A New Year

With New Year's Eve being only a few days away, there is no better excuse to go shopping for a celebratory dress. The after Christmas sales are here and are the perfect way to prepare for the occasion in an affordable manner. New Year's Eve is one night in which chic and dressy fashion is almost a necessity, but no one wants to splurge too much after purchasing holiday gifts. Sparkles, black, red, silver, and gold are New Year's Eve color and design staples. If you're a last minute shopper and don't yet have an outfit for New Year's Eve, here are some great affordable options.

Forever 21, $22.80

Forever 21, $22.80

Charlotte Russe, $20

Charlotte Russe, $34.50

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.



Dark and Sparkled

Now more than ever is the time to be noticed according to this year's fall and winter fashion. Almost every store is selling sequined and glittered goods. At first I was skeptical about these shiny ensembles, but now I see them as the ideal way to add some glam to the upcoming dreary months. Plus, it can't be denied that sequins are the quintessential holiday accessory, as they channel the bright spirit of the season.

All of these items below may seem better fit for the summer but are brought out with the cold for some logical reasons. The dark colors are much too dim for summer, yet perfect for going out and getting dressed up in the winter. Sequined shorts and skirts look great with a pair of black tights underneath, and the flats can jazz up jeans and a sweater.

Here are some inexpensive, sparkly items.

This Forever 21 top is 15.80.



These AE shorts are 49.50.



Not a fan of shorts? Try this AE skirt for an even better price of 34.50.



These AE flats are 29.50 and also come in black.

 

A Cheaper Halloween

To me, Halloween is a "holiday" of great burden. Although I love creating a costume and dressing up for an entire weekend, it is always a hassle to not only think of what to be, but also to purchase or make all of the items necessary for the ensemble. On top of all of this, costumes are expensive. The last thing college students should spend 60 dollars on is a poor quality costume that we'll wear once (and that doesn't even come with the accessories.) That's why my anti-halloween roommate and I decided to make dressing up more affordable by refusing to purchase the packaged, unoriginal costumes sold in stores and online.

Here's how to make it happen:
Obviously, the first step in this process is to decide what exactly you want to be. Last year, I  wanted to be a "gold digger," however the costume cost around 65 dollars. So, instead, I searched around at inexpensive online stores. I finally ended up at gojane.com (a store with many inexpensive options) and purchased the gold dress pictured below for just 20 dollars. Then, I bought a can of gold spray paint and painted my childhood toys (a shovel and a fireman hat.) My costume was complete, and it only cost about 25 dollars.

My version of the costume

 

The online version of the costume

I have yet to decide exactly what I'm going to be this year, though I've had a few ideas. I have a striped red and white dress from H&M that happens to perfectly resemble "Where's Waldo." I am considering pairing this dress with a hat and glasses just like Waldo, which will provide me with a virtually free costume. Try looking through online costume stores for inspiration and seeing what you can find in your closet or online that can substitute as an inexpensive alternative!