The Myth of the “Under $100 Outfit”
Sooo, Lucky Mag is running a “Summer Under $100″ story that features - you guessed it - warm-weather items under $100. Kudos to them, for serious. 
Some of the options, like the $50 Wanted Patent Penthouse Heel pictured, are actually as adorable as they are affordable (def just reached my alliteration quota for the day…whatevs). My problem isn’t with the compilation of under-$100 items; approximately 87% of everything I buy meets that criteria. My problem is with the bullshit Lucky was spouting this morning on The Today Show; that a trendy, fab outfit can be had for less than $100. For any girl even remotely concerned with looking loaded (so, like, all of us) the $100 outfit is an effing joke. Why? Two words: Shoes and Handbags.
A Benjamin is more than enough to get you dressed from torso to ankle, no question. But if I’m wearing $7.99 sandals from Forever 21 and a $14.99 bag from Target along with my cheap ensemble, I am not feeling loaded. I am feeling like I’m wearing Forever 21 sandals and a Target bag. (Addendum: Forever 21 is about short-term trend experimentation, not long-term wear - their faux leather shoes tend to have the lifespan of a gnat.).
I’m not suggesting that one needs a different pair of pricey shoes and a different designer bag for every outfit. I am suggesting that spending $100 on a pair of kickass wedges you’ll wear all summer is a better investment than blowing $100 on a head-to-toe outfit that looks as cheap as it is. Where handbags are concerned, well, you know where I stand. Save your dough for one you’ll wear every day, and raid Mommy’s Closet for evening bags. And if you’re in dire need of a quick bag fix, hit a thrift store. You’ll find something that’s a hell of a lot more original (and a lot less likely to out you as cheap) than anything Isaac Mizrahi for Target.
Tagged: Conde Nasty • Forever 21 • How To's • Target • Tootsies
Kvelling and Kvetching
This is my first time commenting, but this post literally made me laugh aloud (you know, the snicker in a quite room that people turn around and glare at you for). I love your blog! Thanks!
@ 10:22 pm on June 3rd, 2008Si, Si! You’re so right! I would rather wear plastic bags around my ankles secured with rubberbands (ooooh…sounds so….Belgium) than wear cheap shoes. I completely draw the line there! You can do a cheap or inexpensive dress at H&M and get away with that but a replica or knockoff of a Prada shoe or bag is completely unacceptable and sooooooo ghetto. And, quite frankly, embarrassing, because thanks to Sex and the City and the like-women know their labels and they’re not fashion retards.
Also-morning shows have a tendency to dumb down an audience and not educate. The producers think they’re the style police. Let the editor be the authority AND the expert and let the producer…produce.
@ 3:08 am on June 4th, 2008While I agree and find your witty posty funny, I do think that you can purchase a kick ass gear for under a $100. That is where outlets come in to get that designer brand, strong quality for cheap. I have used less than a $100 to purchase soem durable head to toe cute outfits at places like Nordstom Rack. So, it can happen. Funny post though.
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@ 10:27 am on June 8th, 2008If you’re dressing competitively for the benefit of other women, $100. won’t go very far. If your concern is looking nice and not acquiring labels, you can do the job very easily. You’ll spend more time on your makeup and hair, the fit of your clothes, and making sure every detail is just right.
@ 10:44 pm on June 8th, 2008Okay, as usual, another great post.
I have to agree that it’s way better to score a cute bag at a thrift store than at Target.
One of my fave scores is a vintage Italian black leather clutch that I paid $5 for. An EXACT copy of it is being sold at Saks right now by Brian Atwood for something like $1400. And mine comes with a cute brass mirror - so there!
@ 9:10 pm on June 10th, 2008I would have to agree with you and most of the comments above. However, I find it increasingly difficult to find a cute, quality outfit for under $100. H&M and F21 are OKAY but the clothes are poor quality and not anything you can wear very often. I’ve been buying a lot of stuff from shopgoldyn.com. There are always sales and its great quality and good designers.
@ 12:56 pm on June 12th, 2008Nice website!!
@ 2:24 am on July 4th, 2008Amen, sister!!
loving your blog: hilarious and totally how i fashion my life. visited a million years ago but adding you to my blogroll now.
kiss,
@ 11:11 am on July 6th, 2008D
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