Hello loves! Long time no talk! I don't know about you, but I feel like 2015 is flyyyyyyyyyying by so quickly!
Let's just jump right into things, shall we? Now that the weather has taken a turn for the prettier, it's time to retire my sweaters and tights for a springier collection! Here's what I'm thinking for Spring 2015:
When my boyfriend and I were packing up to move to Portland, we did a huuuuuuuge purge of all the 'stuff' we didn't really need or use anymore, plus we got rid of anything we still loved but that was too worn out to justify moving (like raggedy hiking clothes, worn-out work flats, etc). So I'm in the market to revive my wardrobe!
Ideally, in order to achieve a wardrobe similar to the dream capsule version shown above, I'd need to purchase the following:
It will be a surprise to no long-term readers that I've already made a few purchases, all of which are black or white (cantstopwontstop with my love of neutrals!) I already have the white buttonup, white striped dress, black flats, and black wedges on their way to me.
But if I were to purchase the entire wishlist, it would take $1094 out of my bank account, which is more than I'm willing to spend...by, like, a lot. So I'll be on the hunt for alternative options to create the looks I want without blowing my entire tax return (I do have a car loan to pay off, after all ;)
Here are a few tips for prioritizing your shopping dollars:
1. Decide which options you'll wear the most and invest accordingly.
- For example, I perused my Work and Play style boards on Pinterest, and many of the outfits feature white jeans, so a good pair of well-fitting white denim is near the top of my list.
2. Determine which items need to withstand the most wear, and buy the best quality for your budget.
- Since having hip surgery (twice..), I can't wear high heels or cheap, thin flats, so I'm more willing to spend money on cushy sandals, flats, and wedges.
- I've been loving the pretty floral items debuting in shops and on Instagram ("Florals for spring? Groundbreaking." #namethatmovie), so I'm determined to add a little colorful pattern to my wardrobe. I love the floral dress shown above, but there are limited ways I can wear it (basically +/- a jacket or blazer), so the floral skirt or blazer are probably better options for me.
- For example, the buttonup chambray dress can be worn alone, with a jacket/blazer, over a buttonup, or unbuttoned it could act as a long vest.
- This tip is pretty obvious, but if you know that a store has frequent sales (or coupons if you sign up for their emails)....wait for those sales. For example, the white skirt and white jeans shown total $150 full-price, but they're from the Loft which frequently has 20-40% off sales, saving me up to $60. Likewise, if an item is sold at multiple stores (like the BB Dakota chambray dress above), do a quick Google search to find the best price for the item.
- Sometimes, rule #2 doesn't apply--items don't need to withstand lots of wear and tear, so a cheaper alternative to your ideal option may be ok. For example, I really like the black vest shown, but it's a fairly trendy item right now so I could find a cheaper alternative at Forever 21.
- If I was looking for a pair of jeans or black pants, the first place I'd stop would be a thrift store because name-brand versions of these items can easily be found at a heavy discount.
- For example, I've been on the hunt for over a year for a soft, slouchy white buttonup, so when I found one for $60 (a little more than I was trying to spend), I decided to just go for it!
What are your favorite tips for getting the best bang for your buck?
