What the Bad Weather Brings

Lately the weather has been an absolute mess. 

In nature's quest to achieve fierce completion there's been some unwelcome schizophrenia and these days I dress as much for a hurricane as a heatwave.

Today with clouds and gray skies I feel more comfortable back in my style of layering and too-muchery.  

Daring and bold is fun for everyday, but there is something about a rain storm that makes me want to play cool and dark Audrey Hepburn circa "Breakfast at Tiffany's"

Don't talk to me sunglasses, classic black all over, decadence in the form of pearls. 

I feel like there is something amazing about standing out while wearing clothing that would typically blend in. It takes such chic. 

Put Moon River on Darlings, this lady needs a song. 

Wicked

Hardcore: Under Deconstruction

To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly.

~Henri Bergson~

Because without change there can be no growth or amazement.

This is...

The definition of femine. 

After going through the royal colors of Fall and the elaborate layering of Winter it's easy to forget how much one misses spring until reminded. 

The frills, the floral print, the pastel pink...bare shoulders and looking pretty for pretty's sake. 

I have missed the season. 

Right now the weather's completely topsy turvey and at the first sign of a heat wave I'm withering, but I cannot help but cross my fingers just waiting, hoping that soon I'll be roaming the streets amid sunny skies and blooming flowers. 

J'adore, Wicked

How do you do it?

That's the glow of a girl who's figured out how to be cheap and chic

Because in the grand scheme of things I love to shop and be fashionable. Of course I also live on an income fixed somewhere between extravagent and sensible. In order to look gorgeous and still save a pretty penny this requires equal parts brain work and non-stop searching.

1. I first wait till there's a sale already on the store's website. After all, if anyone should be doing all the work to bring down prices it should be the big wigs in question. Some stores are pretty erratic with their sale schedule so it will require some dilligence to pick up on the pattern. Usually holidays and weekends are always a good bet. Once you've got it down however you can plan for the blowouts.

2. I look around the website to see if they offer any special discounts to those who join their mailing lists or clubs. Since the whole point of this hard work is to save money I don't bother with anything that will ask me to put down a payment UNLESS it's cost effective. Get your calculator's out and do the work before you hit the 'Place Order' button. Remember credit cards are always a no-no.

3. I search high and low for coupon codes, some great websites offer tips on ways to bump the price tag down even further. RetailMeNot is a favorite gem of mine. These little codes are like sprinkles on an ice cream cone, it's like knowing no matter what game you play at the carnival you'll always win a prize.

4. Pick and choose what the better value really is. There are a few subtle tricks that can be tossed in the way of an unassuming consumer that ensure the company gets the majority of your money. Once again this is a calculator opportunity, 10% off though seemingly tantalizing might be nothing compared to free shipping.

5. I keep a mental list of things I really need (nice white t-shirt, red shoes, blue sheer camisole) and then I WAIT for the perfect opportunity. It's way too easy to think "I need..." and then rush out and buy the first thing that catches your eye in the category. Perfectly natural in fact. But I find that the NEXT opportunity is even better than the first. Shopstyle is an amazing site for searching for what fashionably ails you. When you hold out you're more likely to find unique pieces at a price that's right.

And as we all know there's something wonderfully satisfying about looking fantastic and then having enough money to pay the bills.

So how much money do you really get to save in the grand scheme of things?

Picture this:

A velveteen military blazer originally priced $99.00 reduced down to $32.00 through the store's sale. By signing up for the mailing list I was lucky enough to get an email alerting me to a 2 day super sale where the blazer was marked down even further to $27.00. By joining the store's club I got a 10% discount ($25 joining fee which became cost effective in a previous $70 purchase) . By peeking around an online coupon code website I was able to find two codes. One code for 30% off and another code for free shipping, both of which I could use at the same time.

In the end I was able to get my $99 blazer for less than 20 bucks...now how much do you hate/love/envy me?

(Joan Collins doing some shopping on a budget dime and looking fabulous as she does it,

Take note Ladies)