Look of the Week: How to Dress for $100 or Less!
During times when one feels the need to tighten the belt a bit, finding new and exciting outfits to wear gets even tougher. Don’t fret. Designers and shops are seeing the need to bring prices down and the word on the street is even the Prada bags for fall are coming into the stores with lower price tags than in recent years (but don’t expect to find one quite yet for under $100!).
There are great deals out there and wonderful pieces that can be had for reasonable amounts of money. And, really you don’t have to hunt for them. Anthropologie has many cute tops, dresses and some great accessories priced under $100, including this colorful tunic top (below far left). It’s a great piece for over slim jeans, long shorts, or khaki linen, wide-legged pants (target has some great ones right now for under about $30!). Wear it with a slim skirt — just stick a cardigan over it for daytime and work.
The dress second from the left is also from Anthropologie and priced under $100. It’s adorable! My sister and I both purchased it for its flattering a-line style and simple, youthful feel. I wore mine yesterday with a tight black cardigan tied around my waist, flip flops and my big, black sunglasses from Target. I felt great all day in the swingy skirt and nice bright white color.
The black Calvin Klein dress/tunic/cover-up, $98 at net-a-porter.com is a cute top that can go over skinny jeans and you can even add a top underneath for cooler weather. Wear it with heels and gold bangles for a dressier look or pop it on over your bathing suit. A great travel piece!
Arden B. adorable denim dress, $100, available online. This will look great with a cropped cardigan in white, pink, or yellow and some summer flats or flip-flops. Add a fringey bag for a more “hippie” take on it. See my blogs on fringe, clogs and cardigans and boho-chic for more ideas on how to add fringe to your wardrobe.
The Liz Claiborne adorable organge dress is available at lizclaiborne.com. Now that Isaac Mizraachi is designing for this line, the clothing is once again looking great: wearable, attractive and easy. This can go to work under a khaki blazer or white or beige cardigan or to a summer picnic or event. It’s a happy dress for under $100.
Endlessshoes.com has many wonderful styles that are priced $100 or less, such as this cork-bottomed wedge (far top left). This shoe will look great with anything, from jeans to dresses. Also at endlessshoes.com is the “hippie” wedge (second from left). This shoe is pretty much something you can wear year ’round (see my blog on fringe, clogs and cardigans) and is especially useful during that in-between weather that can be so tough to dress, see my blog postings: “What to Wear Until Summer Really Begins” and “Fringe Clogs and Cardigans”.
The little white flat is from Spiegel.com, a great place for work outfits and accessories that are very affordable and the bottom sandal is a Jessica Simpson, a great copy of Prada, like other sandals this season, as show on my blog on expensive vs. cheap shoes that are hard to tell apart.
Even Nordstroms carries pieces for under $100. This simple, black dress (there ain’t nothing better) can be found on their website. It’s by sanamntiks and is priced at $78. What a great piece for work or dinner out. Add accessories to dress it up or down.
And, for a casual, sexy and playful look check out this outfit found at luvcharlieboutique.com. The tunic, simple, tight jeans and flat sandals make for a very wearable and attractive running ’round town outfit. Check out my blog on jeans and flattering tops for more ideas on how to make a simple pair of jeans look flattering and sophisticated.
There are a lot of ways to spend your cash but when it come to clothing, don’t feel you have to shell out more than is necessary. I always tell my customers, that in the short-run and the long-run, I will save them money by teaching them how to shop right, shop smart and put together great outfits for eany budget.