We are all saving our money these days, so trying to shop for clothes we really want can come at a high price.  It sucks; I know I’m right there saving my money like everyone else.  You see something you really want, but the budget you put yourself on just won’t allow you to have it.  Basically, you’re thinking, this economy better get better fast, because I need some major retail therapy and something fashionable to wear.  Well, there is a way to be fashionable on budget and still look like you spent a fortune.  So I did some searching and found some items I think you’ll love.

This first item can be found at New Look; it is a black and white striped godet top, priced at £20.  It has a scoop neck with button detailing; the stripes are wide in contrast and also this top has a back insert, which gives the top a flared look.  The long-line style gives it a playful look, pairing this with some jeans, awesome Metallic flats, priced at £16 and oversized sunglasses, priced at £10 you have a look that is easy and cheap to do, but still keeps you stylish at the same time.

The next top I saw can also be found at New Look, it is prawn cocktail in colour, very pretty.  This pearl shoulder top, priced at £12, has a scoop neck and back with pearlscent beads on the shoulders.  Pair this with some Acid Wash Jeggings, priced at £18 and some Suedette Peep Toe Booties, priced at £16 and you have an outfit your friends will die for.

The next look can be found at Miss Selfridge, it is a large floral cami with front functional placket, lace trim detail and floral print all over.  This top is priced at £22, pairing it with some semi-dark coloured jeans or black calf length leggings, priced at £12; you have a great Summer look at an affordable price.  Floral prints are big right now and one of my favourite looks for the Summer – you can’t go wrong with a great looking floral print.

Each one of these looks can be embellished with some accessories such as a cute scarf, a rocking belt, or a pretty necklace. If you don’t like these looks, you just don’t think there you then go for something that is. If the colors are too dull for your taste, then go for something bold and bright. If loud colors aren’t your style then go for some neutrals or darks, but whatever you choose, make sure you stay true to yourself, that’s the most important thing. But, remember you can still be fashionable even in this horrible economy; you just have to search around for what you like. Being trendy and up-to-date on the latest fashions, doesn’t mean you have to go broke doing it.

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Go nude… and blush!

With Summer finally here (we’ve been waiting aaages!) it’s time to say hello again to… culottes!  Yep, that’s right, they’re back and I couldn’t be happier!  Topshop, Oasis and River Island have all been freshly delivered with the cute shorts but Penneys have done it again and caught my attention first.  These cute salmon pink culottes with black polka dots are only €11 from the pocket friendly store.  I’ll be wearing mine with a little black crop top and pumps!

The hat is also from Penneys and is an unbelievable €4.  A safer bet if you are not a sequin headpiece kinda gal.

Continuing to embrace neutrals I’ve paired them with this blush pink top.  It’s from Topshop and is priced at €58.  It has a zipper back and victorian style sleeves.  Yes please!

The Balmain inspired peep-toe heels have a touch of military about them to toughen up this look.  They are from New Look and are priced at €19.  They’re very comfy too… trust me!

This Turquoise bag with gold chain detail and mock croc effect is sure to brighten up the dullest of outfits.  It is priced at €28 and is from Asos.

Oh Summer, we love you!

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Kate Moss is never one to miss out on parading the hottest trend and she certainly didn’t disappoint stepping out looking her usual glamourous self rocking the Spring/Summer ’10 military trend.  We’re just about over the pvc leggings craze and Kate shows just why!  Leather trousers are the item of the season to invest in.  However, do splash out a little extra on them as not only will they last you a life time, with more and more wear, they will succumb to the distressed look adding more character to your leather.

Kate has kept her look dark and mysterious and has paired hers with a plain black tee and a suede and embroidery shawl.  Embroidery has been re-introduced the last two seasons but thanks to Christopher Kane and the late Alexander McQueen they have made it a modern and glamorous welcome embellishment to any piece of clothing.  Adding colour to her ensemble Kate chose a pillar-box red clutch and has topped it all off with a pair of multiple inch Louboutin booties.

Heres how to get the look!

These leather trousers are only €88.42 (from €126.32) at Asos and with delivery only €4 to Ireland you’d be carzy to say no.  These are definitely the best priced leather trousers around!

Choose from one of these black tees, both from Miss Selfridge. The one on the left is priced at €19 or if you’d like to glam it up opt for this sexy one shoulder top that will look fantastic with your leather trousers once the cardi comes off!  It is only €21!

This lightweight cardi is perfect for both Summer and Winter (just layer it up in winter!).  It’s a real statement piece from Reiss and the fringing detail is really doing the rounds this year.  Priced at €179 but don’t let that put you off.  I know you’ll wear this to death so price per wear means it’s a bargain!

Whether or not your trousers/leggings have belt slots, still stick this trendy belt around your waist to instantly add a little something extra to finish off any look.  It has punched hole detailing around the band, is versatile, and you’ll find it at Oasis – price €25.

These open wedges are from Reiss and I can’t think of a single item of clothing they won’t go with.  I love the multiple rope detailing!  They are €189 and also come in cream.

Adding a much needed splash of colour to this look, I found this gorgeous red corsage bag.  Simply pop the chain inside or keep it out depending on whether you want a clutch or on the shoulder bag!  New Look bring us this gorgeous bag and is a steal at €15.  It also comes in black and baby pink/nude.  Take your pick!

Just add some smoky eyes, red lip colour and messy hair and you are ready!

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Ok, so playsuits are still as hot this season.  From Lanvin to Kate Moss (yes that’s her behind the shield of flowers!), we all enjoyed the return of the playsuit for another season at least.  There are so many different styles, lengths and designs to choose from.  I think we can all agree that the playsuit is probably one of the most versatile and flattering (translation: handy if you’ve over-indulged!) pieces a girl could ever have.

Summer bbq?  Add a cardi and pumps!  Night time event?  Killer heels and a bright coloured bag!  You can’t keep avoiding acid prints… embrace them and say goodbye to dull black shades!  While perusing the delights Penneys had to offer, I came across this fab little playsuit.  Pick one up fast as, even though they’ve just arrived, this polka dot lovely is sure to fly out – priced at €17.  Here are a couple of looks to get you started.

For daytime team the khaki, polka dot playsuit with the chunky panel cardi, priced at €44 from Oasis.   Bertie ballerina pumps at €63.16 from asos.  To finish add this weaved belt at €25 also from Oasis.

And for night time ladies…

Grab a pair of these versatile suede booties at €60 from New Look.  Add this Chanel inspired salmon pink weave detail bag at only €31.58 from asos and you are ready for action!

P.s. if you want this playsuit get down to Penneys as fast as your fake tanned legs can carry you!

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Fashion creator Christophe DeCarnin re-inventing the military style on the catwalks of Paris.

Balmain‘s eagerly anticipated Spring/Summer shows were an even bigger success than last seasons if you can imagine that!  Continuing with his structured coats and jackets, Christophe DeCarnin toned his line down this season just a little and continues to surprise us with his military line.  The collection of distressed military jackets were the highlight of his Paris Fashion Week shows!  We show you how to get the look for a lot less!  Check out this Vero Moda beige/nude military style jacket at asos.  Bang on trend, bang on colour and bang on price at €56.84!

If you are going to go all out and follow this seasons military look be sure to go all out and make the look your own!  Oasis‘ leather military jacket is extra hot as they’ve combined the two hottest looks at the moment!  Leather AND military.  Team it with a pretty floral dress for an extra twist.  Rock and Girly = Super Cool!  Having said that leather will always be in style so consider this an investment (at €150 we’d have to!), that will go with almost anything you have in your wardrobe.  You’ll wear it for years, trust me…

This New Look jacket is the newest addition to my wardrobe.  At €45 it is affordable disposable chic perfect for all you girls who like to stay ‘in style’.  I have worn this twice already and I expect it will see me right through the Summer!  Pair it with high-waisted shorts, a cute playsuit or a tight body con for night time.  You can dress it up or down!  Just don’t forget to add some height girls!  Check out River Island if you are on the hunt for a white version.

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The immortal trench coat.  This seasons catwalks were awash with…. trench coats!  From laid-back neutrals and beige minimalism Burberry did it once again and managed to keep the trench coat just as popular.

The high street has been swamped with replicate versions but I think I’ve found the best and I’m even willing to share it!  Check out this New Look version.  It has the same great ruching on the sleeves, open swing skirt and fab girly sleeves!  How could you pass it by?  At €45 it is a steal and a big saving of €2,300!  Bargain of the century we think.

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We had to do a double take when we spotted this jacket… Oooh, nice Chanel jacket we thought… hang on a second – that’s not Chanel!  And we were right – damn close copy though.  What a gorgeous little jacket and it’s a limited edition so it won’t walk the streets alone.

This Boucle Bead & Bow Jacket is available from New Look at £55.  M&S did an even better copy last year (below) that sent every self respecting recessionista Chanel fan into a frenzy.  The New Look version has a 2010 twist by adding the bow detailing and embellishement.  New Look’s version has a ribbon trim where as Chanel used a crocheted black rubber braid trim but who’s nit picking!

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Denim is a staple piece in any wardrobe. From the perfect pair of jeans to a denim jacket or shirt, it is interchangeable and infinite. This season, channel your inner Debbie Harry and mix your denim with denim. The key piece in this look is the denim shirt. It is strong, simple and can be understated or sexy depending on the shape and indeed your mood. Indigo, stonewashed and even white denim is making a comeback and the most affordable way to stay on trend is with the trusty denim shirt.

On the cover on this months Vogue, Alexa Chung is slouched in a pair of denim jeans with black Chanel clogs (another one to watch out for). Inside, she describes her love for all things denim and I couldn’t help but both agree with her and feel overwhelmingly jealous. While us mere mortal’s scour the high street for that perfect pair of jeans to emulate the comfort of our Levis 501 hand-me-downs, Alexa notes that she found her dream pair at Balenciaga. And that’s all it will be for us, a dream.

The denim shirt has exploded into every store this season (Topshop, Topman, New Look and Penneys to name but a few), but it has been present in fashion since it was almost a uniform for hippies in the 70s at Woodstock and has also been filtering down from the catwalks over the past few seasons. Spring/Summer ’10 catwalks saw troops of models clad head to toe in denim, but the shirt was the piece that shone through.

There is a range of different ways to wear this ultimate piece. A loose fitted man-sized shirt, such as these shirts from Topman, can be left open as a jacket or buttoned and belted, and it can look chic when tucked into the waist. Denim on denim was a favourite at Chloé with a loose fitting denim shirt that had the pockets ripped off to reveal deep indigo patches and dark fitted jeans with lighter denim shins. Take note from this look by wearing the denim on denim with contrasting washes; lighter on top and darker on the bottom for the body conscious fashionista’s among us. With such a denim overload it is important that accessories do not overpower the look and shoe choice is essential to avoid looking like you’ve just come from a rodeo. Pin this image of Britney and Justin to your wardrobe to remind you what happens when denim attacks.

Denim shirts are widely available from designer to high street but all seem very similar – it’s how you wear it that stands out. To revamp the classic 70s look, try adding lace into the mix. By attaching a strip of lace under the collar and across the shoulders, it immediately updates this classic look and adds a modern twist.

The denim shirt (first Topshop, second New Look) will last for seasons to come and is a great item to have in multiple shades and shapes as this will allow you to either look chilled out for a day look. With the right belt and shoes can transform into an evening silhouette – just remember to back away from the cowboy boots.

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