People, on sale for 43.20.

Velvet Torch, $54.00.

Swell, $118.00

Ella Moss, $67.20.

A little Warmth for your DO

Traditional snow hats like this one were acceptable to wear on the playground in elementary school, but now that we're expected to appear sophisticated and stylish, it's essential to find alternatives to pom poms and fuchsia head gear. But, of course, we still reserve the right to keep warm. A chic winter hat is the perfect way to fight the cold and subsequently accessorize your ensemble (inexpensively.) The same hat can be worn with multiple outfits to constantly transform your look to fit your mood and the weather.

Here are some of my current favorites...

(Charlotte Russe has a great selection.)

Forever 21, $7.80.

Charlotte Russe, $9.50.

Charlotte Russe, 12.50.

Charlotte Russe, $16.50.

Back to the Basics

There's no better way to build your wardrobe than to purchase many staple pieces that can be altered and reinvented into a variety of outfits when mixed with different accessories and layers. One of the most currently relevant staple pieces is a basic white tee. White tees can be worn in a plethora of ways; with cut-offs, hidden under a blazer, draped over leggings, or tucked into skinny jeans or a skirt. Whether your tee of choice is a v-neck, scoop, sheer, or thick, they are always affordable, always stylish, and always a great fallback on those days when you simply don't know what else to wear. Check out H&M for every style of white tees for 7.50 or less.

Forever 21, $3.50.

Try pairing a white tee with one of these affordable options...

Forever 21 necklace, $8.50.

Forever 21 blazer, $27.80.

Piperlime scarf, $36.00.

Wrap it Up

Even though we've been taught since we were kids to never judge a book by it's cover, I think that gifts are an exception to this rule. Giving someone a holiday present nicely wrapped adds to the thoughtfulness and overall effect of the gesture. Not to imply that I don't appreciate a gift unless it looks like someone at Macy's wrapped it, but the extra effort it takes to make the package look nice shows that the giver truly cares. In the past, I've definitely been guilty of presenting some sloppy gifts, but if you're completely inept at wrapping like I am, purchasing fashionable gift bags and wrapping paper is a way to compensate for the otherwise insufficient packaging. So, no excuses this year! This website sells a wide variety of impressive wrapping paper, bags, and boxes for all holidays. And, of course, it's affordable. So, stock up now because the holidays are approaching rapidly.

This santa hat is actually a gift bag!

These animal print bags are perfect for those of you looking for unique packaging!

One for One

For those of you who haven't already heard of them, TOMS are shoes, but they are also a movement. For every pair that you buy, a new pair of shoes will be donated to a child in need. The shoes usually range in price from about 50 dollars to 70 dollars. While this is a little pricier than what I would normally pay for a basic pair of shoes, it is definitely worth the splurge for the great cause. TOMS are perfect shoes for the fall and spring, and there are a variety of options and styles for men, women, and kids. There is even a holiday collection to celebrate the upcoming season. Despite the fact that I was originally attracted to TOMS because of the one for one shoe movement, they are also pleasantly unique. Currently, I'm craving a pair from their glitter collection.


This pair is 54 dollars and comes in a few other color options.

How can you resist buying a pair after seeing this?

*Pictures taken from TOMS.com

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Although I feel like it was just yesterday that I was spending my days on the beach, the reality is that the holidays are suddenly and unexpectedly approaching. As if purchasing presents, organizing family gatherings, and preparing meals is not enough to think about, it is also necessary to have celebratory ensembles ready for the upcoming season. The holidays are often difficult to dress for due to many factors. The clothing must be festive and representative of the respective holiday, appropriate to wear in front of family, and affordable, as money is generally tight this time of year. Oh yeah, and you know that go-to outfit you have for certain occasions like weddings and job interviews? That doesn't work for the holidays. There are always pictures from previous years, and there will always be that know-it-all cousin who kindly points out to the entire family that you wore the same dress last year.

So what is my advice for inexpensive holiday gear? Instead of buying a whole outfit, stock up on appropriately colored/patterned accessories and shoes that you can pair with basic dresses, sweaters, or even jeans. This keeps dressing for the holidays relatively affordable, but still stylish.

Here are some ideas for Thanksgiving...

This Forever 21 headband is 3.80.



This Forever 21 scarf is 7.80.

These Nine West heels are on sale for 13 dollars. Can't beat that!

This Charlotte Russe necklace is 12.50.



Patriotism and a Sale

In honor of Veteran's Day, Charlotte Russe is having a sale that lasts until Sunday. While Charlotte Russe can sometimes have seemingly tasteless clothes, it is always affordable, and some good quality, fashionable items can be found if you're a determined shopper who is willing to sift through a plethora of clothing and accessories to find what you want. If anything, Charlotte Russe is always great for purchasing jewelry, belts, and staples like tank tops and basic tees at inexpensive prices. They also almost always have shoe sales and actually produce some impressive pumps.

Here are some of my favorite sale items:

For those of you in warm weather climates or who are planning winter vacations, these shoes are on sale for 13.99 and also come in pink and white.

This canvas tote is a feminine way to carry your books to class, and it's only 7.99.

This 6.99 necklace would look great with a cardigan or v-neck dress.

This scoop neck is only 8.99 and comes in three other colors.

This sweater is 10.99 and also comes in grey.

Military Mentality

Here is part of a post that I did for CollegeFashionista.com:

Military style can be found everywhere this fall, whether it’s through outerwear, boots, or conveyed by the confidence of the girl rocking the look. Wearing military style clothes displays a sense of sophistication, strength, and chic style that cannot be found among other clothing. Plus, the dark, earthy colors of this trend perfectly compliment the burnt tones of autumn.



These rustic looking, golden brown pair of combat boots shown below were just 30 dollars at Marshalls. Not only are these boots a great way to keep your feet warm trudging through the leaves to class, but they add originality and uniqueness to any ensemble.

These boots were worn united and loose, which portrayed a carefree, casual appearance. If you’re worried about military style seeming too proper or tense, this is a great way to loosen up the look!

Look here to see other military inspired looks!

Pump It

"I don't know who invented high heels, but all women owe him a lot."

-Marilyn Monroe

 
One unfortunate downfall to attending a college in a muddy, frigid, country setting is the lack of opportunities to wear a great pair of heels. Nonetheless, I love the sometimes painful shoes, whether it's in the form of dressy heels, pumps, or stilettos. Heels can be expensive, but there's nothing better than spicing up a plain outfit with a burst of brightness from a colored heel, looking classy and chic with a black pump, or determining an entire ensemble based off of one great pair of stilettos. So, I sought out to find some affordable heels so that everyone can enjoy the crave-worthy beauty of them.

DSW has a whole page of pumps and other heels for under 50 dollars, here are some of my favorites...

(DSW is also offering free shipping for any purchase over 35 dollars)

These knotted suede pumps are 49.95 and come in 3 other colors.

These Rampage heels are on sale for 29.95.



These Madden Girl patent red high heels also come in four other colors for just 39.95



A Not so Abandoned Road

My friend, Wynne, is a great photographer and offered to take some pictures for this blog. She found a beautiful, "abandoned" road to use as the setting. Well, it ended up that the road wasn't so abandoned, and we had to run out of the middle of the street multiple times to dodge cars, but we still managed to get some great shots due to her amazing skills, the gorgeous autumn background, and a little inspiration from my favorite blog, Cupcakes and Cashmere.

The reason I was excited about taking these pictures is to share my affinity for sweater dresses with you. I think that they are the absolute perfect item of clothing for the days of apple cider and raking leaves. I love dresses, and hate how the cold weather can detract from being able to wear them. Sweater dresses are a great substitution and autumn/winter version of flowy sundresses. They go so well with boots, tights, and leggings and can be dressed up or accessorized with scarves, long necklaces, and belts. And as is the case with any dress, they are often affordable if you consider the cost to be for an entire outfit instead of just one piece, since they can be worn alone or with common staples that you already have.

Look here and here for some affordable sweater dresses!

Victoria's Secret sweater dress, Macy's scarf and tights, DSW Me too Shoes, guess purse, aerie ring and bracelet, Lia Sophia bracelet, anthropologie earrings

"Shop it All"

Wouldn't it be nice if we could have a search engine just for fashion? Well, there actually is one. Beso. This website allows you to search any item of clothing and see results from a wide variety of brands, from Old Navy to Free People to Burberry. You can also pick your favorite brands, and you'll soon "be able to fully customize your site experience based on those favorites, and stay up to date on the latest and greatest from stores and brands you love." This site is inexplicably convenient, as it can show you the most affordable options among a plethora of brands for men, women, and kids. This saves a tremendous amount of precious time because it allows you to go to one site to browse for an item instead of relentlessly and frustratingly searching through dozens of different sites. What's great is that Beso doesn't stop at clothing. You can also search home goods, jewelry, and beauty supplies. Check it out! It may change your online shopping experience.

Just some of the many items available on Beso:

Neiman Marcus Jacket-on sale for 66 dollars

Nine West pumps- 59.95