How to Transition Your Wardrobe From Winter to Spring

Spring is a couple days away and despite wanting to get rid of your whole wardrobe and start over, this post will give some insight on how to utilize items you already have to save time and money while doing spring shopping and spring cleaning!

Leather: Pair your leather pieces with bright or pastel colors, with bare legs to lighten up the look of leather pieces. Keep that leather jacket around especially until mid spring for those cooler nights you can throw it over you baby doll or sun dress.

Booties: Can be worn with skirts, dresses and your favorite cut off shorts. They are perfect for spring weather because its not hot just yet but some days are cooler than other.

Colorful cords/pants: Me and Christen are obsessed with black in the late fall and winter months. But colored denim is perfect for transitioning into the warmer months. Colored denim is warm enough to wear on a cooler day, but bright colors are reminiscent of a sunny day.

Scarves: Switch out your wool scarves for lightweight scarves.

Long-sleeve shirts: Keep those long sleeve shirts out for a little while longer but add in blouses with prints and pops of color.
Word of Advice: Don't confuse spring with summer. Yes the temperatures will be rising but summer wont be here until June. Tank tops, sandals should stay in your closet until then. Roll with the long pants, lightweight jackets and cardigans until the weather allows us to show more skin! I'm so excited for warmer weather, it seems like this winter just won't go away quick enough!

-Derria
 

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Get The Look: J.Lo

J. Lo was seen out the other day in a hot pink J.Brand ensemble paired with some Christian Louboutin pumps. Get her look for under $100.

Top $20 || Pants $18  (Similar here and  here) || Shoes $35

-Christen

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Hat You At Hello

For some, hats are a hit or miss accessory but you should definitely have a few within your wardrobe to utilize here and there. They bounce around in each season with various shapes, sizes and styles. Below are my favorite trendy hats that are versatile and stylish.

Deep Roll Felt Boater Hat $33 | Felt Boater $17 | Posh Wool Wide-Brim Hat $19 | Blue Kitty Bowler Hat $8 | Georgie Bowler Hat $21

-Derria

Links à la Mode: 3rd Feature

We were featured in the Independent Fashion Bloggers Weekly Roundup again! Every week they picked the best 20 posts and we were chosen for the third time. Checkout all the posts chosen below! If you haven't seen our post that was selected check it out here Beauty on a Budget.

In the era of outrageous fashion, peacocking, street style bait, whatever, could it be people are revolting? Sliding back into the classics? Oscar night, the men took more chances than the ladies, and fashion month is buttoning up more than rocking out. It's quite the story that's trending though fashion these days, and the links this week? We're taking a look at Iconic style so you can stay in the know about the latest (non) trends. If worse comes to worse, at least you'll have classic pieces that can last a life time.

Links à la Mode: The IFB Weekly Roundup

• 50 States of Dating: The Following: Love Lessons from a Sociopath
• Adorned in Armor: Top 12 Black Fashion Icons
• Alysalovely: Why to Watch Veronica Mars
• Attire Club: Oscars 2014: Our Favorite Mens Looks
• Burgundy Whispers: Strong is The New Skinny
• DressCode:HighFashion: Top 10 Sandals for SS14
• Est Noir: LFW14: KTZ
• Fake Blonde: Should I Empty My Savings Account for That?
• Frugal Shopaholics: Beauty on a Budget
• Jolly Caucus Race: Saint Laurent's Ever Youthful Bardot
• Madame Ostrich: Fell on Black Days: Lanvin AW14
• Oh to Be a Muse: Disney Princesses as Fashion Bloggers
• Petite Fille Modele: Lady Gaga's Tonight Show Makeup Tutorial
• Soar Thumb: What Does Your Purse Say About You?
• Style and Delight: 8 Sunglasses That Made History
• Style Bizarre: Boho Chic: Fad or Way of Life?
• Style Curated: Shoes + Shrieks + Sarah Jessica Parker
• Style Vanity: How to Get Jared Leto Hair
• The B Team: 5 Days, 5 Ways
• We Are Ready Made: The Japanese Takeover

Brought to you by: 20% Off Shopbop Rosie Pope, Imogene + Willie, TheBlondeSalad, Whistles, Italia Ind., Karen London, Ela Rae, Apiece apart, Converse Premium, Herschel

Meet Frugal Shopaholic Claudia Felix-Garay

Name: 

Claudia Felix-Garay

Where are you from? 

I am from Los Angeles, California.

Describe your personal style? 

My personal style varies from day to day, I may wear a cute girly dress one day and the next I might be wearing a plain top, leather jacket with jeans and sneakers. I am very versatile when it comes to mywardrobes, but I would say that my style is unique, ambitious, and full of confidence, as I enjoy taking risks.

Where are your favorite places to shop? 

I love to shop at thrift stores, local boutiques and little hole in the wall places. I also do online shopping from H&M and forever21, these seem to be my favorite for their great clearance section.

What does being a “Frugal Shopaholic” mean to you? 

Being a “Frugal Shopaholic” means exactly what my personal quote from my blog says,“Style just can’t be bought. Instead of shelling out entire paychecks on a pair of jeans, invest the time into your creative mind. Be your own fashionista! Be you! And Save! That’s what this blog is about. Look lavishly on an affordable budget.”

What is a frugal shopaholic tip or trick that can share with our readers?  

I would recommend to explore your options, if there is a similar print you like at the moment, research all the stores that have it and choose the best and affordable one. Always buy versatile pieces.

Explain your blog name? 

The blog name came about because I wanted it sound catchy yet something that was going to relate to my blog, (Affordable Clothing). With that being said there is nothing cheaper than a Penny so we went with The Penny Closet

Blog: http://www.thepennycloset.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thepennycloset_
Instagram: http://instagram.com/thepennycloset_

Submit yourself and your frugal finds for a chance to be featured as the Frugal Shopaholic of the Month by leaving a comment in the comment box below telling us why you are a frugal shopaholic.
  

Look for Less: Kardashian Kollection

Last week on IG I saw Karruche post a photo of herself in an outfit from the Kardashian Kollection. I really like the ensemble but I didn't care for the price that much. 

On a regular day I visit about 2-3 stores just to see what's new or what treasure I can find. Yesterday I ran into target and to my surprise I found a VERY similar look that Karruche had on and it was half the price and in black! 

Kardashian Kollection Top $67 & Skirt $83

Target Version:

 Xhilaration Scuba Mesh Sweatshirt $17.99

Scuba Mesh Skirt $19.99



-Derria
 

Beauty on a Budget

I'm an advocate of not paying more for an item than its worth.  A lot of these "high end' makeup brands have good products but some are not worth the price in my opinion.  I'm no MUA so I can get away with buying cheaper products. Here are some of my fav inexpensive makeup products that can be purchased at a drugstore or your local beauty supply store. I use all of these products myself and they are WOC friendly!

 1. Revlon Colorstay Foundation - Buildable coverage and transfer resistant // 2. Milani Easybrow // 3. NYX Concealer // 4. E.L.F Brush Set  // 5.  LA Girl Pro Concealer    // 6. Wet n' Wild Eyeshadow  // 7. Milani Baked Blush // 8. E.L.F  Glow Bronzer - The best $1 bronzer ever! Brown girls try this in Warm Tan! // 9. Maybelline Great Lash // 10. NYX Lip Pencil // 11. Wet n Wild MegaLast Lip Color - Dupes for Mac // 12. NYX Mega Shine Gloss

-Christen

Links à la Mode: 2nd Feature

We were featured in the Independent Fashion Bloggers Weekly Roundup. Every week they picked the best 20 posts and we were chosen for the second time. Checkout all the posts chosen below!

Did you know there (at least) SEVEN kinds of mascara? As someone who lives off of mascara, my mind was blown. Finding the perfect mascara has been a bit like the quest for El Dorado. You know, because a girl has her priorities. Did you also know that if you buy something at certain stores and it goes on sale within a few weeks, they'll refund the difference? I had no clue! This week with fashion month in it's home stretch and Spring on the verge springing we have all kinds of tips and tricks for you to add to your arsenal of fashion goodness. You'll be a total fashion braniac before you finish out the links!

• Alysalovely: Gold, Silver & Bronze Figure Skating Costumes
• A Vintage Covered: Muslim Designers at Indonesia Fashion Week
• Hey Mishka: Geek Chic: Tech In Motion
• I Can Style U: The Way of The Suspender
• Fashion Junkie: How to Be More Productive With Your Life
• Frugal Shopaholics: Are You Familiar With Price Adjustments?
• Keily's Fashion Picks: Introducing LiveLoveModa an Online Boutique Launched by a Blogger
• Lara Lizard: Dress Your Age, Stupid!
• Lunar Candy: Magic Market Week Wrap Up
• Miss Monet: Jeremy Scott's Junk Food Couture
• Mode Plus: How to Get Your Wardrobe Spring Ready
• On Duty Style Guide: How to Make Your Readers Like You
• Petite Career Girl: Three Ways to Style a Wrap Dress
• Sannam and Style: Mixing Prints: Leopard and Camo
• Style Curated: Lovely in Lace Marianna Jungmann
• Style Through Her Eyes: Beauty Box 5: Nail Sprinkles
• Style Vanity: The 7 Different Types of Mascara
• Tangles and Chains: Four Jewelry Wearing Rules You Can Break
• The B Team: 15 (more) Ways to Style a Plaid Flannel Shirt
• We Are Ready Made: Prada Got Trash!

SPONSOR: East Dane Rae Francis, Prismsport, Blonde Salad, Mcguire, Men's Hulme, Inis Meain, Yumi Kim, Pam Gella, Princess Tamm, Love Sadie

Triad Goodwill Rock The Runway Fashion Show

This past Friday I attended the Triad Goodwill Rock The Runway Fashion Show in Greensboro, NC. My manager saw an ad in the News & Record and figured I'd be interested in going. I looked into it and thought it would be a great event to attend which it was! 

The first part of the show involved the guest participating in the Silent Auction and checking out the Willow by Goodwill Boutique. The boutique carries donated clothing that is new and used. 

The show featured collections from seven designers and the audiences vote determined the winner of a $1,000 prize package. Seven designers, seven Ready-to-wear collections, one winner. All of the collections were made of different clothing items found in local Goodwill stores with their own added twist. My favorite collection was by designer Carrie Coyle. Below is a quick video of the looks from her collection.

                                 

The Triad Goodwill Fashion show is done annually and tickets are very affordable. Great frugal fashion event to attend! Check with your local Goodwill to see if they do a similar show in your area!

P.S. The outfit I wore to the show was under $100!! 

Kimono - TJ Maxx $20

Bodysuit - Forever 21 $7

Faux Leather Joggers - Ebay $30

Royal Blue Pumps - Forever 21 $10 (on sale)

-Derria

Frugal Spotlight: Buffalo Exchange

While in college my friends and I would always try to find ways to make extra cash. With the help of stores like Plato's Closet, Uptown Cheapskate and Buffalo Exchange there are may ways to make money off clothing, shoes and accessories that you no longer wear or need in your wardrobe.

Buffalo Exchange is a store where clothing and accessories that are lightly worn can either be traded for store credit or cold hard cash! Unlike Plato's and Uptown, Buffalo Exchange accepts Vintage and one-of-a-kind items. Which helps out when you have other items that are popular and might not sell as well in the store.

In my opinion Buffalo Exchange pays way more than the other two for clothing items so they are usually the first store I go to when I'm cleaning out my wardrobe or just have a few things I'm looking to sell. Whatever items they don't take I usually go to Plato's and Uptown to sell the rest.

Not only do I sell my clothes there it's always good to look around because someone else's trash could be your treasure! I've found plenty of one-of-a-kind pieces that I know no one else will have! Always a great feeling!

Frugs, Spring is coming up so if you have some items for the upcoming season that your aren't going to wear make a bag to take out to Buffalo Exchange and see your pockets get fatter for new items!

Find a Buffalo Exchange near you!  Click Here!


-Derria