STYLE MATTERS: How to stay glam on a tight budget
By Judie Schwartz, Rocky Mountain News (Contact), Evelinda Urman, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published January 7, 2009 at 6 p.m.
Judie and Evelinda: We're reeling from the economy and holiday spending. Here are 10 ways to save money and still look great:
1. Don't spend money on expensive exercise clothing. You will only sweat it up. Try Target, Old Navy or TJ Maxx for cheap athletic wear.
2. Change to old clothing when you get home from work. You don't want to cook cabbage in your work clothes and smell it on your outfit in the office the next day.
3. Reduce your dry-cleaning bills by wearing thin layering pieces under blouses and sweaters. Layering pieces will absorb body odor and sweat.
4. Don't buy new shoes. Take your favorites to the cobbler and have them shined, resoled and reheeled.
5. Shop in your closet. Most of us wear 20 percent of our clothing 80 percent of the time. Pull everything out to get an idea of what's in there. As you put things back, think about pairing clothing in new ways:
* Wear a dress you haven't seen in a while with a sweater and boots.
* Wear a suit jacket with jeans.
* Wear a short sweater over a longer T-shirt.
6. After cleaning out your closet, alter older pieces to update them.
Suit jackets: Crop longer styles and shorten sleeves to 3/4 length.
Shorten skirts and dresses: Some skirts will be suitable for restyling as pencil cuts.
Slacks: Shorten to capri length.
7. Host a swap meet. Invite friends who wear similar sizes and trade clothing.
8. Shop for classic pieces on sale. This is the time to find classic clothing at great prices.
9. Consider having your manis and pedis done at a local beauty school. Prices are much less.
10. If you wear prescription sunglasses, buy cheap, trendy frames at a discount and have the prescription lenses put in them.
E-mail other suggestions for our blog at stylematters.us.
Look for the second edition of "A Fashion-Lover's Guide to the Best Shopping in Denver and Beyond" on our blog.
Featured
-
DNC in Denver
Complete coverage of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
-
The Crevasse
A five-part series that examines one tragic day on Mount Rainier.
-
Deadly denial
Sick nuclear workers applied for government compensation but most haven't seen a dime.
-
Final Salute
The Rocky followed Maj. Steve Beck as he took on the most difficult duty of his career.
-
'Colorado's burning'
Coverage of the state's worst wildfires.
-
Columbine shootings
Coverage of the April 20, 1999, shootings at Littleton's Columbine High School.
-
The Crossing
Colorado's deadliest traffic accident killed 20 children on Dec. 14, 1961.
-
Osveli's journey
Osveli Sales left Guatemala for a better life. Two months later, he came home in a box.
-
Wake for an Indian warrior
Oglala Sioux bestow a tribute to the first tribal fatality in Iraq.
January 15, 2009
3 p.m.
Suggest removal
marling writes:
January and July are the time for clearance sales, even at boutiques. Cherry Creek North http://cherrycreeknorth.com/ has its sidewalk sale January 15-18 and I just saw that Larimer Square stores http://www.larimersquare.com/events/ have a Winter Sale January 23-25.