Tag Archives: budget fashion

How to Wear Black and White for the Holidays Without Looking Like a Waiter

21 Dec

The black and white combination is a staple in almost any season, and is perhaps the easiest last-minute combination for holiday dinners and parties (we still have a few to go this year.)  The white blouse and black pant or skirt

Model Shayla Monroque --one of Vogue's "Best Dressed" --sports simple yet elegant black & white

combination is also a common uniform combination in for waitstaff in many restaurants.  Especially if you combine it with a tie of any kind.  It’s a combination that’s both retro and modern, depending on your accessories.  So, how do you wear basic black and white, for day or night, without blending in with the waiters or looking like a refugee from the 20th century (unless it’s Halloween, that is)?  Here are a few tips to help

1.  What’s the trend at the moment?  This season there are lots of different trends from colorblocking to the “fetish femme.”   The trend you pick might say more about you than you realize, so choose carefully what you want to say with your choice.

2.  If you have some cash, add an inexpensive piece: a sparkly top, a piece of bold jewelry (or layer a bunch of co-ordinating jewelry), or a tiny hard-case evening bag that you can hold most of the evening. Even consider a sparkly skirt or shorts.  This time of year, these items are going on sale, so you may want to check out off-price retailers like Marshalls or TJ Max.  Also consider Cachet, Bebe or H&M.  The pieces don’t have to cost a lot to look like they did.

3.  Add color with your shoes!  Put the flesh-toned and black pumps to the back of the closet, and wear bright red, electric blue, emerald green or any beautiful bright color.  You can even re-purpose a pair from the summer if they are high enough and not a canvas or other summer material.  If you are wearing a summer shoe, make sure you have a great pedicure.

4. A colorful manicure and on-trend lipstick can distinguish you from the staff too.

Fashion Find: ‘Atessa’ sandal is a designer look for a fraction of $$

16 May

If you have an eye–and photographic memory–for fashion and design,  you will come across amazing finds in unusual places….

Take, for instance, my local mall (Holyoke Mall off Rt. 91).    We’re not a fashion bastion out here in the Pioneer Valley, so imagine my surprise when I spotted the Worthington ‘Atessa’ sandal at JC Penney.  It has the look of an expensive designer “cage” sandal for the fashionably frugal price of $39.99.  Here’s a quick pic I took wearing the shoes this afternoon:

So similar to what I’ve seen in Alexander McQueen, BCBG, and other collections!

They sport a 4- inch heel (ok, 3 5/16-inches.  close enough to 4) with a nice padded footbed.  All stitching is trimmed nicely so there is nothing poking on the inside.  Beautifully finished, man-made embossed snake-skin that feels and (so far) wears like leather.

Would I wear these out to an important event?  Yes, indeed.  The heel is the right height to be contemporary and non-”menopausal”, and as long as I don’t beat them to death (I can be tough on shoes) they should maintain their shape and shine.

That is, unless everyone at the event will be wearing high-end labels.  Then I might have to break the budget for a pair of Jimmy Choos.

A quick note on buying good budget-conscious fashion:  materials in budget fashions don’t need to last forever.  A good budget fashion piece should last at least to the end of the season.  Sometimes, depending on how many times it’s worn, a piece might last longer.  If stored properly, it can even be used into the beginning of the season of the following year.  Unless you are buying “fast fashion.”  In that case, you definitely get what you don’t pay for.  If it lasts through one washing, you’re lucky.