Beauty on a Budget

The economic downturn might have you in a slump, but by following a few simple tools you can become a stylish recessionista. What is a recessionista? It is a women who looks amazing regardless of the economy.

First examine your current wardrobe. You will want to block out a few hours to do this because you need to try everything, and I mean everything on.

Look at your clothes on your body in a full length mirror and notice the way they fit. Be brutally honest with yourself. Do they flatter your figure, good, you can keep those pieces. Do the clothes look amazing, but not necessarily amazing on you. Ask yourself if the piece can altered to work for you. Finally if a piece just doesn't fit, is worn, or is poorly made you need to get rid of it. You can donate these clothes, save them for a clothing swap, or if they are really bad use them for rags. Whatever you do is up to you, just get them out of your closet.

Now that you have your wardrobe paired down and taken the necessary clothes to the tailors you can evaluate your wardrobe. What pieces are you missing and how will you acquire those pieces. For instance, do you have staples such as a well fitting white shirt and a good pair of black pants? If not you can check the following options to expand your wardrobe.

First jot down all the pieces that you need. Are you looking for a blouse for that great suit you just got back from the tailor or a pair of shoes to go with your evening dresses? Know what you need before you do any more shopping.

On-line shopping is not only an easy way to buy clothes, but some serious recessionista bargains can be found. Sites such as Gilt Groupe and Rue La La offer designer clothing, accessories, and even hotel stays at a fraction of the price. They have everything from BCBG to Vera Wang Lavender on sale. You just have to get there on the right day, at the right time, and hope that they have your size, but you would be doing that at a real sample sale anyway.

Only purchase what you need from these site. Remember you are on a budget and this is not the time to be splurging on a hundred fifty dollar pair of shoes that look exactly like the pair you bought last month. You are building your wardrobe carefully with well thought out purchases, not with a cute skirt that you might never find a use for.

Beautiful clothes do not have to be brand new. Check out the local resale shops in your area. The higher end stores often have clothes with the tags still on them. The trick to resale shopping is knowing the stores markdown schedule. Do they mark clothes down at the end of every month, or is it when an item has been on the shelf for four weeks or more. It's something that the store clerks will be happy to tell you if you just ask.

Remember just because it is at a resale shop and priced to go doesn't mean you don't have to try it on. Be honest when you look in the mirror and ask yourself if it truly fits. Do you really need it. If it seems like a frivoulous purchase, do not buy it.

Garage sales and estate sales are also great places to find accesories. You can find vintage pieces for a song. People just don't know what they are giving away. Again you need to try on the piece and make sure it is something you would actually wear before buying it, no matter how good the price. If you buy something and never wear it you have basically just thrown your money out the window, and a recessionista would never do that.