That’s the new slang these days eh….its a damn recession! It gets blamed for pin drops, bitch slaps and everything in between. Well its no different in the fashion industry and a fashionista’s got to know how to keep on looking fly even with the pocket crunch all around. Many of us have been recessionistas (the new name for the style maven on a budget according to the NY Times ) from ever since but if you’re new to the bargain hunt or are looking for a few new ways to save a penny or two then listen up while I share a few of my ideas plus some I found lying around the web:

1. Rekindle the romance with your seamstress ! Most of us have become accustomed to walking into a store and picking up something ready-made, did you know that your seamstress can make it for you which means it will fit perfectly and you can choose your own fabric making it unique? Your dressmaker/seamstress will make it at a fraction of the cost too. Win-win situation.
2. Get your favourite pieces altered . I have a quite a few pieces in my closet that I’m hesitant to wear because I wore it to so and so before. You know us ‘nistas, we don’t like to be caught in the same thing twice. Go a step further than switching up pieces and accessories by actually getting them altered: add an interesting hemline, a ruffle, a collar, a belt, an assymetric cut, another layer over/under the hem, cut the top off put it on another dress, the list goes on and on…be creative!
3. Shop at bargain stores: Hey don’t knock it till you try it, there are some REAL bargains to be had there, all you have to do is sift through the racks to find some true gems and basic pieces. If you’re in Kingston, Jamaica I recommend a stroll through Joseph’s, Ammars and Half Price. You never know what you may find and they may be only one alteration away from a smoking hot piece!
4. Sign up for email alerts. If you shop online then go on ahead and sign up for sale alerts…be ahead of the crowd. Always look at the "sale" part of the website and see what gems you can find in there…they were all on the front page at one point!
5. Try Ebay, Amazon and other marketplace websites . Again, if you’re willing to sift through pages and pages of stuff I guarantee you’ll get lucky. If you run a search and 100 pages/items come up…go to far and random pages and see what’s cracking. Not many people will sift thru all 100 pages to find the deals. I just bought a pair of Jessica Simpson pumps for $11.98 that retail for $49, if that’s not a deal I don’t know what is! And they’re soooo cute

Those are a few tips I got for yah…feel free to share more in the comments.

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