I know it feels like summer just started however Fall is right around the corner which means it is time to start filling up our closets with some fall pieces.  I am always one to take on the challenge of finding things on sale so when I was asked to find a classic navy pencil skirt I said why not find a classic pencil skirt that is on sale and under $100.  I of course have been personally obsessed with the color navy and just recently found a great navy j crew blazer for the fall. However we were talking about skirts so here is what I found. 

Living in NYC you can quickly become a bag lady if you are not careful. Between my laptop, my gym clothes, a change of shoes, lunch and all the other things that I have to have with me at all times I end up traveling with about 2-3 bags. I am giving up and on the hunt for a tote that I can throw everything into. Here are some options I have come across. 

I know it is freezing cold here in NYC and the northeast however I cannot avoid wanting to look forward to spring and summer. Now with the winter sales in full swing it is a great time to score some goodies that can be worn when the temperatures start to warm up. My biggest summer go to is the little white dress. This year I am actually looking for a white maxi dress  (does that count?). Here are some dresses I found that are on sale now but would be great for the spring/summer. Best thing is they are all under $50. 

It's one of my favorite times of year. It is sale time. I love after holiday sales. It is a great time to stock up on all the stuff that you have been lusting after but didn't get over the holidays. I posted this about a year ago and because I really love the winter after holiday sales and can lose my mind buying stuff I felt it was appropriate to re-post especially since I could use the reminders. 

(1) Shop often but buy sparingly.I will go on shopping binges where I buy buy buy only to discover that I have (a) overpaid (b) already have the item or (c) don't even really like the item. By shopping often you become familiar with trends, how they work with your body, and what things are worth.  Just because something has a 50% off sign on it doesn't mean it is a good value. Also just because something is "trendy" doesn't mean it is going to work with your body type and/or lifestyle


(2) Shop your closet first. Trends are tricky. You see everyone wearing colored jeans and you run out and buy the first pair that fit. Meanwhile in the back of your closet are a pair of awesome purple jeans you bought on a whim a few years ago but  have only worn once (true story). This happened to me. Luckily because I did not obey my first rule I was able to uncover a lot of awesome gems in my closet. Purple jeans and yellow corduroys just to name a few. I was happy and so was my bank account. 

(3) Make a list and stick to it. During my shopping diet I kept a list of all the things I wanted. During the first week I spent most of my day adding items to the list. By the last week of lent I realized that half the items on the list were things I was no longer interested in or things I already owned (refer to rule 2). That being said armed with list in hand I have been able to focus my shopping on things that I REALLY REALLY want instead of just buying random things that spark my interest. Not only is my account looking good for it but it is helping me stay more organized which is in turn making it easier to put together new outfits. 

(4) Know how much to spend. We all want to be seen walking down the street in our red soles but it is really necessary to spend that much money on a pair of shoes?  (If you ask me I will say yes but I am a bit unrealistic at times). The key is to know an item's worth. A pair of black Louboutin pumps that you will wear every single day may be totally worth it. A pair of feather and studded  7 inch heels that you will NEVER wear probably not so much.Even if they were on clearance for 99% off they still would not be worth it.  Do the math. If you spend 600 bucks on a pair of shoes that you are going to wear at least 3 times a week for a year you just paid $3.85 a wear for those shoes. Even if you spend $10 on the aforementioned 7 inch heel and only wear them once you will have paid $10 a wear which is almost 250% more than the $600 pair. I say put the $10 towards something you will actually enjoy. 

(5) Shop alone. I kinda hate this rule but I do best when shopping alone. It is fun to have brunch with the girls (or guys) and then go shopping afterwards. It is fun to try on things that you will never wear and laugh until you are in tears because of how ridiculous you look or try on those extremely expensive shoes that you will never buy just cause. But what happens when your friends "ooohing" and "aaahing" result in you reaching into your purse to purchase those extremely expensive  (and unreasonably high) shoes that are (1) way over your budget and (b) unlikely to ever be worn comfortably in public. When you shop alone you tend to be more focused and realistic. There is no pressure to "impress". If you like something and it works and fulfills all of the above requirements then you buy it and move on. Yeah it doesn't sound like fun but neither does having your credit card denied. 

(6) Follow these rules within reason. If you really really want that $4,000 Chanel bag (and you can afford it) then get it. If you have a pair of red jeans but REALLY want another pair then get them. If you fall in love with a gorgeous ring that is not on your list but you know you can put to good use then buy it. Rules were made to be broken and these rules are meant to be a guide for making better shopping decisions.Using these rules as a guide I am  on my way to being able to afford that $4,000 Chanel bag. 

Having grown up in NYC and not to far from Chinatown I have witnessed the evolution of the counterfeit designer handbag market. When I was in high school me and my friends would head down to Chinatown with about $20 bucks and come back home with the latest Louis Vuitton that we would use to carry our school books on Monday morning. We thought we were sooo cool. Fast forward a few years later (wink) and boy do I know a lot better.  

Recently 20/20 featured a segment on what they called Super Fakes which are fake handbags that can go for upwards of $1200 and look so real that even the experts could be tricked. Now before you rush to Chinatown to score a super fake something everyone should know is that regardless of how good a fake is the purchase of counterfeit goods have been known to support organized crime and other illegal activity. This is the number 1 reason why you will not catch me purchasing a counterfeit handbag EVER. I may be poor in a private plane but I refuse to support illegal activity.   Outside of waiting for Saks semi-annual sale I have found a way to get that real designer bag at a not so designer price. 

Tip 1: Shop Consignment
Consignment stores are gaining more and more popularity and are a great place to find designer goods at not so designer prices.  Grant it you will still pay for the quality but not nearly as much as you would if you went to Saks.  Before buying at a consignment store do your research. Find out about the authentication process as well as any authenticity guarantees they may offer. You can usually find new or gently used pieces anywhere from 20-70% retail.  Some of my favorites in New York City are Second Time Around and Roundabout Resale .

Tip 2: Shop Online
But be very very careful. I am deathly afraid of shopping for designer goods on ebay however there are some reputable sellers out there. Just do your research so you don't end up paying good money for a fake.  My favorite online consignment shop is Yoogi's Closet. 

Tip 3: Shop your friend of a friend of a friend's closet. 
You will be surprise what you may find if you ask around. If you have your eye on a comment handbag such as a LV Speedy for example do not be afraid to ask around. You may find a friend of a friend that has one that she doesn't use anymore and can use the extra cash. 

Tip 4: Hit up Grandma's Closet
Grandma was once young and hip (or might very well still be) so you will be surprised what kind of gems are hidden in her closet. One of my friends came home with some vintage chanel last time she was home. SCORE. You never know. 

Here in NYC and the northeast we are headed into the most brutal months of the winter. The bitter cold combined with the snow, wind and rain makes for a very unpleasant time in NYC. Mind you this is coming from someone that loves the cold and a little bit of snow. This weather always puts me in a bit of a style rut so I decided to find some pieces under $50 that will help to keep me warm and stylish at the same time. 

The holiday bug is finally starting to bite me. After spending the better part of the last couple of months traveling I am not settling into my normal routine in New York City part of which involves walking down Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center and Bryant park on almost a daily basis. The city sparkles during the holidays and is one of my favorite places to. However as Christmas nears last minute shopping become unbearable (massive crowds) and sometimes expensive. Since I am planning on staying out of the stores until after Christmas I put together a list of some pieces that would be great to gift and are all on sale and under $50. You cannot go wrong with that. 

We are well into the holiday season and with this comes holiday parties which means trying to find that perfect dress without breaking the break. Lucky for us there is a little someone call Black Friday and Cyber Monday that can help all of us find a great look for the holidays on a budget. Regardless or your size, shape or style everyone should be able to find something on budget this holiday season. Here are some picks that I came across and the best part is they are all under $50.

I am going to Europe for a couple of weeks this summer and I am stressing out about how I am going to pack 39 outfits in one luggage. I am pretty sure it is going to be nearly impossible but I have a few tricks up my sleeve. One of them being sneaking some stuff into DH suitcase. Shhh don't tell him. 

One of my favorite things that I discovered a few years ago is the convertible dress. It is a dress that can  be worn in a number of different styles and I think it is a great idea and something I will definitely be including in my suitcase. They can be expensive (think upwards of $200 bucks) so here are some options that I found that are a bit more wallet friendly. 

If money is no object this version comes in at over $300 bucks. One day I may invest in one of these but for now it is a bit out of my price range.  This is a great option for formal wear. 

Gilt currently has this version on sale for about $100. Definitely well worth it if it is within this budget. 

Last but not least Target comes to the rescue with a version that comes in at 34.99.  This is a great deal and definitely a great way to try out the trend before investing in it.

One of the items that I am adding to my wish list is a black cross body bag. Believe it or not I have yet to add one to my closet that I absolutely love. I really would like a Chanel one but don't have Chanel money. I did manage to find some options that all come under $100.  Which one would you get?