Wednesday 27 October 2010

Style Budget Special Week - Day 3 Thrifty ways

Money, Money, Money, this has been the epicentre of everything of late. Who has it, who owes what and how to reduce debt. Or whose hiding what in their Swiss Bank Account. Even in fashion money has driven the style status looks.

There was a time when magazines devoted a great deal of editorial to helping young women and women manage their budgets. A great place to dive into this archive of a different style of magazine is at The Women's Library

In fact today blogs have taken up the role of the help women's magazines used to give. It is the blogosphere that provides useful tips, motivation and advice for all budgets. Within the fashion blogging world there are a multitude of bloggers who ignore the trappings of luxury marketing.

I've selected some who offer an alternative way to luxury and mainstream fashion. I find them inspiring because money is not the main driver. Their style is predicated on personal values and their love of certain clothes.

First up is Vintage Vixen and this blog probably needs no introduction.


Why I love Vix and her posts is the variety of outfits and the snippets of her live. Who couldn't not love Gilbert. I once thought I saw Gilbert on the M4! Vix is resourceful, generous and lives her life as she pleases. The creativity employed in her home is also a joy. Vix is a clear example of using alternative means to live a comfortable life. She inspires me to think less of labels and more of what I truly love and find pleasure in.

Oranges and Apples
is a fabulous example of the Etsy generation (is that a dreadful phase to coin? I mean well).
Not only does Franca work her magic with her knitting needles (I have a wonderful hat that kept my head warm last winter) but her husband to be is a whizz on the sewing machine. How cool is that. Oranges and Apples is a feast of colour and fun finds. Again resourcefulness is at the fore.

The next blog to enjoy is of the uber thrifty kind. Sharon Rose is the blogger de jour of charity shop finds at MyStyle - Thrifting, Fashion, Me...


If it is in Net-A-Porter, Sharon Rose will find it at her local Sue Ryder! She seeks and she finds. Not only that but Sharon Rose paid off all her debts by sticking to a budget and only buying clothes from car boot sales and charity shops.

A recent blog that has captured my imagination is Calamity Jem's Vintage Vauderville. Again it is the resourcefulness and endeavours to rework items, recycle and re create new looks with old things.

What these blogs have in common is a spirit of sharing, sharing ideas, approaches and all without guile. Their enthusiasm for second hand items translates into smart choices and good ideas.

Do you have blogs that motivate you in respect of wiser choices and ways to make your money go further particularly when it comes to fashion and style?

25 comments:

  1. I think both Vix & Sharon's blogs are inspirational - I'm always impressed that they manage to find such wonderful things for such little money. Makes you realise that it's worth taking a bit more time when you're on the hunt for a new outfit.

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  2. Great choices - really appreciating your blog at the moment too. Great writing and arguments well put _ thank you. B

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  3. Hi my dear-a very big thank you for my mention in this post, its really is so much appreciated and like you, I also adore reading Vintage Vixen and Calamity Jems blogs for their charity shop and boot sale finds, these ladies are so tremendously inspirational and never cease to amaze me with their amazing and wonderful finds. For me, thrifting is such a way of life now even if I had access to large amounts of money I wouldn't spend in three or four figures for clothes as I enjoy the hobby and pursuit of finding what I like in this way. Seeking trends from what the catwalks show and then aiming to find a similar piece in the charity shop or boot sale is a good inexpensive way of shopping and now for me, an enjoyable lifestyle! x

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  4. Great post Kate I love Vix and Sharon Rose's blogs they are very inspirational, i will certainly be checking out your other recommendations!

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  5. Gee, thanks for the mention, Kate! I love Sharon Rose and Jem's blogs, too and shall definately be checking out Franca's.
    Like Sharon just said, even if I came into a shedload of cash I'd continue with my thrifty ways. xxx

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  6. What a great post. I love Vix and Jem's blogs but haven't read the others so shall definitely go and check them out.

    I was wondering if you were planning on writing anything in this series about buying better? You always feature such lovely higher end pieces on here but there's something within me that can't quite make the leap to spend more to buy real quality.

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  7. Alex - good question/point. I am going to give this a mention tomorrow. I have a strategy!

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  8. They're all an inspiration to me, as are you!

    *applause*

    Thank you all, ladies, for being so fabulous.

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  9. Miss Peelpants - you are too! xx

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  10. I have to admit, I'm getting tired of bloggers and youtubers that revolve around the amount of makeup, perfume and clothes they've bought this week. There's one (i won't mention any names) who started out great, but now their spending looks out of control! Which I find kind of offensive in this economic climate.

    I find myself drifting to fashion blogs like this one that involves some thought and have something more to offer than just "look at my new nail varnish".

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  11. I would definitely have to say that your blog, Sharon Rose, Pearls of Wisdom and Looking Fab... have been inspirational to me and have made me look at fashion and spending on fashion in a new way, I will definitely have to look at the other recommended blogs!

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  12. I am a great lover of them too.
    I am following you now, and have you in my bloroll.
    Un abrazo from Spain.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  13. Love all these ladies. I've always been a bargain hunter so don't necessarily need inspiration in that regard (though it is so much fun seeing what other people find), but I do enjoy just looking at pictures of the way other people put their outfits together. It isn't so much about going out and buying new (even if cheaply from a charity shop), but learning a new way to wear a scarf, or pairing items together you wouldn't have thought of, or winding a belt around a baggy jacket. All those little tips and tricks really help towards making the most of what you already have, and I couldn't pick any one blog as the nice thing is that everyone has such different styles that there is always plenty to choose from!

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  14. Penny Dreadful - that is so true. I choose these 4 on the basis of their content being so much about 'finds' and car boots/charity shops. I think everyone inspires me - I know you do although my favourite is still you being drunk on your 30th - soz xx

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  15. I'm going to try to find enough time to read all of your recommendations because I'm sure they are FAB !

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  16. Love hearing about different ways to fashion on a budget!

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  17. Oh, thanks for including me, such an honour to be there alongside these amazing ladies!

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  18. What a brilliant selection. Perfect for your theme this week and the countries theme going forward. Thank You. Xxxx

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  19. Indeed,eac and every one of these ladies is inspiraional in the art of style with imagination and not much cash!!
    :)

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  20. What a cool post. I always enjoy Sharon's blog. It inspires me what to look for while thrifting.

    Thanks so much for the note too.

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  21. Dear Kate, I read Vix, Sharon and Jem's blog all the time. I am so nosey I love to see what they find and am always inspired by them. It's great to see what they achieve without spending loads, I love it. I am off to check out Franca's blog now xx

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  22. What I love about your blogs and the ones you are introducing me to here is that I feel like the way that you do it is that less is more and not that I have to sacrifice by spending less. I have been thinking so much about what you said recently how when on a budget that one can't afford to buy clothes that aren't well made classics. That has really stuck with me and impacted how I am spending money on clothes. Thank you, Make do!
    xoxo

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  23. Oh boy, I am so out of it and behind that I can't keep up! I don't know about any of these blogs!

    :(

    I hope you and yours are well, Kate!

    ~enc/observationmode

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  24. I adore Sharon Rose, who along with you was one of the first blogs I found. I really wish my local Boot Fairs and Charity Shops had anything half decent in them! A few dreadful ebay purchases has put me off of buying second hand.

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  25. I love Franca, Jem and Vix and I'll have to check out some more recommendations. What a great post! I'm following you:)

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