(http://click
7 Ways to Save on Style This Summer
By Erin Donnelly
We at Single Minded Women (http://www NULL.singlemindedwomen NULL.com/) are all about helping our fellow single women be smart with their money. To that end, we’ve added our new Fashions Under $50 feature to help you find fabulous trends for less. But to give your wallet an even bigger boost, we’ve rounded up some must-read tips for staying stylish on a budget this summer. Happy saving!
1. DIY: So what if your last name isn’t Lagerfeld or Galliano? With a little pluck and a trip to your local crafts store, you can replicate those runway fashions all on your own. Tie-dye a cheap white tank or tee; use scissors to make laser-cut-style incisions in your leggings; or turn your old jeans into summer-perfect cut-offs. Let your imagination run wild.
2. Swap Meet: Want to refresh your wardrobe but don’t have a lot of dough? Round up the gals for a clothing swap party. Keep your guest list under 10, and try to invite people of similar sizes and ages-no sense trying to sell a crowd of 20-somethings on Granny Jean’s XXL dungarees. Each guest should bring their own cast-offs and some hangers for easy displaying. Add a pitcher of margaritas, some music, and some nibbles, and let the bartering begin!
3. Go Designer: Discount designer, that is. Rather than paying an arm and a leg for the fresh-off-the-runway stuff at Barneys, look to more affordable designer collaborations available at your favorite mass retailer. Matthew Williamson at H&M, Shipley & Halmos at Uniqlo, Loomstate and Tracy Feith at Target, Charlotte Ronson at JC Penney…the options are endless. It’s designer, but it won’t make a dent in your wallet.
4. Swim Smart: Are you the type who splurges on a fancy new swimsuit year after year, even though you barely make it to the beach or pool? If your swimsuit isn’t worn or ill-fitting, wear it again this summer. You could also limit yourself to a $50-or-less swimsuit from Target or Victoria’s Secret-it’s a great way to try trends without buyer’s remorse.
5. Back to Basics: Building a capsule wardrobe each season is a smart way to maximize the versatility of your clothes. For summer, pick one or two bottoms-say, a denim skirt or a pair of crisp shorts-that you can wear with numerous tops. You want pieces that you can dress up or down, as the occasion calls. If you find a denim skirt that’s a bargain, you can treat yourself to a couple of special printed tops to wear it with.
6. Don’t Play Tourist: When we go on vacation, it can be tempting to come home with a suitcase full of souvenir t-shirts, totes and hats. A one-of-a-kind memento is fine, but resist the urge to buy tourist tees that, let’s face it, you’ll only wear when you do yardwork.
7. Trend Aware: I love a good fashion trend as much as the next gal, but they don’t always have the longest shelf life. To be money-smart, avoid anything overly trendy and stick to classics instead. But if you just can’t resist this summer’s rompers or maxi dresses, keep your purchase to $50 or less. Old Navy and Target, for instance, have maxi dresses for $30 and under, so you won’t be kicking yourself later if you don’t end up wearing it that much. And check out our Fashions Under $50 feature for bargain suggestions!
More SMW Fashion & Beauty Advice:
(http://tracking