Fashion Cents
My mother used to say, "If it's not at least fifty percent off, it's not a deal." I have lived by that my entire life. Growing up, I never had the luxury of buying things right off the rack at regular prices. I was and am fortunate, though, and I count blessings on my parents for providing me with a lovely, imaginative childhood. My mother also instilled in me that it's quite alright not to have identically what others have. She wasn't interested in raising a little copycat or clone. For example, do you guys remember those blue Tommy Hilfiger jackets? Oh my gosh, EVERYBODY had one. I can smell my middle school now. And if you were "cool," you had one of those jackets. I begged my mom for one. I was desperate. For Christmas, my mom caved and got me one buuut; it was brighter blue, quilted, and a plastic inset covered the Tommy patch on the chest. Y'all, I wore that thing so proud. And I felt beyond fabulous because I had what everyone had, but not. I've lived by that my entire life, also. You can always always always do it differently, look different, and act differently and still be happy and you.
I'm not here to condone anyone who can or does buy things straight out. That's a beautiful privilege; that capability should be celebrated and graciously cherished.
I want to show how living off the clearance racks, thrifting, and hunting for sales doesn't have to lack style, name brands, and quality. I'm not a boutique owner, or a model, and my fashion style might be one step above a quirky high schooler, but here goes...
I ordered these trendy sneakers off Amazon.
Indeed, that made my Mama proud because you can grab them for 65% off right now! That's good for Adidas to be hitting the streets. These are also very versatile. I wore them to my Pilates class (on 4th of July, no doubt) and as I ran errands. I haven't tried it yet, but I feel I could make a skirt and these shoes work, right? These, in particular, are also consciously cool because they are a part of Adidas's sustainability line, using recycled materials to remake products. I love that.
One word: Belk. This one store is where I find some of the best clearance finds. I picked up several T-shirts for $5. For back-to-school and anyone who lives in t-shirts, a $5 deal is hard to beat, especially in Coca-Cola designs. :)
Is it really a dance class if no one is doing a cartwheel?
I also picked up this adorable summer maxidress.
I wore it to a mermaid birthday party I hosted because it gave me such coastal coral vibes. (Click the link to see a juice bar, homemade sand dollar cookies, and one of the most adorable parties I put together.) I love when I find in-season articles sitting there for the picking... $20, that's it, my folks. I’m not a selfie expert, nor do I think I’m the best for modeling these clothes. But I am all about showing you how these clothes transfer to real-life situations, like watching a limbo battle go down.
I also use clearance shopping to stock up on out-of-season closet items. A few of my fall favorites are this velour short sleeve peasant top and this bizarre mushroom cardigan. It's so quirky that it's cute. Both were $5 each!
Ladies, I placed my first Shein order just as a test run. I ordered this black and white window pane blouse and this black and white polka dot midi skirt. I love working with patterns and making them work (I think? Haha). I leveled out the outfit with a new white Kate Spade cross-body bag.
If you are a Kate Spade fan... (what's not to love, really? Kitschy designs, quality construction, and clean lines) like myself, then do yourself a favor and sign up for Kate Spade Surprises online. You'll get newsletters containing daily, yes daily, deals. It's a great way to spend less on excellent products. I sported this monochrome outfit to church and received several compliments. Ok, Shein, I'm coming to you for another order!
Let me know in the comments which outfit or thing you like best and if you’re even slightly interested in my next unboxing/opening from Shein.
K Bye
Megan
Doing life… the best I know how.