In recent years I’ve become quite interested in fashion. Not to the point where I want all name brands or stuff from the Paris runway but I look at some trends, pick what I like and incorporate it with my own style. Being a frugal fashionista is definitely doable!  80′s fashion is back!  I was a teenager in the 80′s so there are certain styles that I won’t do. I won’t go back to big puffy sleeves (that’s all I need, to look like a linebacker), harem pants (don’t want to look like i wear a diaper) or ginenormous earrings (I’d rather people look at my face), I will try some of the following that us more mature women can wear without looking silly:

Here are a few things in fashion for fall that are easy to do frugally:

Bangles & Bracelets: Mix and match several bangles and bracelets. Most of us have  , and more can be found at dollarstores and thrift stores. I am seeing a lot of metal and black as well as gold and copper.  Forever21.com sells inexpensive sets of bangles as well. I bought 5 sets of various metal bangles at the dollarstore. $5 got me 5 inches of bracelets! When looking at retail stores, the same amount of bracelets would cost about $15-20!

Leggings & Skinny Pants: These have been around for a few seasons now so likely you’ll find both at the thrift store. A discount store near my place (Giant Tiger) is selling leggings for $5 this week. Coloured skinnies and leggings are in as welll but I stick to black or grey. I splurged on a $35 pair of shiny pant/leggings at H&M as I know I’ll be using them for many seasons. They are funky enough to go out in but also can be dressed up to go to work.

Bomber & Crop Jackets: Those rock and roll cropped jackets are in again! Put a little edge to your outfit, these are cool. I found one at Zellers (in Canada -  similar to Walmart) on sale. It’s pleather and a dark chocolatey colour. Forever 21 has a nice Double Knit Biker Jacket here for $24: 

I do have an actual late 80′s black biker jacket in my closet, but I’ve lost a lot of weight since high school so it’s WAY too big for me now. Darn. It’s definitely perfect, too bad I can’t wear it!

Peep Toe Ankle Booties: I ended up purchasing a pair of John Fluevog Ashbury’s for 50% off at the store. A nice peep toe boot/shoe. Although this is out of most people’s budget, I can’t skimp on shoes due to my arthritis in my foot. I have searched for less expensive ones only to find that the heals on this style are usually 4 inches, something I can’t wear. Aldo shoes has some decent priced ones and also try Zappos.com, Payless or Spring stores. I am able to wear the Fluevogs as it is a Platform shoe and I barely notice the heal. If you can handle high heals, Forever 21 has a  cute pleather caged peep toe shoe for $28

Scarves: All kinds of scarves are in, so get some funky colourful ones out and wear them as soon as the cool weather hits. Scarves are so easy to find anywhere, especially thrift stores.

Bat Wing or Big Sleeves: I am seeing alot of Bat Wing sweaters and tops these days. It started in the summer. I have a bat sleeve one shoulder grey top that I found for $15 in Montreal. For the fall, the bat wings have settled into sweaters and thicker tops. Seems like any bigger sleeve is in, even bell sleeves. Here is a bat wing chiffon top (animal prints are back too!): http://canada.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=top&product_id=2064501171&showBACK=OK

Cinch Belted Waist: I am seeing a lot of belts around the waist these days as well. This is easy to pull off! I found a few belts at the thrift store and use them on skirts and for long tunics. Looks very groovy. Try thin or Obi belts. All sizes are in! I’ve also seen belts worn at the hip on jeans or skirts. I haven’t worn belts in awhile but had some in my closet from years ago, even a vintage one from the 60′s I bought at a thrift store in the late 80′s. Tres groovy!

Black & White, Stripes: Black and white is in and I am seeing it in a lot of stripped clothes too. Even just blending a shiny black legging with a long white blouse with a vest or/and cinched belt would look nice. If you have a stripped black and white top somewhere, take it out, it’s fashionable right now!

Chunky Jewelry: Seems like all big chunky jewelry is in! I have lots of that stuff already as I’ve always liked it. Chunky big necklaces are especially popular. I’ve seen big necklaces at dollarstores, so no need to buy expensive. Try places like Ardene or Claire’s for inexpensive jewelry.

Other trends: The colour red, plaid, paisley, mismatched prints, one shoulder tops, glam rock…

If you want some real frugal fashionista advice, try this blog: Frugal Fashionista

This outfit can be found at Forever21.com (in Canada: Canada.forever21.com)