How to look good on $100

Tag : slip-on shoe

Use the trends of fast fashion, vintage and statement pieces to adda new season twist on a $100 budget.
I have a strategy for updating my wardrobe and it's a pretty simpleone. I always invest more in pieces that are going to last severalseasons - suits, classic pants, shoes, coats, bags and formal wear- and spend less on new trends that may not last six months, letalone a year. Spring-summer stock is arriving and though you maynot be ready to slip on a pair of shorts, there are plenty of waysto add a new season twist to your current wardrobe on a $100budget.
Work your wardrobe
If your work wardrobe is a sea of black, navy and grey then thebest way to update your look is with a splash of summer colour.Metalicus designs great bodywear in block colours and stripes thatlook chic underneath a jacket, waistcoat or tunic dress. Moststyles cost much less than $100.
Long-sleeve cotton tops and T-shirts are a great buy and can bepicked up almost anywhere - Country Road, Witchery, Sportsgirl,Kookai. Look for good-quality cotton and buy in a size that givesyou shape rather than hangs loosely. Orange, bright red and cobaltblue are big colours this season. White also looks crisp whenaccessorised well.
Accessories are key to updating your look on a budget. Big boldjewellery was everywhere on the international catwalks and thebohemian look is in the middle of another revival. Keep your lookunder control for the office (bangles are a damn nuisance at thekeyboard) by buying statement pieces.
Ginger & Smart have designed some fabulous cuffs this seasonfor about AU$95. Diva, Leethal Fashion and Alibi have a huge rangeof fun pieces - flower rings, cuffs, beads, bangles - for less thanAU$50. Local markets and bric-a-brac stores are a great source forjunk jewellery.
I'm a big fan of a well-positioned scarf but there is an art to itas the look can appear dated. Skinny scarves are still a hit thisseason.
Go for a bright block colour to add contrast or try a design with ametallic knit. R.M. Williams has beautiful classic cotton and silkscarves in nautical red, white and navy.
For an exotic look, buy an oversized scarf with a tribal print orwith tassels. Still have money to burn? Collette Dinnigan'slingerie collection for Target is fantastic for design and price.So are Le Specs' sunglasses.
Busy and on a budget
Young mums need their wardrobe to function on many differentlevels.
Practical and comfortable, the ballet flat has been around for afew seasons and is still a smart way to make an old pair of jeanslook new again. They may only last a season of wear so go forsomething bold and fun. Budget shoe stores will have styles incandy-coloured vinyl and canvas.
If you are prepared to blow most of your budget, then BlochLondon's flower and insect ballet flats are winners for less thanAU$100. Ipanema's Gisele Bundchen G2B plastic sandal range isextensive and all costs less than AU$50. The Greta strappy flatsandal range, AU$39.95, will look great with a long floral skirt,shorts or a trapeze dress.
It might not be great for the environment but the current trend offast fashion means you can find some on-trend pieces withoutbreaking the budget. I like the relaxed layering look. Take somefavourite pieces from your wardrobe and play with layering - tanksover tees, mini dresses over skinny jeans.
Update with a new floral top, waistcoat or cardigan. Jeanswest,Sportsgirl, Portmans, Esprit, Supre, Dotti and Just Jeans have somegreat spring collections. New local label MyPetsQuare is anotherlabel to look out for: feminine and fun summer dresses, shorts andskirts for less than $100. If it's not going to be too much of ahassle (or irritation) stack on some bangles or throw on a skinnyscarf to add a new look to an old outfit.
There are some great fabric tote bags around this season that lookgood and are practical.
Tween time
Just before highschool was the time I was experimenting withfashion and developing my own sense of style. Thanks, Mum.
So if you can bear it, try to go with the flow and help your tweensdevelop their own style. Sit down together and write a wish list ofseason must-haves, then they can work out how far that $100 willstretch.
A Nike sweatshirt is going to blow the budget quickly and so is anew pair of Adidas shoes. A bit of reverse psychology may come inhandy when working out what to buy. What about a Nike T-shirt and asimple grey or navy hoodie without the label? Skechers and Vansproduce some great canvas shoes for less than $70.
I think boys are often harder than girls to convince so if a newpair of jeans is on top of the list, then cut back your spending bypurchasing basic tees from Target, Bonds and K-Mart. If your tweenlikes "vintage", then hit the markets. A new denim jacketor hippie floral skirt will wash up beautifully.
Summer 2008 is all about colour so look for boardshorts in red,blue and yellow. Summer shift dresses will also look sweet with apair of sandals or Havaianas on a warmer day.
He's got style
I think a cheap suit, shirt, tie and shoes looks cheap. I believeyou are best owning two expensive suits rather than five cheaperones. A new shirt and tie can make an old suit look sharp.
So, casual man, where to next? You should at least have a goodbasic wardrobe - great jeans or pants, a good casual jacket, neatcasual and dress shoes and several good-quality belts. If youaren't a patient shopper, hit David Jones, Myer and Country Roadbecause all stores have everything under one roof at variousprices. Take a risk and add some colour to your wardrobe with apolo shirt in red, sky blue or green.
The T-shirt business is still booming so grab a few - white, grey,black. Adam cotton T-shirts are worth the $79 investment. Sportingbrands such as Nike, Adidas and Puma are also worth checking forgood-quality T-shirts at a reasonable price.
A check business shirt looks great worn casually with jeans and avintage-style leather belt. But no matter what's happening out inthe fashion world, I still don't think you can beat a guy who wearsa great pair of jeans and a worn vintage-style belt teamed withloafers or casual canvas shoes.
Bang for 100 bucks: what the experts say:
Eva Galambos, retailer, Parlour X
"Only $100 to spend? Lucky there's a return to bohemian stylethis summer. It's fun shopping at markets where you can pick upethnic-inspired scarfs, floral skirts and printed or plain tees fornot much money. You'll probably have enough change to buy someoversized shades to complete the look. But if markets are not yourscene, find a Tree-of-Life store where you can purchase all kindsof fabulous things with enough money for a pair of oversizedsunnies from a local chemist."
Damien Woolnough, editor, http://www.vogue.com.au
"The best way to step out of winter is in colourful footwear.After months in black boots, you can brighten your wardrobe with apair of printed Converse sneakers for $90. While classic white andnavy will always make the grade, follow the lead from the Pariscatwalk and seek out statement prints. Paired with jeans or shorts,they will see you through spring until summer. More fashion-forwardtypes should embrace Sydney's prince of eco-chic, Sam Elsom. Thesequined bow-tie from Elsom is an instant dash of geek glamour thatis bound to be popular with the skinny jean set."
Edwina McCann, fashion features director, Grazia
"I would buy fabulous big jewels from Diva - they havefantastic brooches for less than $20 - and pretend they were LouisVuitton. I'd channel Agyness Deyn with some new bright Conversehigh-tops and Ray-Ban-style bright sunnies. OK, I wouldn't do thatbut if I were 10 years younger I would."
Adam Worling, fashion publicist
"A pair of white Vans Authentic lace-ups for $69. They areclassic and look great with boardshorts, chinos and jeans or with asuit and T-shirt and best of all you can throw them in the washingmachine. Or spend the money on drycleaning or a good haircut."
Fiona Scanlan, designer
"A tweens wardrobe could be updated easily with a summer shiftdress. Some very faded denim will also do the trick. I find astripey long-sleeve T-shirt mixes well with many items in thewardrobe."