Fashion For Less :: Long & Short of it

There are 4 main things I collect (alongside 200 other things I also collect) - bags, shoes, art supplies, jewelry.  I am thinking about doing posts on collections here & over on Five Sixteenths so I thought I'd start off with the Long & Short of it.

My bag collections is pretty large & by large I mean super large.  In fact, these aren't even all of my bags just my favorites.  Constantly I buy purses.


Here are the P's I look for when shopping for bags:

Professional - is this for work? or is this for the weekend?
Pattern - Is it a solid color? Is the print too loud? Can I pull it off?
Pockets - Is it big enough for my laptop? Will things get lost in it?
Practical - Does it hang where I want it too? Can I successfully navigate through a crowd with out smacking people?

The Long of It

These bags are my go to bags.  I can sling them over my shoulder, wear them cross body, & grab them in a dash.  My everyday purse is one that I can get out of the way by slinging it around to the back.  I love cross body bags because they can get the heck out of the way when I am hunched over a table at the thrift store!  I can store a lot in the big ones & just shove things in it.  The smaller ones are for nights out or small weekend trips.  I like that I can just put all the essentials in & be done.  I choose a small bag for my everyday work bag that way I don't bring everything I own with me everyday.  The only down side to these bags is when you take them off the strap is so long you have no where to put it! It either hangs too long that it touches the floor when hung on the back of the chair or the strap gets caught in you rolling desk chair at work.

Where I got them -
Back row - Target (best $5 bucks I ever spent!) :: Thrifted :: Thrifted
Middle row - Thrifted :: DIY :: Thrifted
Front row - Wal-Mart :: Claire's

The Short of It

These bags are bags I really would like to turn into camera bags.  I want to take some foam, fabric, & velcro and whip up a great little insert to switch between bags.  These bags are also the ones I consider my 'most professional'.  Well at least the two on the left.  These bags add color & look a little bit more professional than having a bag slung across your body.  They all fit my laptop too so they are great to take to coffee shops or work.  These have enough pockets for all the little bitties but sometimes things get lost in the bottom.  I really hate having to dig & dig & DIG to find anything in my purse (sometimes it makes me impatient to see others do it to!).

Where I got them - Claire's :: Charlotte Russe (I think) :: Cato :: Thrifted

What are your favorite kinds of bags? Do you buy a certain color or style over another?

The Best for Less

Ahh, fall is on the horizon.  The air is getting a little more crisp, Starbucks has busted out the pumpkin spice flavoring, and the stores are all tempting me with their fresh fall items.  It’s hard resisting the desire I have to blow my last paycheck of August on trendy fall accessories, but thanks to my devoted research I won’t have to.  And neither will you!  In this post I have found some popular summer to fall transitional pieces and have found similar but much less expensive alternatives. 

uo   target

This fancy floppy hat is $90.00 from Urban Outfitters, but Target’s take on it is a cool $16.99.

asos  ae

This awesome Aztec bag from ASOS was originally $64.03, but American Eagle offers a comparable option for only $29.50.

nastygal    target

These badass leopard wedges by Steve Madden via NASTY GAL break the bank at $158.00, but Target once again flatteringly imitates them at a much more manageable price of $29.99.

I hope that this guide has helped fuel your own desire to find fall trends on the cheap!  What other autumn accessories have you been able to find at seriously low prices?

Happy Hunting!

What We Wore to the Black-and-White Ball

In the July issue of Glamour (one of our fave magazines), there was a shoot with Janelle Monae, a soulful singer and fashion maven, known to wear almost exclusively black and white outfits. I know a lot of people associate black and white with Truman Capote or Audrey Hepburn, but I think it's definitely still awesome with frontrunners like Janelle Monae.  I tried my own interpretations - here they are!


I thought this looked more classically black-and-white, and more ladylike, channeling Audrey for sure.  Patent-leather kitten heels, a white sundress, and a black sash.  I also tied my hair in an unfussy knot, and my makeup was demure (eyeliner only on the top lid, mascara, foundation, lip balm).  Honestly, it wasn't that comfortable, and I wasn't about to put on a big floppy hat to go to the races.  A mint julep would be nice, though.



This is my salute to Ms. Monae and her wonderful re-interpretation of Capote's Black and White Ball.  There's still a sliver of femininity, but it's much more powerful, with a men's blazer, faux-croc cluth (how fab is that? It's from ModCloth) and velvet heels with zippers by Steve Madden.  Her style advice? Red lips, or nails, or shoes.

So, what do you think? Have we succeeded in re-telling this classic tale? Send us your awesome black-and-white outfits here, or find us on Twitter.



(Special thanks to my photographer, Will, my younger brother. You're awesome - TEAM WILL.)

Fashion For Less Friday

One of the many perks of being an artist/writer/musician/printmaker/blogger is that we have equally (if not more) talented friends. Our friend Jared is a gifted photographer, and today he snapped pics of me in some of my frugalest finds. I'll share them with you, plus outfit ideas and shopping tips.


I found this funky safari-inspired romper ($8) at Forever 21, and although rompers pose slightly more wardrobe malfunction (add a few minutes when powdering your nose) risk, they're definitely worth it for the daring. Since it's summer and so hot, I wore a locket ($4) and a bag, but ordinarily I would wear tights and a cardigan and maybe a scarf. Yes, you should be totes jeal of my ($12) Chanel bag, and yes, any major city Goodwill has troves of fashion treasures. If that's not an option, those denim espadrilles were just $12 at Roses in Farmville.



This adorable girl is Molly, who is a food and culture junkie, not to mention an amazing singer. We went to my favorite Vietnamese place, then she agreed to be photographed for this article because that beautiful maxi dress with its violet-hued paisley came from Kohl's ($15).



I guess I felt extra jetset today, so I put on another thrifty ($3) find from another Goodwill, albeit not from a major city. This dress is super versatile, which is helpful when establishing a style. Here I wore it with those amazing lime-green suede pumps ($8 at Gabriel Brothers), but ordinarily I would wear an embellished sandal, sunglasses, and maybe a hat with a large floppy brim. It's a classic shape, but it definitely needs a belt ($15 Betsey Johnson at Marshalls), and the wider your belt is, the littler your waist looks. I also recommend a chunky bangle and dangling earrings, or a standout pendant. Whichever you prefer - make it your own.



This is one of my favorite looks - the idea that you can throw on a chic little dress with a few interesting details and look great everywhere. I found this adorable ($5) dress at Rugged Wearhouse in Lynchburg, and I've nicknamed it my "Parisian bistro dress", because I can put it on and all I need is my bicycle and a baguette. I paired it with ($10) pop-art flats from Urban Outfitters, a picnic-basket-shaped necklace by Betsey Johnson ($25 at Nordstrom Rack), and a wonderful Marc Jacobs bag ($58 - pricy, I know, but I love it, at Saks Off Fifth).  I call it my "Inception bag", because it's a handbag with a sketch of a handbag on it. Or a dream within a dream.

Which finds are you most proud of? Let us know right here, right now.

XOXO,
Jenni

DIY: Carpetbagger - Tapestry Envelope Bag

Hello all, Moe here with a fun (and cheap) ! As you know we are from Virginia, I think I am the most South of everyone, & I love carpetbaggers - stylish tapestry bags I mean!

This DIY is a cute summer tapestry envelope bag made from some great & cheap stuff from the Dollar Tree & JoAnne Fabrics

If you know anything about me, you know that I love print & pattern!  I've always admired heavily embroidered bags - ones that are granny chic.  I found some inspiration on pinterest, too!

source source source source

source source source source source source

And what does the end product look like?

Cool eh?

What you will need:

Placemat, length of chain, two large jump rings, permanent fabric glue, needle & thread, or sewing machine, beads/studs/etc

Step by Step:

Take the place mat & fold it twice to create a clutch shape.

experiment with placement to ensure that the flap will stay closed on it's own

Pin & sew up the sides

Grab your length of chain & jump rings.

Poke the jump rings through the placemat.

(this may take a few tries & something sharp...I gave up & sewed my chain on)

Since I wanted a double chain look, I wove a smaller chain through my bigger chain.

This will make it stronger & distribute the weight since the chain was sewn & not attached with jump rings.

Embellish with beads/studs/etc

These I found in the button aisle of JoAnne's. At first I had some wooden beads but I liked these stud like things better.

Pair with your jeans or cut off shorts.  Perfect for a night out or off to work.

Tuck the chain in in order to carry it as a clutch then when you need your hands, pull out the chain & throw it over your shoulder!

I plan on switching out my purse so I can wear this bag to work tomorrow!

Have you DIY'd something perfect & love to show it off?

Let us know, send your fave links & projects to 

est1839 -at- gmail -dot- com

What will you try this summer?