Category: Style

Abla Sofy: GUESS’s New “It” Girl is Arabic and Proud – Interview!

Abla Sofy has a lot going for her. This Moroccan-born beauty hangs out with Bella Hadid, appeared on BRAVO’S ‘The Second Wives Club,’ modelled for BEBE, starred in a music video with French Montana and Daddy Yankee, and is now the first Arab model ever to have a billboard on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood as the face of GUESS. She is also a fashion stylist who has worked on campaigns with Hailey Baldwin, Camilla Cabello and Jennifer Lopez.

What makes her unique and refreshing is that she is of a conservative upbringing, and therefore her modelling is less revealing than many Western models — which is just fine with her bosses, who respect her cultural views.

We got the chance to do a Q&A with Abla to dive deeper into her world and what she predicts will be hot in fashion for 2019! read on…

Salam! Abla, nice to e-meet you. Before we get into your current projects, tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.

First of all, I would love to thank you for the interview and for your interest in me. I am 100% Moroccan born and raised. I went to French school and gained a business degree in Morocco. After getting my business degree, I decided to move to LA and go to fashion school. It was always my dream to be in America. After my first visit, I loved it and decided to pursue my studies in fashion school here. When I moved to LA, I got the chance to be introduced to Mohammed Hadid through a family friend and I started working with him as his personal stylist for his TV show. Then I had the opportunity to be on the show myself.

Great! You were recently picked to represent the major fashion brand GUESS, the first Arab to do so. How has that changed your life so far?

When we finished shooting the E! TV show ‘Second Wives Club’ , Mohammed Hadid loved my style and sense of fashion and decided to introduce me to Mr. Paul Marciano, the owner of GUESS. In the beginning, I was afraid to model for him when he showed me all these beautiful pictures of all these gorgeous girls, so we finally agreed that I would work inside the company as a stylist and a designer.

After two years working with GUESS and getting to know the company inside and out, I was approached by the producer Redone to star in a music video with French Montana, Daddy Yankee and Amanda Cerny. After the video came out, I received a lot of exposure and I became far more confident to get into the spotlight. This is when Mr. Marciano asked me to model for him for the second time and this time I accepted!

To be the first Arab model for GUESS changed my life in many ways, especially in the world of fashion. I’ve got a lot of respect from people in the industry because this is something nobody has ever done before. I get the opportunity to represent the Arab woman in America and many people respect this achievement a lot. It has made it very easy for me to have a voice and an impact so I can advise the many people who reach out to me to give them advice about life and how they should achieve their dreams. As an Arab woman it is important to me to let people know how to stand up for what they believe in and not follow all the ideas that are sold to them.

What are your responsibilities to the GUESS brand…do you just model for them or is there more to it?

I have a lot of responsibility toward the brand GUESS. I need to give the best image of myself as I always keep in mind that GUESS is a global brand, so everywhere I go, every magazine cover I shoot and every interview that I do, I need to follow the values of the brand that the owner of GUESS believes and teaches all his models.

I always carry with me little cards that have all the values of the brand written down. It’s something very important for me that is beneficial for me even in my personal life. Mr. Paul Marciano has a lot of experience and has built an empire, so each piece of advice I get from him is very valuable to me.

What have you learned about fashion and style now which you wish you knew when you were younger?

I will never forget one time I was in school and I was wearing red pants and a pink shirt. This girl in front of a guy I liked yelled at me and said that “everybody knows we can’t mix pink and red.” I was so embarrassed. If only I had known that the answer I could have given her: that there are no rules in fashion. Everybody has their own vision and taste and if you want to mix some colors and textures this is what you should do and you can make these beautiful in your own way.

What fashion trends do you think are going to be hot in 2019?

Neon and everything bright are the trends for 2019 which I really love so I’m very happy about that. Green, orange, yellow-and even silver and gold are the colors that are going to be everywhere this year. Also, the mix of classic and sporty is a trend. For example, a suit with a sports bag or belt bag is very trendy so we can play as much as we want and we can go out to meetings all week and go to club with the same outfit, which is really cool.

What is one beauty tip you think every teenage girl should know?

The most important advice for every teenage girl is to take care of her skin and teeth while she’s young. Teeth change your smile so don’t be afraid to wear braces now because you will thank your parents later. Make sure you take care of your skin and use the right products. Don’t use too much make up now so you can have nice skin later.

You are also an actress, right? What’s the biggest challenge you have faced so far in show business?

Yes. I also have a TV show in Morocco. It’s the Arabic version of ‘Entourage.’ It was really fun because I was playing my own character. My biggest challenge in America is to keep my own voice and continue to make people believe in me. With everything that is happening in the world, people have wrong ideas about Arabs from the images they are given on the news. I have to fight this every day and show them that the Arab people are hard workers, they are positive, they are smart and they can bring big value everywhere they go and people should trust them and give them a chance.

And what do you feel is your biggest accomplishment?

My biggest accomplishment is the fact that I convinced all these brands such as GUESS, BEBE and national and international magazines to believe in me as an Arab woman. This is the message I always give. I don’t want to be just another a model, because I represent the new era of Arabic women. I am strong, open and I still respect my values. I am very proud of this.

Which celebrity have you most enjoyed working with and why?

I had a chance to shoot many campaigns with Hailey Baldwin when I used to work for GUESS as a stylist and it was a lot of fun. I learned a lot from her as a model. She has a very strong personality and she also refused to be overtly sexy in the pictures. This reminded me of myself. She kept insisting on this until production accepted her values, so I respect her for that as she is a very young model. She knows what she wants and this is how she succeeded.

Who would you most like to work with in the future?

I am very close with the Hadid family, but I have never had the chance to work with Bella Hadid. I think everything about her is perfect; her face, her style, her personality. I would love to have the opportunity to work with her. I really admire her as a model, and how down to earth she is with her family and fans after all the success she has achieved.

What do you think is the biggest misconception Americans have of Arabs, and what is the truth about it?

I am so sad to say this, but the biggest misconception we have about Arabs is terrorism and the fact that our people are very close-minded. This is really false, because in every country there are people that do bad things. Having a bad image of the Arab people hurts me a lot. This is why it’s very important for me to insist that I’m an Arab, I’m open minded and I am doing something good for the Arab people in order to improve even a little bit, the bad image that is given on the news.

If you could go back in time and give only ONE piece of advice to your teenage self, what would you say to yourself?

If I could go back and give myself one piece of advice it would be to be patient when I was young and wanted everything right away, right now. We don’t know that the best things take time to achieve. You have to build yourself up so you have a stronger base and better things to present and to give to people in the future.

Morocco versus L.A. – who wins? : )

This is always one of the hardest questions I get asked. I think a mix of both is perfection for me. I try to take what I love from both Morocco and LA. Both are valuable to me.

Tell me something people would be surprised to know about you?

I am a very introverted person. I can spend days at home just sitting reading, getting inspired and watching TV. I’m a big thinker. I love to think and try to find the best solution to new ideas. I don’t like to surround myself with a lot of people. It freaks me out. I think it’s very important for a person to know how to make herself happy and how to get inspired from her own energy.

Biggest pet peeve?

My biggest pet peeve is when someone is talking too much. It really stresses me out. I don’t want to be rude, but it really makes me very frustrated, so I have to leave or to ask the person to calm down as it gives me a big headache. This is something I’m trying to work on because it’s important to hear people talk so you can get their point of view. However, if someone does not stop talking, I feel like they are getting into my head and attacking me.

Favorite food?

My favorite food is, of course, Moroccan food. This is the thing that I miss the most from Morocco after my family. Moroccan food is just so tasty, so full of spices and so healthy. It’s very hard for me to find something similar when I’m in America, so I found a little Moroccan restaurant here in LA that I go to weekly, which I enjoy very much.

Secret fear?

My secret fear is that I will stay too focused on my work and not be able to have kids until later, because I always wanted to have children as young as I can. I am very focused on my career now, which is making me really happy, but it’s always something in the back of my mind. I think a person should find a way to balance both of them. I’m still working on that.

What’s the last movie you watched, and give me a review…but you can only use TWO WORDS for the review : )

“OCEAN” was the last movie I saw coming back from Morocco on the plane and my review is: ‘amazingly insane.’

The one piece of makeup I cannot live without is__________.

Concealer of course! I always have the worst dark circles. I never leave my house without a concealer. Sometimes, it’s the only make up I have on my face.

Most embarrassing moment IRL you wish you could do over?

The most embarrassing thing happened when I went to a model casting and they asked me to show up with no make- up on. I thought they wouldn’t know I had concealer on, but they did and asked me to take it off!

What else are you working on or have coming up next?

I am working on a few fun projects with some brands. Fashion is always my thing so I’m transitioning into television. It’s my dream to have a TV show and work on that more in America, since I’m already acting a lot in Morocco.

Selfie time!

Follow Abla: https://www.instagram.com/ablasofy

Watch her music video with Daddy Yankee, French Montana and more here:

Teala Dunn launches fashion sunglasses with NEM (Natalie’s ‘Eva Marie’ brand)

Youtuber and actress Teala Dunn @TTLYTEALA has just launched a new limited-edition fashion sunglasses line in partnership with NEM (YouTuber Natalie’s “Eva Marie” fashion brand) exclusively at NEM Fashion Store.

“I chose to work with NEM for my sunglass collection, as I have worked with Natalie before on a movie, and we hit it off right away. This is NEM’s very first collaboration, and I’m very excited to work with them. NEM is a very high-end line, and the quality is superb. I wanted these sunglasses to be authentic to my brand. I love Rose Gold, but I was also mindful that many of my fans prefer Silver as well. Pink spoke to me with regard to the color scheme, and I immediately thought #StayShady would be the perfect line! Nothing spoke to me the way these sunnies did. Be on the lookout for a special coupon for savings!”

The $90 pairs come in two styles, Rose Gold and Blue Gray. If that sounds kind of steep for fashion sunglasses don’t worry, Teala is offering a $25 coupon to her fans who use the coupon code TEALA at checkout!

Want to see the FIRST time Teala ever appeared on Teens Wanna Know? It was in 2012!!! OMG everybody was so young!!!

Teala Dunn is an actress, YouTuber and health advocate, best known for her lifestyle channel on YouTube and her role as ‘Lindsey’ on TBS’ “Are We There Yet?”. She’s most recently starred in Fullscreen’s “Guilty Party”, Hulu’s “All Night”, YouTube’s “Escape the Night” and Amazon’s “School Spirits” and recently launched an Anti-Fur campaign with Peta2.

How to Get Cheap Trendy Clothes and Change My Wardrobe

Fashion matters. It helps you gain a different kind of confidence. It also enables you to establish your sense of style. Your teenage years are exciting because your parents are finally giving you some more say in what you wear. However, like most teenage girls, you probably don’t have a ton of money to spend. Thankfully, there are ways to get cheap trendy clothes to reinvent your wardrobe and look amazingly stylish on a dime. Consider these four tips to get started.

1. Distress or bleach old jeans

According to E & O Apparel, one of the easiest ways to keep your money safe is by using some outfits and items you already have in your closet. Styles change with each season, forcing you to clean out your closet in order to stay trendy and fashionable. If you’re a regular person, you just don’t have the time or money to do that every time a new trend comes into play. What you can do to have cheap trendy clothes is take some of your favorite items, modify them, and pair them together with different items to make a stylish outfit.

For example, there are tons of high-end designer stores that sell distressed jeans and bleached jeans for hundreds of dollars. Instead of spending all of that money, revive an old pair of jeans. Take the jeans and distress them yourself. You can also bleach them and make your own patterns. There are tons of tutorials on sites like YouTube to walk you through the steps. Afterwards, pair ‘em with some boots and a chunky old sweater, and you then have an outfit. Cheap trendy clothes which look fabulous can be yours with a little creativity–and inspiration from some Youtubers or Instagrammers.

2. Look at second hand shops online which sell cheap trendy clothes

There are many tricks for finding cheap trendy clothes to change your wardrobe on the internet. One of them involves searching used-but-trendy second hand sites like Depop or Poshmark. You can also look at carefully curated second hand sites like ThredUp or The Real Real for high-end clothes at significant discounts.

Additionally, you can also sign up for the email lists of many discount fashion retailers like AliExpress or Wish. Many of these inexpensive retailers are based in China so proceed with caution because the measurements might be a lot smaller than the standard American sizes. Read the reviews for specific items to see the experiences of others. Once you do your research, you can easily purchase tons of clothes from Chinese retailers and spend less than $30 with free shipping. You can also check out a bunch of other affordbale clothes in our list of best places to find the cheapest clothes online for teens.

3. Go to the local thrift stores on discount days

Plenty of local thrift stores have specific days during the week for markdowns, like certian tag colors being 50 percent off. After school is out, head over to the thrift store on these days when items are cheaper.

The thrift store is the perfect place to stock up on cheap trendy clothes, like pairs of sturdy jeans. You might even be able to find some classic blouses and fashionable shoes. Just be sure to wash the items and iron them well. No one will know they’re second hand–and in most big cities the slightly distressed look is hippper than fresh off the rack stuff!

4. Purchase trendy jewelry pieces on sale

Jewelry is excellent because it allows you to accessorize an outfit and makes it look a little different. Purchase a few statement pieces to enjoy throughout the school year with different outfits. Purchase the items while they’re on sale so that you can enjoy trendy pieces without investing tons of money. Alternatively, you can also look for inexpensive jewelry at sites like Miss A where just about everything is one dollar.

As you implement these tips, you’ll be able to get buying cheap trendy clothes down to a science. You’ll find new ways to remain stylish and fashion-forward on a dime. Before long, your BFFS will all want to know your secrets!

Do you have any other tips for finding cheap trendy clothes? Please comment and share below!

Best Places to Find The Cheapest Clothes Online for Teens

We all just love to get our hands on some of the latest fashion items to wear to parties, concerts and other social events. There is only one slight problem: buying lots of new clothes from top teen fashion outlets can start to get very pricey, very quickly — so its better to search for the cheapest clothes online for teens possible.

There are some great online stores where you can find some really fantastic bargains on teen clothes and fashion items. Most of these budget teen outlets understand exactly what you want and can offer you the best prices on their really cool designer threads and accessories.

So, without further ado, here’s a list of some really cool fashion clothing stores, where you can shop till you drop without breaking the bank.

1. Mandee

At Mandee you can get some really neat girls’ clothing and fashion accessories. Most of the non-sale items are around the $20.00 mark, making shopping here very attractive. Good quality stuff at some really affordable prices. Shipping within the US is only $7.00, which is a real deal.

2. Kohl’s

Kohl’s has some amazing deals just about always, making it one of the best places to find the cheapest clothes online for teens. And if you become a member of their rewards card, the savings are even better. We are talking tops, shorts, and sometimes even men’s jeans for between 5 and 10 bucks plus cash back. Sweet!

3. Wet Seal

Wet Seal has lots of outlets as well as a great online service. Here you can get a fashion shirt for as little as $4.99, if you look through their sales selections. You can also join their boutique club that allows you to buy outfits and view other peoples outfit selections. They also usually have shipping deals if you order over a certain amount.

4. Forever 21

Forever 21 has a wide selection of budget teen clothing for both boys and girls. Here you can get all kinds of items in the non-sale section for between $19.00 to $25.00, now that is a serious bargain for such nice new clothes and certainly worth a look. They also offer free shipping on orders over $75.00, which is a nice touch.

5. Aeropostale

Aeropostale is a great online fashion shop with some really fantastic bargains sometimes. Here you can get a fashion shirt for both boys and girls for under $20.00. They also have continual sales, offering as much as 70% off selected items. If you are looking for real budget deals on great looks, this is the place to come.

6. Go Jane

Go Jane has always got some great bargains on high fashion teen clothing. Here you can get a pair of the latest sunglasses for under $5.00, which is most definitely a steal. Lots of other stuff as well, at some very big discounts. Most definitely worth a quick look for girls looking for a deal.

7. DSW

DSW is a great place to buy shoes for both men and women. If you look in the bargain section you will find lots of shoes for less than $25.00, which is certainly a low price for a pair of quality fashion shoes. Their delivery rates are also very reasonable, adding to their overall excellent value for the money.

8. TJ Maxx

TJ Maxx offers low prices on designer goods. If you look in the clearance section you can get lots of high quality fashion clothing for under $15.00. Their shipping rates are also very reasonable, making it a top bargain fashion outlet.

8. H&M

H&M does not always offer the cheapest clothes online for teens. But when they have a sale, its great to take advantage because their clothes is always very hip and stylish. Its why they rule most fashion malls–if you dig you can find some serious bargains that will make you look fantastic.

When you want to refresh your wardrobe without spending all of your hard-earned moolah, give one of the online stores above a try. If you have any recommendations for other stores which offer the cheapest clothes online, please leave a comment below!

YouTube Sensation LaurDIY to Launch Fall 2018 Series of Personally Designed Crafting, Fashion & Lifestyle Collections at Michaels Art & Craft Supply Stores THIS WEEK

Following the popularity of licensed sleepwear and tech accessories and to answer the high consumer demand for more LaurDIY products, YouTube sensation and leading social media influencer LaurDIY (Lauren Riihimaki) will roll out five other fun, exciting collections over the next three months, inspiring her 8+ million YouTube subscribers and 18+ million overall social media fans to embrace their own creativity!

Fashion Crafting

In late August, LaurDIY’s fashion crafting line will revolutionize fashion crafting and let you transform ordinary apparel into unique fashion pieces. With four themes – Galaxy Gurl, Sweetie Pie, Unicorn Whimsy, Vintage Rebel – each has its own color scheme, graphics, phrases and holographic effects, and include such supplies as bright fabric paints with glitter and fuzzy pattern finishes, brushes and sponges, peel-and-stick stencils, iron-on holographic sheets, glitter letters, patches and a denim distress kit.

Jewelry Kits

In August, LaurDIY’s free-spirited, colorful aesthetic comes to jewelry kits. Along with Mini DIY Kits, with materials for one project, there are nine full-size kits – Cording, Galaxy, Gemstone, Natural Festival, Neon Festival, Pet Jewelry, Stretch, Sweetie Pie and Wire – allowing you to create necklaces and bracelets from beads, charms, tassels, pom-poms and other items. Separately available are various bead mixes, hemp cord mixes, colored stretch cords, charm packs and charm bracelet jewelry bases, as well as jewelry storage packs and tools. From $4.99 to $24.99, exclusively at Michaels, Joann Fabric and Crafts and Walmart Canada in August and Pat Catan’s, Walmart.com/jet.com, Ardene in September.

About LaurDIY

With over 8 million YouTube subscribers and 18+ million total fans and followers, Lauren Riihimaki (a.k.a., LaurDIY) is a YouTube sensation and popular vlogger focused on DIY crafting across fashion, lifestyle and fitness. In addition, she hosts a Facebook Watch series, “Served By LaurDIY,” offering short videos on easy-to-make snacks. She is also known for her original satiric music videos “DIY Queen” (#1 on iTunes) and “My Side” (a parody that amassed more than 24 million views, featuring fellow YouTuber and bf, Alex Wassabi). In 2017 her DIY chops earned her a Streamy Award in the Lifestyle category. Follow on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tumblr and snapchat (laurdiy).

5 Back-To-School Fashion Tips for Guys

Going back to school can seem like a huge hassle after enjoying a carefree summer where you have likely lived in swim shorts. However, getting back in the school year groove doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. In fact, it can be quite exciting to redefine your “clout” after a long spell away from school. Here’s how:

Define Your Style

Courtesy of fashionetter.com

This first, but important step doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. In fact, you can use simple idea board searches like “street style,” “hipster guy,” or “fall men’s fashion.” The combinations are endless! Save ideas that catch your eye and shop your closet for the pieces you already own or visit your local thrift store for more trendy looks.

The Perfect Backpack

If your clothes are mostly bold prints and full of color, you will want to find a more neutral backpack that goes with all of your outfits. On the flip side, if you mainly dress in neutral colors, then you might want to find a more interesting pattern or color to add some extra swag.

Shoes Matter

Courtesy of shopcanoeclub.com

You don’t have to own a million shoes to show your style. Try to find shoes that you can dress up or dress down, like Wallys shoes. Often made from comfortable, stretchy material, these shoes are a great neutral basic to go with athletic or casual outfits. The average pair of Wallys shoes sells for as little as $45 on most shopping sites.

Amp Up the Face

If facial hair is allowed in your dress code, don’t be afraid to try something new this year! Don’t invest in a more complicated trim if you don’t have the money or time to keep up the look. Poorly maintained facial hair could turn an outfit from making you look like a snack to “meh.”

Fresh Haircut

Courtesy of menshairstylestoday.com

One of the easiest ways to make a drastic change in your look is getting a new haircut. Nothing speaks louder than a fresh fade with a hard part and some pomade. If your hair is longer, try out a man bun or even braids. Experimenting with hairstyles can be inexpensive and help you stand out.

Regardless of the style choices you make, try to remember what is going to be the easiest to maintain during the school year. With homework, school events, and after-school activities, the last thing you want to do is hassle with your wardrobe.

If you want some extra fashion and wardrobe tips, then you should check out these other articles:

Modern Decoration Ideas For The Trendy Teen

Make your friends envious of your great trendy room by considering a few changes. Feel your freedom of expression come alive and get those creative ideas flowing. Whether you see your room as a room for relaxing or entertaining, these decorating ideas will give you the latest in the mood-setting atmosphere. Wall sketches, furniture or memorabilia, are great ways to spice up a room. Check out these trendy ways to bring out your best and feel right at home in your own room.

Wall Doodles

Got an idea that is driving you crazy? Jot it down on a huge chalkboard that takes up an entire wall. Don’t let this opportunity for a future idea to slip away but put all your thoughts, dreams and interests where they will always draw your attention. Stock it with plenty of chalk and erasers, so instant scribbling is convenient. Don’t let those thoughts go to waste, but get that idea out there before it gets lost in the creases of your mind. Also, consider cork boards for pinning up exciting papers and pictures.

Bed Footboards

A footboard can consist of any piece of furniture you like. A portable bar, chest or dresser will become the centerpiece for friends to gather and talk. Mimicking a kitchen island, you will have a place to sprawl out, set down drinks and phones and have eye-to-eye contact with others. It will also keep clean up to a minimum by designating one area to hang out.

Platform Beds

Modern platform beds are a must in the world of teenagers. Simple, sleek and inviting, they come in different styles and sizes. An oversized base can serve as a nightstand for those little items like remote controls, small lamps or change. If you prefer to keep a bed positioned on the entire base, select a small, low table for items. Some modern platform beds are available with storage drawers to limit large dressers. Teens of today are not into frills, but prefer clean straight lines.

Vertical Writing Areas

Having an area for study is functional. However, no teen wants to be reminded of work unless it is necessary. Pick a corner that is as far away from sleep and entertaining as possible. This space only needs to be 3 to 4 feet wide for setting up a counter or chair. Use the wall above for storage with square cubicles or shelves. The study will be there when needed, but away from the relaxation of a bedroom.

Fur and Shag Rugs

Okay, don’t admit it, but fur and shag is a favorite to teens. The warm and luxurious feel underfoot brings comforting thoughts. Select a rug that is plain in black or white or a stand out neon color. You will never be sorry as you step out of bed and onto this luscious fuzzy rug. A favorite color or design can also be used if your room needs some dressing up. If you’re really feeling the need for snuggling, pick up a couple of soft, furry pillows as well.

Ceiling Art

Whether you choose a fab hanging light or decals that travel up the wall and across the ceiling, this is one area that always gets a lot of attention. While lying in bed, you may find yourself pondering the anticipation of adulthood or anticipating an upcoming event. Having an uplifting, non-demanding focal point will help to stay focused for thinking. Pick out a creative hanging ceiling light or fun decals, like feet or arrows, that walk across the length of the ceiling.

Simple Window Treatments

Roman shades are definitely in with the teens. They are strict, modern, and space-saving. They also provide that needed privacy with remote control or cord and cleat operation. They can also add a needed burst of color or texture where needed. If draperies are desired, keep them neat and straightforward. Stay away from outlandish designs and make sure that they are easy to open and close. Today’s teens aren’t looking for perfect design as much as function when it comes to window treatments.

Organizational Options

Closet doors are not as important as they once were. Remove a closet door to make more room, plus get motivated to hang up clothes instead of piling them on the closet floor. Adjustable shelves are also great for adding needed space for books, electronics, and gizmos that are always getting lost. By making shelves different sizes, they can easily fit any need. Containers, baskets and portable carts also come in useful for clearing away items while organizing.

A simple and straightforward room will give you the space for many different purposes. By making just a few updates, you can entertain, study, dream and get a peaceful night’s sleep all in one area.

Be sure to check out more articles here for more ideas and current trends!

References:

Fashion-Forward But Budget Friendly: How to Save on Outfits

When your birthday money from grandma is burning a hole in your pocket, you may get the urge to update your wardrobe with some new threads. You do not have to spend a lot of cash to update your look on a dime. Here are some fashion-forward and budget-friendly places to pick up some new, or new-to-you, trendy pieces.

Consignment/Thrift Stores

Shopping for new-to-you pieces at thrift and consignment stores is an affordable and fun way to update your wardrobe. Bring along some friends and try on one-of-a-kind clothes that have been gently worn. Consignment stores hand pick the brands and items they carry, so you will easily find lots of top brand names and trendy pieces. Consignment stores may be priced a little higher than thrift shops, but all of the merchandise has been thoroughly inspected, and you will not have to spend hours sifting through the racks to find unique pieces and top brands.

Thrift stores are all about the thrill of the hunt. If you have a few hours to kill with friends, pop in to a thrift shop and let your imaginations run wild. Thrift stores have affordable prices, but you have to prepare to so some digging and sifting through the racks to find cool new pieces.

Online Discount Boutiques

Online discount boutiques and fashion apps are a fun way to shop for fashion. You order from a curated collection of hand-selected pieces, and the companies send your new duds right to your home. You can try them on in the comfort and convenience of your home and send back any pieces that you do not like for a refund. It offers a risk-free and affordable way to update your wardrobe.

Fast-Fashion Mall Shops

Fast-fashion stores offer a plethora of options for updating your wardrobe. From basics to lounge apparel, career attire and casual wear, fast-fashion stores in the mall showcase a wide range of styles and sizes in clothing from floor to ceiling. You will be inspired, and probably even a little overwhelmed, by the abundance of options. These stores have a fast turnover rate, marking down clothing often, so apparel is priced to sell fast.

Even if you are low on cash, you can still put together some fun new outfits that your friends will want to borrow. From online to thrift to fast-fashion stores, there are a plethora of inspiring places to shop to add new life to your closet.

How Can I Put a Great Wardrobe Together on a Budget?

You want to look good, you want to wear what’s in fashion, but your budget is stretched about as far as it can go. What’s a girl to do? Check out some unexpected sources of high-fashion finds that won’t have you breaking the piggy bank to get new clothes.

Local Treasures

If you’re tired of the prices at your local mall or the online stores, take a look around your own city and your own neighborhood. Chances are there shops near you that offer on-trend, unique items you won’t find anywhere else. You can get personalized service, and you’ll also be the first to get in on sales and clearance events.

If there’s a town near you that caters to tourists, hit those stores up during the off-season when you can often get steep discounts. When you shop boutiques for sales, you’ll get one-of-a-kind items that will give your wardrobe an instant upgrade while saving you money.

Thrift Stores

Thrift stores are where you can find rock-bottom prices, but if you’re looking for really fashionable items, you have to wade through a lot of regular stuff to find that one jewel in the junk pile. Thrift stores are a good place to find shoes, boots, and handbags, often from well-known brands. They’re especially great for Halloween costumes and basics like tee shirts, sweatshirts or jeans.

Consignment Shops

Consignment stores are thrift stores that specialize in high-end fashion items. While the prices are higher than a regular thrift store, the selection tends to be better, and the prices are still less than what the items would cost if they were new. Some consignment shops specialize in particular types of clothing, like baby clothes or plus-size fashions.

Discount Stores

If you hit them at the right time, discount and dollar stores can be a surprising source of cheap fashion finds. Most of them sell socks, handbags, tote bags, flip-flops, sandals, hats of all kinds, gloves, and scarves. You can also find slippers, headbands and clutch purses. The downside is that their selection changes every week, and the good stuff sells out fast. If you can spot them when they get in, be sure to stock up.

The best way to discover low-priced, high-fashion finds is to get out of the mall. You can find some good things there, and it can be fun to go, but you are probably going to spend more money than you want, and there is a high chance that someone else will have the same outfit. Instead, venture out to new places and look for great deals.

Photo Credit: Hope Ave Boutique

Top Essentials for Easy, Chic Travel Dressing

Packing for a long trip or a weekend getaway isn’t easy for everyone. On top of making sure you have the right clothes for different types of weather, you also have to think about outfits for a variety of occasions, like a day of sightseeing or a night out on the town. But have no fear — this blog is here to be your travel style guru and help you look chic and effortless while on the go! If you want to look fashionable while traveling, these are the top essentials that every gal should definitely pack.

Packing the Basics

For a three-day or week-long vacation, start by packing a pair of denim jeans or leggings in a neutral color, like black, blue, or white. There are so many ways to mix-and-match different tops, shirts, and blouses with the same pants, which gives you countless options from just a few basic pieces. While a pair of jeans takes up a considerable amount of room in your suitcase, t-shirts and tank-tops can be rolled up and fit easily into side pockets, or even slipped into a pair of shoes to save even more space.

Monochrome Fashion

You may think that Monochrome sounds boring, but it’s actually a great strategy for putting together your outfits when traveling. The monochrome trend is all about picking one color that looks best on you and then combining it with different shades and tones of the same hue. If you always look fabulous in blue, then pick out pants, tops, dresses, and shoes that are either dark blue, navy, light blue, periwinkle, cerulean, or aquamarine. Also, consider colors that pair well with blue, like black and white, or are close to the hue on the color wheel, like purple and green.

Day to Night Transitions

Dresses and skirts are lightweight, can be worn with leggings underneath, and are one of the best ways to switch a casual, daytime look to a more elegant, evening ensemble. Simply pair a dress with sneakers or sandals when out exploring during the day, and then change it up at night by wearing a pair of heels and adding some jewelry. When you shop dresses online, you can stock up on travel wear easily, and turn a single outfit into two with a few small adjustments!

Accessories are Essentials

Accessories can make or break an outfit, and it can be hard to know what to take with you while on vacation. The best things to bring are eye-popping, stylish accessories that serve multiple purposes. Every girl needs one or two colorful or patterned head scarves, which ensure you look great whether you’re on a guided boat tour, relaxing at the pool or taking a selfie in front of a historic monument. Wear these scarves as a headband or a hair wrap when out to dinner and pair them some flashy, gold or silver hoop earrings for a cute yet classy look.

Other dual-purpose accessories include slip-on sneakers or sandals, hats, inexpensive and designer sunglasses, and a small purse or shoulder bag in an eye-catching color. Even if you’re rockin’ a blue-inspired monochrome look, you’ll stand out if you add a pair of bright red sneakers, a crimson patterned head scarf, and a pair of red hot shades.

Look Chic Every Day!

With these few simple tips, you can see why Hollywood starlets and other fashionistas always look great while traveling. Packing the basics with a few different types of accessories ensures you always look fresh while on the road. Try these tips today and discover how easy it is to look amazing all the time! For more such packing and travelling tips head over to Savvy Expeditioner. The site has the latest content on new destinations, travelers tips and multitude of things relating to travel and living.