5 Shopping Tips To Save You Money

Shopping and saving money are both things that we enjoy doing. Preferably at the same time! Whether you're shopping in-store or online, there are ample opportunities to both save money and buy the things you want. 1. Clearance Events / Major Holidays - A few times a year stores have major clearance events and blow-out sales. Often times, these sales can take place on or around major holidays. Keep an eye out for super low deals, and be sure to snag them as soon as they are available.

2. Cash Back Rewards - Some stores have cash back rewards programs. Once a customer purchases a certain amount of items, the store will give a percentage or dollar amount off of their next purchase. For example, when you reach 2,000 points using your Ann Taylor card, you are given a $20 off rewards card to use on any purchase at Ann Taylor, Loft, or either of their factory outlets. The $20 reward is able to be used on any purchase within the allotted period, and can be combined with any other coupons or sales. Ann Taylor also offers customers the chance to earn double points during certain events throughout the year. It's fantastic!

3. Coupon Apps - Apps like RetailMeNot, Spendless and Shopkick are just a few coupon apps that are amazing for saving time and money. Don't check-out at the register until you have searched for coupons using one of these apps, you never know what deals they will find for you.

4. New Subscriber Deals - We are constantly discovering new online boutiques, and almost all of them offer money-saving coupons when you subscribe to their website. So make sure to always check and see what the perks are for joining a store's mailing list. A 10-20% off coupon may be sent to your inbox just for signing up.

5. Check Tag & Receipt - Always check the price tag and compare it to the receipt. This may sound like a no-brainer, but in the long run this tip may save you hundreds of dollars. Retail is always subject to human error, and a shirt that was tagged at $10, could end up costing you the original value simply because it was not logged into the computer system properly. Now, why should you have to pay for that error? The answer is - you shouldn't.

We hope these tips come in handy when making future purchases. Whether you're in the market for new clothing, textbooks or electronics, keep these money-saving tips in mind and keep more money in your pocket!

Written by: Anastasia Jones 

Image: Pinterest

Black Friday 2014

Black Friday is THE one day a year that all shoppers look forward to. To assure that you don't miss out on any sales or deals, we've searched the internet high and low to make 2014 the BEST Black Friday experience.

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Websites:

1. BlackFriday.com This website makes shopping easy with an app that is available on both iPhones and Androids. Some of its features include: a Wishlist on the Go, the ability to Find the Best Deals, and the selection of Your Favorite Stores ... ALL at your fingertips.
2.  bfads.net This website provides a list of ads from local stores such as Amazon, Best-Buy, Khol's, Sears, Target, and more. It even provides up-to-date information on what times stores will be opening and closing on Black Friday.
3. RetailMeNot.com: This is an excellent website and app to have handy when looking for deals all year-round. It serves as an added bonus during Black Friday! It's constantly being updated with a forum of new deals and promo codes.

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Phone Apps:

1. Black Friday Slickdeals: Some of the best features of this app include the ability to set up alerts when a desired deal goes live, the advantage of chatting with other deal-hunters for advice and insider-tips, and special access to Black Friday information.
2. Shop Savvy: This app allows you to SCAN the barcode of an item in store so that you can compare it to prices at other stores in real time! Most results will even include reviews on the item too!
3. Your Favorite Store: Chances are that YOUR FAVORITE STORE has an app specifically designed just for your shopping pleasure! Go to the app store and search your store of choice. Why not get your deal and coupon information straight from the source?

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Deals:

1. Forever 21 is having a Thanksgiving One-Day Sale, with 40% off hundreds of styles! By visiting the link, they'll show you a countdown til the sale goes live. Chances are, they'll have a Black Friday day sale too!
2. Express is one of those stores you admire from afar but typically only shop at when they have a good sale. Black Friday is the prime time to score at Express. Make sure to stay up-to-date with their website and social media posts to see what sales are in store.
3. Asos is providing an early sale for up to 70% off, but they are also going all out for Black Friday AND Cyber Monday. We recommend signing up, so that you can be the FIRST TO KNOW about all their exclusive offers.
4. Target is the perfect place to shop because you can literally make all your Christmas purchases at one store. They have such a wide variety of items ranging from electronics, to grocery, to home decor, to fashion and more! Check out their Black Friday catalog online.

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We hope these Black Friday apps, websites, and deals make your 2014 Black Friday shopping experience more efficient and enjoyable. Make sure to leave a comment and let us know some of your favorite places to shop for Black Friday, and maybe even share your shopping tips too!

May the Black Friday sales be ever in your favor!

Shades of Red: Shopping One Color at a Time

[h2]Over the next few weeks Top Buttons will be posting a series of articles that cater to YOUR color needs. Stay tuned as Alexis posts updates on the rest of the colors of the rainbow as we go in order using the standard ROY-G-BIV format. Keep in mind that all of the included items will always be under $50! So, whether you're shopping for a personal favorite color, shopping to match a specific color scheme for an event, or shopping to meet this season's trends, Top Buttons is your source for all fashion finds.[/h2]  

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Shades of Red by alexis-janee-gauthier 

Red dress $24 - chiarafashion.co.uk "You can't go wrong with chiffon and burgundy. They're among the most-wanted trends this season."

H M red flannel shirt $25 - hm.com "You won't regret purchasing this flannel shirt. It's the perfect thing to throw on for a comfy look."

Old Navy sweatshirt $20 - oldnavy.gap.com "Who doesn't love Coca Cola? Rep this timeless brand in this warm sweater."

Lucky Brand bleached jeans $35 - luckybrand.com "What a steal! These pants are normally $70 AND they're corduroy."

Converse sneaker $45 - dsw.com "Chuck Taylor's were cool in the 70's and they're still cool today. Purchase these shoes and they'll last you a lifetime."

Accessorize red handbag $28 - accessorize.com "These handbags are just darling! This red satchel makes a bold statement and can carry all of your daily essentials."

Rose earrings $3.38 - etsy.com "Studded earrings are classy, especially roses like these. You won't even know you're wearing earrings because they're so lightweight."

American Eagle Outfitters ribbed slouchy beanie $9.57 - ae.com "A good slouchy beanie is just what the hairstylist ordered for a bad-hair-day. Throw this on real quick, and you won't have to worry about your hair for the rest of the day."

Collection XIIX round scarf $28 - nordstrom.com "Infinity scarves are a never-ending trend. (Pun-intended). Pair this with a basic outfit to add a pop of color on a chilly day."

PurMinerals lip shine $15 - kohls.com "Sometimes a good lip color is all you need to be noticeable."

Topshop nail polish $8 - nordstrom.com "Let your nails be a blank canvas & don't be afraid to be daring with this red nail polish."

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[h1]We hope you enjoyed our Shades of Red feature. Give us feedback and make requests below so we can feature the trends and colors you'd like to see next. [/h1]

5 Steps To Finding Your Personal Style

Personal style is a journey. It always changes and evolves with you and your lifestyle. One season you may lean toward classic styles and the next you may love bohemian prints and silhouettes! Your fashion choices can change from day to day. That is the fun of fashion; it is self-expression and it is meant to be fun. Here are some tips to help you a long the way as you find your personal style:

What is style? It is an effortless confidence in being yourself, it is a way of putting yourself together according to what you want to project.  -DVF

1. Create a Pinterest account and start pinning images of outfits that you like. This will help you to identify your likes and dislikes. It will also help to train your eye in how to put together a complete look. The images should also serve as an inspiration for mixing patterns and colors.

2. Gather your favorite fashion magazines and tear out pictures of outfits that you like.

3. Take these images with you when you go shopping and look for similar pieces. Try them on and see if the style works on you.

4. Know your body type. Once you know what styles and silhouettes work for you, it will make shopping so much easier.

5. If you get stuck, enlist the help of a friend. Think of someone whose style you admire and ask them to go shopping with you. Having a second opinion can be extremely helpful.

 After all, style is something each of us already has-all we need to do is find it. -DVF

The key to finding your style is first gathering inspiration; whether it is from fashion magazines or from friends that you admire. The next step is to know your body type. Inspiration and knowledge are the seedbeds to creativity.

Photos via Pinterest: ( 1| 2 | 3 )

TRENDS FOR CHEAP

This month we will be featuring fashion posts that are vintage, eclectic, and CHEAP.  To accomplish this look all you will need are a pair of colored jeans, a men’s style blazer, and some riding boots.  It may seem out of the box, but this would look great on most body types.

We would like to say a special thank you to Dana Roquemore. She offered her services to us for this month’s fashion posts, styling our girls in clothing from her own clothing swap shop, Other People’s Property. She does consignment in a way that would make any piece look interesting and desirable, and yet these pieces are affordable for everyone! You can purchase the items featured in this post from her Other People’s Property online etsy shop. Or you can find pieces similar on your own consignment shop adventure!

Resist the urge to buy a “boyfriend blazer” from a department store. Most consignment shops are full of men’s blazers in all sizes that you can buy for super cheap. The shirt under this blazer is a sleeveless style that is tied at the bottom. New clothing styles in shops like Urban Outfitters show vintage looking tops like this for $30 and higher and are often see through! We recommend looking for this style top at consignments.

Tip: If you choose to tie the shirt at your waist and/or wear a see through vintage fabric, we recommend keeping your belly button and bra covered by wearing a light weight undershirt. SAME LOOK. NO SKIN. Reasonable. ☺

Tip:  Skinny jeans and tall riding boots make this outfit work.  Don’t feel confined to wearing tops and jackets that are tailored.  A large men’s style jacket can actually help you feel more comfortable in a pair of snug jeans.  Also, skinnies can often be “painted on” if you buy a size too small.  While skinny jeans are meant to be more fitted than other styles, they should not RESTRICT MOVEMENT.  Buying for your body type is a whole other subject.

Now her clothing is all from consignment, but her accessories are not!  We definitely need to offer alternatives to these accessories which can be pricey!

In place of the exceptional Tory Burch Riding Boot, we have found another super cute riding boot for $48 for you to consider.  We also found a "dupe" Michael Kors tortoise shell watch from Target for $14.99 which is similar watch to Michael Kors in the image above for a less expensive price.

Photo Credit:  Joanna LeMasters and Taylor Flumerfelt

Beat The Rush: Black Friday Deals

My Black Friday planning began this morning at 6:30 am when the ads arrived on my Aunt's doorstep! We quickly scanned the ads for things that we had in mind for gifts for family and friends, and then of course planned our map and spreadsheet for where and when we would arrive at each location.  

The most important part about Black Friday shopping is making a plan. When making my plan, I like to look at the ads with low prices on items that I have kept myself from buying during the year, and things I might wear for the winter season. This year, I will share with you my favorite picks for makeup, clothing, and shoes that you can find at low-budget prices!

Xhilaration Juniors Sequin Fleece Top-Assorted Colors- Featured Above: "Rust" $10.00 (Find at Target: Opens at 9pm on 11/22)

Decree Radiant Metallic Skinny Jeans- Featured Above "Mint" $15.00 (Find at JCPenny: Opens at 6am 11/23)

SO Tall Boots Juniors- Featured Above in Brown $19.99 (Find at KOHLS- Opens at Midnight on 11/23)

bareMinerals Glow Getters Radiant Trio & Dazzling Eye Trio $10.00 each (Find at ULTA Beauty- Opens at Midnight on 11/23)

These are just a few of the items that I will be purchasing tonight/tomorrow! If you would like to be a Black Friday Fashionista but don't want to wake up early, I will link some of my favorite websites and ads below for easy online Black Friday Shopping!

Old Navy Use Coupon Code TURKEYDAY for online check out.

Forever21 

Gap

J.Crew 

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Black Friday!