methodology: shopping on a budget.

By now, I think most of us are aware of the benefits of the high/low mix. You know the drill – certain items are worth the splurge, and will serve as the backbone of your wardrobe for years to come, while others are meant to be purchased on the cheap. So, a Chanel bag is an investment you will have for the rest of your life – but do you really need a t-shirt that costs over $200? Of course you don’t!

This is by no means anything new, but I think it can be hard to decipher which items merit a substantial purchase and which pieces are things we could stand to save a penny or two on. Because the holiday season has quickly come upon us and I know we could all benefit from a party dress {or three} on the cheap, let’s talk money-savers.

Basics are an easy argument here; they get washed, they get old, and you can throw them out and replace them when they get old without feeling guilty about it. There’s nothing worse than spending $50+ on a Theory t-shirt only for it to develop those tiny little holes after one trip through the washing machine. But – why buy a dress on the cheap, you wonder? Simple. We’ve all been there before:  You wear something to an event, like a wedding, get photographed in it a bajillion times, and suddenly your latest sequined Haute Hippie number feels as dated as an 80s prom getup. You’re over it. When you’re spending less than $30 on a dress, you can wear it once and not feel bad about it. That’s what it was designed for. The same goes for the anything and everything trendy – you can have your fun with it all in the here and now, and when it’s over, it’s over. No guilt, and no looking back. Onto the next.

I have a few sources that I typically like to start with when I’m looking for a particular item or trend for less. The first stop? Forever 21.

If the idea of this place wigs you out, you’re not alone. I know that walking in to this crazy store can be a bit overwhelming. It’s always huge, crowded, and filled with what appears to be a bunch of junk. The thing I’ve learned about Forever is that hidden amongst all of that junk, there are always hidden gems. Always. A very good friend of mine is the one who we can thank for this lesson:  You’ve got to try things on. Have a bit of an imagination; some things don’t look so great on the hanger – but once they’re on, you’d be surprised. Ever since I’ve opened my mind up to this place, I swear I have found so many great items that *no one* ever believes I bought at Forever for less than the cost of a pedicure.

Another thing I’ve learned along the way? Shop online. You don’t have to deal with the crowds, and you can easily stock up on things that don’t require trying on like t-shirts and jewelry. I sometimes even nab pieces that really should be tried on, and they usually fit; if not, you can easily return them to your nearest store.

Things I like to buy from Forever 21:  basics like t-shirts, tanks, and leggings; dresses; tons of crazy costume jewelry; super-trendy pieces like metallic minis and sequined shorts.

ASOS has fast become my absolute favorite source for both basics and dresses for events. I have purchased several dresses for weddings (one being an asymmetrical velvet black one-shoulder dress, and another being a taupe one-shoulder long gown) for under $100 – some even under $75! I have heard ASOS be referred to as the British version of Forever 21, but I find the quality to be far-superior. They recently launched their US site, featuring free shipping and free returns, which is another reason I’m such a big fan.

Things I like to buy from ASOS:  basics like t-shirts, tanks, and leggings; party dresses like this black feather-sleeved minidress; accessories, including both shoes and handbags.

Zara would likely be my #1 choice when it comes to trends on the cheap, if only they had an online component. I have found some of my favorite pieces from Zara – I particularly love getting jackets and blazers there, as well as shoes, tops…basically everything. I typically shy away from buying things requiring a great fit – like pants, jeans, or other bottoms – from Forever 21, but you can definitely count on those at Zara. My favorite pair of black pants ever is from Zara, and of course, fit is also important when it comes to jackets. Though slightly more expensive than Forever, it’s for good reason – everything is of higher quality.

Online Sale Sites like Gilt Groupe, Shop It To Me, and Shopping Notes

If you don’t know about Gilt Groupe already, perhaps I shouldn’t tell you about it. If you’re someone who always get carried away when you know you’re getting a deal – like me – then this is quite a dangerous site. It’s basically a sample sale of designer duds happening everyday at noon. If you aren’t already a member and think you can handle the daily temptation, you can score an invite here.

Shop It To Me, on the other hand, is just a congregation of all sales currently going on throughout the web. You choose your favorite designers and/or sites, let them know your sizes, and they send you a daily email with items – all on sale – that match your criteria.

Shopping Notes is where you go when you’ve found the perfect item with the not-so-perfect price tag. You save the item to this site, and they notify you the moment it goes on sale. It’s kind of a no-brainer.

Other go-to sources include: American Apparel for all things t-shirt/tank/simple cotton dress-related, Topshop for more on-trend pieces like party dresses and accessories, Urban Outfitters for more dresses and tops, Gap for t-shirts {especially the super-soft ones from their GapBody line} and accessories like sequin totes and ballet flats, J. Crew for jewelry – though it’s not always on the cheap side,  Old Navy for things like winter coats and cardigans, BB Dakota for items like leather jackets at a much lower price-point, Madewell for basics like t-shirts and cardigans, Target and Wal-Mart for certain items like sweatpants {just got a great pair of baggy sweats in the boys’ department at Target} and love the Norma Kamali line at Wal-Mart, and of course H&M {if you’re lucky enough to have one near you, as they very-unfortunately do not have an online component} for anything and everything.

Shoe sources: ALDO is literally my obsession when it comes to shoes on the cheap – it’s the first place I look when I’m looking for a new trend or style, Baker’s comes in at a close second – my favorite YSL look-a-likes come from there, Steve Madden for basic pumps {and I especially like the Steven brand also carried on the site}, Zappos for when you need something *super* quick – literally, your shoes will be delivered the next day, and Jessica Simpson for great platforms and boots.

Any other favorite ways to save that I’ve missed? I’d love to know!