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Oct. 23, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

How to be a Recessionista

Less money doesn't have to mean less style

By XAZMIN GARZA
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Almost Free
Every garment in Sarah Jessica Parker's Bitten line comes with this manifesto attached to it: "It is every woman's inalienable right to have a pulled together, stylish, confident wardrobe with money left over to live." How much money left over? Check out the jaw-dropping prices.
Bitten Tartan plaid strapless dress, $19.98, Bitten rib trimmed washed jacket, $19.98, Bitten filigree pendant on chain necklace, $4.98, Bitten snake print cuff, $4.98, Bitten slouch ankle boot, $12.98, all available at Steve & Barry's at the Loma Vista Shopping Center

Label Love
If you simply can't imagine abandoning your love of labels, we have two suggestions for you. First, take a peak at your 401(k). If that doesn't convince you to get over it, consider diffused designer collections. For this polished work-appropriate look, we offer you tags that bear such sought after names as Vera Wang and Anya Hindmarch.
Simply Vera Vera Wang Russian noir skirt, $64, Simply Vera Vera Want urban montage blouse, $54, both available at Kohl's; Anya Hindmarch for Target navy bag with black trim detail, $49.99, Target

Style Savings
Besides the more than reasonable prices, H&M will endear you for its quality. This isn't your typical fast fashion; the clothes don't have a two-wear expiration.
Divided by H&M striped fitted blazer, $29.90, khaki suspender skirt, $24.90, Divided by H&M "Impulse" tee, $12.90, all available at H&M at Town Square; Alice + Olivia for Payless Houndstooth Park clutch, $34, Payless stores

Shoe In
The deals don't stop at your ankles. Budget shoe retailer, Payless, now offers diffused designer lines from Alice + Olivia and Abaete, as well as a collection by "Sex and the City" stylist Patricia Field.
Above: Alice + Olivia for Payless Rivington ankle boot, $48
Below: Patricia Field for Payless Conga boot, $55, both at Payless stores

When a fashionista can tighten her budget belt just as well as she can a wide, patent leather one, she earns herself a new title: recessionista.

These are the women who listen to their inner Suze Orman and put down the Christian Louboutins. They get a nice buzz from slashed prices and clearance signs bring tears to their eyes. But, their style never reflects their commitment to savings.

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"It physically hurts me to pay full price," says Kathryn Finney, creator of thebudgetfashionista.com. "People have this belief that if it's under $10 it's not worthy and if it's over $100 it must be great. That's simply not true."

Fashion mavens who want to maintain a high standard of style in this dire economic climate must change their thinking. Simply stalking sales won't cut it, either.

To be a true recessionista you have to implement the same creativity with your wallet that you do with your wardrobe.

Here are some of Finney's best penny-pinching tips. Check out the looks we've put together, too. Each of them illustrate how well affordability and fashion are getting along these days.

• LEARN TO SEW

You'd be surprised how much this could save you. You don't have to own a Singer, either. Just the basic skills will save you trips to the tailor for hemming and "taking in" garments.

Plus, lost buttons and broken zippers won't translate to "out of commission" clothes.

• CLOTHES-SWAPPING PARTY

Invite your most stylish friends and ask them to bring their finest dust-collecting duds. To make the trading fair, for every item a guest takes, they must give one.

If more than one party is interested in an item, some hosts require a "walk-off" to determine a winner.

• ONE-STOP SHOPPING

If you're not pointing and clicking while you shop, then surely you're driving and guzzling -- gas, that is.

The best way to avoid the "E" on your gas gauge is to buy your clothes, outerwear, underwear and athletic gear all in one spot. Kohl's, Target, Old Navy and H&M are excellent resources.

• Surf ebay

Bid at the right price and the right time and you can walk away with a steal of a deal.

Likewise, if it's time to part ways with a garment, post it at the price of your choice and reap the profits.

• THRIFT SHOP

They can require more digging than an archaeologist is willing to do, but the treasures you can find at Savers and Goodwill make it well worth it.

If for nothing else, at least consider going thrift for your winter coat this year.

• SHOE REPAIR

Find a shoe repair shop. No need to invest in a new pair if it's just a matter of a worn down heel or broken sandal strap.

It's the best way to get the most out of your shoe investments and prevents bidding an early farewell to favorites.

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background. jessica mayorga wrote on October 27, 2008 08:03 AM: iam a recessionista everybody always tell that... kathy wrote on October 24, 2008 11:54 AM: i have been looking for a job now for 2 months (which is the longest time i have been out of work in my life) anyway i have been applying on line. do employers call for interview from applications on line or do they still want to see you in person? if i was driving around this city applying i would have spent more money on gas than i could make in a month. i hope employers realize this and really look at on line applications. is there anyway we could find out what is the procedure on this and am i wasting my time. less wrote on October 24, 2008 07:23 AM: Good for you, now what on earth gave you the impression that we dont have good credit? This is how we got good credit, by living within our means. By getting a loan for two cars and paying them off within a year each is the way you build good credit, not knock it down. good for you wrote on October 24, 2008 06:22 AM: less - However, if you should ever, ever need credit, for whatever reason, you will be sorry because you won't get a loan. The bimbo's running around here, that's just what they are, bimbo's. This is Vegas, baby! Fake and plastic rules. less wrote on October 23, 2008 07:57 AM: My wife is a Recessionista. She only shops at marshalls and other discount stores. I get an allowance of 60$ a week and that includes gas,food and play money. Total we spend about $150 a week for a family of 3. No nails,no starbucks,no hair done,no bars,no eating out.The upside to this madness is we have zero debt, own 2 cars outright and have over 10,000 in savings. I see these bimbos in vegas all primmed up with nice cars and rims, i wonder how much that costs them,haha.