holiday party ready (on a budget)

holiday party season has arrived.

every invite is seemingly accompanied

by an ever-growing price tag and shopping list.

whether you're attending a black-tie dinner or ugly 

sweater gathering, purchasing a different

outfit for each event is expensive.

if you're like me, wearing the same blouse

or dress to multiple parties sounds less than

ideal. how can you dress (and shop) 

during the holiday season while adhering

to your budget?

i have put together a few simple tips!

disclosure: a special thank you to value village for graciously providing

me with the gift certificate used to purchase items featured in this post. as per usual,

all opinions are my own!

mix and match!

your statement clutch or faux fur vest

can be paired with a variety of skirt, 

pant, or dress options. a black vest, for example,

can be worn with a sweater and pants (as i did

in today's post), or over your favorite

long-sleeved dress.

thrift, thrift, thrift!

shopping at department stores

and local boutiques is greatly enjoyable,

but often comes at a cost (a high cost, too).

thrifting is a wonderful and budget-friendly 

alternative. grab your girlfriends and hit

your local value village.

wear a non-traditional piece!

your black ruffle shorts, metallic skirt,

or office pants? not items that necessarily

denote 'holiday party.' however, 

these non-traditional pieces can be styled

in a way that looks and feels festive.

pair longer, ruffle (or printed) shorts with

a dressy blouse, or wear opaque tights

and a sweater with your metallic skirt.

you can also easily dress up (and make festive)

your work essentials, such as black

pants. add heels, a scarf or necktie, and

faux fur vest to instantly make your

pants look glam.

take advantage of holiday sales

(and don't be afraid to scour the clearance rack)!

if thrift shopping is not your favorite

(don't be afraid to try!), check the sale rack at

your favorite stores. seasonal tops, dresses, and shoes

are typically on sale, and many 

retailers will continue to mark down prices.

now may be the perfect time to purchase

classic, staple items (such as black 

heels or a faux leather jacket) at a reduced cost.

my outfit breakdown:

sweater (topshop thrifted) -- $10

faux fur vest (old, macy's) -- $40

pants (zara) -- $29

ring (thrifted) -- $2

heels (karen kane thrifted) -- $8

purse (target thrifted) -- $6

total -- $113 (the average dress costs

between $100-300 at most department stores)

photos by karya schanilec photography

is your calendar also filling up with

parties and other holiday-related events?

i love this time of year and enjoy

keeping busy. it's time to put together more

festive outfits #merrythriftmas

xoxo.