Moving on up.....

I have not written in awhile because I have started writing for a blog called the Examiner, specifically for the Manchester, NH version of the blog. I am the Manchester Budget Fashion Examiner and I have been writing for the past couple weeks about stuff similiar to this blog: cheap clothes, good fashion and budget style. Check it out here.

Thank you so much to all my Working Girl fans. It has been so much fun writing for you.

Love,

The Working Girl

I'm Crazy For...

Aldo's sale section on their website! Even though some of their styles can lean towards the trashy side, Aldo makes some great classic shoes with new twists. The sale section of their website is chockfull of amazing bargains which you would never be able to find in their stores on a regular basis. They add new shoes to the sale bin all the time so check often if you are an Aldo-fan. 

                                     

Also: If you sign up on their mailing list, you get super secret codes to access the clearance vault. 

Weekly List

Summertime is kind of like New Years in the sense that you try to set a lot of goals for yourself. Therefore, summer is about relaxing, tanning and accomplishing. Here are my must-do summer goals:

1 ) Run a 5-mile race

2 ) Wear sunscreen religiously

3 ) No new clothes until a job is in sight

4 ) Check out books from the library every week and try to finish at least three of them

5 ) Master the self-mani/pedi

6 ) Get a credit card (only after doing serious amounts of research)

Two Seconds to Cool

Don't let bummy weather ruin your summer. Here is my instant equation to fix summertime-yet-cold-weather blues.

cotton bomber jacket + tshirt dress + espadrilles

=

happy all summer long

Exercise for Free!

Gym memberships, depending on where you live, can be a super pricey monthly expense. And during this recession of ours, sometimes you may discover that things you once assumed were necessities are actually luxuries. I can just picture Suze Orman yelling at some poor girl "You don't need the gym! Running outside is free!" But not all of us looove to run outside, especially if where you live is super hot or super cold. Luckily, the world has Exercise TV. If you have On-Demand, Exercise TV is built into your TV programming for free. If you do not, check out the free exercise videos on their website.

In addition, as a girl who works out in her living room, I recommend buying a set of hand weights, around 5-10 lbs, to supplement your workouts. These weights can be used to add weight to sit-ups and crunches and to strengthen your upper body to get those oh-so-incredible-Michelle Obama arms.

I'm Crazy For...

Vintage cummerbunds! Trust me on this one. I know they are for men and are standards at formal events like weddings and proms, but their tapered shape and mid-waist location makes them the perfect accessory for a boring white tee shirt. Think loose white tee, dark skinny jeans, heels and beaded cummerbund around your natural waist. To find one, look with the belts and ties in secondhand stores. This is where I have had the most luck in the past. In addition, here is one I found on ebay to give everyone a visual of what I am talking about. 

 

                                   

Celeb Style Under $60

During the summer, gossip magazines become absolutely stuffed with pictures of celebrities on the beach. And to be honest, I don't usually feel that jealous of them, even though I would love to spend my whole summer in Hawaii. They just look so awkward and stiff at the beach, like they are sucking in every inch of their body and trying to stand up really really tall. Everything is planned, from the sunglasses to the color on their toe nails. That's why I was so happy to come across this picture of Beyonce at the beach. She looks totally chill and relaxed, like a good beach day should feel like. And I am absolutely obsessed with her chill dude-esque beach attire. Here is my version of the outfit for under $60:

easy, breezy button-up

ray-ban sunglasses (they come in a bunch of fun colors)

sexy bikini (option one or two) 

Don't Waste Your Money!

Tonight is the season final of the Real Housewives of New Jersey, a show that I have become obsessed with. It's completely trashy and totally cheesy, which is exactly why you should watch it. So to honor the New Jersey gals as they celebrate the end of their first season, I would like to use them as examples of what not to waste your money on. These women have a lot of money and somehow they still look super cheap all the time.

Don't buy silk-esque bright printed tops. They look super cheap. End of story. You can find the same ones at high end stores as in TJMaxx. It doesn't matter, they look terrible. Same goes for dresses in the same pattern/material scheme.

Don't wear thick metallic jewelry. The chain-link necklaces and bracelets, the thick rop-like chains, etc etc look tacky. Simple, elegant jewelry is better for you and your wallet.

Don't wear flip-flops everywhere. I don't care if they are two inches high and covered with Swarovski crystals. Casual footwear should be simple and clean and streamlined. Think thin-straped leather flat sandals. Not hot pink flip-flops with kissy lips on them.

Weekly List

As a fashionista, I believe that fashion has a big impact on how people view you and, therefore, how you view yourself. As a reccessionista fashionista, I think this is more important than ever. In my search for a job, one of the biggest confidence boosts I got was my graduation gift from my parents: a grown-up working woman's wardrobe. Now I can actually visualize myself with a successful career. So if you are in the same job hunt, here are my picks for the modern working girl's wardrobe.

1) A silk shell ( i love the dark buttons )

2) A shift dress in a bright color

3) A sweater in a neutral color but fun, unexpected shape

4) A tulip skirt

5) A leather watch

6) Tiffany's-esque knotted studs

Rain Rain Go Away

Ok so I know that the universe's official date for the beginning of summer is June 21st, but that doesn't mean that we should be getting days after days of rain, right? If you are in a part of the country where there is sunshine, I am super jealous. A couple weeks ago, I was sweaty and tan, ready to enjoy a summer of full-skirted dresses, technicolor sunglasses and easy living. But the only things I have been accessorizing with lately are sweatshirts and steaming cups of tea. 

To keep busy as we wait for some vitamin-D filled rays of joy, here are some fun and cheap ways to enjoy rainy days.

1) Catch up on seasons past of your favorite shows. Go to your local library and see if they have past seasons of your favorite TV shows. If they don't have it on location, always remember to check the inter-library system, which usually only takes a couple days. Some of my favorites are Sex and the City, Project Runway, Entourage and Mad Men.

2) Take a "fancy" shower. I always want to take long, steamy showers on chilly rainy days. Make it special by using up a toiletry you have been saving, like French soaps your aunt gave you for your birthday or a sample of an expensive conditioner you got in a package from Sephora. So instead of saving it for a spontaneous weekend trip, indulge yourself for free! 

3) Find inspiration. Sometimes the easiest way to get a new wardrobe is to put yourself in a different style direction. Gather up all the magazines you have lying around and look through each one for pictures or ideas that inspire you. It can be literal, like a new way to wear khakis, or it can be a picture from one of the crazy high fashion shoots in Elle or Vogue. Pick out your favorites at the end and tape them up around your mirror. You'll look at them every time you get dressed, changing all the blahs to tah-dahs! in your daily routine. 

Cheap Alternative

Vera Wang, the uber-feminine designer extraordinaire, started a less-expensive line of clothing about two years ago called Simply Vera Wang, available only at Kohls stores. And everything in the line is currently 20-30% off on the website. While most of the clothes are, may I dare say, mom-ish, there are some really great pieces worth checking out. I think all of this stuff would look great over dark skinny jeans or as additions to a working girl's work wardrobe. Here are some of my favorites.

(from top $27.99, 29.00, 29.00)

Don't Waste Your Money!

An easy way to waste your money is to buy super fancy toiletries that claim to do things that toiletries aren't really made to do. For instance, take anti-cellulite creams and lotions. They don't work! There is no scientific proof that rubbing in a lotion on the surface of your skin helps to get rid of the cellulite that's underneath it. 

It's so tempting to go into a store and get carried away by the packing and the descriptions on bottles of creams, lotions and hair products. Of course everything looks great! That's because there are rooms full of people thinking up new ways to convince you that you need their product. But always remember that the only person who has control over your money is you. If you want beautiful, healthy skin, the $2 stuff from Vaseline works wonders. If you want to get rid of your cellulite, get some cardio in 3-4 times a week, drink lots of water and keep your fat intake down. Creams are a waste of your time and money. 

Working Girl Idol

Anna Wintour, the infamous cold bitch editor of Vogue, is hands down one of the most awesome people alive today. Besides having the best fashion palate in the world, she is ruthless, driven and incredibly creative. I think she has done a great job balancing the current economic realities and the timeless fantasy of fashion over the last year in the issues of Vogue.

Anna was interviewed by Morley Safer in a 60 Minutes episode that aired on May 17th but here is the youtube video just in case you missed it. The best part about the interview is the men singing her praises, clearly because they are afraid of her. God I'm obsessed with her. 

                                                

D.I.Y.

Trying on shorts in the dressing room is probably the only bad part about warm weather. Seeing your thighs in full light for the first time in months can be quite intense and overwhelming. But buying shorts can be avoided with the easiest D.I.Y. idea in the history of working girls : turn your old jeans into cut-off shorts! This is perfect for jeans with rips in the knees that still fit you like a glove, therefore taking away the stress of searching for shorts that fit you and feel comfortable. 

To Do :

1) fold jeans sideways (so the pleat is in the middle of the pant)

2) use sharp scissors (fabric scissors are perfect if you happen to have them) to cut straight across. cut one leg at a time, keeping a super steady hand. make sure they are two inches longer then you want so you can fold over.

3) try shorts on. take them off and make them shorter if you want. if not, fold up edge of jeans and use straight pins to hold the fold in place. just mark the sides and finish pinning the edges after taking the shorts off.

4) hand stitch the edges or run a sewing machine straight around the middle of the fold. if the jeans are a lighter wash, use light thread. if dark jeans, use dark thread, like navy blue. 

Weekly List

Inspired by my baby sister's successful trip to Jcrew, here are my selections for casual summer essentials.

1 ) a cotton high-waisted skirt with pockets

2 ) racerback tanks (in super fun bright colors)

3 ) silk-esque shorts

4 ) tiny gold animal stud earrings

5 ) smocked floral print tops

I'm Crazy For....

Hautelook.com! Hautelook works kind of like ebay, they sell designer stuff for a certain amount of time, usually two days, at really really cheap prices. You have to sign up on their website and then you recieve a confirmation email. You receive daily emails listing the new designers for the day. For example, today's discounted selection included Smashbox Comestics, Rock & Republic jeans and Michael Kors sunglasses. Check it out here.

The tassel's worth the hassel!

I have taken the last few days off but thats only because I graduated from college! Wahoo! I am now a full-time working girl. Therefore I will be spending the summer looking for a long-term job, planning my move to New York City, working my butt off and, of course, shopping. Life is for living not waiting around! I'm going to grab life by its price-tag covered horns and enjoy every minute of it.

So look forward to a summer of good deals and great style!

Fashion Food for Thought

Today I was in the dressing room at a random store and overheard a group of high school girls discussing their purchases. It was a pretty standard "that looks cute!" convo but what caught my attention was the repeated use of the phrase "life purchase." One girl was trying to convince her friend that a pair of leggings were "life purchases" while another girl whined about how jewelry is always a "life purchase" but that she never bought anything she really liked. At first I was annoyed by the girls and the idea that anything you buy in high school, especially at the mall, could be a "life purchase."

But then I realized that I still have things that I bought in high school. Most are things that don't expire, like tank tops and sweat pants, but one special thing I still have is this striped grey-ish wool jacket from Urban Outfitters. There was no price tag on it so the hurried sales person just rang it up as $10, even though it wasn't on sale or anything. It has lasted me thru wide flare jeans, corduroys, leggings and skinny jeans and will now join me in my pursuit of a grown-up woman's wardrobe. Definitely a worthwhile life purchase.

Everyone Should Have...

A navy blazer. And I mean boys and girls alike. You don't have to invest in a really expensive one, just one with a good fit. It is important to check the tag and find a jacket that isn't 100% cotton. Instead, look for a cotton blend with rayon or polyester. Cotton can get wrinkled and pull after too many washes. 

A navy blazer can be the perfect piece to help you make the transition from hoodies to two piece suits. For girls, throw a navy blazer over a tee + jeans, day and night dresses, patterned blouses, tanks + shorts, etc. For guys, make your gfs proud with a navy blazer over button-downs, tees, hoodies, etc. 

            

                                               

(Girls Blazer, Guys Blazer) 

Tracy Feith at Target!

Another First-Lady-favorite made famous, Tracy Feith, now has a cheaper line available through Target's Go International line. In case you didn't already know, for the past couple years Target has been working with high-end designers to bring lines with lower-end costs to their stores. Tracy Feith became a household name after Michelle Obama wore his black and purple patterned creation to the National Prayer Service in January. Here are some of my favorites from the line.

see the rest here.

Make the most of your...

Facewash! Use the following steps to get the most out of any facewash, no matter the price. 

1) Open up your pores. Run a washcloth under warm water and place over your face for a minute. The hot water will open up your pores so you can really get in there and clean 'em out.

2) Squeeze a nickel sized amount of wash onto your fingers. Rub into skin in small circle motions, working your way up from the bottom of your face to the top. Take your time and really get into each pore. 

3) Rinse off really well. Gunky residue that stays on your face can trap more oil and dirt. 

4) When you are almost done rinsing off your face, turn the faucet to cool water. Your warm, squeaky clean pores need to closed back up again and the cold water pulls them tight. 

I'm not a dermatologist, but I love the following face washes:

                                          

Olay Complete Lathering Cleanser                         Clean & Clear Daily Pore Cleanser

Don't forget to write your thank you cards!

My parents were never big on rules, but one thing they always enforced was the writing of thank you cards after every Christmas and birthday. My mom would go out of her way to purchase thank you cards and drop them with satisfaction into the surprised laps of her TV-watching daughters. And alas, its just more evidence that the things our mothers nag us about are actually worthwhile. Writing thank you cards is polite and sophisticated. Here are some inexpensive options.

  etsy.com

                       target.com

  kate's paperie 

Decorating Ideas

When we were little, birthday parties were all about extravaganza. There could never be too many balloons, streamers, confetti, clowns or pony rides. To keep birthday party decorating stylish and affordable, here are some ideas for throwing a fun party for any working girl.

Set the mood : Clean up the space (whether an apartment or home) really well. A super neat living room or dining room can feel special when de-cluttered. Place fat basic white candles on cute dessert plates or little white tea lights inside tall glasses for lighting. 

Pictures of the birthday girl or boy : Borrow digital cameras or go on facebook and put together a bunch of candid shots of the person being celebrated. Don't put up anything mean or super embarrassing (ie something taken while simultaneously holding back hair over a toilet would not be nice). Have them sent to be printed online through Walmart or CVS and place photos around the party space. Paste onto half sheets of colored paper if there is a specific color scheme for the party. 

Classic Ballon and Streamers : Ok, a few balloons and streamers can be super fun and festive. Pick good color combinations, like white balloons with teal streamers. Hang balloons from light fixtures or corners of the rooms and connect with streamers. Don't go crazy! Or for a balloon/streamer alternative, I really love these tissue paper pom-poms from Martha Stewart. 

Sweet but Cheap Birthday Gifts

As any good stylish working girl, I am a magazine junkie. And something that has always irked me about magazines are the super expensive gift suggestions, which are especially popular around the holiday season. Birthday gifts do not have to be a cardboard box but they shouldn't have to cost hundreds of dollars either. Of course I would love to dish out Fendi baguettes and Cartier watches to my friends to celebrate their twenty-somethings. They deserve only the best. But until I become a millionaire, here are some thoughtful yet inexpensive gift ideas.

Silk house slippers from Pearl River

Subscription to Netflix (starts at $8.99/month)

Cute handmade jewelry from Etsy.com

Magazine subscription for a year

Color Play Palette (eyes, lips and face) from Sephora

                         

Birthdays = Free Stuff

Your friends and family aren't the only people who want to celebrate your b-day. Many stores and businesses offer free stuff or discounts simply because it is the anniversary of your birth. Often you have to be on the mailing list or have a club card with the business, so check out what birthday deals come with all those annoying plastic things in your wallet and on your keys and you could end up with some fun free stuff. 

Here are some good birthday deals (plus where you can sign up):

Victoria's Secret will send you a coupon for a pair of free undies during your birthday month. 

Krispy Kreme will give you a free box of half of dozen donuts & a cup of joe. 

Aveda will send you a perfume or body care product blended with the scent of your choice.

You can rent a movie for free at Hollywood Video.

Sephora will send you trio of lip gloss samples. 

Weekly List

It's my birthday tomorrow (Working Girl shout-out to who can guess how old I am) and so I have decided to have a theme week all about birthdays. In the individual-centered American culture, birthdays can involve a lot of planning, emotions and, of course, money. But they are also celebrations of people we love and that's what's important, right?

And because its my birthday, here's my wish list if money was just frosting on cake.

Phillip Lam mini dress

Stella McCartney navy blazer

(to go with dress)

Swedish Hasbeens

Cashmere sweater

Nars Body Glow

bootcut AG Jeans

a white leather suitcase

new running shoes

I'm Crazy For....

Amazon.com! It is probably the most misused and most underrated website out there. While most folks may think Amazon just sells books, they also offer a HUGE selection of discounted clothes, bags and shoes. Amazon.com is kind of like Filene's Basement: you have to wade through a lot of uglyyy stuff but in the end, you always find unexpected treasures at great prices. Here are some fun finds.

(from top to bottom: $13.40, $32.95, $20.70)

Celeb Style for Under $60!

Using super-cute LA summer style queen Rachel Bilson as inspiration, here are some dress & bag combos for summer, all under $60.

 

- simple black tee shirt dress + bright blue canvas tote

- safari-inspired khaki shirt dress + bright multicolored hobo

- ruffled cotton red dress + ethnic-inspired colorful canvas tote 

Cheap Alternative

American Apparel makes some of the best tees in the business. They are super soft, perfectly cut and go with EVERYTHING. But not every working girl can afford to spend $25+ on a tee shirt, as pricelessly perfect as it may seem. Thank god Forever 21 offers a similar version at the reasonable price of $5.50. Now you can literally buy one in every color.

I'm Crazy For....

My yellow slip-on sneakers from Kmart! I bought them on a whim but I have ended wearing up them all the time because they are super comfy and perfectly adorable. And they were only $4.99. They go with anything, skinny jeans, casual dresses, leggings, etc etc. 

Fashion Food for Thought

As a baby of the eighties, I'm finding myself regressing back to the laid-back feminine style of that decade. Thanks to drunken dances and lazy Halloween costumes, the eighties have gained an undeserving bad fashion rep and I think the style of our mothers as 20-somethings should get a second look.

Inspiration :

Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally

Think :

- blazers in muted colors like navy, grey and tan
- faded skinny jeans
- simple flats
- tapered trousers
- knee-length strappy cotton dresses
- relaxed, boyish tops

Weekly List

Here's some fun and free info available on my favorites sites:

1) A Warm-Weather Checklist : realsimple.com

2) 2009 Accessory Report : style.com

3) Five-Minute Makeovers : goop.com

4) The Ultimate Fish Tacos : foodnetwork.com

5) Star Trek Movie Review : nytimes.com

Best Drugstore Beauty Buys

When it comes to beauty products for a twenty-something girl, I don't really buy that whole worth the investment thing. We are young and have beautiful, healthy skin and there is nothing we need that we can't find at our local drugstore or Target, etc.

Here are my essential drugstore beauty buys - all for under $10:

1) Sunscreen is an absolute must. It moisturizes and protects at the same time so there is no reason anyone should skip it. Try Aveeno Active Naturals Continuous Protection




2) I love Covergirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara. Love. It seems to only get better with time as I am left with perfectly fluffy and luscious lashes at the end of everyday. When I was in Mexico for a few months, my mother sent me this in a care package and I was the happiest person on the planet. And its only $8.50!3) A good lip balm is 50% quality and 50% packaging. Constant reapplying means constant exposure and a chic lip balm looks good and feels good. My personal favorite is Nivea Lip Care, which recently went from being available anywhere-but-the-states and was re-released with new packaging for American consumers. And thank god! The blue and white packaging is the perfect blend of American classic and Parisian glamour.

Even Working Girls Travel!

Last week I went down to Miami with a group of friends. It was awesome; the food was great, the sun was warm, the beach was heavenly and most importantly, it was inexpensive! We all split the cost of renting a house (with a pool) and drove down together.

Here are some easy ways to save money before and during your next trip:

1) Purchase all your toiletries beforehand. A big money-waster can be that first trip to the store once you reach your destination. You're tired and excited to be on vacation and it becomes super easy to justify filling your basket full of snacks, magazines, new make-up, lotions, perfume, new sunglasses, etc etc. This can be avoided so easily with a thought-out trip to your local drugstore or Target before the vacation. Then when you reach your destination, the first thing you will have to do is simply relax!

2) Borrow magazines from a friend. Any working girl is bound to fly through a pile of magazines on the beach. And a pile of magazines can easily add up to $25+. Simply asking around from friends for magazines is easy, cheap and good old-fashioned green fun. And ending up with six back issues of Cosmo will be pretty nice considering you haven't had the time to read them in the first place.

3) Use a library! This is a serious classic. Borrowing books from your library is essential for cheap traveling. Do not waste money on books you will never read again. Beach reads are not investment pieces that you put on display in your living room for people to think you are really smart. They are quick, sexy reads for time in the sun. Some beach recommendations are anything by Candance Bushnell, David Sedaris and Anita Shreve.

4) Utilize all your non-season specific basics. Don't automatically assume that you need to run out and buy a completely new wardrobe if you are going on vacation. Take a second look at stuff that you already have and you will realize that half your travel clothes are already there. Basics can include: leggings, soft tees, ballet flats, lightweight jackets, cotton or silk blouses, bright-colored dresses, long-strand necklaces, stacks of lightweight bangles, etc etc etc. Just because it is winter where you are doesn't mean all your clothes are made of wool. Picture them in a different climate and ta-dah! - your sexy vacation wardrobe is already taken care of.

5) Make a basic budget. I know this may seem annoying and anti-vacation, but making a simple outline of what you plan on spending can make in-the-moment decisions easier to maneuver. Start with a money limit for the whole trip, say $300. Then jot down things you will probably spend money on: food, alcohol, shopping, etc etc. and write down how much you would like to allot to each area. Then you will have an idea of what you should be spending during your trip.

And have fun! Every working girl deserves a break and vacations do not have to be a big money headache. Planning ahead and sharing with friends can create guiltless and stress-free traveling.

Celeb Style for Under $60!

I love Lauren Conrad's style. I think she has a great sense of her body and her personality and her style reflects that. In a big messy world of over-doing it, Lauren looks healthy, energized and naturally beautiful. Here is L.C. in a great look for spring and my version of the same outfit for under $60!

blue striped tank top

dark straight leg jeans

flat brown flip-flops

black medicine bag

eighties sunglasses

The Weekly List

What's Good for Spring!

1. skinny jeans with zippers at the ankles

2. last summer's leather sandals

3. native-american inspired jewelry 

4. printed silk blouses 

5. cute kmart dresses 

     see for yourself  

6. canvas totes 

7. racerback cotton tanks

8. light-weight ponchos 

9. black leather messenger bag 

     see for yourself 

First One!

I am a full time student with a part time job. On a daily basis, I barely have time to think about anything besides homework, money and how stressed I am. In addition, I grew up in a very rural town in Southern New Hampshire and now go to school in the middle of Maine. But I want a great life. I love to shop and go to the gym and spend time with my friends.

This blog is for young women who work hard and still want to live a fabulous life. I believe that with the right resources, anything is possible in terms of lifestyle. This blog will be dedicated to finding the best websites, the best products, the best tips, etc for any young woman on a strict budget with a dream.