Stylish Buys Under $10 to Update Your Look

Forever 21 Hairband $3.80 each

Forever 21 Belt $9.80

I Am Recessionista MakeUp Spree

After months of anticipation and being thrifty, I finally gave in today and spent $ on my favorite makeup and fragrances must-haves. It wasn't a planned affair, I was supposed to just get my routine brow wax. My dear eye brow wax girl informed me of a secret - one that I plan to keep and one that benefits me in every way possible! I got them at a huge discount, which is the only reason why I (Recessionista) will be willing to part with the $.

These are just some of the items I got today. There are more, but my fingers are too tired to type. These should be good eye candy.

I Love Boots Part 1

I don't even know where to start to blog about my obsession with boots. I love boots of all kinds and shades and colors and style....from thigh-highs and knee-highs to mid-calfs and ankle booties. I wanted to announce that these four pairs of boots are my recent acquisitions and also my first time buying boots that are non-leather and non-branded. My oh my, I am totally surprised with their quality. If I didn't tell you this, you probably wouldn't have guessed that every one of these styles cost around $50 or less! My most favorite is the last pair - which essentially can be worn 2 different ways!

Recessionista Review: Carlos Falchi for Target

The long anticipated wait for cheap designer chic from my favorite store Target is finally here. I am talking about Carlos Falchi. The famous designer known for his exquisite exotic skin handbags that can cost more than your rent. In my previous blog entry, I promised to post photos of the Carlos Falchi for Target photos, so here you go.

I have been eying the little purple fellow in the center, and so I went and checked it out in person. As I walked towards the accessories department, I saw this huge signage and I headed straight for it. From a distance, the purple cross-body bag looked so enticing!

As I leaned forward to grab the purple bag, I realized that I was actually touching a plastic piece of patchwork. All I can is one word - Disappointment.

Maybe I was expecting too much, secretly hoping that this will be a real investment at a steal price of $24.99. I knew it wasn't going to be real snakeskin, but I guess I didn't expect it to be so glossy and plasticy. In my many years of being a Fashionista, I can now say that when it comes to handbags, you get what you pay for. For $24.99, I believe other Fashionistas out there might appreciate it more than I do. Clothing on the other hand, I can still get by with cheaper options of designer couture. Thank goodness! If not, I don't think I can remain a Recessionista.

I Am Recessionista Loves Vintage & Thrift Store Shopping

This blog entry should have been up on my blog since I started blogging in April considering that this is a blog written by a Recessionista. It has been a best kept secret that many know about but perhaps many others don't know about (yet)! Did you know that you can find one-of-a-kind cool pieces or designer couture pieces at vintage or thrift stores? If you are like me, who is sick of blending in with the crowd or can't afford the fine expensive apparel that designers have to offer, vintage and thrift store shopping may be for you!

Back in the day (which wasn't very long ago actually), I was a Fashionista who rarely shopped at thrift stores. Although I wasn't a huge fan of chain store brands, I still had my share of shopping at major malls, factory outlets and occasionally high-end retailers. Everything I had in my closet was brand new with the exception of a couple of vintage pieces that I picked up during my business travels within the United States and Europe.

My first introduction to vintage and thrift store shopping started in my sophomore year in college when I visited the local Goodwill and several cute eclectic vintage boutiques with my trendy friend Becca. I did grab a couple of cool vintage pieces and a couple of sweaters and jeans that looked almost brand new. After graduation, I dived into the world of Corporate America of crisp black suits, and so my vintage and thrift store shopping discontinued.

Now that I am not working for a global conglomerate, I have more freedom to play dress up. My recent vintage and thrift store shopping with my new friend Susan has definitely awoken my appetite for vintage. In my upcoming blog entry, I will post photos of some of my cool vintage and thrift store finds.

Fall 2009 Trends From A Recessionista's Perspective

Fall is finally here! Luxurious furs, genuine leather, sky-high boots, statement jewelry. As we start to browse the glossy pages of our favorite fashion magazines, our hearts start to race faster with excitement. Then reality kicks in and we realize that owning everything we liked in those pages was nothing but a fantasy. Don't fret girlfriends! The good news is that you can still get those trendy statement looks with well-chosen seasonal staples (chosen by ME). I present to you the splurges versus the steals. Every one of these 6 staples are under $100 except for the pair of boots ($159.95).

Splurge $2,395

Golden Goose Fox Fur Vest BergdoffGoodman.com

Steal $64.99

Just Fur Fun Vest ModCloth.com

Splurge $3,490

Oscar de la Renta Moto Jacket NeimanMarcus.com

Steal $47.80

Studded Leatherette Jacket Forever21.com

Slight Splurge $265

ABS Stapless Brocade Dress from Bloomingdales.com

Steal $67.99
Etched in Stone Dress ModCloth.com

Spurge $1,995

Christian Louboutin OTK Boots BergdoffGoodman.com

Steal $159.95

Lila Over The Knee Boots BakersShoes.com

Slight Splurge $250

Kenneth Jay Lane Black Torsade Necklace Saks.com

Steal $9.80
Two toned beaded necklace Forever21.com

Slight Splurge $320
Vince Scrunch Cardigan Bloomingdales.com

Steal $60

A&F Ainsley Sweater abercrombie.com

There are obviously a lot more trends and outfits that I want to blog about, but that wouldn't be very "Recessionista-like" of me. I have been through the phase of searching for the next big thing, but I am now sick of the chase. It's really hard to keep up with the Jones of the world, but that doesn't mean I can't look as fabulous as them without spending a million bucks. I pride myself in doing that, and you should too!

In The Life of A Recessionista

Perhaps I am not a fashion guru or neither am I the Anna Wintour of Vogue, but in my fashion dictionary, the key to style is imagination and the willingness to seek out a good deal. Aesthetically speaking, who wouldn’t want own a classic 2.55 Chanel, or exotic skin Prada, or a classic Louis Vuiton? I am not generalizing here, but most (not all) people in my social circle would never pass on any of those branded purses. With money (lots of it), anyone can look like a million bucks. I mean seriously! Even Susan Boyle (click on link to see my blog entry on her) whom I have respect for when she was first spotted on Britain's Got Talent looked like a celebrity when she had her makeover with her Burberry scarf and leather jacket.

Although I have been receiving comments and emails from some of my readers with compliments about being a Recessionista, I also received some less cordial ones (of course, there are haters out there!). I mean I don't deny that I love Chanel and Prada, but I don't own everything couture in my wardrobe! Even in my Fashionista days, I always strive to find chic and cheap pieces that will update the look of my more expensive investment dressing pieces already in my wardrobe. Now that I am much thriftier and frugal; shopping a lot lesser than I used to, I go by these rules which has worked well for me. I want to share them with everyone.

• I always shun away from risky one-season trends.
  
• I invest a lot in classic pieces like leather boots, leather black purse, little black dress, blazer, wool coat.
  
• I peek into vintage and charity shops to search for unique pieces that bring out my personality and individuality at a fraction of the cost.
• I accessorize to add new life into last season's clothes.
• If I see something I really like on sale, I will ask myself the question over and over again if I would wear it more than once a month. Read my blog entry on Cost Per Wear.
  

So, there you go. Another word of advice from a Recessionista (Me!), never ever charge more than what you can afford. It sounds like common sense but it could be a challenge for some. I always make it a point to pay my credit card balances in full and on time; irregardless on how much I spend the month before. Paying with cash is great if you are trying to get off credit card debt. Then again if used correctly, credit cards can offer many benefits like rewards in the form of cash back or gift cards or even free vacations. I'm no financial guru here. All I know is when it comes to credit cards, the word DISCIPLINE is so important. As I always say "There's always a better way to shop and still look like a million bucks!"

My BCBG Runway Dress

See this BCBG runway dress in the photo? Apparently I am not the only one who loves it and owns it. Ashlee Simpson loved it so much that she bought it right off the runway at the BCBG Spring 2008 Runway show at a mere 500 US dollars. What's 500 bucks to a celebrity right? Well, I got mine from the BCBG outlet a year later at 89 bucks! This is proof that you don't have to be a celebrity or have millions of dollars to your name to own something as chic as this dress. I am planning to wear this dress with my Bakers Rhinestone Gladiator Heels I got at $79.90 (which resembles the Balmain originals that have a 4 figure price tag). That's what I call Recessionista Style, which is why I am Recessionista!

I Am Recessionista Thoughts

In our shopping endeavors, we make fashion choices carefully, some hastily; some are thrust upon us; some we make without knowing it or knowing that we even have a choice. Nevertheless, they still all add up to make us what we are today. I once read a book titled "The Girl's Guide to Wealth" and I think some of the chapters do make a lot of sense; at least they were relevant to me.

So, how do we ensure that we get the best bang for our buck and not fall into a spending trap? From my personal experience as a Fashionista as well as a Recessionista, I can certainly say that I am no longer going to be a victim of sales. After my recent move from a house with lots of closet space that spans across 3 bedrooms to a city apartment with one walk in closet, I have certainly been much more careful in spending these days. I claim that I am a Recessionista when I started blogging in April this year, but now I can say that I am even more Recessionista-like than I ever was. Don't believe it? My apartment is just steps away from Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, H&M and BCBG - my favorite. And it has been almost a month since I moved here, and I haven't bought a single item yet.

I am going to summarize what I learned in a nutshell from this very painful lesson. First lesson I learned was, before I went out shopping again, I needed to purge my closet well to see what I really really needed. In my case, I wasn't lacking of anything. And more importantly, I had to understand what styles suit me best and what didn't look good on me. Balloon skirts and dresses are cute, but do they suit everyone's figure? Next lesson, I don't have to buy something just because it is on sale. I made this mistakes too many times before. Most importantly, I learned that buying cheap stuff that don't last is a bad bad decision. Instead of buying 3 dresses, 2 skirts and 3 shirts for $200, it would be a much wiser decision to buy 1 dress, 1 skirt and 1 shirt for $200. Designer quality always counts, you really pay for what you get most of the times, and they last a long long time. Remember my blog entry about cost per wear? (See links at the side of my blog for cost per wear)

Having been a victim of spending traps in the past, can I say that I am much smarter now? Very positively yes.

Where To Shop: San Francisco & Bay Area

To commemorate my love for shopping and validate my claim that the United States of America is the best place to shop (I mean bargain shop) in the world, I decided to start a new topic Where to Shop. As San Francisco is one of my favorite cities, it shall be the first. The bay area has so much to offer besides hippies, the arts, and silicon valley. In San Francisco, you can shop till you drop in endless rows of high-end stores and chain stores in the Union Square or scout for a bargain in one of these interesting boutiques on Haight Street and Mission Street...oh not forgetting the outlet malls! I am not going to cover the major malls or chain stores of any sort, instead I am only going to cover unique boutiques and outlet malls that I love. These are some of my favorites.

Haight Street San Francisco, CA
As you might have heard, Haight Street is the true epicenter of hippie style and culture - think Grateful Dead and Tie-Dye. The Upper Haight screams 60s psychedelia with rows of charming Victorian houses, anarchist bookstores, piercing salons and funky clothing shops. I had a great time when I was there last month.
I was fascinated by the novelty stores on Haight Street. Some of the toys reminded me of my childhood and some were too cute to resist that I had to get them. These are some of my favorites. (Pardon my photography taken by my Iphone)


One store that absoulutely won my heart and made me feel young again (not that I am in my mids or anything) was Loyal Army Clothing (www.loyalarmy.com). Unique name for a clothing store that doesn't sell military supplies or anything close. The Loyal Army flagship store on Haight street was so kawaii (cute in Japanese). From the moment I walked into the store till the time I left, I felt sunshine of happiness (and by the way I was not high on w**d when I was in the store). The store was filled with endless cuteness of hoodies, graphic tees, totes, and accessories for guys, gals, kids and pets. I Am Recessionista is going to have a Loyal Army contest soon with giveaways sponsored by Loyal Army...check my blog often...3 lucky winners will win merchandise from Loyal Army. I will post this entry one randon day in July.



Napa Premium Outlet Napa, CA
If you love Barneys, BCBG and Coach, then this is a definitely must visit for you. Premium Outlets is one of my favorite outlets owned by the Chelsea Premium Outlets Group. Most of the brands that you see in a typical Chelsea Premium outlet are those that you have been craving for at full retail in higher end department stores. The only difference is that they are much lower priced and not from the current season.

Great Mall Milpitas, CA
This outlet mall is really huge and do it can be overwhelming for some. For me, I map out the stores that I plan to visit and just hit those stores one store at the time. The ones I love are Abercrombie & Fitch, Neiman Marcus Last Call, Off Saks Fifth Ave, BCBG and Victoria Secret.

I Am Recessionista Loves 6 Dollar Tees!

Who would ever think that the lightweight cotton undershirts worn by WWI soldiers would become a fashion staple today. Many of our celebrity A-listers have looked to making sartorial statements through their tees with eye catching graphics or phrases, and have been successful in conveying the message. Like everything else, there's always a higher-end and a lower-end of the pricing spectrum when it comes to T-Shirts. My recent shopping hauls for cheaper casual staples for my wardrobe have made me turn to the "T-shirt" - a fashion staple that has never failed me before. When perusing my personal stockpile of tees, I instantly returned to the time when I was in elementary school, middle school and high school.

One website I really loved was 6DollarShirts.com because as the name says it all; every t-shirt is $6 (for mens) and $6.50 (for womens) on their site. And the best part is if you order 10 T-shirts from them at a time, the price drops to $5 (for mens) and $5.50 (for womens)! Just click on the 6dollarshirts.com Banner Ad on the right side of this page, located right below the About Me section to go to their website ------------------------------------------------------->

Some of my favorites:

Whether you want to make a statement with a bold or funny phrase, or let the pictures on your t-shirt do the talking, don't let these timeless wardrobe must-haves pass you by. These make great birthday and christmas presents for both guys and gals too! At prices this low, this might be a good way to save on gifting this year! I know I will.

Reality Check #3: Should You be A Recessionista?

If you haven't heard, rich in today's context is no longer the millionaire whose assets are valued at $1 million. A growing phenomenon of hectomillionaires (net worth of hundred and more millions), and billionaires (net worth of one or more billions) in the past decade has made millionaires or multimillionaires (net worth of a few millions) just middle-class millionaires. So how can people who are not even millionaires stay even with the high rollers of the fashion ladder?

The reality is: It may never be possible for most middle class to upper middle class citizens to stay even with the high rollers of the fashion ladder without being in financial debt or sacrificing some of the other nicer things in life. Unfortunately, the economic principle of opportunity cost holds true in almost every context.

So if it never crossed your minds to become a Recessionista, think again. Unless you are a trust fund baby, or a multi-millionaire who has an endless supply of money that can last a lifetime, there isn't any reason why you can't shop smarter to get the biggest bang for your buck. Agree?

If you still don't know the definition of Recessionista, a Recessionista is someone who develops a distinctive and unique style using low-cost but still fashionable items. This involves rethinking fashion, and coming up with new ways to dress stylishly. It may seem tough at first for many of you Fashionistas out there, but it gets better and fun at the same time after awhile. I am doing exactly that now; which is why I Am Recessionista! If you don't know where to start, ask me. I will be glad to help!

OLD NAVY FLIP FLOPS FOR $1 A BUCK ONE DOLLAR!

Recessionista alert! Flip flops are $1 at Old Navy tomorrow May 23rd. Maximum of 5 pairs per customer. Patterned and metallic flip flop styles are excluded. One Day only, while stocks last! Need I say more! Hurry!

Proud to be A Recessionista!

First we heard economists say that this is the worst recession since The Great Depression in 1929-1930. Then we heard that we are in the process of pulling out of a recession which should end by the end of 2009. So, the question is? Which prediction is true?

In my world, it doesn't matter whether there is a recession or not, I am still going to be the smart and savvy shopper a.k.a Recessionista that I am now, and continue to share my thoughts and tips and coupons and deals with the entire world. Since I started my blog, I have readers from all around the world including: United States (of course), Canada, Mexico, South America, U.K, Europe, Australia and Asia. So, I will not stop blogging even if the recession is over. Because as I Am Recessionista always says "There is always a better way to shop and look like a million bucks without breaking the bank."

Thanks everyone for your support so far! Keep reading and leaving your comments. I am sure d**n proud to be a Recessionista! See my upcoming post "Should You Be A Recessionista?"

Walmart Dollar Aisle

If you haven't heard, Walmart has introduced its own dollar aisle because they saw how McDonalds did so well with their dollar menu. The difference is Walmart's using merchandise not food. I checked out the Walmart store closest to me and they only had an aisle of dollar treats from flavored drinks and soda, to candy and chocolates, and seasonal items. Not a whole lot of variety in a single aisle though, but who knows that might change if they do well with this dollar launch. For now, I was contented with getting my Pepsi 4-pack and Hershey's chocolate yummy treats for a buck. Anything that makes my Recessionista dollar go further is always better.

Shopping Tip #2: IamRecessionista's Cost Per Wear Analogy

We've probably heard celebrities, models, personal shoppers and fashion stylists mention about Cost Per Wear (CPW) over the mass media too many times. For those of you who don't know what CPW means, it is a concept that rationalizes the expense of a fashion item by dividing each time you wear or use it into the original cost. According to "The Budget Fashionista" Kathryn Finney, she says that whenever you buy something new, your goal should be to wear it enough so that your cost per wear becomes less than $2. Achieving a CPW of $2 would be ideal for anyone, but that might pose a challenge for many Fashionistas.

Personally, I have gone with my own analogy that as long as the cost per wear for a fashion item does not exceed what I make in an hour, that item is considered an "investment". My logic is derived from the fact that since it typically doesn't take me longer than an hour to pick something in the store, the cost per wear for that item shouldn't be more than what I make in an hour. More than often, I follow my CPW analogy diligently, but like everyone else, I have had my weak moments where I fell prey into the arms of a spending trap in disguise. To illustrate what cost per wear means, I will reveal my Top 3 CPW purchases of all time.

Best CPW Purchase: H&M Mod Double-breasted Wool Coat

I got this coat at the H&M NYC store on 7th & 34th street for only $70, and it is definitely my most favorite winter coat of all time. It exudes Twiggy's mod-style, and the color is a nice shade of light heather gray which goes with almost anything in my closet. I have always been a believer that the retail price of an item is an indication of its quality, but this coat has proven me wrong. Although it wasn't made of 100% wool or cashmere wool like most of my other coats are, it is by far the most wearable. Its CPW is probably down to a low 50 cents!

2nd Best CPW Purchase: Rock & Republic Kasandra Jeans

I can declare that this pair of Rock & Republic low rise, bootcut jeans are the best designer jeans I have ever owned. Amongst my collection of designer jeans which include Rock & Republic, Seven for All Mankind, Antik Denim, Joe's Jeans, Miss Sixty and Paige Denim, I love my Rock & Republic jeans the most. I paid about $180 for this pair and I have worn it probably more than 100 times since I got it last May, so its CPW is now at a low $1.80. Soon, it is probably going to be down to $0.

3rd Best CPW Purchase: Prada Daino Shopper Tote in Acciaio

I was invited to the Saks Friends and Family Day at their New York store. My goal that day was to purchase a handbag using my 20% discount, but unfortunately the discount could not be applied to all my favorite brands like Chanel, Prada and Dior. As I was browsing that department, this eye-catching yet subtle shade of metallic silver peeking from Prada booth just caught my attention. I was hesitant at first to purchase it since I couldn't use my 20% on this, and the color is not the typical black or brown or taupe that I mostly own. While I am touching its beautifully-grained calfskin and sturdy gold hardware, I started calculating the cost per wear of this $2k "investment" in my mind. Fifteen minutes later, I was the proud owner of this gorgeous "baby". And I am glad to say that since I acquired this investment piece last March, I have used it almost every single day. I have used it when I am in the States, on my overseas business travels and even vacations, and the bag is still look immaculate! The CPW for this Prada baby of mine is now down to a low $5.

My CPW analogy has worked for me so far in getting the most bang for my buck for most (unfortunately not all) of my fashion items; achieving a balanced wardrobe of both high-end quality pieces and mid-range pieces that I continually wear over and over again. Being the wiser shopper I am today, I always ask myself before I make any purchase something "How many times am I actually gonna wear or use this?" While mental math calculations have never been my Forté, I am still able to calculate the cost per wear of that item before I decide to flash my plastic at the cash register.

What's the best CPW of an item you have gotten so far? Let me know under comments.

Recessionista's Designer-Inspired Hauls #1: SS09 Shoes (Pt 1)

The next two paragraphs in parenthesis that you are about to read will be repeated on every blog entry I create for the Recessionista Inspired Hauls.

"What irks me is when a mass-producing factory decides to manufacture a replica design of a designer dud in its entirety and then stick on the designer label on it. I call this category Fakes, Replicas, Imitations...whatever you choose to call them. On the contrary, if a mass-producing factory manufactures am inspired version of a designer label with its own brand, then that would be totally genius! I call this category Designer Inspired.

With my Fashionista eye and Recessionista budget, I managed to score several deals on designer-inspired items. You can too! All you need to do is to educate yourself through websites like style.com or vogue.com and then spot the lesser-priced versions on the go! The designer duds are on the right, while the lesser-priced designer inspired versions that I purchased are on the left. See if you can tell the difference."

Givenchy-inspired

I never owned anything Givenchy to start with, so I wasn't really going to fork out a grand to buy this gladiator darling on the right. What I did do was to buy Steve Madden's version at their Soho store for about $150.

Alexander Wang-inspired

Being a big fan of Alexander Wang's casually cool style with a grunge rocker-chic twist, I was drawn to the Alexis Fringe Ankle Boots (on right). Tempted to get it at first, but as I pondered upon its hefty 3-figure price tag, I decided not to.

A week later, I saw F21's $34.90 rendition of the Alexis, unfortunately they were sold out in my size. Weeks passed, and I got a phone call from my girlie Makena. In her cheeky voice, she informed me that she just got me the Alexander Wang inspired boots ON SALE at her Forever 21 store (on left)!

Dolce Vita-inspired

This Dolce Vita Chastity Bootie on the right retails for about $200 and I loved it on my girlie Sandy. I got my designer-inspired pair on the left from Forever 21 for 10 times less - 20 bucks!

Recessionista Tip: Call your family and friends who live in smaller cities or even small town USA if you can't find what you want at the store near you. Chances are, they'll still have it in their stores there, and better yet, it might be cheaper there!