Product Description
Good news: You don’t have to sacrifice style just to pay your electric bill. Kathryn Finney, a.k.a. the Budget Fashionista, is the expert on all things chic and cheap. Now she opens up her Prada bag of shopping and style tips to make you fashionably frugal, with change to spare. It’s as easy as 1-2-3!
1. Know your budget: Learn innovative, money-saving ways to increase your clothing funds.
2. Know your style: Get helpful hints from fashion insiders an… More >>
How to Be a Budget Fashionista: The Ultimate Guide to Looking Fabulous for Less
#1 by Lady Atana on August 23rd, 2010
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This book is a wonderful guide on how to dress for success without taking out a second mortgage. Tips are given for everything from cheaper skin care to mixing high end and budget items. The listing of websites to visit are worth way more than the price of the book itself.
True, there are some subjects that are useless to me because of where I live, such as Sample Sales. And in my area of the country, I could dress from head to in Prada, Gucci, and Dolce & Gabbana carrying a $7000 Louis Vuitton handbag, and everyone would assume that I went on a shopping spree at Sears. The fine points of Couture is not very well known in small agricultural communtities. However, the discussions on quality of clothing, developing your own style, and especially what to splurge on and what to go “budget” on are great for anyone, no matter where they are.
The basic top ten articles of clothing are a good guideline for wardrobe building and her tips on shopping are priceless.
Because of this book, I now visit her website EVERYDAY to see what’s new, where the sales are, and who has special offers going on.
As a harried, occassionly overstressed working mother of 3, reading this book has also helped my presentation of myself and my self confidence. After reading this, I realized that I do not have to look as frantic and stressed as I am. I work in a very casual workplace, but I no longer show up to work in a t-shirt and a baseball cap with no make up (well maybe only once a week now, instead of everyday). I have begun getting my hiney out of bed, fixing my hair, putting on full make up and jewelry and almost strutting into the office every morning. This in turn has helped my self confidence, which has helped my performance (which was pretty good to begin with), and guess who got Employee of the month for July?! Also after trying to make myself look good with clothes and make up, I’ve been inspired to begin the exercise routine my husband has been trying to get me to do for 3 years. I feel better and have more energy after only 2 weeks.
Now, I’m not saying that this book will change your life or anything, but for some people like me, it just might inspire you to try new things, which will then snowball into great things.
Rating: 5 / 5
#2 by mediaagent on August 23rd, 2010
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This is the most realistic book on how to shop on a budget and I have read many of them. Not only am I a fan of the Budget Fashionista’s website, I take all of her tips in this book to heart. Not only does she show you how you can (and should budget for your purchases) she hands out best beauty buys, as well as give you other websites you should be privy to. I’m going to purchase a couple of books to give to friends for xmas gifts! (with my Barnes & Noble discount .. Sorry Amazon! )
Rating: 5 / 5
#3 by Joanna Daneman on August 23rd, 2010
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I was pleasantly impressed with “How to be a Budget Fashionista.” While I am not a “fashionista” (being “d’un certain age”) I do like to make sure I look my best when I am out in public. I do a lot of public speaking and “meet and greet.” So pointers on shopping and flattering fashions and makeup are welcome to this older gal. Plus, I don’t like spending huge amounts of my take-home pay on work clothes.
The book covers shopping, the where and how, in compact detail. The recommendations on some of the outlet malls seems to be correct from the experiences I’ve had there. And the advice on how to dress when doing battle-shopping is priceless. (Hint; going to a discount shop that has a public dressing room or no dressing room at all? No need to strip off in public –unless you are Britney Spears that is. Just wear form-fitting clothes like a yoga outfit and try on your finds over them.)
There is advice on combing thrift shops and consigment shops for really expensive finds at a fraction of their cost. While I am not a fan of pre-owned clothes, I know that for someone on a miniscule budget, this can be a real blessing. The author tells you, the bargain hunter, what to avoid (musty or dank underarm smells? No no no. Bleach stain or other non-fixable ding in an otherwise cute outfit? If it’s something you can sew an ornament over like a beaded patch or embroidery, then go for it.) The book tells you how to treat the STAFF at consignment and thrift stores (like royalty) so they are induced to do some pre-shopping for you and call you when choice items show up at the store. There are hints as well on sample sales (not for everyone.)
But this book isn’t just on salvage and rescue operations. It also covers how to put together a reasonably fashionable working wardrobe for a professional on less than you might spend on two or three items. It covers the best shoe stores both brick-and-mortar and online and it covers how to shop for a good handbag and WHY you DON’T want a knock-off from street vendors or certain online auction sites (counterfeiting is illegal and you are encouraging that kind of theft. And EVERYONE will know anyway.)
For a relatively compact volume, “How to be a Budget Fashionista” covers a lot of ground with real-life examples of students taking $600 dollars (not a lot anymore for a full wardrobe) and getting fabulous for interviews and work. If you are entering the workforce, updating your look, going pro, whatever your reason to need to look fabulous on next to nothing, the first thing to put on your credit card is this book. I mean it.
Rating: 5 / 5
#4 by T. Lane on August 23rd, 2010
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So, I’m not really a “fashionista”…I just wanted to dress better and spend less money doing it. I don’t follow fashion, didn’t know any designers, and usually stick with jeans. Still, I really enjoyed the book, learned a lot, and can honestly say I’m dressing in a more fasionable way. I still don’t read Vogue, but i do check her website.
Rating: 5 / 5
#5 by Sunshine Styles on August 23rd, 2010
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I just read this book, and I have to say, I’ve found my shopping soulmate! As a professional shopper who’s shopping motto is “Don’t buy it unless it’s at least 90% off retail,” I didn’t expect to learn much from this book. After all, for the last 7 years, I’ve traveled the country in search of bargains to pass on to my ebay customers. I often hear salesclerks gasp in amazement as I buy a large bag full of designer items for under $100.
But this book goes way beyond the basics. Written in a straightforward, upbeat style that’s fun to read, it covers the full spectrum of tips and tricks for buying a designer wardrobe for less.
My copy is now thoroughly dog-eared and underlined, and I’m ready to take my shopping to the next level. The Budget Fashionista offers amazing tips for scoring the best deals at outlets, online, at consignment shops and even at department stores. I love how she’s so specific about when, where, and how to score the best deals. I learned about some new sources I hadn’t considered, like DSW Shoe Warehouse, Loehmanns online, and sample sales.
The Personal Style quiz was a great tool for analyzing what I already have that I love, helping me focus on the pieces that really build my wardrobe. In the style of the “Look For Less” tv show, she even explains in detail how she helped a friend buy a full professional wardrobe for under $600. This book is so inspiring and fun to read, and I recommend it for anyone, from a novice to a professional, that wants to buy more great clothes for less money.
Rating: 5 / 5