Look for Less - Grey Boots

Alright beauties, take a good long look at these bad boys! Super cute, right? As if Kohl's didn't already have me completely hooked with their adorable shoe collection, I have found yet another reason to give a standing ovation, and rack up a few more charges on my growing Kohl's card bill (I'm going to blame holiday shopping for this month's bill...next month, well, I'm not so sure about the excuse I'll use next month quite yet. But I'll be sure to think of something good. ;) ).
These babies are Elle brand at Kohl's, and have a SALE sticker of $69.99. For boots as gorgeous as these, I could see a possibility for a splurge. But the hard truth is that for a full-time student and part-time shopaholic, seventy bucks is a large some of dough, any way you look at it. So, after trying on the shoes, walking around the store, putting them in the cart, moping about the price-tag, trying them on again, moping about the price some more, and putting them back on the shelf, I finally walked away without the boots.
I was sad. There was no getting around it.

Now, fast forward. It's now about 4 days later, and while semi-strictly window shopping at the mall, and I just so happen to stumble into Claire's (around here, Clarie's was purchased out by Icing's...or it might just be the other way around. Either way, I'm not sure what the more appropriate store name, at the moment) and find these beautiful babies! (You *might* recognize them from the outfit I posted yesterday.) The best part? You guessed it! They were priced for less-much less!! I couldn't help myself, so I scarfed them up for a mere $12.

What's the best deal YOU have gotten, lately?

Back It Up, Back It Up, You Got It...

For me it happens all the time: You hear the alarm (in my case, it's my puppy Pepper), hit the snooze (put her on the ground), and lay there for what seems like five minutes, before you realize it's been almost an hour and you've got to get out that door NOW!! Don't worry, you can be honest, because it happens to the best of us. But on these days, the biggest question isn't what we're going to have for breakfast or what the weather is like outside. On days like these, it's "what should I wear?" and more importantly "where is it?".

I was recently reading a blogarticle about the importance of always having a back up plan. And I couldn't agree more! It's important to always have a just in case outfit, in mind for those rushed occasions that you need clothes quick and don't want to look like a bum off the street.

Depending on the season, style, and styler, the back-up-plan will be different. Since it's wintertime, and super cold lately where I live, my outfit go-to is a boyfriend cardigan, leggings, and boots. It's warm enough for the chilly mornings, and it's super versatile. Depending on the event, I know I can add a scarf and black slouchy boots to make it casual and comfortable, or grey dressy boots and a necklace to add some shimmer and shine for an evening out. I usually toss on a black turtle neck under it all, but, again, depending on where I'm going, sometimes a white cami or tee is more appropriate.

Plan B by Cannychic

The key to cooking up a great combination is to remember three things:

1. Comfort

2. Ease

3. Versatility

When you pick out an outfit to be your "go-to" choice, it should be something comfortable enough that you can wear all day without the tugging and pulling (Reason #1 that I chose leggings for my bottoms).

It should also be something that's not too complicated, so there's not too much rushing in the am. Focus on about three or four key pieces (1. Sweater 2. Pants 3. Shoes ). The simpler, the better! Less thinking will ultimately mean less anxiety in the morning.

And lastly, it's important to make sure that what you're picking is versatile, meaning that you could wear it just about anywhere and do almost anything in it (you could wear it to work, school/class, lunch date, evening out, etc.). If not, it should be close to versatile, where you would only have to change a few pieces (different shoes or different necklace/scarf combo) to make it work for you in any scenario.

What is your outfit back-up?

When taking an innocent trip to Kohl's last week, to pay off that tricky charge card, I came across the cutest top, that I hadn't seen in any other Kohl's store, as of yet (I am what you might call a Kohl's connoisseur...but this is besides the point). Despite my Shopping Buddy's attempts to talk me out of the spontaneous purchase, I just HAD to have it, so I splurged!
The lace around the middle continued around the shirt, so it is visible from the back as well as the front. My favorite part of the new deal? Off-the-shoulder! Most of the pieces hanging in my closet are slightly more conventional and are undoubtedly two-sleeved. Once I got home to try on my new find, I realized that there probably was more than one reason for my conventionality's.
The problem is, I have no place to where the one-armed wonder. At work, I have to look "professional", so both sleeves are required. At school, I must also look (you got it!) professional... When would I wear this completely impractical shirt?! Nowhere.
With this realization, I had to choice but to return my new baby back to the department store.
Later that evening, I was surfing some online stores, and I stopped when I saw the most ironic (and cutest!) thing ever: the same exact shirt being sold at Tilly's, for one dollar less, and (here's the kicker) it had TWO sleeves!!! Now, I'm not a fan of ordering much online, so I rushed over to the nearest Tilly's outlet the next day in search of the top. And guess what??

I found it!!!

Well, actually, my Shopping Buddy did. But I was so excited I looked over to see  her smiling and waving the shirt high above hear head (we do our own kind of victory dance!).

The whole outfit was under $60!

Top (Tilly's, $14), Jeans (Deila's brand, from Goodwill, $5) Boots (Kohl's, $40)

Where have YOU shopped lately?

Forever XXI - Haul

There's no doubt about it: I'm addicted to Forever XXI. Whenever we step near the mall, I am the first one rushing in and typically the last one to be dragged out. Some of their items can run a tad pricey, but there is always a bargain to be had on their clearance racks. What I love most about this store is their wide selection of styles. Always in step with the latest trends, Forever XXI offers a wide variety of pieces that can coordinate with any personal style, from romantic or classy to grunge and eclectic. The gems in their jewelry section are also a great deal-while everything ranges in price, it's rare to spot a piece over $20. Most of the necklaces I find are cute, classic, and super versatile, and never cost me more than $8. Jewelry is final sale, however, so with this in mind, I try to only buy what I know I will wear!

On this trip, I was shopping around for generic items that I could mix-and-match into my already existing wardrobe. My main focus was on pieces that I could wear to work (muted colors, classy, multi-functional) and the basic necessities that any fashionista should have!

The first stop was the clearance racks, of course. I didn't let the adorable mannequins and colorful tee-shirt displays distract me from my ultimate goal, which was saving more than I was going to spend, today. On sale, I found a super-cute, black-fringe, sleeveless dress. For only $14, it was definitely a steal.

I also picked up some basics including a White V-Neck ($3), Tank ($3), and Black Leotard ($4). I usually opt for shopping at Kohl's for my basics, because of the great coupons, but even these prices were no comparison!

Another thing I love about Forever XXI how everything is organized by style. So, after scarfing up on the necessities, I took a spin through the military-inspired clothing, where I found this sweater. I just love the buttons!

My shopping buddy found this romantic lace top ($9.99), last minute while we were standing in line, waiting to purchase our goodies. It's so sheer, so a cami is a must!

I also found a sweater for less than five dollars! While it's current state is more shabby than chic, it has definite potential. For now, I'll leave you guessing with these snapshots:

To Be Continued... ;)

Sweater Weather!

With Autumn's chilly winds settling in to stay, it's again time to reach into the back of the closet and show those sweaters the light! I was so excited yesterday, when the temperature took a dip and the weather man finally condoned the acts that I've been dreaming up for weeks: Buying new boots and snuggling up in warm sweaters. Thursdays are usually busy days, with a list of to-do's that only grows as the time left in the day diminishes, which is all the more reason to make sure the outfit of the day is comfortable (and cute!).
Believe it or not, this week's entire ensemble cost me under $30.

I've been waiting for weeks to be able to wear these boots! I picked them out about a month ago on a Wal*Mart shopping trip for only seven dollars, which made wearing them yesterday even better. ;)
The sweater was from this season, and originally sold at Kohl's, but I scarfed up this brand new baby (with sales tags still attached!) from the Goodwill. Unfortunately, the price was torn off the tag, so I'm not sure how much I saved, but I do know that it was a lot, considering that I only paid $1.00. I scored the jeans here, as well, on a different shopping adventure, for about $5.00.
The belt and bag both came from Kohl's. The bag, Simply Vera by Vera Wang, was about $14.00, with it's adorable yellow clearance sticker. The belt, also with the magic sticker, was a mere $2. :)
Fall-time can never come quick enough for me. I wait for it's signs all year, and then in a flash, it's back to shorts and bikini tops. :(. In my opinion, it's hard to improve on an already amazing chilly fall day. But an inexpensive outfit seems to do the trick every time!!

PS - Look for Even LESS!

After a few days of being confined to my bedroom and limited to cyber-shopping (which I will admit I was previously too prejudiced to do), I am finally flu-free! :) To celebrate wellness and all things healthy, I took a trip to Wal*Mart, where I couldn't believe my eyes. There, hanging on the neat plastic hanger, only slightly above my reach was the very same vest I had spent $75.00 on, only days ago. Except, this variation cost less-much less, at a comparable $14.00. Sure, I may rest in the comfort of knowing that the quality of my purchase was most likely slightly above par in comparison to my new find (by Miley&Max), but regardless, I'm still kicking myself. I suppose that it serves me right, for my impatience. But you be the judge: Is your hard earned dough worth the sacrifice for quality splurges? Or is the look you achieve on a bargain well worth the penny saved?

The Look for Less

After an incredible amount of clicking, vetoing, and coupon code typing, the results are in! While the original inspiration, found in Coldwater Creek's latest catalog, was more on the classy side of chic, I decided to opt for a more modern alternative  for today's Look for Less. The vest I found was from JCPennys.Com. Mind you, it was a bit of a $plurge for my part-time piggy bank, but it's so incredibly cute, I couldn't pass it up! The faux leather vest (which is uber 'green', I might add) by Liz Claiborn is available through JC Penny's new fall collection. It comes in Dark Brown, and is available in ranging sizes, including Misses, Women's, and Petites. Again said, it was a splurge, costing me about $72.00 (with free shipping, because I'm spending over $49). Let's just say that I plan on wearing this baby around the clock!!

I was a little more relieved when I logged onto Alloy.Com to search for a cute striped top to wear under the vest. In the clearance section, I found an adorable Mod "paint streaked" top, priced at $9.99. Since I was still in the green, at this point, I decided that the only thing that could top off such a cute combo would be shoes to match! And *surprise!*, Alloy had adorable black suede boots on sale. Some colors were selling for $14 - but, of course, the ones that will match my Look were ringing up $34.00. But, they were still a deal, considering the many times I will end up wearing them this season, and the seasons to come. To make the deal even better, I used a 15% off coupon I thieved from my mama's Entertainment Book, and was entitled to free shipping! Lucky me!!

The only piece I did not purchase today was a pair of dark wash denim. The reason behind my omission is the 30+ pair of jeans I already own, courtesy of the Goodwill's wonderful $5- Denim sale, and the fact that I haven't grown very much over the past 9 years (it's a blessing and a curse...). But after all, dressing fabulously isn't always just about shopping and new finds - it's about working with what you already own to enhance your own style!

After tallying up today's expenditures, which were $115.00, I realized I had saved about $45 just by shopping sale items, not to mention the $244.85 we avoided spending by shopping around, and finding our Look for Less!!

The Third Stage

The three dollar challenge of the week is getting deep - but so are the savings! I made a stop at my local Kohl's to hit the clearance in an attempt to find more three dollar deals. Now, I don't want to come across as biased,  but when it comes to clearance racks, nothing quite compares to Kohl's. This is not to say that I don't appreciate other stores' attempts to draw me into their traps, but Kohl's just does it so tactfully.
As soon as I entered their sliding glass doors, racks and racks of 80% off called out my name! Unfortunately, I did run into a few problems during my excursion. Ironically, however, none of them related to the three dollar dilemma. Actually, I found plenty of three dollar finds! The first problem was finding them in my size. The second, narrowing down my options. I did end up finding two very cute striped tunics, with a rope tie belt for under the budget. Both were so cute, and definitely fit the nautical theme that was "in" earlier in the season, but to my disappointment, none of them were my size. So, undefeated, I moved to the next department: Jewelery, where I  stumbled on the cutest chain-style necklace for only three dollars and change. The best part of the deal? It was 90% off! :) Which means I saved about $27! Pictures are available on the mini-haul photo album on facebook!
What's the most you have saved on an item, recently?

Three is a Charm

For this evening's savings adventure, I didn't have to wander very far from home. With only a few clicks of the mouse, and a minimal amount of loading time, I was able to navigate away from my 'home' page, and straight to ForeverXXI.com-all without leaving the comfort my jamies. :)
This week, I've had my eyes peeled and my wallet ready for all the three dollar deals I can find. I've had to be strict, by turning away from trendy tops and sexy skinnies, but as a result, I'm finding plenty of great additions to my closet (and yours!) and saving my poor piggy bank from a meltdown.
Tonight I found the cutest pair of black-bow hair clips, originally priced at-you guessed it-$3.00!! But to make this deal even sweeter, I found them on clearance. Today they're selling for only $1.99! These classy bows added to the handy bobby pins can be just what us busy girls need to make for a great hair day in practically no time.
Right under the accessories section on the sidebar was a link to the tops on clearance. This was the hardest part of my browsing; It was so hard to say 'no' to the deals that didn't fall in budget! But through a bit of self-discipline and tough love, I made it, and am able to bring you the three dollar ribbed tee as a stronger and more savvy shopper. The shirt comes in three shades (grey, navy, and white) and only costs three dollars and change. They're great to sport under v-necks, or layered for a stand-alone look.
Maybe later this week I'll be able to find some great accessories to go with them. Only time will tell! ;)

Twenty Five.

Black Tee
Originally uploaded by Canny Chic

It's that time of year, again! Now is the season that cheesy slogans, super sales, and advertisements as colorful as the leaves on the trees float in the air, luring shoppers into their local department stores with lists longer than ever. That's right, folks: It’s back-to-school time! Accompanied by my Shopping Buddy, I set out today to see just how difficult the annual back-to-fall shopping spree would be, this year. Finding cute clothes for the season is simple. And spending loads of money on them? Well, that's even easier. The real challenge today was to stay on my small budget. After raiding my piggy bank and rummaging through my wallet, I was able to scrounge up $25 to spend on a new fall wardrobe. After a recent adventure into my messy closet, I've come to the conclusion that jeans and dress slacks are not a necessary buy this season. What I do need, however, are new tops. And a new pair of shoes couldn't hurt, either. After all, a girl can never have too many shoes! ;) For $25, I thought this list was pretty do-able, if I shop at the right places, of course. After grabbing a tasty lunch, it was time to put my money where my mouth was!
Armed with my stack of coupons, I walked in the first store: Kohl's. After a quick browse through the clearance racks and a shop around the beauty department, I ended up purchasing a black blazer and some liquid eyeliner. I also got a free "Flirt!" tote, just for purchasing makeup! The short cropped blazer with grey pinstripe cuffs, originally priced at $60.00, was a steal for only 12 bucks today! (I love clearance!!) The eyeliner, originally $12, was a bit of a splurge, costing me about $9. But here's the kicker-after deducting my coupons and discounts at the checkout, my total came down to only $6 for everything! With excitement in the air, my SB and I headed over to our next stop: Wal*Mart. For the quality of their products, I find Wal*Mart's prices to be slightly above average. However, if you're lucky enough to find your size in the clearance section, it's well worth the price! With this in mind, I meandered over to the clearance shoe section and, to my surprise, found a pair of brown knee high boots-in my size! Making this find even better was the low price of $7! To wind up the day of savings, we ventured to the mall for a bit of window shopping. I hadn’t heard of any outstanding sales, so I wasn’t planning on finding a lot for my leftover pocket change of $11.40. Walking into my favorite store H&M, however, changed my preconceptions. For only $5.00 each, I was able to purchase two tops to bring my day’s expenditures to a grand total of $23.60!! Not only did I stay under budget, but I racked up a savings of over $113.00, which can be accredited to having coupons, shopping clearance, and having self control!

Charlotte Russe

Free Bag!
Originally uploaded by Canny Chic

After a trip to the mall, I have decided that Charlotte Russe might just be my new favorite store! While many of their fashions were a little pricey for my petite budget for the day, their clearance selection was the perfect place to start my back-to-school style search. And at a Buy one, Get one 50% deal, on top of clearance prices, who could walk away empty handed? Certainly not me!! What originally had drawn me into this chic outlet, was a pair of jeans that I had scrounged up a local thrift store only weeks beforehand. My Refuge brand jeans (which cost me only $5.00 at my local thrift store) are those favorites that I pull down and wear everytime they come out of the wash. I found out through a trusty Google search that Refuge brand was sold at the Charlotte Russe outlet. So, of course, I searched the listings of local stores and treked the nearly 90 minute drive to the enchanting store. To my surprise, when I arrived, I couldn't find any, and was disapointed when I came home and learned via facebook that Charlotte isn't selling Refuge jeans anymore!! But, I'm hoping that this isn't true. I am determined to continue searching Google until I find these amazing jeans! "I'm feeling lucky!!" Anyway, my spirits got a pick-me-up when I saw the racks and racks of bargains marked "CLEARANCE". After some difficult decisions and some tough love from my shopping buddy (she keeps me on track!), I walked away with a head start on my fall shopping and I only spent $41. And the bargains didn't stop there; Because I spent over twenty five dollars, I was entitled to either a free Charlotte Russe tee or a handy shopping tote. While the shimmery tee caught my eye, I was informed they had only limited sizes, which unfortunlately did not include any that would flatter my frame. So, I selected the cute bag instead-not a bad deal!! My favorite peice I purchased was a dark blue ruffled flower tee for only $4.99! Unfortunately though, excitement got the better of me, and I put it on to wear to dinner that night, so I wasn't able to get a picture of it before it hit the hamper. But I'll be sure to show you how cute it is as soon as I can!! :) As for the other amazing finds, check out the photo album! All in all, Charlotte Russe was a wonderful place to begin my bargain hunting. Happy Hunting!

The 5 Necesities For Everyday Style

Pearls
Originally uploaded by Canny Chic

While t-shirts and sweatpants are a comfortable go-to for couch potato evenings, I find that there are 5 Necessary items for my wardrobe that contribute to outfits of any style for the days where you simply must go out.
The first must have item is a pair of Black Ballet Flats. These simple shoes are the perfect addition to any outfit, casual or dressy. I purchased a pair for only $9.00 at Wal*Mart. Paired with skinny jeans, the shoes scream style! Yet, they convey class when worn with dress slacks or a black skirt.
Item number two goes great with everything from sweaters to blazers to low cut tee shirts. It's the white tank top! I bought one at H&M for only $5.99. It's also a great stand alone peice for a casual summer day out.
Number three on my list of must-have's is a pair of comfy jeans. Every closet needs at least one pair of well-loved jeans. Dark wash is more dressy, so I tend to gravitate to them more, because they can double as casual work wear and anywhere-where! My favorite place to get jeans is the Goodwill. Where I live, they charge about $5 a pair, and when you consider how much one pair of jeans is sold for at a department store, that's a whole lot of savings! When being a thrifty shopper, you have to keep an open mind about where your fab-outfits are coming form. Garage sales, consignment shops, and even the Goodwill can be great places to search for shabby chic treasures. You just have to keep your mind open, and your eyes peeled!
Must have number four is a pair of black dress slacks. With a white tee shirt, they're a casual way to dress at work, or a dinner out. But with a colorful blouse, they're instantly formal enough for a job interveiw or event. Dress slacks may not be what you wear the most, but they will most likely be one peice that lasts a long time. These are worth a small splurge. I purchased a pair at Kohl's for $14.99.
Last, but not least, my fifth must have item for everyday style is your favorite accessory. For me, it's a strand of pearls. I have countless strands, but my favorite is the one pictured. It's short enough to be a little more casual, while still looking classy. I actually purchased these in a 3-pack (they're stretchy, but you wouldn't be able to tell when you're wearing them). I wear them with almost everything. And it was an investment that only costed me a few dollars.
With these five items, you create infinite possibilities within your wardrobe.