Summer Fades, Style Remains

Now that summer is pretty much over, I am going to share some of my summer outfits! But most will transition into fall--and I can add updates to that effect later.

I love this outfit and have enjoyed the maxi skirt much more than I expected. Why? Because I am short. Short and pleasingly plump, as my grandmother used to say. I am growing more and more comfortable and happy with my body, in this age of body positivity, but I know what flatters and what doesn't.

But somehow, this little skirt has been very comfortable, both physically and emotionally. I feel pretty in it and get compliments when wearing it. And that's what clothes are all about, baby!

Update: For fall, the scarf goes around my neck instead of being tied onto my purse, and I add a short cardigan in grey or a denim jacket. With a long skirt like this, stay away from longer completer pieces, such as a boyfriend sweater. That will drag down the look. And, of course, I will swap the sandals for boots!

Here's the Cheap-Cute Scoop:

• T-shirt, heathered peach, Old Navy, about 8 bucks.
• Belt, silver leather and chain, Nine West brand but bought at Ross Dress for Less for about $11.
• Maxi skirt, multi-colored stripes, Wal-Mart, $10 or $12 (purchased earlier this summer).
• Shoes, well, you KNOW I got them at Payless! But it was a year or two ago, maybe three, and I probably paid $15-$20 for them. They're super-cute and way comf, too.
• Scarf, embroidered aqua, my favorite color, Charming Charlie, under $15.

I wear silver jewelry with this. I just got two pairs of big hoops, one in silver and one in gold, $12 on Amazon. I have really enjoyed that "gypsy" look--or disco! Depends on how big my hair turns out that day!

More late-summer outfits to come!

Closet Shopping

Have you ever heard of closet shopping? No, it doesn't mean shopping in secret. It means going into your own closet and taking a look around!

Here's the outfit I have on today, made up of older pieces with two new accessories:

• Magenta skirt from New York & Co. (You know I love that store!), purchased some time in 2009
• Black silk cardigan (cheaper than it sounds), purchased probably in 2007
• Black camisole, really ancient, at least 4 years old (I'm layering, because it is seriously cold today)
• Black lacy tights, purchased recently at the Icing for about 8 bucks
• Leopard print scarf, spring weight (wearing it anyway), purchased a couple of weeks ago at Payless for $12.99 (I had a return, so I only paid a couple bucks out of pocket)
• Tall black boots, purchased 2 years ago at Payless, probably for about $25

When you're closet shopping (or deciding what to get rid of), keep these tips in mind:

* Black boots, sweaters, skirts, pants, etc. can be used season after season. (Remember not to let black be the only color in your wardrobe!) If they get worn, pilly, or faded, toss 'em! My method: Check for picks and pills at least once per season.
* Solids and neutrals (black, tan, brown, navy, white) are easily updated, dressed-up, or dressed-down with accessories. My method: Look for accessories in the inexpensive stores, and keep up with sales in the higher-end. Also, just FYI, I find that J C Penney and Kohl's have some wonderful and well-priced accessories.
* Closet shop for accessories too--an old pair of earrings can create a great look with a new-ish sweater and an old-ish neutral skirt!
* Fit: You know that's the most important. If you discover something fits again after not wearing it for a while, great! Wear it tomorrow. If not, toss it. My method: "If this fit me right now, would I wear it this week?" If not, it's gone
* Shoes can sometimes become unfashionable almost without notice. Pay attention to what's in the stores--pointy toes, open toes, round toes? Chunky heels, kitten heels, stilettos? Then re-use shoes year after year until they are out of style or just worn out. My method: If I really love a pair of shoes, I will take them to the shoe place for repairs until they fall apart.

I felt lovely today in my mostly-old-ish clothes! You can duplicate this look on almost any body shape with good results. Go ahead, take a look in your closet. You're going to find something to wear again!

Until next time,
Susan K. Morrow

Yes! Tuck It!

Ladies, the TUCK is back.

And I'm not talking about little strips of fabric sewn into a shirt. (But I reserve the right to post on those tucks in the future!)

I'm talking about tucking your shirt into your pants or skirt. Yes! We have not been tucking for several years now. I'm sure you remember, if you are over 15 years old, the days when everything was tucked in.

But for several years, all tops have been left untucked, even if their hems peeked out from under a jacket or sweater. Yes, even structured suits were often modeled with the blouse sticking out at the bottom. That's one look I didn't actually go for, but then again, when do I wear a suit anymore? I gave them up in the late 90s, along with pantyhose!

This season, the tuck is back! I like tucking in the top because it usually helps to define the waist and it looks tidy. Naturally, there are many tops--pullover sweaters, for example--that simply should not be tucked in, and it is still acceptable to have that shirttail peeking out. That's a very preppy look that I personally love.

But tucking in your blouse and adding a belt will accentuate a narrow waist and define a thick one. And the renewed style of tucking coincides with the rise of the waist on many pants and skirts.

I ran across this video that shows a lot of the renewed tucking style. It's a makeover from Chadwick's and The Balancing Act. It shows a 55-year-old woman who has been dressing sloppily for a while. The makeover brings her back to looking--and feeling--so much better! Check it out and notice all the tuckage!

Until next time,
Shop Cheap, Look Cute!
Susan K. Morrow

Sweaters All 'Round!

Today dawned windy and chilly in Austin, Texas, and I was happy to have a new sweater to wear!

Yes, I went to one of my faves: New York & Co. I don't know if this sale is going on today, but over the weekend, all tops were buy one, get one half off. This is becoming a wonderful shoppers' trend: Several stores have borrowed the "BOGO" idea from Payless and are offering this kind of deal. NY & Co. recently offered it on pants and other bottoms, so keep your eyes open, e.g., subscribe to emails from the stores you like.

And this outfit came out of my weekend trip to the mall! Because I bought the cardigan and the camisole--both tops--one of them was half price. I also had a coupon, AND received a coupon for future use. Both pieces together cost me about $50. Not the least I have ever paid, but pretty good.

The cardigan is extremely soft, 100% acrylic (I am allergic to wool), and has pretty sparkly buttons. It comes in several colors, and I also picked it up in a rich red. The cami has a diamond pattern in two shades of turquoise, plus white, black, and grey. It comes in other color ways, as well as solids.

I had the black jeans from last year--they fit really well, and I think are regularly priced at $29.99 at Macy's, brand "Style & Co." This is a "mature woman's" jean--sits a little higher on the waist and is cut a little straighter. With my slender legs and "tiny mutant pelvis" (Oh, that's a blog post waiting to happen!), these fit me pretty well.

The booties, which I just LOVE, are grey suede and came from--where else?--Payless last year. No idea what I paid, but I would put money on it being under $25. They are very comfy for heels and they keep my feet warm!

You could reasonably recreate this whole look for about $100, including shoes. I forgot to put on earrings, but wouldn't silver ones be nice?

Until next time,
Shop Cheap, Look Cute!
Susan K. Morrow

Crazy Cute

How crazy is this?

This is such a funky skirt that I can only hope to wear it a few times. I just thought it was really neat and yes, I got it on sale.

I found the skirt at Macy's on a clearance rack. There was no tag on it and neither the sales clerk nor I could find another skirt like it. The clerk found one that was close enough and used that tag. It was $11.95! She warned me that, without a tag, I would be unable to return the skirt. But I thought, for twelve bucks, who cares?

Then came the arduous task of finding the right top to go with. The skirt is a double layer of thin cotton, but the colors are very fall-y, so I tried some of the colors in the skirt... All overwhelmed. I settled on this brown, which blends pretty well and then I threw in--ta da!--my Notorious Aqua Cowboy Boots!

I never get to wear these boots, so this was a treat.

Now, you know where the skirt came from, but what about the other pieces? The sweater came from Chadwick's (www.chadwicks.com) last year for about $20 or so. (I'll do a post on catalog and online shopping soon. Chadwicks has some great deals and excellent basics.)

The NACBs (Notorious Aqua Cowboy Boots) were an online purchase about two years ago. I don't even remember where I got them, but I seem to recall Googling "aqua cowboy boots" and found them. They were well under a hundred, around $65, I think. Well worth it!

If you like the look, you can now recreate it. If you think I look too silly to be cute, well, at least it was cheap! After all, that's what I'm all about--shop cheap, look cute!

Until next time,
Susan K. Morrow

A New York Minute

I don't have much time, so this will be quick! I want to give a plug to my friends at New York & Co.

You've read about them at least a couple of times here on this blog. I would hazard a guess that about 1/3 of my wardrobe comes from that store.

Really? Wow, that's a lot of clothes from one store! Maybe I exaggerate, but I do shop there a lot.

New York & Co. is probably in your mall, and is definitely online: www.nyandcompany.com. My sister told me once that there are no such stores in Nashville, Tennessee, but there are. Don't be fooled if you just haven't heard of it!

It offers frequent new collections, about every 6 weeks, so you can usually find something new and different. The clothes are not quite like anything you'll find in other stores, either.

The clothes are primarily aimed at grown women, not teenagers. My daughters (presently ages 18 and 22) have told me that I am generally safe shopping there, because their clothes are almost all appropriate for my age, which is--ahem--mid-40s.

I am concerned about dressing appropriately for my age, and you should be too. If you are in your late 30s, for example, you are past the age of the mini-skirt! I'm not kidding! I don't care how cute your legs are, it's not "fittin'" to wear super-short skirts at your age!

New York & Co. helps me stay age-appropriate, but it also often features clothes that my grown daughters enjoy. They have even found jeans that suit them at their ages.

As I mentioned in my post on credit cards, New York & Co. offers fantastic deals, sales, coupons, etc. And no, you don't always have to use the NY & Co. credit card to get them.

So I recommend checking out the store, either storefront or online. And btw, I am not receiving any compensation for this! (I wish!) On the contrary, I pay New York & Co. all the time, buying clothes there!

Check it out and let me know what you think of the store!

Until next time,
Susan K. Morrow

To Your Credit...

I can't go any further without mentioning something about store credit cards.

Whether you choose to use credit cards or not, you might not know this about store credit cards. Many stores these days, including New York & Co., Beall's, and JC Penney, give extra discounts and specials if you get and use their card.

Some stores, like Kohl's, offer a discount the first time you use the card. Some will only give the discount if you get the card, but not if you don't qualify. Others will give you the discount just for applying, which I personally think is only fair.

So what's a girl to do who wants the deals but not the debt?

Simple--pay off each charge on the spot. I can't think of any clothing store that does not accept payments to your charge account at the register. So if you have the cash, simply make a payment to your account in the amount of the charge, right there at the same time as your purchase.

This way, you never carry a balance, and you always get those extra deals.

At New York & Co., which is one of my favorite shop spots, I am on their email list, and I receive frequent coupons by email. Now, there is a catch: you only get coupons if you buy something. I don't know their formula, but it's something like, for every $25 you spend in their store, they'll send you a coupon for $20 off a total pre-tax purchase of $75--or something like that.

Now, here's a word of caution about those New York & Co. deals that offer "x-amount off of x-amount": They turn that discount into a percentage of each item. It's not a huge deal, but it is something to be aware of. As far as my "cheap shopping" goes, they're the only store that does that.

And now you know. I don't advocate carrying a lot of debt, but I do carry some myself. It's up to you, and now you can get some even better deals, to debt or not to debt!

Until next time,
Susan K. Morrow