Are Cheaper Clothes a Waste of Money?

I love a great cheap chic find but when you break down the cost per wear ratio, is it really a waste of money to buy a cheaper item? Cheaper can (but not always) equal lesser quality and not likely to be in your closet for more than a few seasons. Believe me, I know cheap doesn’t always mean crappy. My Payless shoes that lasted longer than my Manolos are a great example of that.

But let’s look at the boucle jackets above. The Forever 21 blazer (left) is $34.80 and the D&G jacket retails for $595 (ouch!). Forever 21 is great but their clothes aren’t meant to last a lifetime and designer duds can (or so I’m told). So lets say a woman gets a year or two usage out of the F21 piece before the chains start to fall off, it fades, tears, pills, etc. The D&G will be a constant companion in her closet and she won’t have to purchase a new boucle piece for years to come.

So what say you guys. Do you prefer to buy cheaper items that may not last as long or invest in the real deal? Or do you splurge on some items and save on others? And the prices at Forever 21 are steadily increasing, does this mean the quality is getting better also?

Cheap {yummy} Cuisine – Shrimp Scampi over Whole Wheat Pasta

I’ve been increasingly dining in lately. Not just due to limited funds (I’m saving up for a vacation), but I love adding new recipes to my culinary repertoire. Every week I’ll hit you with a delicious meal that’s easy to make and doesn’t require expensive or an extensive list of ingredients.

This week I made Shrimp Scampi over Pasta. I based it on All You’s recipe. With just a few ingredients, I knew I could easily prepare a hearty Sunday dinner. I omitted the crushed red pepper (because I didn’t have any) and added in some cremini mushrooms and parmesan cheese (because mushrooms and cheese make everything taste better).

The meal was yum-o! This is a dish you can whip up in a pinch (it only took 10 or 15 minutes) and impress your dinner guests.

Tags: cheap meals, food, recipe

Moroccan Adventure {on a budget}

You guys remember Gecko’s, the travel company that offers amazing, affordable tours throughout the world? Well my friend Stephanie just returned from their 10 day Moroccan tour. Here’s her take on how she afforded the tour as well as some inside dish on the exotic country.

Cost:
The tour cost $1460, which included all hotels, transportation (train, bus, taxi, private car) throughout the country, guided tours, breakfast and a few lunches and dinners. I had Gecko’s arrange my airfare, but Royal Air Maroc (the national airline) is one of only a few airlines that fly from the U.S. to Morocco, so prices aren’t that cheap. Airfare is about $900 roundtrip. The average restaurant meal is between 60 and 100 dirham ($1 equals about 8 Moroccan dirhams). The average street vendor/food stall meal is between 10 and 40 dirham. Quality-wise, they’re both the same so go for the street vendors. There are no taxes or tips for dining out, so if a meal costs 60 dirham, you only pay 60 dirham.

Tour:
Gecko’s took us to most of the major cities: Casablanca, Marrakesh, Meknes, Fes, Essaouira and camping in the Sahara. All hotel accommodations are very basic, but that’s mostly because of the country itself. There really isn’t much to “see” in Morocco so we just went to different cities and walked around. Most tourists go to mosques, but once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. The transportation was a combination of the local train, taxi, and chartered bus. All of the transportation is good, but the driving there is atrocious so each time you get in a car, you see at least one accident (sometimes deadly).

Cuisine:
The food left a lot to be desired. Breakfast was always pieces of white bread. If we were staying at a fancy place, we got hard boiled eggs with the bread. Lunch and dinner is always tajine (beef, chicken, or lamb) or couscous (beef, chicken, or lamb). Dessert was always oranges; it was expected that each person eats between 3-5 oranges during dessert. Sometimes, but not often, you can find bananas and strawberries, but they’re expensive because they’re imported from elsewhere. It made me realize how much we take supermarkets for granted. For drinks, they only have bottled water (which tastes disgusting compared to ours), tea (which they drink between 10 and 12 times per day), orange juice (obviously), and Fanta. The mint tea was pretty good though, as they put actual mint leaves in it for extra flavor. And they LOVE sugar. The more sugar cubes someone gives you, the more welcome you are in their home. They call tea ‘Berber Whiskey’ so when someone asks, “Do you want to have a drink?” they mean, “Do you want to have some tea?”

Culture:
One of the most fascinating things about Morocco is their perception of race. I traveled there within a group of eight; I was the only American and the only person of color. Everyone else in my group was white; six were from Great Britain and one from Australia. Ironically, Moroccans assumed they were American and I was, well, something else. I noticed that Moroccans never use racial categories like we use here i.e. African-American, Hispanic, etc. It’s either white or brown. If you’re black, you’re brown because your skin is brown. I think their lack of labels was the most refreshing thing about their culture. About 90% of people I encountered assumed I was Moroccan because of my skin complexion. There were countless times where people addressed me in Arabic or French, the two national languages of the country. I tried to explain to them, in English, that I didn’t speak either. Usually I was met with a baffled stare. I suppose the best thing about being mistaken for a local is that I was rarely harassed for money.

Ah, sounds awesome (minus the less than stellar food and traffic accidents). What’s the last great trip you guys took?

Tags: Gecko's, Morocco, travel

Kmart Spring 2010 Collection

I’ve never been a fan a Kmart. Well, let me restate that. Whenever I think of Kmart, I don’t think of clothing. But I have to admit I was impressed when I saw their ads in this month’s Glamour. The pieces were feminine, bright, had bold prints and I’d be happy to add all of them to my wardrobe. So I decided to check out their Spring 2010 look book and I was even more impressed. Me likey!

Have you ever shopped at Kmart for clothing? How did you find the quality?

Tags: Kmart, wardrobe

Links to Save By

Wanna win a $10,000 shopping spree and appear in Harper’s Bazaar? Yeah, of course you do! Enter their Personal Style Contest.

Payless has definitely come a long way. Stylish Curves has an up close and personal look at their collections from Lela Rose and Christian Siriano.

The Budget Babe is giving away a Tiffany and Co. bracelet valued at $290.

Harlem Restaurant and Retail Week is under way. The “week” actually lasts until March 15 and includes 3 course meals from spots like 67 Orange, Mojo’s and Chez Lucienne.

Dress up your closet with this super-cute and funky DIY “trashion” hanger courtesy of 2 Bitchez Deep (I just love saying their name!)

Rachel Zoe’s Wardrobe Essentials {for Less}

Uber stylist Rachel Zoe recently unveiled her  (Not So) Basic Guide of 20 wardrobe essentials every woman needs in her closet. Though most of Ms. Zoe’s picks were a bit out of my (and most likely your) price range, here are 5 more of the 20 essentials (click here for last week’s first five picks), at a price we can all afford! *Be sure to check back next week for part three of the 20 wardrobe essentials {for less}.

1. Dark Trouser Jean: Ivette Boot Cut Trouser with Tummy Control, $29.99. 2. Abstract Print Scarf: Apt. 9 Abstract Circle Scarf, $15. 3. Feminine Blouse: Lulu’s Make Do Top, $36. 4. Party Skirt: Forever 21 Ruffle Skirt, $6.99. 5. Oversized Satchel: SM Rose Ruffled Dome Satchel, $64.95.

“Designer” on a Dime – Christian Louboutin

Christian Louboutin’s Petal Sandal retailed for almost $1000 when it debuted last spring. Luckily, Ann Taylor just released their Camille Bloom sandal for $158. Though the petals aren’t as voluminous, it’s a cute spring or summer look and almost a tenth of the cost of those glorious red bottoms.

Tags: Ann Taylor, Christian Louboutin, sandals, shoes

Top {Affordable} Beauty Products

It ain’t easy being green a girl. Maintaining hair, makeup, nails, etc can get pretty expensive. But here are some tried and true {affordable} products that solve any beauty dilemma.

Band-Aid Blister Block, $7.49
I started using this about two years ago and it’s literally brought me great comfort. There’s nothing worse than having a great pair of heels or sandals but the straps rub against your skin causing blisters. The wax-like portable stick forms a barrier between your shoes and your skin so there’s no longer a love hate relationship between you and your favorite pair of stilettos.

Bio-Oil, $11.99
A great multi-use product is something everyone loves. This non-greasy oil does everything from aid in healing scars, reduce the appearance of stretch marks and moisturizes dehydrated skin. It doesn’t take much for an insect bite or mark to leave a scar on my skin, but when I had a slight burn from getting my eyebrows waxed (that’s a story for another day), I applied the oil immediately and my skin was like new. And a little of this stuff goes a long way so a bottle will last for a while.

Too Faced Shadow Insurance, $17
This is another product that lasts forever. Every lover of eye shadow has had the dreaded experience of it creasing or fading only hours after it’s been applied. A small dab of the primer keeps shadow looking perfect from day to night. I love this product so much I gave it as part of a Christmas gift.

St. Ives Apricot Scrub, $4.29
Besides the yummy smell, the small granules exfoliate skin without leaving it feeling dry or irritated. Years ago my dermatologist recommended this as a cheap facial cleanser that would even out my skin. I’ve been using it every since.

And an honorable mention has to go to Trader Joe’s Nourish Spa Conditioner. I just started using this creamy conditioner and my dry strands instantly felt moisturized and soft to the touch. It’s free of sulfates and the top ingredients are all organic. At only $2.99, it’s a product that will be getting heavy rotation in my hair routine.

What are your cheap beauty finds that you swear by?

Tags: beauty products, heels, makeup

Fashion Week Look For Less

Last week I ventured to the tents of New York Fashion Week. I shopped my closet for a look that was cute (at least in my opinion) and functional. The NYC ground is still a bit slippery and slushy so knee high boots with a modest heel were necessary. I needed a sweater for warmth but I also tend to get a bit hot so I wanted a lightweight shirt or blazer for any after parties. Here’s a breakdown of how I rocked NYFW in a look that costs less than some fashionista’s weekly caffeine habit.

H&M sweater, courtesy of Goodwill ($1.50)

Free People shirt (or is it a dress?), courtesy of Goodwill (50¢)

Denim Leggings, courtesy of New York & Company’s 50% off sale ($13.47)

Boots, Payless ($30…and I’ve had them for about 2 years)

Stella McCartney for H&M blazer, courtesy of Goodwill ($1)

Accessories, earrings from a flea market ($5) and necklace was from the LOFT gift bag

Tags: Fashion Week, Goodwill, New York & Company, Patrice's life, Patrice's style, Payless

Narciso Rodriguez for eBay

eBay is a wonderland. You can find any and everything through this online site.

And starting today (2/15), they’re offering Narciso Rodriguez for eBay. It’s described as “the first ever capsule collection from one of the world’s leading fashion designers: available exclusively on eBay.” Mr. Rodriguez has dressed everyone from Jessica Alba to Julianna Margulies and even the First Lady. The line features almost a dozen pieces, included a python printed tee, trench coat and a jersey dress (below, $270).

This lower priced collection is great for the gal who wants the Narciso look without the typical Narciso price.

Tags: eBay, Narciso Rodriguez