by Sara from Selfmademom

It’s easy to lose track of the trends when you’re watching your pennies. The last thing I feel like doing now is buying the latest issue of In Style only to realize I really can’t afford, and don’t really need the hottest pair of shoes.

But there are many ways to stay stylish without breaking the bank, or feeling guilty.

• Shop your closet.  Look back through the years and you’re sure to find some hidden treasures.  I recently dug up an old Bohemian skirt from a few years back, rolled down the waist, and voila! A now-trendy maxi skirt.  Don’t underestimate your savvy self back before you became a recessionista.

• Skip the salon. I know- it’s like saying skip lunch. But drastic times call for drastic measures and sometimes you have to do it yourself.  It’s near impossible to give yourself your own haircut. (Bang trim, maybe if you have a steady hand.) However, when it comes to coloring your locks, there are many do-it-yourself techniques available at an affordable price. (Frederic Fekkai, anyone?) Julyne Derrick of About.com has a great how-to on the ins and outs of coloring your hair.

• Host a clothing swap party. A friend of mine recently invited a bunch of her friends over for a clothes swap party. Bring stuff that you don’t wear, or doesn’t fit you any longer and swap it for someone else’s duds. It’s brilliant, and you’ll walk away with some new pieces from a reputable source.

• Extend your manicure. I know it sounds crazy, but sometimes a gal’s gotta get her cuticles trimmed. But since weekly manicures are now out of the question, you can make the life of your nail polish last longer by wearing dish gloves at all times when cleaning up, purchasing a good, quick dry topcoat extender (like Barielle Ultra Speed Dry Manicure or Seche Vite Dry Fast top coat) one day after you get your nails done.  And ask your husband to give the kids a bath for a few nights. There’s nothing worse for the nails than soaking them in baby soap day after day!

• Fake it. I would never condone walking around with a knock-off Prada, but there’s no shame in a little bit of fake accessorizing once in awhile. No one has to know your Pashmina scarf is really nylon and polyester (and that you bought it on the streets of New York City), or that your hoop earrings aren’t real gold. (Ever hunt the jewelry at TJ Maxx? You’ll come away with winners.) Pair them with those fabulous black heels you dredged up from the back of your closet and you’ll look like a million bucks while only costing you a few.  Cheap summer shoes are easy to pull off when paired with the right outfit. Target has these flat sandals on sale for $14.99 in a variety of colors. They look just like these from Boden for $78 and these from Dolce Vita for $42.

• Know where to hunt. The Internet is a bevy of good deals.  Recently, a spate of designer sample sale emails have cropped up online. Gilt Groupe offers brands like Marc by Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch and Tracy Reese at rock bottom prices.  Ruelala is “an exclusive, invitation-only online” site where you join for free and get access to premier brand sales. Catch is that you have to get a friend to refer you to the site or get on their waiting list.  And don’t forget about the old standby Bluefly, which is still going strong with designer duds for less.

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