by Denise Burrell-Stinson
There’s nothing wrong with taking a financially shrewd approach towards personal primping. It’s the difference between feeling like you’ve been recklessly extravagant and loving to get the most for your fashion dollar. The quest for value – no matter what your sartorial sense – should be a constant balance between fab and frugal. To help you ladies on your quest, The Atlanta Post profiles five African-American bloggers who can lead you to the best budget grabs. Each of these penny-wise scribes offers frequent dispatches on thrifting, sample sales, extreme couponing, and more — all important tools for staying stylish during the economic recovery. The innovative observations of these women will help you save, even if you are a slave to fashion.
The Budget Fashionista: Kathryn Finney
Kathryn Finney’s hugely popular blog spotlighting cost-conscious couture launched in 2003, providing readers with a fashion editor’s love of the runway united with a mom’s attention to value. On her site, readers can access links to discount events with online retailers, alerts for designer sample sales, DIY craft advice, and more — a true cornucopia of advice. Finney told the Daily News the key to budget shopping is to “Focus on value. And you do that by doing something I call the cost per wear, which is the cost of an item divided by the number of times you think you’re going to wear it.” Sound advice. For more, check out her timeless book, “How to Be a Budget Fashionista: The Ultimate Guide to Looking Fabulous For Less.”
The Frugalista: Natalie McNeal
Miami-based journalist Natalie McNeal launched herself into the budget blogosphere in 2008, when $20,000 in personal debt still didn’t prevent her from “spending more money on my hair than I had in my savings account,” she told The Atlanta Post. When she decided to go cold turkey on the spendy extracurriculars, she documented the project online in her first of many “No Buy Months.” During this experiment, McNeal saved $400 — and The Frugalista was born. Now, she scours everything from Groupon to Gilt Groupe for the latest on “living the frugal and fabulous life.” Her site includes tips on everything from saving on car insurance, to recycling lipstick tubes (for brand new ones) — even where to get free Cinnabons on Tax Day. In 2010, she published “The Frugalista Files: How One Woman Got Out Of Debt Without Giving Up the Fabulous Life.” These days, Natalie still commits to a No Buy Month every year. Could you do the same?
Dime on a Dime: Vee Gilbert
As the single parent of two daughters, thirty-five-year-old Vee Gilbert told The Atlanta Post, “spending lots of money on myself is not always an option.” So, just over a year ago the Bay Area makeup artist started sharing tips on managing her passion for fashion and beauty on her blog, which now welcomes 10,000 monthly visitors. Vee has posted helpful tips on transforming thrift-store finds into work appropriate outfits, and even a guide to DIY French manicures. (Cheat sheet: wrapping fingertips in scotch tape creates a straight border for the polish.) Dime on a Dime also features product reviews, contests and giveaways from cosmetics favorites like MAC. “Every woman should feel like a million bucks,” says Gilbert, “even if her means are far less than that.”
Looking Fly On a Dime: Patrice Williams
“Though I’m all for high end designers, I know at this point in my life I can’t afford their pieces,” says 28-year-old Patrice Williams, New York City-based blogger and founder of Looking Fly On a Dime. The fashion magazine alum, who once worked alongside the Louboutin set, now offers readers advice on budget replications of celebrity looks and hot under-$50 shoe guides. Especially compelling is her Thrifty Threads 365 project, her year-long abstinence from the purchase of any new items in favor of secondhand clothing. On her YouTube channel, Williams gives detailed advice, like showing viewers how to transform an ordinary oversized t-shirt into a Hot distressed top with a “how-did-you-do-that?” racerback knot. Fab! Williams says of the photo she submitted for this article, “I’m wearing a Theory military jacket I got for $1 from Goodwill,” demonstrating her thrifting expertise. Take notes!
Economy of Style: Psyche Southwell
Psyche Southwell fills her homey, inviting online shopping diary with self-portraits documenting her numerous successes in discount shopping. Her motivation? “Cost presents a very real issue for women,” the thirty-two year-old told The Atlanta Post. A Lexington, Kentucky-based researcher and educator, Psyche has been known to pen posts from fitting rooms when she sees a particularly compelling item. One of her hop tips is to visit discount retailers like Marshall’s and TJ Maxx on stock day for the best access to new apparel. “Once you become aware of the pricing strategies in the market of style,” says Southwell, who started Economy of Style in 2007, “you quickly realize there are some things you should never pay full price for.” Visit her site to learn what isn’t worth spending too much on — and all these black budget fashion bloggers for more fun, exciting ways to save.
