Fashion

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My take on Tim Gunn’s 10 wardrobe essentials

We can (and should) all have a good foundation wardrobe. By that, I mean we should all have a set of basic pieces that work well in every season, no matter the trends (and can be worked in with trends), and they don’t have to be expensive. They should, however, be of good quality, so consider them investment pieces, and shop with that in mind. With so many people unfortunately back in the job market, it seems like a good time to remind everybody how to build a wardrobe of essentials and make sure you have everything you need for job interviews. The good thing is, you probably have a lot of what you need already.

So, before you go shopping, you must do the one thing we all dread: clean out your closet. Or, as Uncle Tim (that would be style expert Tim Gunn, my pretend adopted uncle) says: “edit” your closet. If you’ll look to the left on this page, I have a link to his style guide; it’s a worthwhile addition to your bookshelf.

Take everything out of your closet. Yes, everything. Go through piece by piece, and try on everything (yes, everything). Whatever doesn’t fit, is faded or worn, or so hilariously out of fashion that you can’t remember why you ever bought it in the first place, fold neatly and put in a box to take to Goodwill (don’t forget to ask for a receipt for your taxes). A good rule is that if you haven’t worn it in 6-9 months, out it goes; you probably won’t ever wear it again. Once you’ve gone through everything and purged, take an inventory of what’s there. Set aside anything that needs to go to the dry cleaner (and then remember to take it).   more…

The easiest way to save money on your wardrobe: take care of what you already have

All of us undoubtedly have had that one article of clothing or pair of shoes we loved so much that we just wore it to death, until it literally began to come apart. Over the long long run, there’s no way to avoid that, but it is possible to extend the life of your favorite and essential wardrobe pieces so that you can get a lot of wear out of them.

The first and easiest thing you can do is remember to hang-dry any delicates or cotton-content clothes. Dryers are tough on fabrics, and letting them air-dry keeps them from shrinking and fading. Invest in a $20 drying rack and set it up where there’s decent ventilation (so that they don’t develop a mildewed smell).   more…

Rue La La et ooh la la!

Once in a great, great while, I come across a true designer bargain. Now, keep in mind–what Budget Girl considers a bargain has certain parameters. A designer purse marked from $700 to $400, for example, does not fall within those parameters. It may be utterly fabulous, but I’m far too practical a soul to splurge to that degree.

But sometimes, when all the planets align, there are true designer deals out there to be had. And my new favorite bargain destination is the invitation-only Rue La La (fear not, the details on how to get your invite are below).  more…

Don’t have hundreds of dollars to spend on eyeglasses? You’ll love this

Budget Girl is, to some extent, also blind-as-a-bat girl. Okay, not really blind, but I am far-sighted, and have worn glasses since second grade. About two weeks ago, my favorite pair of glasses broke irreparably. I’ve spent the ensuing couple of weeks sulking over the dearly departed frames, and wondering where on earth I was going to find the money to buy new glasses. Those of you who wear them know they can be hideously expensive.

I’d just about resigned myself to digging around for a Lenscrafters coupon, when I saw a mention on a craiglist forum today for Zenni Optical. Insane prices, they said. I figured it was worth taking a look, so off I went.  more…