Stylish fashion can be affordable

Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - 11:47 PM

After becoming a college student, my priorities drastically changed.

Instead of saving up my spare change in hopes of purchasing a new pair of Michael Kors pumps, what little leftover money I have currently goes toward paying for schoolbooks. Instead of staying up at night thinking about the new BCBG Girl dress I want to buy, it is the nightmarish thought of all the debt I have accumulated due to student loans that keeps me from dozing.

enjolie_web I may be a poor college student, but there is one thing that I refuse to let the recession and my broke-as-a-joke state affect: my sense of fashion, and you shouldn’t either.

Budget-friendly stores, such as Target, Forever 21, Top Shop, H&M and Savers allow even the most monetarily challenged to be fashion forward.

The trends this season are less about creation and more about reinventing and updating old trends. For example, flannel is back and bigger than ever. Although baggy, oversized flannel shirts paired with loose fitted, light washed ripped jeans were very prominent in the grunge scene circa 1994, this time the trend is all about long, fitted flannel tops over dark-washed skinny jeans or leggings. Think less Kurt Cobain and more Mary-Kate Olsen.

Forever 21 has a wide selection of plaid and flannel tops with prices ranging from $15.80 to $24.90. An even more thrifty option is to purchase a men’s flannel shirt from a secondhand store such as Savers. To make sure the shirt does not look like your grandma’s nightgown, go down one size. Add a thick, black leather belt with a bold buckle to accentuate the waist and you have yourself a new look for under $10.

The next trend to crawl straight out of the ’90s and onto the New York Fashion Week runways is small floral print. Unlike the large, color block floral print that was seen on long, bohemian style tunics last summer, these floral prints are very small, delicate and normally set behind a dark blue or black chiffon. The best way to integrate this floral trend into your wardrobe is by wearing one piece of clothing that features florals while keeping the rest of the outfit neutral. Pairing two pieces of floral together, such as a skirt and top, will only result in looking like a hippie on the way to a Creedence Clearwater Revival concert.

Floral prints are not just for summer months of the year. Adding a black or navy blue boyfriend blazer to a floral dress is a great way to make the outfit fall ready. Pair it with some black opaque tights and black ankle boots and you have yourself a fabulous outfit that even Chloe Sevigny would envy. Target has an array of floral print dresses priced from $15 to $26.

Last but not least is the aforementioned boyfriend blazer. Unlike the traditional blazer that hits at the waist and is fitted, the boyfriend blazer is meant to fit loosely and long, hitting below the hips. This style is a must-have basic piece because it can be worn with virtually any outfit and can be dressed up or down. As previously mentioned, the boyfriend blazer wonderfully accents a floral dress, or any dress for that matter. To dress down the blazer, pair it with a vintage concert T-shirt, a pair of skinny jeans and Chucks or a pair of ballet flats. An affordable black boyfriend blazer can be found at Wet Seal for just $22.50.

With these tips in tow, you too, my fellow broke friends, can look, and more importantly, feel fabulous.

Enjolie Esteve can be reached at arts-entertainment@nevadasagebrush.com.