Clothes for Cheap: J.Crew Multistripe Boatneck Tee

Another exact J.Crew replica from Old Navy, with a $30 price difference:

Old Navy   //   J.Crew

At first, I wasn't sold on the pattern of this shirt, but when I saw how Kendi from Kendi Everyday styled it, I was kind of won over:

via Kendi Everyday

What do you think?

Clothes for Cheap: Urban Outfitters Glitter Sandals

Let's keep this week rolling with moooore GLITTER!!

Okay -- so while we probably can't 100% sanction all-glitter-all-the-time when it comes to work attire, wearing a dash of glitter on an everyday casual basis gets a resounding Absolutely Yes (from me at least).

Remember when I confessed to you all that I have a bad habit of buying sandals when it's still 30 degrees out? This year, I think I actually might have broken the curse when I bought these babies:

via Target

I wore them this past weekend and with every sparkly step, it was confirmed in my heart that my possibly foolish winter sandal purchase was indeed not foolish, but in fact a very good idea.

And, because I love a deal, I relished finding my sandals' more expensive twins at Urban Outfitters recently:

via Urban Outfitters

Have you found a pair of sandals that you just can't wait to wear? Did you break out any particular pair this weekend? Share! We like shoes around here.

Clothes for Cheap: Urban Outfitters Maxi Dresses

Urban has a great selection of maxi dresses for this spring/summer... but so does Forever 21! Luckily, they're carrying some similar styles. Granted, Urban Outfitters' offerings are more detailed and slightly more unique (in general, Forever 21 is a great place to find basic maxi dresses in basic colors). But whether you want to splurge or save, you can find something that works between the two stores right now. Plus if you style the more basic garments from Forever 21 well, they can end up just as unique as the dresses from Urban.

This first one isn't a price comparison, but more a "Look what I found!" I've seen the dress below (on the left) pinned and repinned on Pinterest many times. Unfortunately, the original is no longer available... but this dress from Urban might fill that lace chevron maxi hole in your life.

via Pinterest // via Urban Outfitters

These other three are Urban Outfitters vs. Forever 21 pieces, all with a $50-$60 price difference.

Urban // F21

Urban // F21

Urban // F21

Happy shopping!

Staying Stylish on a Budget: More Tips!

via Fashion Gone Rogue

On my last post about budget style, my friend Michelle left the following tips in a comment. She had some really great ideas, and I wanted to make sure you didn't miss what she had to say! Read on for some great advice:

I'm not the best bargain-hunter I know, but I do have a rule that I will never pay full price for anything. Here are a few of my tips:

1. Sign up for a Gap credit card. You can use it at Gap/Old Navy/Banana Repulic/Piperlime AND cardholders often get a better discount during a sale. Additionally you get rewards certificates that are basically gift certificates you can spend in the store. I pay mine off at the end of every month to avoid interest charges.
   
   
2. Make a list of your top wants/needs each new season. It's your list so you can always change/add to it, but I find the list keeps me from wasting my money on things I'll regret later. (Note from Casey: I completely agree with this. For years now I've been making a "to look for" list as each season approaches -- it keeps me on track and helps me determine my priorities as I shop.)
3. Buy seasonal items toward the end of the season. This takes a lot of patience BUT pays off. You can get really high quality clothing for the price you would have paid for a knock-off at the beginning of the season.
4. Know what days your favorite stores mark down their merchandise. Also know when they tend to have a really big seasonal sale. I read online that the two biggest mark-down times of the year are after Christmas and at the end of June. But you can also get great deals over Thanksgiving and Memorial Day. I tend to delay purchases until one of those big sale times arrives if at all possible.
5. Here's one I don't take advantage of enough: if you're ordering online, use Ebates. If you have an account with them and purchase through one of their affiliate links, you get cash back at the rate of 2-8% depending on the store. They will actually mail you a check that you can deposit in your bank account!
6. Don't buy anything you don't love. Also, don't buy anything that doesn't fit well unless you know you can alter it or have it tailored for a reasonable price.

Thanks for reading and sharing, Michelle!

If you have tips like these you want to share, leave a comment or email me!

Staying Stylish On a Budget (Share Your Favorite Tips!)

Since spring is just around the corner and with it come shopping trips for warm weather clothes, I thought now would be a good time to answer the following question. Brittany asks:

"I'd be interested in a post on how to stay in style on a budget. With 2 kids and one on the way, a lot of times I think of how I need to spend money on the kids and not me, etc."

I'm glad I'm not the only one with a teeny clothing budget and a desire (guilt complex?) to spend any clothing money that comes my way on adorable duds for my little ones. So let's get real -- how DO you buy the clothes you love on a budget? Here are a few of my favorite tips (for more, go back to this post).

Work with & negotiate your budget: If there's a particular garment that you need or would love to have, figure out if there are budget categories you can cut back on for a month or so (for example, your grocery budget: plan cheap meals for a month, if it's cool with your husband/roommates) and then use the leftover money for that piece you want.

Stalk the stores you love and the pieces you love: Sign up for your favorite stores' sales emails, get familiar with their sale rhythms (i.e. Old Navy is bound to have some kind of online discount code on every. single. obscure. holiday.), and do online and in-store research before you purchase. I pin things that I'm interested in onto my style board on Pinterest -- it reminds me to go back and check in a few weeks to see if a certain piece went on sale or into clearance. 

Use discount codes: As mentioned in my Christmas shopping post, always search for a possible discount code or coupon before you buy online or go to a store. It's as simple as going to Google and typing in "*store name* discount code" or "*store name* coupon." My favorite online coupon code sites are RetailMeNot, Dealigg, and DealsPlus. All three of these typically offer reliable coupon codes for many popular retailers. A quick search like this can save you $5-$10, or even shipping costs. You can also follow blogs that post coupon codes or deals, and liking the Facebook pages of your favorite stores can help ensure you're up to date on any promotions they're running.

Use ShopStyle / Google search: ShopStyle is amazing because it allows you to search online retailers across the board for a specific item, while specifying color & price range. If you're not brand-loyal, this is a great option. In addition, sometimes a basic Google search (using their shopping tab) can be really helpful. The vendors that pop up can be a little obscure, but they oftentimes will carry something similar to a more expensive piece for a lot less.

Shop at cheap chic / thrift / discount stores: Whether you score on things for you or your kids at these types of places, the money you save can then be spent on one or the other of you somewhere else. That's why I'm always talking about shopping places like Forever 21, H&M, and Old Navy -- for trendier items and basics, you can't beat their prices (of course, if you're going for quality and longevity, that's a whole other ball game). Goodwill can also be a treasure trove, depending on what you're looking for, or you can always try places like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, or Ross. (See this series of posts from last fall on shopping at thrift stores for more tips & tricks.) Just resist the urge to buy things just because they're cheap -- stick to what you're really looking for!

Organize a clothing swap with friends: Last year, a small group of friends and I were all working on cleaning out our closets for one reason or another, so we all pooled our cast offs and traded! I scored some cute blazers (thanks to my office-working friends), a silk tank, a J.Crew tee I'd wanted for forever, and some fun jewelry, all for the low, low cost of cleaning out my closet and hanging out with my buddies. I highly recommend doing this, especially with friends who are as enthusiastic about it as you are and won't just throw in their high-school cast offs to trade (haha).

Make a list of things you'd like to find, and send it to me! I'd love to help you search for those elusive pieces.

Here's the thing: I also have a lot of amazing, penny-pinching, money-saving, coupon-clipping, discount diva friends who, I'm sure, have some awesome tips for staying fashionable while still having to pay for kids. So, you lovely friends! Can you let us in on your secrets in the comments section?

Clothes for Cheap: Really, Old Navy?

Yet another "This is so painful I just had to share." It's Monday, so you're kind of already groaning, right?

Ohhh Old Navy. Just because you can copy J.Crew doesn't mean you should. I personally don't like J.Crew's blue plaid print at all... but Old Navy upped the ante and made it 10x worse in their copycat version. The J.Crew red medallion print I don't mind as much, but Old Navy's version is, again, pretty awful.

Sorry if these types of posts bore you, but lookalikes like this get me every time. The fashion industry, bless its heart, is a marvel.

Old Navy Plaid Skinny Ankle Pant  //  J.Crew Etched Plaid Pant
J.Crew Café Capri in Silk Scarf Foulard  //  Old Navy Red Print Skinny Ankle Pant

My Closet: New Favorite Sweatshirt Sweater

It's 2013!

I'm pretty excited... I get to start the year by styling a photo shoot for an awesome organization and their magazine! I can't wait to tell you more about it in the coming weeks.

For now, here's a little glimpse into my closet...
I bought this basic gray pullover at Forever 21 a few weeks ago. It's slouchy but fitted enough to look put together. It's nice enough that it can pass for a "sweater" but comfortable enough that it feels like a favorite sweatshirt I've had for forever. It's the perfect throw-on piece and works with a skirt or shorts just as well as it does with a pair of jeans. I love this thing.

...and I've already worn it more times over these past few weeks than I care to admit, usually with a combination of the following pieces. Don't everyone freak out about how fashion-forward and creative these outfits are:

I usually throw a slouchy bright tee on underneath the sweatshirt so a little pop of color peeks out underneath. Basic, I know. But I love it. I foresee a long and happy future together.
PS: It's kind of similar to this sweater from Madewell. Bonus.

Have a happy Thursday! I'm off to run errands and gather props. Fun fun fun!

Black Friday Shopping: All December Long

(via AzBusiness)

Black Friday is over, but what if you've still got a buttload of Christmas gifts to get? What if you decided to sleep in on the day after Thanksgiving and then have a leisurely pumpkin pie breakfast in bed? What if, instead of shopping, you decided to spend Black Friday sitting in one of those massage chairs in the middle of the mall with a Cinnabon, people watching in awestruck wonder as the masses trampled themselves?

Now what?

I'm Luke Skywalker -- I'm here to rescue you.

Here are a few of my favorite thrifty, coupony, discounty shopping tips -- both for the holiday season and all year round:

My favorite online shopping tip: Before you hit "process order" on anything, go to Google and type in "*store name* discount code" or "*store name* coupon." Most likely, something will come up. My favorite online coupon code sites are RetailMeNot, Dealigg, and DealsPlus. All three of these typically offer reliable coupon codes for many popular retailers. I can't tell you how many times I've been able to save $5-$10 or have gotten free shipping on an order because I ran a quick online search for possible discounts first.

Second favorite online shopping tip: Subscribe to the retailer's email updates. Most of the time, when you sign up to receive their newsletter or deal digest, they'll send you a thank you or welcome coupon (which sometimes can even be used in store as well as online). After you've printed or copied or used the coupon code, you can unsubscribe from the email list.

Check the store's Facebook page or Twitter feed: many times they'll have limited time discount codes or extra coupons that can be used online or are printable for in store use.

Sign up for a free trial: Amazon is now offering month-by-month Amazon Prime memberships. One month costs $7.99... which is typically what you'd spend on shipping for one item, making it worth the money. The even better news is, they're currently running an offer for a free trial of Prime for a month -- I just signed up and now won't have to pay for 2-day shipping for the month of December, making Christmas shopping that much cheaper! If you do take advantage of this, be sure to go into your Amazon account settings and select "do not auto renew" right after you sign up so your credit card isn't automatically charged after the free trial/your month of Amazon Prime ends.

Sign up for or switch your credit card service to one with a rewards program: We needed to build our credit, so we signed up for the Capital One Venture card, and it's been great. You get a 1.5 points for every dollar you spend, and once you accrue 2,500 points, you can redeem those points for a $25 gift card (and if you have 5,000 points, you can get a $50 gift card, etc.). Gift card options include common retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, iTunes, Target, and Old Navy, as well as a number of restaurants and home stores. Free clothes, date nights, and gifts? What's not to love?! (Side note: Not to be your mom or anything, but I'd only recommend going the credit card route if you're able to reliably pay it off each month... no sense getting into debt all for the sake of "free" gift cards, right?)

Do you have any helpful/sneaky/amazing shopping tips you'd like to share? Leave a comment! I'd love to add more deals secrets to my arsenal. In the meantime, happy shopping!

Clothes for Cheap: Sweaters, the Continuing Story.

So we recently discussed critter sweaters and whether or not we'd wear them, why they make us (okay, me) uncomfortable, and also how sheep are noble and the fashion industry thinks they deserve to be displayed across the chest of the world.

How about some more sweaters? It's nearly winter, so I figure we should talk about sweaters as much as we can. Here are some sheepless cozy patterned ones I can endorse, with no awkward feelings:

Heart // Star // Dot

I like these because they're a grown up version of patterns I wore when I was little. They're reminiscent and cozy, just like the holiday season. Plus that star sweater reminds me of this tee from Madewell, so that's cool.

Plus look... all of the sweaters above are less than $30 each... and are knock offs of the following garments from J.Crew & Madewell (all of which will cost you more than $85):

Heart // Dot

Heart // Dot

Of course, if hearts and stars and polka dots make you feel as uncomfortable... this isn't exactly a respite from the critter sweaters, is it?

Clothes for Cheap: Madewell Critter Sweaters

Let's start Monday off with some sweaters and some true confessions.

My apologies... I debated whether or not to post this for so long (I don't want to rock the boat too much, you know?) that the sweaters featured below are actually no longer available... but maybe that's a good thing. Let's just comment on the remarkable ongoing Old Navy rip offs, and on the fact that the "critter" sweater trend is climbing in your windows, snatching your people up.

I'm not saying I would wear these... but I had to feature them because a good comparison is hard to pass up, and I'm also curious what you guys think about critter sweaters. It seems slightly awkward to me for some reason.

If sheep are your thing and you've been searching high and low for a sweater that features this noble creature, this is the sweater for you:

Madewell Sheepmeadow Sweater: $64.99
Old Navy Sheep Crewneck Sweater: $29.94

What's not to love? Except the fact that... it's a sweater... with sheep on it? See, I would actually be more inclined to wear this one. If I were at all inclined to wear a sweater with an animal on it. Which... I'm not.

Aubin & Wills Fox Sweater (found on Net-A-Porter): $215
Old Navy Fox Crewneck Sweater: $29.94

Owls are rad in real life. But on sweaters... and jewelry... and hats... and bags... and home decor... I just say no. Really loudly. For those of you who do love owls on things though and are cute and artsy enough to pull it off (that's probably what it comes down to)... there's also a sweater for that:

Madewell Owl Sweater: $88
Old Navy Fox Crewneck Sweater: $29.94

Okay really. Here we are post critter-parade -- let's talk turkey. Is this trend it weird? Adorable? Reminiscent of a preschooler's wardrobe? A way to get in touch with your inner Sacajawea? Leave a comment and let me know.

Clothes for Cheap: Anthropologie Sherwood Ring

Have you heard of BaubleBar? I hadn't until recently. They've got a pretty sweet operation going, if you like nice but reasonably priced jewelry. You get a $10 off coupon just for "signing up" (anyone else subscribe to online stores, use the "yay you signed up" coupon, and then unsubscribe from most if not all of their emails? Yeah, me too -- don't tell anyone.)

All of this to say, BaubleBar was running a pretty good sale a couple weeks ago, so I snagged this arrow ring (which is similar to (but I'll admit, not quite as cool as) this one from Anthropologie) for a mere $10.

My ring arrived the other day, and it actually looked nicer in person than it did in the picture. It was also a tiny bit big, so I attempted to push the ends together to re-size it... and it snapped completely in half. Talk about disappointing. There's a happy ending to the story though, and a good test of BaubleBar's customer service: I emailed them, explained the situation, and they got back to me very quickly and offered to replace the ring -- with a smaller size, if I wanted! So, while the quality is slightly questionable, the customer service is top-notch...

(BTW BaubleBar isn't paying me to review their product/service... I'm just doing my civic duty as a fashion blogger to let you know where you can get cute but cheap jewelry.)

Clothes for Cheap: Madewell Ankle Strap Shoes

From Madewell:

Similar, from Old Navy:

Granted, the shoes from Madewell are mini-wedges and the Old Navy knock-offs are flats. But if you're going for a classic sort of Parisian look, you can't beat the $112 price difference. (Plus the ones at Old Navy come in pink and citron as well.)

Happy Tuesday!

Clothes for Cheap: J.Crew Blythe Blouse

This classic silk button up from J.Crew is offered in a number of colors, but this particular purple was offered in this year's spring collection and is no longer available. However, do not weep -- if your closet needs some bright purple, Old Navy's got you covered... albeit in polyester, not silk. But the price is nice.

J.Crew Blythe Blouse                                                        Old Navy Roll-Cuff Blouse

Clothes for Cheap: More Madewell Flats

Like these white leopard print Madewell flats? I found a cheaper option at Old Navy...

Madewell Sidewalk Skimmer                                                                   Old Navy Printed Flats

Clothes for Cheap: Madewell Dresses

More cheap finds! Madewell and Forever 21 are on the same page this Fall, it seems:

As previously stated, I'm not exactly a polka-dot girl, but I did like the look of this dress from Madewell (on the left). I liked the price of the one from Forever 21 (right) better.

Madewell Artdot Novelist Shirtdress                                 Forever 21 Polka Dot Tie Neck Dress

This striped Madewell dress (right) would be cute under a wooly sweater with tights and boots for the Fall. This similar option (left) at the F-2-1 will only set you back about $20.

Madewell Striped Duet Dress                                                          Forever 21 Striped Skater Dress

Clothes for Cheap: J.Crew Talitha Blouse

J.Crew blouse from a few seasons ago that I loved and couldn't afford:

Very similar look-alike at Forever 21 this season:

Yesssss!
(But I do not support those gold shorts.)

Trending: Printed Jeans

Okay, so printed pants might strike some as a little too crazy. Or maybe they just evoke memories of a certain pair of floral jeans you had in elementary school (mine were covered in peach, periwinkle, and mint roses). But I feel like it's a trend that really encourages people to have fun with their style - the fact that it's now commonly acceptable to wear out-of-the-box patterns on more than just shirts confirms that you don't have to take fashion too seriously. 

For other cheap printed denim options, check out Delia's, Target, and American Eagle.

// Update: My sister Erin said she saw some great animal print skinny jeans at TJ Maxx today for $20!

2, 4, 6, 8, Who Do We Appreciate? Boys.

...Because if you steal their stuff, you can have more clothes. Simple. Words to live by.

I've stolen clothes from the guys in my life for as long as I can remember - mainly from my older brother, Ryan. When I was about 11, I fell in love with a pair of Buster Brown loafers he'd outgrown. Being the fashion-forward thinker that I am, I adopted them and paired them with jeans (also from Ryan - jeans are jeans when you're a kid) and a white Guess button down, worn over my pink dance leotard. I would've tied the shirt tails in a knot at the waist but I think I wasn't sure if I was allowed to, so I just tucked it in. In later years, I wore his outgrown flannel shirts (buttoned up and tucked in like a lady, of course), and, as a middle schooler, I discovered that boxers make excellent pajama bottoms.

Yeah, I'm not exactly proud of that one... It's... innovative at best.

Sophomore and junior year, I moved on to stealing my dad's stuff. He had this wooly tan sweater that I wore one winter, in a slouchy kind of way. Then, that summer, I wore his 25-year-old vintage Ocean City flip flops whenever he wasn't. Recently, I've been mourning the loss of a pair of burgundy hi-tops that he owned and got rid of before I was old enough to filch them.

Now I get to steal clothes from David, and I have an advantage because I shop for him. He's nice; he doesn't mind. So I made a list of my favorite things of his to wear...

• Baseball hats: Girls' hats are sized too small. His fit loosely over my head and ears, allowing my hair to breathe, so I can rock the messy low bun. I like pairing a baseball cap with a sundress and easy sneakers for a cute, girl-next-door look.
• Oxford shirt: Classic white is good. Since it's a little over-sized, I wear the first few buttons open and tuck the front into cut off denim shorts, or even tie the shirt tails in the front in a knot. Wear it with heels to keep it glamorous and feminine. 
• Basic tee shirt: Not just for when you're painting, lounging, or 8 months pregnant. Try one of his striped tees, or a white v-neck tee front-tucked into skinny jeans, with a feminine belt, and heels or flats.
• Belt: Adds the perfect amount of masculine rusticness to a floaty dress or blouse. I prefer his slightly beat up brown leather belt because I like the unexpected texture it lends to an otherwise very feminine outfit. 
• Watch: Same idea as the belt - it's an unexpectedly masculine piece that can offset your stack of pretty bracelets in just the right way.

Found anything worth stealing from your brother, father, boyfriend, or husband's closet?

Clothes for Cheap: American Eagle Factory Store

Just discovered that AE now has a factory store online! As with all factory stores, the stock is limited both in selection and sizes, but it's worth a browse. They have both AE and Aerie clothes. Let me know if you find anything good!

Follow Up - Old Navy Copycats J.Crew

So, I did some research because I was curious about just how ethical copying designs & patterns within the fashion industry really is. This TED Talk, as well as this article, helped me understand it better - it's pretty fascinating!