Back to School Shopping: Fashion Must Have's

_"I like my money right where I can see it--hanging in my closet."_-Carrie Bradshaw in _Sex and the City_ Whether you spent your summer serving fries, doing Starbucks-runs for bossy corporate superiors, or (in a perfect world) working passionately and profitably at your dream job, hopefully you've amassed at least a modest savings, and undoubtedly you're in the mood to treat yourself to a little end-of-summer pampering! Aptly timed is the arrival of Back-to-School Shopping season--okay, so it's as commercially-fabricated an event as Valentine's Day, and intended mostly for the cartoon-backpack-toting set...but who cares? *Indulge Wisely, and Indulge With No Regrets* It's not that I'm advocating _complete_ abandon of financial sense, but I do believe that a little hard-earned indulgence goes a long way. So go ahead, pick your poison--Music? Dining? Fashion? Aaah, yes, Fashion--and treat yourself _sensibly_. Otherwise, you'll spend September crying into your fabulous new Balenciaga bag, scouring its buttery-suede depths in vain for that stack of paychecks that once seemed so endless. *You CAN Revamp Your Wardrobe Without Breaking the Bank!* When rationing out your available funds, keep this rule in mind: Buy the _best_ quality you can with what you can _afford_ to spend. That means that _one_ well-made, perfectly-flattering, classic black dress is a superior investment to _ten_ cheap, ill-fitting, trendy items that you'll dump after one season. When on a budget (and who isn't?), outlet and consignment stores are a great place to look for high-grade buys with discount pricetags. Sorting through miles of haphazard racks can be a treasure-hunt to some and torture to others; fortunately, with online discount sites like Bluefly.com, stylish, quality items at a fraction of retail costs are just a hop, step, and click away! The following are my top 6 picks for fall: functional, stylish pieces that will stretch your hard-earned savings to the max. *1) The Tote* !http://www.bluefly.com/media/images/site/shims/shim.gif! $50.95 (You Save 40%) At 15x15 inches, this baby has room for your laptop, textbooks, and probably a chihuahua. Padded canvas siding cushions your valuables in, and a black sateen interior adds just the right amount of luxe. *2) The Blazer* JOIE wine stretch cotton 3-button 'Flame' blazer !http://bluefly.speedera.net/is.bluefly.com/mgen/Bluefly/prodImage.ms?productCode=1060794&width=300&height=300! $109.00 (You Save 40%) For the onset of cooler evenings, this soft-yet-structured piece is light enough to keep you covered without making you sweat. *3) Flats* ==
Donald Pliner Sportique gold leather 'Famous' maryjane flats
Sport-i-Que by Donald J. Pliner gives a new meaning to 'happy feet'.== $72.00 (You Save 40%) It may still be 89 degrees outside, but your shower-shoes shouldn't double as going-out footwear. Flats offer both comfort and style; the metallic color of this pair only adds to their versatility. *4) Sweatpants* VINCE white terrycloth low-waist flares !http://bluefly.speedera.net/is.bluefly.com/mgen/Bluefly/prodImage.ms?productCode=1038996&width=157&height=188! $39.99 (You Save 60%) Because, really, who are we kidding? Sometimes the same pair of sweatpants will take you from bed to class to dinner to the gym. Find a pair that's in a neutral color (white is versatile, but also risky) and that's stretchy enough to fend off that oh-so-sexy saggy-bum look. *5) Denim Skirt* ==
Marc by Marc Jacobs distressed denim jean skirt with novelty stud and patch details
How can the classic jean skirt get any better? Why, when it's a Marc by Marc Jacobs design of course. Things just got down right splendid!== $182.00 (You Save 54%) Enjoy the lingering summer heat while you can in a sweet denim skirt that fits like a dream. *6) Date Dress* ==
BCBGirls pink jersey braided dress
Never has fun been defined so well thanks to delightful designs from BCBGirls.== $64.95 (You Save 41%) You've invested in 5 quality, chic-yet-practical pieces. Yet just as every balanced meal is only perfectly complete with a sweet treat at its close, it's now time for you to pick out something frivolous, fun, and just for You! _My_ personal favorite "dessert" item is the "date dress," a sweet piece that's equally at home in a coffee shop or a cocktail lounge. For you, it might be a sassy tee, obscenely large sunglasses, or a pair of deadly-hot heels. Go ahead, enjoy!! Great Shopping Sites: Bluefly.com ShopBop Kitson delicious | digg | technorati
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