Fashion Without Funds

By Maureen Meacham
Personal Wardrobe Consultant
Wardrobe Wonders:

Part II of Smarty Buzz – What’s Hot for Fall:
My daughter and I were out working on some serious retail therapy this weekend when we ran into something that tickled our funny bone. We found a set of paper napkins that read “If I keel over in Wal-Mart, please drag my body to Neiman’s.” LOL! Did someone write these napkins just for me, I thought. They were a must-have purchase! They were speaking my language! I do my best to look like I belong at Neiman’s but I’m really a Wal-Mart shopper. Actually I’m more of a Target girl, although I don’t discount (discount, get it? HeHe!) Wal-Mart, I’ve found some really cute things there.

So, how do you pull this off? How do you look like a Neiman’s girl while you are actually a Target girl? It’s pretty simple. I start with a field trip to Neiman’s for some people watching. Notice what the other shoppers look like. Talk to the sales people, ask them about the clothing lines that they carry. Even try some things on. Make mental notes about the scoop that you get from your field trip (or even take some pictures with your cell phone). Then, head to your favorite “discount” shop. I guarantee that you are going to see some similar pieces. Granted, they will not be of the “Neiman’s” quality, but what do you expect for a bargain price?! I was in Target yesterday and just fell in love with their Merona dress line for fall (they are offering some great retro looks). Check it out, log on to www.target.com. I put together a couple of spectacular outfits (shoes included) for under $150!! Unbelievable!! I spent that much filling up my car with gas this week (Ouch! That hurt, I saw my clothing budget grow wings and fly away!!)!

If you have designer labels that you love and going the “discount” route is not your thing, then I have an option for you as well. There are a few designer labels that I have found to fit me better than anything else. I can’t find these designers in the discount stores so I look for the next best option. A friend of mine (thank you, Sarah!!) turned me on to a website – www.shopittome.com . Shop it To Me is a free service that alerts you (via e-mail) when your favorite designer labels go on sale with on-line retailers. You can sign up for daily e-mails, if you like, or you can choose one day a week to receive the alert. You can’t lose with this service! They even offer an alert for children’s clothes!

Hold on to your hats ladies. The wind just blew that clothing budget right back into your Smarty shopper purse. The budget is back and it brought boutique discounts with it! I have arranged for CSP readers to receive exclusive discounts at the following boutiques (notice the dates, each boutique has their own CSP shopping days):

The Pink Hanger – 20% off all full-priced items, October 15th-17th
Civilian – 20% off all full-priced items, October 26th-28th
Luna – 10% off all full-priced items, October 29th-31st (Happy Halloween)
Black & Blue – 20% off all full priced items, October 23rd-25th

Just mention that you read this blog and the discount is yours!

Some days I feel like an imposter when I am around those who pay full price and other days I feel like a Smarty Pants. Why overpay for clothes when you don’t have to! We can have our cake and eat it to. Or, should I say, we can have our new clothes and fill up our gas tanks all in the same week!! As they say on shopittome.com – Sale away!!