enSTYLEpedia: your q's answered

budget, budget, budget.

let's face it, you're not normal unless you are on some sort of budget, right?

it's the ever going battle between spending money on what we want and on what we need.

i got a letter from a budget conscious mom (a little too conscious if you ask me...you'll see why shortly)

I am fashion challenged in the worst way. The large problem is my extreme emotional fear of spending money on anything other than basic survival. I would like to slowly (ever so slowly) ease into looking cuter. $100 a year is about all I can handle mentally. Is there a way to do it? AND, I love love LOVE styles from the 40's. But, wouldn't it seem a teensy bit weird to have only one or two pieces from that era and the rest of my clothes being obviously boring? I think some of my other problem is that I have NO idea what my style actually is. I think maybe "low budget"? 70% of my current wardrobe are hand-me-downs from friends and family, I wear them because they don't have holes in them and I didn't have to pay for them. So you can see, I need help. It's bad.

talk about a challenge.

$100 a year...pretty sure i spent $100 a few weekends ago.

the upside of this situation is that you sound like a vintage girl at heart.

which means to find 40's inspired styles you're drawn to and, to stay within a reasonable price range you can shop thrift shops, second hand and estate sales!

ok, so first thing. you need to start wearing things that you do like...go through all your hand-me-downs and figure out the things you do like

(hopefully it's actually a reasonable amount

so you have clothes left over

...if not...

then at least get rid of the things you really hate)

next, find out where all the thrift shops are in your town, you'll have better chances going to smaller places rather than goodwill types (but never rule out anything when it comes to a "great find").

and look for local estate sales...there are some great clothes at estate sales.

this will help you stay within your budget.

(pay close attention to

stains and holes when shopping used.

just because it's old doesn't mean

you should look dirty wearing it,

you can find great vintage that doesn't look like it's from the garbage.)

always browse through clearance racks at your favorite stores too...

well you probably don't do that now,

so start.

you can find some unique and fun pieces at department stores

(along with great prices on the clearance rack, can you say 80% off. yeah, that good).

onto the 40's inspiration. i sent you a link here about dressing in American 1940's style. i thought it was a really great informational article.

the great thing about having a style you like, you can pick and choose what you do with it.

for the record, i think it's perfectly fine to have a few things from an era you love.

clothing deets

if it was me i'd focus on dresses and tops.

if you're petite i would keep the prints small, big prints can over power a small frame and

make you look disproportional.

since you don't want to look costume-y i'd do one thing or the other;

for examplllllle:

if you're going to wear a great vintage dress, don't do your hair in the pin curls, keep is sleek and modern.

if you're going to wear jeans and a vintage cardigan, maybe do a couple pin curls that day.

are you picking up what i'm laying down?

be creative. if you know how to sew, look at old patterns (which can be at both thrift shops and estate sales) and then you can get fabric you like and create some one of a kind pieces.

you can also look for 40's inspired jewelry.

on the days you want to wear a t-shirt and jeans, make it pop with a necklace or earrings from that era.