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Colors to Try That You've Never Considered

Are you the type who only wears one or two colors? I used to have this problem, but now I've been branching out a lot more. If you need to branch out a little this fall, here are some new colors to test out a daring new palette:

1. Mustard Yellow: This is one of my favorite colors, one that I love love love! You might not reach for this kind of color, but I guarantee you that you'll adore it. Mustard yellow is awesome with forest green, colorful prints, and chocolate brown, and it also flatters heavy metals and other thick accessories.

2. Grape Purple: Need something that flatters deep brown leather? I love a good grape purple, and it matches well with rich fabrics like brocade and appliquéd velvet. Wintertime fabrics are great for coziness and comfort, and a rich purple sets off textured materials so well.

3. Chocolate Brown: Chocolate brown is an easy one when it comes to leather and suede, but what about other brown fabrics? Wool and cashmere are excellent things to find in a cool chocolate color, and they make an excellent background to highlight items like silk scarves and other accessories.

4. Grass Green: Grass green is a surprising color that can be blended with rich or vibrant tones. Think about flowers and other blooms: they harness rich colors and pair them with bright green and amazing nature-inspired palettes. Some simple ways to work grass green into your ensemble are in your hats, clutches, and in your shoes, too.

5. Bright Orange: Yikes! Do you dare rock bright orange? This amazing hue is a sure-fire combination with other juicy citrus colors, as well as with some of the colors above--especially chocolate brown and grape-y purple. Will you branch out and work in some bright orange this fall?

6. Bold Blue: Blue is one of the safer favorite colors out there: it's a popular favorite that flatters much of what you already have in your closet. If you want to tentatively step into fall/winter color, bold blue is an amazing pick to kick off your fashionable ways. Try this with dark denim or flat-front trousers.

7. Gold: Layer on some thick gold for fall! Whether you choose old gold necklaces or heavyweight earrings, gold is one smart buy that never goes out style. I see a lot of people my age buying silver and ignoring gold, but I think it should be be other way around for once.

Don't Make My Fashion Mistakes!

I pride myself in being a smart shopper, but you know what? A lot of my smart shopping techniques were picked up from my own mistakes--or my friends' mistakes. Have a look at what I've done in the past, so you can avoid committing these errors like I did.

1. You shop because there's a sale. Nooo! This is a rookie error, but a huge one. Don't shop at every store with clearance deals and sale pricing--you'll break your budget faster than you can press "place order." Instead, make a run-down of your favorite shops, and make it a point to swing by each one on a regular basis. When something looks really hot, you strike--but only after thinking about it for a while.

2. You think too much about what others think about your fashion. If you dress for others, I've learned, you will end up looking weird. Instead, why not flatter yourself with pieces that you love and make your own--and that blend in with what you already have in your closet? There's nothing more awkward than adding a trendy piece into rotation that clashes with everything else you have.

3. You over-accessorize. This can be a problem particularly in winter, when you are already piling on the jackets, vest, sweaters, and scarves like nobody's business. Toss these pieces aside and go for something that you really love--something with pizazz--and then remove something superfluous. Use the French rule and remove one accessory before you leave the house, and your wardrobe will love you for it.

4. Be kind to your feet. I have so many scars from blisters that it's actually pretty scary. If you have wide feet, treat them nicely. If you know you're going to get blisters from those hot shoes, pack a pair of flats. It takes two seconds to do that, and there's nothing more mood-killing than freshly sloughed-off skin on your tootsies.

5. Know how to complement your wardrobe with cosmetics. Some women dress down, and then dump on the makeup--I'm the opposite. If you need to practice putting on your face for an event, get yourself to a makeup counter in any department store, and then shop for cosmetics at a discount online.

I'm Addicted to Deals

Do you love saving money on special deals? I definitely do! Sometimes, I get so pumped about my purchases that I feel like I just can't stop. I've been having so much luck with Old Navy and GAP, as well as some addition, non-online shopping over at Publix , our local supermarket. If you adore stacking coupons and you want to keep on shopping away, here are some signs that you are just as addicted to the chase as I am!

1. You crave the next deal. If you plan in advance and crave your next shopping experience to see how much you might save, you could be addicted to deals just like me. Sometimes, after a night of coupon planning, I can't even sleep at night! I have a notebook in which I list all my coupon deals, and I also do some math to figure out approximate totals beforehand. It's such a rush!

2. You only buy things when you can save money. I can't even tell you the last time I paid full price for something. You might have a similar rule for yourself when it comes to fashions and accessories: buy it now before it wears out. Stocking up is definitely welcome in our book: Victoria's Secret is one great place to buy one thing and get another for free. V.S. regularly has "buy one bra, get a free panty" deals, and they're some of my favorite online.

3. You always want to save more, to the point where you only want to shop at locations that allow you to stack coupons or combine promotional deals. You can experiment with certain retailers until you find the right one to suit your particular needs. For example, if you regularly use a free shipping code to purchase things online, you may want to look for a company that provides an additional discount through a retailer credit card company, such as Sears or JCPenney.

4. You're a strategist, and constantly shopping in the "wrong" seasons. You love to pick up swimsuits in September, winter jackets in May, and you always try to add additional discounts to your clearance gear. You buy pieces knowing that they won't go out of style: blackpeacoats , simple plaid capes, well-cut long blazers and woolly sweaters. Your classic taste is part personal interest, part practicality.

5. You never stop searching. Even if you have your favorite places to shop, you're always up for new and exciting stops and designers to check out.

Related Tags: Sears Coupons, JCPenney Coupons

Going to The Gap

It's been a while since I have checked out The Gap, and when I zipped over to their new arrivals page to see what's hot for fall. I'm really glad I did, because not only are the prices really good right now, but their designs are figure-flattering and fresh. Here's what I'm really loving:

*Button-Down Long Sleeved Shirts: Some of the shirts have ruffles down the front, others have cool business stripes, and others have Western additions. With the depth of their fall line, anyone can get a piece or two that they like for either work or play. Some of their shorter-sleeve shirts have caught my eye as well, because they feature cool ruffled details.

*Cozy Sweaters: Button-down sweaters look so cozy and wonderful when worn with jeans this fall, and the color combos aren't so overtly trendy that you can't wear them around town with any number of basic tanks and tees. Instead of layering these over white, how about a small pattern or a slim ribbed shirt?

*Tie-Neck and Tie-Waist Shirts: Why not add a little something to your ensemble? You can tie up your cardigan to accent a slim waist or simply knot a blouse at the neck for a little feminine appeal. While yet again the color palette was pretty standard, I think they'll look awesome with flat-front pants for work.

*1969 Jeans: Have you been seeing the ads for The Gap's 1969 jeans lately? They are better than ever, at least from my cursory glances in the shops, with the Long & Lean and Perfect Boot styles completely rocking my world. Other fits you might want to look into are the Sexy Boot and Curvy. Plus, who doesn't love vanity sizing?!

*Basic Long-Sleeve Shirts: Wide stripes, plain crew necks, ribbed v-necks, henleys, and 3/4-length sleeves are all playing a part in my fall bonanza wardrobe. Worn underneath puffy vests or fall fleece jackets, these tops will keep you warm until the snow flies, and then you can toss them on underneath heavyweight sweaters.

Related Tags: Gap Coupon Codes

Getting Your Fashionable Groove Back

Are you stuck in a fashion rut? I hate that! When I have no ideas about how I am going to rock the next season, I pull out these ideas to get me revved up again. It's the only way to prepare oneself for inevitable mixing and matching (plus creativity) that's required when you've got a smaller budget that really requires you to think hard about how to match (and match well), and know exactly what you need to buy for right now.

Here's what I do to buy a lot of essentials without breaking my budget at all:

1. Make a spreadsheet. If you can handle yourself on Excel and you have enough time, chart your wardrobe and see where the holes are. If you have enough jeans and t-shirts already, perhaps you are missing some hoodies, cardigans, shrugs, and vests as well. Play around what you've already got and group it into sections by color and age.

2. Determine your budget and your allocations. The worst thing about shopping on a budget isn't saving money, but finding pieces you love can be torturous if you later crunch the numbers and realize you can't afford them. Split up your budget, whether it's $100 or $500, into sections according to need. For example, if you have a $200 budget, you can save $50 to buy $10 t-shirts at Old Navy, $50 to buy 3 pairs of jeans at Target on sale, and $100 for one blazer, two skirts, and a blouse.

3. Avoid splashing out on investment pieces before you buy what you need for winter. Let's just say, that awesome new blazer is going to be extremely lonely if you don't have anything to pair it with. Start with a few pairs of basic undies, a convertible bra after price comparison and using a coupon code, and then grab the rest. Colorful tees are an awesome jumping off point, and you don't need more than a few pairs of jeans as long as they are not extremely distinctive. I like Target's Xhilaration jeans line, but their Mossimo junior's jeans are just as good--and frequently on sale.

4. Don't forget about one inexpensive pair of heels. They will make your pants lie better, with a more elegant rise and break, and quite often, your skirts and dresses will end up looking a lot more ladylike than with flats. If you cannot afford to buy a new pair of shoes at Payless, Target, or Endless, unearth a plain black pair of peep toes and bring them to the cobbler's for a re-heeling and a shine.

5. Use fashion mags and blogs for new inspiration. If you have to go closet-diving, try to find the best way to make it work for you: mix things up and make new looks from your existing wardrobe. I like to bring a friend along so that they can help invent new looks without me having to work so hard. *Wink*

Related Tags: Old Navy Coupons, Payless Coupons, Target Coupons, Endless.com Promotional Code

Discovering Janet Wood's Shopping Tips

I ran into a list of shopping hints and tips from Janet Wood of the "Fashion Fit Formula," and I thought you might like to hear about it-- it's a perfect choice for those of us who are looking for a bargain (and right now, who isn't looking for a little savings?).

Here goes! The first thing I discovered is a description of retail-store planning techniques to get us to invest more cash in garments. I have never heard of this particular method, so I was intrigued with the sneakiness of the whole deal. Here's what Wood had to say:

"Many times the higher end stores bring in sale clothing that is not up to the quality that of their non-sale items. According to Janet, 'they are loss-leaders. Clothing sold at almost no profit to attract buyers into the location where they will then see the high profit clothing.'"

What happens next? "The sale garment isn’t as nice as their other merchandise but its cost while lower, isn’t that much lower. Just a few steps away is a rack with obviously better quality clothing and while the price is higher, it’s not that much higher. The buyer rationalizes for just $30 to $40 more, I can get this out fit and it looks so much more expensive."

Now I must ask: do you do this? Maybe it's just me, but if I'm shopping at a mediocre department store tobegin with, I will probably choose items on the appearance rather than the quality, unless of course I'm actually looking for work pieces. Then again, if I am sourcing work pieces, why would I be looking at the sale rack in the first place? Wouldn't I be looking fpr investment pieces in the first place? *Mind is boggled*

Here's a good combination of quality and value-- Old Navy! Pictured: Side-Tie Tank, Linen-Blend Vest, Cotton Twill Vests

Speaking of dressier/fancier pieces, Wood also shed some light on what we should be spending money on, saying that "unless your lifestyle revolves around dressing in evening clothing and going out frequently, only purchase dressy clothes when necessary. It’s important to think about cost per wearing. If you blow your budget on a “must have outfit” that you only wear once – it was very expensive indeed."

Now that's advice we can both agree on!

4 Celeb Styles To Covet

Don't think you're the only one who's tearing up your In Style and People mags to add to your fashion-inspiration scrapbook-- you're not! We've all got our favorites, but undoubtedly a few pull ahead of the pack with their consistently flawless red carpet looks and day-to-day style. From my super-secret fashion scrapbook to yours, here's who to watch in 2009.

Freida Pinto

Freida's a newcomer on the scene, but she's not afraid to let her red carpet selections speak for themselves! The stunning Slumdog Millionaire star knows that what best accessorizes shapely dresses is incredibly shiny hair, a huge smile, and healthy, glowing skin.

If you love yourself some Freida and you'd like to dress more like her, start off with casual day ensembles that combine saturated colors with figure-conscious silhouettes and trim heels. Oooh, and don't forget those star shades!

Taylor Swift

Sure, Taylor's quite young, but that doesn't make her any less important, style-wise. This chart-topping star has been seen around town in the same bold-button jacket styled differently, and you know what? You wouldn't even think that she was wearing the same thing twice!

Since we all want to wear our favorite things more than once (and show them off), Taylor earns a place on our list with her budget-savvy styling. If you want to do the same as the weather gets warmer, look for a classic cardigan that can be worn buttoned up, partially open, all the way closed, or adorned with a few brooches for an entirely different look. For an added Swift touch, get one with shiny gold buttons!

Reese Witherspoon

Reese is a darling of the celeb style world, and one we're always watching, premiere-going or not. While she's been keeping things under wraps lately, she's certainly blown us away enough times to stay ingrained in our memories—canary-yellow Nina Ricci dress, anyone?

To get a quick look that's similar to Reese, you've got to find yourself a pair of thin-framed aviator sunglasses, preferably with a reflective finish to hide behind! Pile on the wraps when you feel chilly—try charcoal gray and eggplant, two of Reese's preferred shades—and don't be afraid to rock the flats. Since Reese also loves smock dresses, it sounds like we're going to be pretty comfortable pulling off those inspired looks.

Jessica Alba

Jessica has bounced back from having a child, and she's looking trimmer than ever. The curvy star knows exactly how to flatter her cinnamon skin tone, and she's got a sixth sense for jeans that flatter. Ever since she trimmed her hair into that sleek bob, she's been looking more confident, and who wouldn't notice Jessica if she strolled their way?

Jessica doesn't just have great hair and jeans, but an intuitive sense of self-styling. Choose your best feature and work with it, just like Jess does: she showed off toned shoulders in a strapless lilac dress for the Spirit Awards (which gracefully skimmed her hips) and her awesome bone structure with a cool pair of vintage-inspired sunnies.

8 Reasons to Love Threadless

1. It's stylish: Threadless gathers the best-of-the-best in the world of graphic design. Tons of gifted designers (both amateur and professional) have accounts there anf designs in the shop, and they spice things up with a hefty amount of originality.

2. Easy-to-use website. Click on tabs like girls, guys, and info to get everything you need right there, and everything is arranged so perfectly, in a clear boxed format.

3. Prices are low. The shirts are priced at around $15, and you can get them on sale for $9, but the quality is at the level of shirts of twice or three times the price. Some have interesting details like glow in the dark decals and metallic foil details.

(Air Quotes)

4. Try out the 12 Tee of the Month club, in which you get a t-shirt every month as part of a subsciption process. It's affordable and surprising, and it will serve as a very good present for certains beaus/boyfriends/fiances/brothers who hate shopping for themselves.

5. You can also get matching hoodies. Hoodies are definitely pricier at Threadless ($40 each), but they are available in sizes up to 2XL and really have your college sweatshirt-- of the same price point, I might add-- beat.

6. They have a cool company blog to keep you updated on celeb "sightings" that involve cool t-shirts! It's a fun way to get inspired to amp up your tee style, without being too obvious.

(Un Deux Tee)

7. The Bestee Awards give away a significant amount of fun "pin change" plus a whopping award of $20,000 if you submit a design and then are chosen by your peers. It's definitely a cool way to pass the time if you are into illustration and graphic design.

8. It's hip! Buy your mom one, if you can!

(Outlaw Tee)

Stretch That Wardrobe

Looking for a few way to make your wardrobe look fabulous, exciting, and new-- erm, but don't have room to spend? If you feel like you are going to need to boost your look for the new year, try my techniques for wardrobe stretching-- they aren't hard at all!

(Lattice Tank)

Add Pins: Collect gorgeous brooches, pins, and necklaces from your local thrift, charity, or consignment shop. Gather up all your black blouses and tops and start accessorizing. Even the same black button-down shirt (a la Jennifer Aniston) can look extremely different when paired with overstated chandelier earrings, a collection of pins, and an antique brooch.

Play the Tailor: You probably have a pile of clothes that need to be changed or you won't wear them. Bring them into a tailor-- one who's affordable or has been recommended-- and give your clothes a facelift. Shorten skirts and make sleeve alterations, fix baggy pants, and get your shirts fitted to your body so that you can wear them right away. Every time I pick something up from the tailor, I feel like I've just been shopping.

Mix and Match: Grab a dress and layer a thick cardigan over it to wear it as a skirt. Grab a blazer and try it over a pencil skirt and a long tank to switch up proportions. Mix things up and don't be afraid to experiment. That's what full-length mirrors are for!

Jumpstart Your Resolutions: Do you have a closet that's full of "skinny clothes"? If you do and you have a resolution to lose weight as well, you'll be gaining access to a whole new section of your closet. Don't go overboard, but a 5 lb change up or down (as part of your resolutions) will change what you can pull off.

Try Out New Looks: Consider getting "styled" by your best friend, who will be able to combine things that you never imagined together. It's an easy way to get fashion advice, and you might be able to go "shopping" in your friend's closet as well.

Make Smart Buys: You are going to have to buy some things this year, so why not make them stand out? Spend money on stylized toppers like designer blazers and cool new sweaters instead of tanks and tees. The outer layers are seen first, and one amazing jacket will pep up skirts and jeans!

Make An Investment: Pieces that last for ages are worth investing in for cost-per-wear. Buy well-made mid-level labels like J. Crew and Banana Republic for interesting pieces that aren't too pricey.

How To Get The Best Deal From Old Navy

I'm going to be 100%, brutally honest with you: I never shop at Old Navy and pay full price. Well, that might not be so amazing considering that I'm a deal maven extrordinaire, but I've been discovering new ways to save at this shop, and it's incredible! Never pay full-price at Old Navy again with these tips, unless you find a must-have something that you can't wait to have go on sale. 

Here's what I do to save some serious cash at Old Navy:

1. It's important to go to their homepage and click on the banner that asks if you'd like email updates. After subscribing to the updates, you will receive valuable coupon codes that are some of the best you'll get out there. For example, you'll get notices about free shipping (invaluable in the thrifty shopper's world, as well as percentage-off savings that are stackable with other offers. 

2. Don't be afraid to experiment with offers and stack them on the Old Navy website when it asks for coupon codes. In fact, I have even had luck stacking double "percentage off" coupons to save even more. For example, you can appy a 20% off coupon, then a free shipping deal, and then another 10% off coupon for additional savings. I just did this deal last week successfully, with one coupon I found on Coupon Winner and two I received from the above-mentioned newsletter deals. 

3. Be clever when it comes to returns. Sometimes it pays to consider your options: there was an amazing free shipping / 20% off one-day only sale at Old Navy recently. Instead of stressing about getting my return sent out, I went to the store with my items to return and received an instant credit to my debit card. (By the way, there was a sligh bit of hassle at the store because I did not include the plastic packing bags.) 

After making my return, I drove home and used my free shipping coupon, 20%, and additional 10% off coupons to make a pruchase of the items I would have been exchanging for. That way, I was not charged for "Returns Shipping" from Old Navy, and I was able to find the pieces I wanted on sale, without having to wait for the exchange to do through via mail or for my account to be credited. 

*Note 1: Some items are return-by-mail only, but you can easily check that out on your packing slip or by accessing your order online through the link transmitted to you after purchasing over the internet. 

*Note 2: Some deals are significantly better than others. I did not have to spend a minimum on the coupons I used, and these are ideal. Be wary of feeling forced to spend 

4. Try your best to shop in Old Navy's clearance section, because the above-mentioned steals and deals work on both discounted and full-price items. While it's a little hard when you find the perfect item full-priced, clearance had such a variety that I was able to select all that I needed (layering tank tops in 100% silk, sleep shorts) for less.

5. Don't wait until the last second to use your coupon! Old Navy has experienced several outages recently, and that will make the site unavailable for you to use your (amazing) coupons. Consider purchasing in the morning on the day of sale. 

Wondering what I bought?

Head to Old Navy's Clearance section for your deals, and immediately!