Lights, Camera, Broke Fashion: Get That ‘High’ Fashion Look Without The Expense
Posted 90 days ago by Amanda Raye
Typically, my favorite part of a magazine involves the last few pages, when there’s a beautiful editorial spread. All the models have their hair and makeup done in a unique way, and outfits are almost always stunning.
But once we look in the corner to find out where the clothes are from — and see the price — we quickly get depressed and shut the magazine.
In the past, I would go to these pages to get inspiration before a shopping trip, being well aware I could never afford what the models were actually wearing. Well, we at Broke & Chic teamed up with fashion photographer Marcus Cooper, makeup artist Kyle Harder and Redlight PR to show you that you don’t have to wear head-to-toe designer to look like a million bucks.
Just watch our NYC-based model, Ulla in action!
What was your favorite look? Let us know in the comments below!
*All styling by Amanda Raye of Broke & Chic
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7 Street Style Trends at New York Fashion Week F/W 13
Posted 100 days ago by Amanda Raye
The first few days of New York Fashion Week were brutal. It was either snowing, hailing, raining, sleeting and at one time, there was a full-on blizzard outside.
Weather drama aside, we at Broke & Chic still managed to find super stylish peeps who picked fashion over warmth right outside of the tents at Lincoln Center. Below are the top 7 trends we spotted at NYFW!
1. Cobalt Blue
Blue is such a striking color, especially against the snow. These five ladies really rocked it.
2. Bold Prints
Asymmetrical, floral, stripes, it doesn’t really matter, as long as it’s bold! These three fashionistas really nailed the bold pattern look.
Get a similar pair of floral pants from Forever 21 here.
3. Evening Jackets
Evening jackets are an up-and-coming trend here in NYC. They usually have a bold print and aren’t meant for warmth.
If you love the evening jacket look, definitely stay tuned for Christian Siriano’s collection for HSN. It’ll be out this Spring! If you can’t wait that long, check this one out.
4. Metallic Shoes
Get ready, metallic shoes are going to be a must with every outfit this Spring!
5. Hot Pink Accessories
If your outfit feels a tad boring, a bright colored accessory will make it pop! Whether you make that statement piece your hat or clutch, you’re bound to turn a few heads.
6. White
When I think of Winter, the color white always comes to mind. It’s a shame when people think we should shun it after Labor Day. These three ladies decided to ignore the silly rule, and we’re happy they did. They look awesome!
Get a similar pair of black and white pants at Charlotte Russe for only $25.00!
Get a similar pair of white platform shoes from Ami Clubwear for under $50 here.
7. Charcoal Dress Pants
We think Coco Chanel would approve. These ladies look fierce!
What’s your favorite NYFW street style trend so far? Let us know in the comments below!
Contest: Rummage through your relative’s closets for vintage finds to win $250
Posted 126 days ago by Amanda Raye
Guess what all…Broke & Chic has teamed up with Thrift Store Runway! A monthly contest that offers cash prizes to the person who has the most fashionable outfit created entirely out of thrift store finds.
December Winner
- Vintage Jumpsuit: Buffalo Exchange, $12
- Necklace: West Main Consignment, $8
- Leopard Belt: West Main Consignment, $5
- Heels: West Main Consignment, $20
We’re going to be judging the February contest (we’ll keep you posted on that), but this January, they’re spicing things up a bit by hosting a Vintage Closet Contest. We want all of you to participate, but here’s the deal, it has to be vintage and it has to be from a friend or relative’s closet.
According to their website:
This season we’re giving you yet another opportunity to show off your thrifty style for a chance to win a cash prize! Re-using clothing is a great alternative to buying new, and vintage garments can be fabulous! Create and submit an outfit of vintage clothing from a friend or relative’s closet, and don’t forget to be fun and creative!
This look can be a gift to you from your loved one, as passing along vintage clothing is a great thrifty way to spruce up your closet for the new year. We love to hear all of the stories that come with vintage clothing, so please share the story and sentiment behind the garments in your look. If you’re selected as a winner, both you and provider of the garments will receive $250 cash prizes, and we will give a $100 dollar donation on your behalf to the thrift store of your choice.
Here’s a sample submission to help inspire you!
This contest is open to everyone so spread the word! College students, this is a great way to earn some extra money, so have some fun looking through your relative’s closets! Vintage clothes have some great stories to tell, why not share them for a chance to win?
Enter here!
Broke Fashion: Meet Mimi, a Blogger Who’s Aiming to Make a Dent in the Fashion World
Posted 127 days ago by Amanda Raye
Mimi is a 20 year old student and blogger from Orlando Florida. Her main goal in life is to work in the fashion PR industry in either New York or Los Angelas! According to Mimi:
I believe that anyone and everyone can be stylish! It doesn’t matter what the budget is, if a person can look at an item at a store and can come up with at least two outfits with the clothes they already have, then it’s a good buy. It’s all about being a smart shopper.
Since we admired Mimi’s style, we had to learn more about her!
B&C: What was your least favorite trend of 2012?
Mimi: The wedge sneaker. I don’t like sneakers in general, so adding a wedge to them doesn’t make them cuter to me.
B&C: What was your favorite trend of 2012?
Mimi: High-Waisted anything. I have several pairs of high-waisted shorts and pants that I just can’t stop wearing. I have endless amount of outfits for each bottom.
B&C: What do you think 2013 has in store for fashion?
Mimi: I believe that 2013 is going to continue this edgy punk style but incorporate brights such as the mint and coral colors that we just can’t get enough of. I’m excited to see how this year in fashion will play out but I know for a fact I’ll be right along with the trends putting my own twist on it with my own budget.
B&C: What’s one item you can’t leave the house without?
Mimi: The item I can’t live without would have to be my satchel. I love satchels! They are comfortable and portable for me to carry out my everyday life. Most purses come with a long strap so I just find a super cute purse that I like and add the strap to make it a satchel for myself.
- Sweater & Pants: $10 bucks each! Cotton On
- Necklace: $5 Wet Seal
- Purse: $25 Styles for Less
- Shoes: $15 Express
- Bracelet & Earrings: $8 and $3 Forever 21
B&C: Why did you start your blog?
Mimi: I started my blog because after college, I want to work in fashion PR. I figured the best way to learn is to try and make a name for myself on my own. I believe in style and fashion, I just don’t make enough money to have a celebrity wardrobe, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from expressing themselves the way they want to.
Also, many of my friends would always ask me where I got my clothes, so I decided to make a blog with the price and location of each of my pieces as a tool for fellow fashionistas on a budget!
B&C: You seem to really like statement pieces! What’s your favorite way to make a statement?
Mimi: I usually like to have just one statement accessory at a time. I like mixing prints or bold colors and really making an outfit pop with that one piece. I believe that each piece of clothing is a note and you always need a solid harmony to let the melody shine.
B&C: What are your favorite places to shop on a budget?
Mimi: I love Styles For Less, they always have great deals! I also really enjoy thrifting, you can find some amazing deals and one of a kind pieces from Goodwill. Then I shop at Forever21 and Charlotte Russe because they both are always on the trends and usually have good deals going on. I go where the deals go.
Do you love Mimi’s style as much as we do? Then follow her blog, The Stylish Mimi. She’ll inspire you to be more adventurous with your own personal style!
Living Your Passion: Trending Careers in the Fashion Industry
Posted 188 days ago by Lori Mcneil
If you’ve ever seriously considered eating ramen for a month so you can get the lace up boots that you just found on sale at Nordstrom’s, you should also think about taking your passion for clothes a step further. The fashion industry is made up of creative, motivated and business-savvy people who know what it takes to keep people looking beautiful and if you’re willing to go hungry to complete a couple outfits, you may already have what it takes to make it.
There are a number of great careers in this enormous and ever-expanding industry. Here are a few that are trending right now to get you started:
Fashion Merchandising/Marketing
Requiring more than just great taste and a passion for accessories, fashion merchandising is a business that focuses on pricing strategies, trend forecasting, retail management, global sourcing and product development, according to CareersinFashion.net. Every industry needs savvy business professionals, and if it weren’t for marketers and buyers, fashionable clothing wouldn’t be readily accessible to the public. This career is ideal for creative and business-keen fashion lovers; it combines the right and left brain into one function.
Graphic Design
A skill with a wide range of career opportunities, graphic design is helping the fashion industry become technological. Knowing software such as computer-aided design (CAD) is becoming a requirement, and the types of media used to showcase designers are increasingly technological. Graphic design helps designers visualize projects and create online portfolios to easily share within a team.
Fashion Design
While it’s certainly not a requirement to attend school to become a famous fashion designer, a number of established designers (Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, David Rodriquez etc.) have jump-started their careers by doing so. Class courses in fashion design can include a little bit of everything: fashion merchandising and marketing, fashion journalism, menswear design, textile design, knitwear design and more. If you’re already well established in your career, but have always secretly wanted to design, follow the example of Kara Laricks. Kara was a schoolteacher for a decade before attending fashion school at Academy of Art University in her 30s. She went on to win NBC’s Fashion Star earlier this year and sold collections to H&M, Macy’s, and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Whether you want to design your own shoes or have a line of active sportswear, fashion-designing skills will never become obsolete. A fast-paced, intense and stressful field, nearly 75 percent of fashion designers in America work in New York or Los Angeles, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. So a move might be necessary if you really want to succeed in this career.
Fashion Photography
The designers create, the models pose and the photographers capture the latest designs at fashion shows. Fashion photography is responsible for creating images displayed in magazines and on websites. Having an eye for fashion and knowing how to enhance a product with movement, angles, exotic locations and accessories is part of being a good fashion photographer. To be a photographer in this industry, a person not only has to know how to work a camera but be able to put special emphasis on staging shots that create the right mood.
Social Media Manager
A few years ago, this position didn’t even exist. Now, brand leaders are realizing that in order to increase influence, they’ve got to have an online presence worldwide. Some of the industries most sizable companies employ teams to manage social media accounts and help the brand stay relevant. Social media managers engage audiences and regularly introduce new fashion trends into society. Digital public relations (PR) coordinators help regulate a brand’s appearance and reputation, while content creators develop and expand the voice of a brand through online blogs, magazines and news sites. A degree in fashion marketing or communications could land you these positions.
What happens to be your dream job?
Broke Fashion: Meet Jasmin — A New Yorker with Style
Posted 198 days ago by Amanda Raye
Meet Jasmin, a New Yorker who knows how to dress to impress on a dime! According to Jasmin: “I do not have one specific style of dressing . Sometimes I feel really girly and sexy and other days I feel like dressing in menswear. So it all depends on how I wake up that day. I like to try different things.”
- Dress: $39.99 Asos (similar)
- Heels: $19.90 h&m
- Shirt: $9.95 h&m
- Jeans: $24.80 Forever 21
- Bag: $24.99 h&m
- Shirt: $9.00 Thrifted
- Wide Leg Pants: $24.95 h&m
Jasmin has great taste in shoes! Our personal favorite were her neon strap heels. They made her already fashionable outfit pop even more! Class, meet sass. What do you think of Jasmin’s style? Let us know in the comments below!
Want to stay in touch with Jasmin? Follow her on Instagram: @ilovejazzz
Think you’re a broke fashionista? Submit your outfits to hey@brokeandchic.com for a possible feature!
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