Heaven's to Betsey...

Oh my, this one's a doozy. Katie suggested that I take on Betsey Johnson this week for Frugal Friday. I love Betsey's style, but putting together an outfit was harder than I anticipated. And at over $500 (I think...I had a hard time tracking down prices), her outfit is certainly on the pricey side. All I can say is Betsey, you've got some crazy looks going on. I think her stuff is better taken one at a time than all at once. (Blue tights and red shoes? Very Superman!) I'm afraid it's a TOTC fashion fail. But hey, at least I found a $3 belt!

The scoop:

Rose Dress, Forever 21

Tights, Forever 21

Belt, Tillys

Mesh Skirt, Forever 21

Strappy Shoes, Endless

And since I'm a glutton for punishment, I tried again. What do you think...any better?

More stuff:

Dandy Felt Jacket, Forever 21

Model Face Slub Top, Forever 21

Ankle Knit Leggings, Forever 21

Lace Leggings, Charlotte Russe

Boots, DSW

Trick or Treat!

Boo! It's One Stop Thursday!
I love Halloween. There's nothing better than the smell of a pillowcase filled with candy. (Especially when you grew up in a house when Halloween was pretty much the only time of year you got candy. Yay, health food.) I would manage to make my pillow case last well past Christmas, when the only things left were knarly flavors of lollipops and old lady hard candy. 
So to celebrate the upcoming holiday, here's a little ensemble to get in the "spirit". Everything comes from Forever 21, a place where the deals are so good, they're scary.
(I'm all out of Halloween jokes. Just go eat some candy.)

The goods:
Spectrum Studs (8 pairs!)
Tweed Cabie Hat
Harley Boot
Ruffled Yarn Scarf
Fleece Jacket
Houndstooth Brooch
Mesh Top
Bootcut Jeans

Holiday Soiree

Kelly said, "I inherited this jewelry this summer. I would like to wear it to my husband’s annual work holiday party (at the country club – la de da) this December! The only problem is I don’t really wear this color, especially on formal/semi-formal occasions! I’m more of a black, brown, cranberry red kinda girl. Are you up for the challenge?"

Thanks Kelly! Talk about a challenge...I didn't realize how hard it would be to find something that matched blue topaz! I tried it with a brown dress (no luck), a white dress (very snowflake) and about ten other colors. Then I stumbled upon this black and white maxi dress. Hopefully it's just la de da enough for the country club! And at just $50, you can't beat the price!

The scoop:

Blue Topaz Necklace, Inherited (there are earrings too, but they didn't photoshop well!)

Chiffon Stripe Dress, ChicStar
Swirl Clutch, Endless
Bolero Jacket, Charlotte Russe
Asymmetrical Satin Shoes, Target

Sequins & Such

Katie said, "Hi TOTC! I love your blog! I have a suggestion for you - what would you wear with a sequined skirt? I just bought one today (because I'm a Rachel Zoe junkie and she "loves her some sequins") and have a few ideas for what to wear it with, but would love your opinion!" Katie then detailed some of her recent purchases over on her blog, and I borrowed her look (with permission, of course!) and added some accessories. I kept it monochromatic and used just a few semi-sparkly accessories. Katie travels for her job (read some of her hilarious travel stories here), so I threw in an awesome crocodile print patent carry on bag.

What do you think? Could you wear this to work? Does it need color, or would that be too much? Like I said before, I'm no fashion expert, so I could have totally missed the boat on sequins!

The goods:
Sequin Skirt, Tilly's
White Tee, Tilly's
Tuxedo Vest, Tilly's
Flat Boots, Payless
Flapper Bugle Bead Necklace, Forever 21
Patent Crocodile Carry On Bag, Charlotte Russe
Opaque Tights, Forever 21
Etched Teardrop Earrings, Charlotte Russe
Gaudy Faceted Ring, Forever 21

Kiss Me Kate

I have a confession to make...I know absolutely nothing about fashion. I don't follow trends. I don't pay any attention to what so-and-so celebrity is wearing. I can't tell you the top purse or shoe brands. My style is entirely dictated by what I like, and if what I like is on sale. Pretty ironic that I decided to write a fashion blog, right?
So why the disclaimer? Well, my friend Rachel suggested I take on Kate Spade for Frugal Friday, and honestly, I didn't know that Kate made more than purses. I know, stuck in the dark ages. So I discovered Kate Spade clothing. And serioulsy love what she's got going. Just look at that cute chick up there! Red, black and white! Polka Dots! Pencil Skirts! Kate and I are on the same wavelength. Well, not entirely. Kate's look costs $1,585. Blarg. That's a mortgage payment! Sorry Kate, my new found love only goes so far.

So, I gave Kate the kiss off and stole her look. And at less than $175, you can still look as if you've got 1,500 bucks to blow on clothes. Thanks for the inspiration, Kate. Sorry it didn't work out between us.

The goods:
Long Sleeve Cardigan, Topshop
Tweed Pencil Skirt, NY&Co
Dotted Shell, White House Black Market
Quilted Stretch Belt, Buckle
Patent Bag, Newport News
Rhinestone Petals Ring, Forever 21
Red Suede Peep Toes, Ebay
Solid Tights, Old Navy

Baby's 1st Birthday

My darling cousin Ashley said, "Hey Tracy, I was thinking maybe for your next blog you could do a mommy and baby first birthday party outfit for both. I am strapped for cash and have no idea what we'll wear."
Because we're cousins, both Ashley and I have inherited a prevalent family trait...the cheap gene. Our grandma had 12 kids and knew a thing or two about being frugal and stretching a dollar. Thus, we all learned the value of a good deal. And a good sense of humor.  :)
After a great trip to Old Navy last night, I decided "shop" there for Ashley's look. Mama and baby can both dress up for under $200. Even better, mama's outfit doubles as office wear after the birthday party, and baby's outfit is warm enough to last many wearings through the winter. (And don't you just love that both of you can wear Mary Jane's? Too cute!) Hope you like it, Ashley!

One Stop Thursday...everything today comes from Old Navy.
For baby:
Plaid Jumper
Lettuce Edge Turtleneck
Cable Knit Tights
Mary Jane's

For mama:

Faux Gem Cardigan

Ruffled V Neck Top

Classic Rise Trousers

Mary Jane's

Faux Pearl Choker

It's a Deal!

I fell in love with this red skirt this summer at Old Navy, but it was a little pricey at $26.50. Last night I went to Old Navy and they were having their oh so amazing 50% off already marked down merchandise sale. Long story short, I got a $30 sweater for $8, a $25 shirt for $7, and the aforementioned skirt...only $4! There's value in waiting for something to go on sale!

Tough Chick

We've been watching the new show "The Good Wife" on Tuesday nights. One of the characters is a researcher for a law firm, and she rocks some wicked over the knee boots and funky blazers on a regular basis. Do people who work in law firms regularly wear those? I'm guessing no. But it makes for some good TV!

The scoop:

Belted Satin Jacket, Charlotte Russe

Beaded Top, Forever 21

Studded Purse, Charlotte Russe

Over the Knee Boots, Forever 21

City of Angels Ring, Modcloth

Skinny Jeans, Old Navy

Girl in Boots

I used to work in a corporate office where there was no defined dress code. It seemed that the closer you were to the CEO, the better you were expected to dress. I sat about 30 feet from the CEO's office, so I always tried to dress just a bit more professionally that the norm.

Then I realized that my job sucked.

At that point, I started to push the boundaries of denim at work. Denim blazer? Why not. Denim skirt? The girl around the corner is wearing jeans and a sweatshirt, for crying out loud. I always made sure I looked put together and professional, but I had fun pushing the envelope while I was at it. "Sticking it to the man", as it were.

And if you can stick it to the man while wearing a beret, then ain't life just grand?

The goods:

Picot Ruffle Blouse, Charlotte Russe

The Pop-lar Pendant, Modcloth

Spice Cookie Hobo Tie Bag, Etsy

Beret, Target

Denim Pencil Skirt, Old Navy

Buckled Slouchy Boots, Charlotte Russe

Being Cheap...It's a Science

Anthropology:the social science that studies the origins and social relationships of human beings.
Anthropologie: the science of dressing to look as if you carelessly threw on five things that were just lying around.
Yep, I'm taking on Anthropologie today. I think I'm bitter towards them because I really, really like their stuff, but I really, really can't afford it. Like the outfit above...total, it costs $500. Seriously? I'd kill for that jacket, but I just don't have the extra $160 to blow on something that will have spit up on it in less than 2 minutes.


So here's my version. At under $100 for the whole look, baby can spit up all she wants and I won't freak about my expensive jacket getting ruined. Funny how having kids puts things in perspective!

The goods:
Lady Capelet Jacket, Forever 21
Abstract Print Skirt, Forever 21
Wide Crocodile Belt, Charlotte Russe
Mason Button Boot, Payless
Chunky Faux Pearl Necklace, Forever 21
Tights (3 pairs!), Forever 21

Cameo Appearance

Don't have the time to go to more than one store? Don't want to pay for shipping from multiple places? Well, you're in the right place! Welcome to one-stop Thursdays here at Tracy on the Cheap. (Or TOTC, as I like to acronym myself). I'm going to try something new and have everything in my Thursday posts be from the same store (like the maternity post from Old Navy awhile back). So, readers out in blog land, what store would you like me to feature next week? Give me a challenge!

Today everything comes from Forever 21:

Pearl Clip on Earrings

Cameo Locket

Linen Pants

Crepe Blouse

Open Front Cardigan

Suedette Bow Flats

Patent Trim Tote

I'm a Jedi!

Maybe you have a brother like mine...an avid Star Wars fan perhaps? Maybe your brother was third in the nation for floral design (for an asymmetrical Bird of Paradise arrangement, no less). Maybe your brother can't watch Overboard without crying, either. Maybe YOUR brother lives in your grandma's house. No? Well...poor you.

If you did have a brother like mine, you would be darn lucky, because my brother is pretty awesome. And he's been bugging me for quite a while to make him a Jedi outfit. So here you go, Christopher. If the Jedi thing doesn't work out for you, there's always flowers.

Green Goddess

I've had my eye on this dress from Modcloth for awhile. I love the color, but I was having a hard time with the price. $90? Yikes. I finally caved. (Yes, even spending imaginary money is hard for me). I figured it would be a good purchase for the holidays...add a little red or silver and you're oh so Christmas-y! As it is, I love it with the magenta clutch and jeweled earrings. And those gold shoes...va va voom!

The goods:

Steve Madden Clutch, Endless.com

Jeweled Crescent Earrings, Forever 21

Textured Cuff, Forever 21

Platforms, Endless.com

Grecian Green Dress, Modcloth

Mother of the Bride

One of my dearest childhood friends, Rebecca, is getting married next May. Growing up, we loved to play dress up, but not just any old dress up. We played historical dress up. We were Civil War ladies, Edwardian damsels, and 1920's flappers. So I wasn't surprised to hear that Rebecca is having an Art Deco themed wedding. How perfect...the ultimate dress up opportunity!

Rebecca's mom, Diana, asked me to put together a mother of the bride outfit for her. It's an evening wedding, and the reception is at an awesome new, yet vintage inspired, hotel in Sacramento. I wanted to steer away from the typical mother of the bride look and give Diana something really stylish and fun to wear, while sticking the the Art Deco theme. This was such fun to put together...I hope you like it!

The scoop:

Black Satin Dress, Ebay

Jeweled Crest Earrings, Forever 21

Knotted Bead Chain Necklace, Forever 21

Platform Stiletto Heels, Target

Lulu Townsend Satin Clutch, DSW

Branching Out!

Inspired by a new neighbor who is in the process of decorating her house, I decided to branch out today and try something new. What do you think?
Our house is furnished with an assortment of Ikea deals, Craigslist finds, and Big Lots steals. Why? Because we're cheap. We figure we can live with what we've got until we find the perfect piece at the perfect price. Sure, it may mean driving an hour to look at a Craiglist couch site unseen, but you may end up with a great deal. (Like our perfect red microfiber sectional that was only $300.)
Onward...I loooove this rug from Ikea. I think it would be perfect in a sunny corner with a comfy chair for reading and a little table to set a cup of tea. The perfect cozy Saturday!

The scoop:

"Close Examination" Print, Etsy

Lamp, Walmart

Chair, Target

Console Table, Target

Rug, Ikea

Curtains, Ikea

Crew on the Cheap

Observe the J. Crew model above. She looks quite unhappy. Maybe it's because she just spent $995.50 on her outfit. I'd probably have that same "are you serious?" look on my face too if I spent that much money. Or, maybe she just needs a sandwich. Alas, she cannot afford one.

How about the same look for around $130? That's less than the shoes from J. Crew! And you'll have $870 left over to spend on such frivolities as food, shelter, and transportation! (Yes, I am a bit snarky today. $550 coats, that sold out while I wrote this post, will do that to a frugalista)

The goods:

Tweed Classic Trench, Forever 21

Chiffon Top, Forever 21

Tapered Ankle Pant, White House Black Market

Solid Long Cardigan, Charlotte Russe

T Strap Pumps, Payless

Happy Hour

Today's post is inspired by an outfit I saw a girl wearing in a trendy bar downtown. This chick just looked so cute and put together, so I decided to borrow her style. And no, we don't usually frequent "trendy bars", it happened to be our anniversary, and the bar was next to our hotel. Give me a good dive bar any day.
Back to the matter at hand...the whole belt over the vest over the blouse thing looks hard to pull off, but the bar girl did it effortlessly. She had some big statement necklace on that looked like it cost more than this whole outfit, so I used one from Modcloth that's a bit more affordable. And yes, I've used these ballet flats before. They are the bomb. (Or "raw", as the youngsters are saying these days).

The goods:
Bronze Flats, Target
Another Dimension Necklace, Modcloth
Faux Croc Handbag, Overstock
Blue Cult Jeans, Overstock
Belt, Forever 21
Safari Shirt, Walmart
Vest, Arden B

Outdoor Wedding Wear

Kristin said, "I love your blog! It's so cute. I have a special request for it. I'm going to an evening outdoor wedding, and am worried about being cold, but I don't really want to wear my coat either. Any ideas?"
First, thanks so much! I'm glad you like my blog...it's a bunch of fun! Second, I've been looking for a reason to use this black bolero jacket from Charlotte Russe. I paired it with a corset top (yes, I am rather obsessed with them...I realized when I looked through some old posts I've used quite a few. So shoot me, corsets are cool) and a CHEAP-O skirt from Forever 21. If you're daring, you could even wear it with tall black boots to keep you extra warm. I love using stuff from Etsy, so I searched for a clutch that would match. Add some bling and you're good to go! Thanks for the request, Kristin...I hope you like it!

The scoop:
Ruched Satin Corset, Charlotte Russe
Bolero Jacket, Charlotte Russe
Satin Bow Pumps, Target
Rhinestone Hoops, Forever 21
Skirt, Forever 21
Mod Metal Ring, Forever 21
Clutch, Etsy