gap clothes 300x259 I saved $90.38 on back to school shopping

thinkretail / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

A while back I wrote about saving money by using a retail credit card with perks. This time I saved $90.38 on back to school shopping! I headed to outlets just outside L.A. with my high-school-bound sister and bought several clothing items she can combine with her existing wardrobe in September.

Outlet stores are great for saving money on clothes. Below I’ll share tips for how we got the most out of our outlet shopping experience. But first, let me share what we bought and the cost breakdown. We shopped at the GAP because I had a $10 off reward sent to me. We bought items that are not so trendy and took advantage of big outlet discounts.

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color blocking Back to school 2011: saving money on fashion trends

Burrs & Berries / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

Kids want to look good at school; parents surveyed by the National Retail Federation are committed to “spend where you need to, save where you can.” Here is how to meet both needs by saving money on back to school fashion. So what are this year’s fashion trends?

Tip: We post back to school deals at Staples, Office Depot, Office Max, and more every Thursday.

  • Color-blocking- This trend is huge! You may have already seen someone giving it a try by wearing bold colors at the same time, above. If done right, it looks chic, but it can quickly go south. The trick is to stay within the color family. Try a bold pink dress with a bright red cardigan and black patent leather flats. The good thing about this trend is that (more…)

preppy 200x300 Get the preppy look on a budget

gabrielsaldana / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

The preppy look is back this season, among other fashion trends. Gals and guys are sporting their polo shirts, pressed khakis and sweater vests. The look that traditionally screams “expensive!” does not have to cost you a whole lot. Here’s how to get the look on a budget.

Start by asking if older siblings, parents or grandparent might have clothes and accessories in their closets that fit the fad – and won’t cost you a dime. Perhaps you can help them clean ot their closets in the process or give new glory to under appreciated clothes. If you plan to tailor the clothes to fit, make sure your relative is giving it to you. Don’t modify a loaner.

Check the sale racks at preppy stores like Lacoste, Ralph Lauren, J.Crew, Nautica or plunder your local thrift stores. If you’d rather not wait, try stores that sell similar clothes and accessories for a fraction of the cost. Here is where I would shop: (more…)

back to school fashion 300x297 Back to school 2010 fashion trends

M. Hall/The Recessionista Blog

Lacking a reliable fashion sense, I asked Mary of The Recessionista Blog where she’s back to school shopping, what the biggest deals are, and how parents are stretching their dollars at thrift stores.

How is the economy affecting back to school shopping? There are people in this economy doing more back to school shopping at Goodwill and the Salvation Army. There are a lot of items that are new with tags on them from the department store. I saw good sneakers in the box, good jeans, tops.

How do you talk to kids, who are often very brand conscious, about shopping at second hand stores? I didn’t see (more…)

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