5 Awesome Hacks That Will Change Every Budget Babe’s Life

It’s quite common for fashion-conscious women to always be trendy with how they dress up. They simply want to stand out in society with their fashion statement. While it’s true that Hollywood celebrities are the ones we typically base our fashion styles from, that doesn’t necessarily mean we have to go to the point of buying the mega-expensive brands they usually go with. Thankfully that’s not the case and in real life and it is possible to look fabulous simply by incorporating the below mini hacks into your day-to-day life.

Thrift Shopping

There’s no better feeling than scoring a unique treasure from a thrift store that no one else will have. You can find a lot of amazing clothes on sale in thrift stores. All you have to do is to have the patience and the eye for the right clothes that will match some of your old outfits. Moreover, big department store chains also sell clothes on sale on an occasional or seasonal basis. You have to be updated on those things to be the first one to buy the good stuff on sale. Needless to say, the best things on sale are the first ones being sold. So, the saying, “The early bird catches the early worm.” really fits into this scenario. Macklemore wasn’t kidding when he told us to “pop some tags” because thrift shopping is definitely the cheaper alternative to finding some amazing treasures at a fraction of the cost.

Mixing and Matching

Don’t be afraid to mix and match outfits. If done correctly, you’ll be surprised at how it works wonders! Your old jeans might look new when paired with a different t-shirt or shoe style. Your vintage shirts or blouses will have a new look once paired with some accessories. This is the beauty of mixing and matching. Much like shopping is in our veins, women know that you don’t need to buy new clothes all the time to look more fashionable. The trick to refreshing your outfits is to make what you already own seem relatively new again. For example, that white jumper you wear every winter? Have you thought about layering it over a blouse or wearing the jumper under a pair of denim trousers? Small changes can enhance any existing outfit, so you don’t have to unnecessarily spend more money buying new stuff.

Fashion Magazine inspo

There are a lot of fashion magazines in the market today such as Vogue, In Style, and Vanity Fair, among others. You just have to be keen in observing the fashion styles of celebrities and get an idea from there. You don’t need to buy the exact brands they are wearing especially if you are on a budget. In saying that, try to avoid the urge to purchase under $10 shirts from just anywhere. Some shops where you can buy high-quality basics at bargain price range are ASOS, Jay Jays, Showpo and Katies ensures that the t-shirts you are purchasing look crisp, clean, and expensive looking. You also want to make sure you’re buying high-quality jeans, skirts, blazers. Places such as Jay Jays, Topshop, ASOS sell amazing jeans that are very affordable.

The Power of Accessories

We do not need to have a lot of clothes in our wardrobe just to flash a different look every time we go out of our houses. All we need to do is to buy neutral coloured clothes and heaps of accessories. Investing in accessories is much cheaper than buying lots of new clothes. Accessories can totally change the look and style of your clothes…transforming them into another kind of style that you never thought was even possible before. Accessories are designed to spice up a woman’s look, effectively making her come across as classy and sophisticated. Accessorizing is actually a cost-effective way of making sure that a woman does not grow sick and tired of her wardrobe because it’s just as good as buying new outfits.

Change Your Hairstyle

Your hair is your crowning glory…it can make or break you. So, if you want to look fashionably hot without going bankrupt, then, you need to do something with our hairstyle. A different kind of hair colour or style can instantly make a fashion statement. Also, do not underestimate what hair accessories can do. If applied correctly to your hair, they can make you look a million bucks.

The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Online Shopping

So, you find yourself going online to get your new threads with the increasing regularity of late. The lure of fresh fashion picks delivered straight to your inbox is proving a little too hard to resist on occasion. Suddenly you are hitting that “Buy Now” button with reckless abandon. Perhaps you even have a particular store’s app or you know exactly what brand is stocking what, where and when. You are an ace at beating the packs to get that “must-have” item every week.

Now, it’s become a hobby… or should that be an obsession. No matter your level of participation (or addiction) rest assured you are not alone amongst the landslide of consumers now turning toward online fashion shopping.

Online shopping is becoming more and more popular by the minute (or should that be by the gig). Relatively new crops of cheap and cheerful fashion brands are fast becoming household names: take “Boohoo,” “ASOS” “The Iconic” and “Pop Cherry” as prime examples. Ostensibly, it’s no little wonder as to their burgeoning success. The world of Internet fashion appears to offer a less costly, more diverse range of stock that is available to the consumer 24/7. However, there are some definite downsides to the e-commerce fashion industry, not least of all the effect it has on conventional retailers.

According to a Roy Morgan report (source ABC) online retail shopping reached mainstream status in the first quarter of 2013. This followed a decade of consistent yearly growth. Shoppers are drawn to the Internet not just because of price but also because of the time factor. We can now shop at the click of a mouse on our lunch break. The biggest drawcard is ultimately the amazing array of latest fashions and limitless choice that can be accessed instantaneously (as opposed to having to trawl through boutiques, department and chain stores).

One obvious flaw to this system is that you can’t try before you buy. Some online fashion stores do provide a money-back guarantee or refund policy, but, the general state of affairs appears to be “caveat emptor” or “buyer beware”. When you find that delicious dress (that looked so perfect on the model) squishes your boobs, sits halfway across your butt cheeks and is made of some nylon fabric more akin to under than outerwear then the fine print on the website suddenly draws a real interest.

A lot of cheap fashion sites do provide free shipping, but if your garment doesn’t fit you then sometimes the only recourse the business provides is store credit. You will most likely find that the item you ordered in the new size you need is unavailable by the time you have sent off the ill-fitting (or poor quality) item in the post as requested. Keep in mind that you will have to bear the cost of sending the item back (a wise suggestion is to use registered post).

If the item is faulty then it isn’t “fit for purpose” and legally you are entitled to a refund and can make a complaint to the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC). By all means, you can chase a company down. But, be prepared for a major headache. With the cheap prices comes the fact that some online companies seem to be run in some dodgy manner that doesn’t involve an actual telephone contact (or so they claim). It’s the perfect “out” to retain profits.

By the time you have emailed them 15 times and contacted the ACCC you are wishing you never spent that $39.99 in the first place. Contrast this with the traditional retail experience where you can access physical recourse. With an actual store, you can show the item to the shop assistant. It’s a whole lot harder for them to ignore you then it is for some random at the end of an email address.

Using review sites to check online reputations is a great idea. You can search for an online shopping retailer on sites like “estorereview.com.au”. A suggestion… try searching reviews on “Pop Cherry.” The results will yield an amalgamation of everything great and everything wrong with the online fashion shopping experience in relation to this particularly controversial company.

For great general consumer advice, a visit to the “choice.com.au” website is always worthwhile. It is always advisable to do your research when it comes to shopping online, particularly in relation to buying clothing. Sometimes, it pays to try before you buy. Sometimes the lure of instant gratification proves all too much. In any case, online fashion has proven to be much more than just a trend; it is a solid feature of our everyday way of life.

Shopping On The Cheap: A Bargain Hunter’s Guide To Shopping

Living life as a girl is pretty tough! As our beloved Becky from the famous fashion movie, Confession of a Shopaholic would put it, it’s like buying a cashmere scarf. You would think you are investing in cashmere only to realize later that your money has been spent into a blend of wool and cotton. The point being, you really don’t have to churn out a lot of money in order to stay on top of your fashion game.

If you shop smart, you can really hunt down some amazing fashion bargains and put together killer outfits for yourself. And, here are four easy ways to do that. Let’s begin:

Tip # 1: Build a Capsule Wardrobe

You really don’t need to update your fashion arsenal with each item you see as a ‘must-have’ on an Instagrammer’s fashion feed. Work on developing an individual style of your own – cuts that flatter you, fabric that keeps you comfy and tones that go well with your complexion. Use key clothing items to build a solid capsule wardrobe and then you can use the good old mix and match method to come up with a ton of outfits for each occasion.

Tip # 2: Look for Sample Sales

Keep an eye on the flyers for designer sample sales. You can find some of the most gorgeous, edgy and trendy accent pieces for a fraction of price there. Shop smart, take a best friend along and together you both can treat yourself with luxury fashion items without breaking the bank.

Tip # 3: Add Timeless Classics to the Mix

Polka dots for summers, stripes for spring and plaids for fall – some of these trends are truly timeless classics and would always be relevant to the fashion scene. Therefore, when you do decide to indulge a little, make sure it is one of these fashion pieces which you can style in multiple ways for seasons to come.

Tip # 4: Solids are Always Boujee

When in doubt, go for a monochromatic head to toe look! The secret to looking drop-dead gorgeous, just like a Hollywood diva out of her million-dollar villa is to spend on fabric that gives off a luxe vibe, such as satin or silk. Don’t go for prints. Plain monochromatic look with a mirage of various textures, frills, ruffles, and laces would radiate a very polished and expensive look.