Tag Archives: frugal

Savvy Summer Swimsuits (Take 2)

July 29, 2015

Good morning, fashionable friends!

Summer is in its prime and many vacations have yet to be taken. For those of us headed to beach destinations, our greatest accessory is skin tight and often a tad uncomfortable. What eases the nerves of the female beach-goer bearing it all? Cute swimwear!

In the spirit of sunshine and sand, here are five affordable swimsuits that are sure to keep you stunning while sunning.

ASOS Vintage Hawaiian Print 70s Plung Halter ($53.75)

Missguided Color Block Bikini (Starting at $27)

Wolf & Whistle High Waist Bikini (Starting at $27)

River Island Swimsuit in Leaf ($62)

Platinum L Space Strappy Bikini (Starting at $59)

Make Up Bag Essentials

July 20, 2015

Good morning, fashionable friends!

As previously mentioned, I am obsessed with French women and their seemingly effortless glamour. Because of my love affair with the world of French elegance, my makeup routine has become a bit minimalist. I am focused more on diligent skincare and healthy living habits than I am on camouflaging my imperfections. That doesn’t mean that I don’t occasionally glam it up with some serious blush and eyeliner, but I keep things pretty simple on a day to day basis.

In addition to the awesome products that I use, I have a great make up bag that actually fits EVERYTHING. If you are looking for an adorable, functional makeup bag that is easy to throw in your purse when you are on the go, check out the canvas bags from Sugarboo Designs. The one listed below was given to me as a gift from my boyfriend’s mother and I simply adore it.

Post any questions you might have about my skincare and makeup routines below.

Happy shopping, fashionable friends!

The Good Girl Who Went Broke

1. Sugarboo Designs Canvas Bag with Audrey Hepburn Quote ($16)

2. Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 ($48)

3. Fringe Benefits Mascara ($17.50)

4. NYX Natural Eye Shadow Pallette ($7.50)

5. NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder ($6.00)

6. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer ($29)

7. Benefit Cosmetics High Brow ($22)

8. Benefit Cosmetics Benetint Cheek & Lip Stain ($30)

9. Jouer Cosmetics Highlighter ($22)

10. NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil ($26)

11. Beauty Blender Sponge ($20)

12. Sephora Collection Classic Setting Powder Brush ($11)

13. MAC Cosmetics Blender Brush 217 ($24)

14. Claudalie Beauty Elixer ($18)

15. Bobbi Brown Ink Liner ($29)

Miss USA Inspired Bikini Bling

July 18, 2015

Good morning again, fashionable friends!

In honor of the recent Miss USA 2015 competition, today’s post is all about brazenly blingy bikinis.

Wearing a sequined bikini isn’t for everyone so I’ve included some more subtle options for those of us who are, say, a bit more minimalist.

Fashionably yours,

The Good Girl Who Went Broke

Lolli Swim-Sea Bikini

Amuse Society Angie Sequin Bikini

PilyQ ‘Gypsy’ Embellished Bikini

QUINTSOUL Wild Orchid Bikini

When Good Girls Go Broke just launched on Instagram!

July 17, 2015

Hello, fashionable friends!

If you love the blog, you will love what’s coming for Instagram! Check it out at WhenGoodGirlsGoBroke.

Sale Alert: LuLu’s

July 17, 2015

Lulu’s Happy Hour sale – get 20% rompers and jumpsuits with code: HH20ROMP

Fab & Frugal Deal of the Day – The Ex Boyfriend

July 17, 2015

Today’s awesome deal…more deconstructed denim!!!

I will shop until the ends of the earth to find the perfect pair of deconstructed jeans. The struggle is real when it comes to finding quality denim that fits in all the right places rather than channels the return of the “mom jean” complete with saggy bottom or creepy camel toe.

Enjoy today’s deal!

Fashionably yours,

The Good Girl Who Went Broke

Nasty Gal – The Ex Boyfriend

Celebrity Copy Cat – Classy Casual

July 17, 2015

Hello again, fashionable friends!

I’m sure most of you have caught on to the “classy casual” trend that seems to have swept through popular blog posts around the world. SincerelyJules and Kature have even been known to even strut down a red carpet wearing a Chanel jacket and Jimmy Choo pumps styled with unexpected deconstructed denim trousers, minimal makeup, and beachy waves. We all love it, right? The juxtaposition of the classic with the edgy is exciting; however, the cruel irony of the seemingly downplayed, popular look is that it is pretty damn difficult to pull off.

So, where do we start? How do we mimic those fashion icons without looking like Modonna and Jackie Kennedy’s wardrobes had a dysfunctional lovechild? Even more, how do we do it without breaking the bank on some of the items that seem almost essential to the look (i.e. Valentino studded heels)?

Let’s take a little inspiration from our friends over at SincerelyJules and Kayture (both fabulous – check them out)…

Credit: Kayture.com

Credit: SincerelyJules.com

Now…to mimic the looks without gawking at the price tags.

Firstly, both classy casual looks have one thing in common – those incredible Rockstud heels from Valentino ($995). I don’t know about you, but my “mom status” puts me more in the Nordstrom Rack roaming section rather than the Saks “hand over your kid’s college tuition” section. One of the best look-alikes I found is by Loslandifen and is a mere $39!

Secondly, we need a structured jacket. Fortunately, the classic fashionista usually has one or two of those somewhere in her closet. In case you are looking for something new, I am loving the Mural Slouchy Blazer. I own it in almost every color and I adore all of them.

Thirdly, minimalist accessories like the Long Necklace Gold Bar from Layered and Long and a classic structured tote make this look understated yet fabulous.

Finally, pair an unstructured top like a the Zara loose t-shirt with a basic pair of bottoms. Based on the two inspiration pictures, I included a white denim option and a great black short option. Both are affordable and would look great with your blogger-inspired look!

Fasionably yours,

The Good Girl Who Went Broke

Sale Alert: Splendid

July 16, 2015

Splendid is hosting their Summer Clearance sale with some awesome deals on swimwear and shoes. Check it out, friends!

Fab & Frugal Deal of the Day: Wilfred Free VERONIKA Dress

July 16, 2015

Greetings, fashionable friends!

If you have ever shopped at one of my favorite stores, Aritzia, you have seen the great stock of Wilfred items. Wilfred is an incredibly well-made somewhat high-end brand. When they put something on sale I pay attention.

Aritzia is running a fabulous sale right now with 30% – 70% sale styles. Fortunately for savvy shoppers, that means that great brands like Wilfred are more affordable and now is the time to indulge a bit.

This basic dress by Wilfred is flowy and fun. It can be easily dressed up or down simply by changing shoes. You may need a simple white slip to wear under it but that is something you should have in your fashion arsenal anyway.

Happy shopping!

Fashionably yours,

The Good Girl Who Went Broke

Wilfred Free VERONIKA Dress ($54)

Sale Alert: SHOPBOP Designer Sale

July 15, 2015

Fab & Frugal Deal of the Day: The Red Heel

July 15, 2015

Hello, fashionable friends!

Red is a confidence color. It makes a gal feel sexy and maybe just a little bit edgy. That’s what I love about today’s deal. It is completely affordable, stylish, trendy, and just a little bit scandalous.

If you’re not into the red, this shoe also comes in a classic black.

Scroll down a bit to see how other trendy ladies are wearing similar styles.

Fashionably yours,

The Good Girl Who Went Broke

Steve Madden ‘President’ Lace Up Sandal ($89)

Style Inspiration

PHOTO: Kristy Sparow/Getty Images

Sale Alert!

July 15, 2015

Hello, fashionable friends!

I have several fantastic sale alerts to share with you today! Take advantage of some of these great discounts instead of melting away in the summer heat.

Best,

The Good Girl Who Went Broke

Fab & Frugal Deals of the Day: The Cover Up

May 13, 2015

Good morning, fashionable friends!

Yesterday’s beach bag post has put me in the summertime spirit!

Finding the perfect swimsuit is always the hardest part of the summer shopping season. We don’t want to hide our hard-earned bodies or our perfectly fit suits from the world as we make our way to the beach, but we also don’t want to walk around totally exposed showing off some of our more jiggly bits when it may not be entirely appropriate to do so.

The swimsuit cover up is a fun item to shop for and often pretty affordable. I like to splurge a bit on this particular item since wearing it makes me feel pretty and helps me build my confidence as I walk to the beach. I sometimes need a little extra boost of confidence in order to bare my bare self. Plus – it can often double as a cute top or dress when paired with the right undergarments.

Side Cowl Cover Up ($54.50)

High Tide Blue Life Maxi Dress ($107.98)

High Tide Maxi

Raviya Convertible Dress ($36)

Joni Kimono Cardigan ($52)

Kimono Cardigan

Warehouse Zig Zag Print Kaftan ($79)

ASOS Zig Zag Print Kaftan

Top Shop Tile Print Dress ($50)

Tile Print Dress

Beach Bag Essentials

May 12, 2015

Hello, fashionable friends!

Today we’re going to talk about everyone’s favorite summer accessory – the beach bag. It’s stylish, roomy, and meant to hold all of our beachy essentials. What girl doesn’t love a good excuse to pack a giant purse?!

The beach is the ideal vacation spot. You can gracefully adorn the sand as you tan your winter whites away or you can hop in the surf for a little fun in the waves. Whatever your beach time habits are, I guarantee you brought along your stylish tote.

Here are my affordable beach bag essentials…

1) H&M Sunglasses ($7.95)

2) H&M Bikini Bottoms ($12.95)

3) H&M Bikini Top ($17.95)

4) H&M Beach Towel ($12.95)

5) H&M Straw Hat ($12.95)

6) Hawaiian Tropic SPF 15 Tanning Oil ($8.49)

7) Hawaiian Tropic Shimmer Effect Coconut Lotion ($6.79)

8) Ulta Spray SunScreen SPF 50 ($8.49)

9) Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm ($6.99)

10) Argan OIl Hair Treatment ($11.99)

11) Women’s Woven Straw Tassle Tote ($29.99)

12) Trader Joes Freeze Dried Strawberries (In Store)

13) Orla Kiely Bamboo Water Bottle ($14.99)

14) Volcom Have Fun Thong Sandal ($23.95)

The Bitch Is Back In Town

May 7, 2015

In the immortal words of Elton John, the bitch is back in town.

Once again, life took over and my blogging hobbies were pushed aside while I tried to balance work, relationships, finances, travel, and general life chaos. Since I have learned to better manage the insanity of life and better balance my priorities, I have carved out a little extra time for this great adventure. This project is my treat to myself and hopefully something fun that we can indulge in together.

So…here we go…again.

Fashionably yours,

The Good Girl Who Went Broke

http://www.inslee.net/blog/index.php/page/6/

A Flowery Affair

May 7, 2015

Hello, again, fashionable friends!

Let’s get back into the blogging grind with some flowery fun…

Flowers have been on trend since, well, the first woman came into existence. Can’t you just imagine Eve with a garland of daises atop her perfectly placed tresses? Even now Princess Kate Middleton gracefully exits the hospital adorned in spring-inspired florals.

Although the floral trend is time tested and celebrity approved, there are some rules to donning herbaceous threads.

Rule #1 – Don’t overdo it.

Remember the pregnant Kim Kardashian and her rose garden disaster? Although I love the shape of the dress, she looks like a floating head in a sea of poorly placed rosettes. Instead, let’s look for something with a flattering shape and appropriately placed blooms (i.e. Eva Mendes).

Rule #2 – Florals aren’t just for the fancy.

Florals can be a great go-to for a feminine take on running errands. Sarah Jessica Parker, Eva Mendes, Reese Witherspoon, and Jessica Alba use flowery frocks all the time to update an otherwise basic look. Here are a few fun examples:

http://www.elle.com/fashion/celebrity-style/news/g7495/alexa-chung-style/?slide=7

Photo: Getty Images

http://fashiongum.com/womens-fashion/2015-fashion-trend-floral-pants-for-women/

Photo: Fashion Gum

Photo: Stoianov/FAMEFLYNET PICTURES

Rule #3 – Keep the floral pasties UNDER a fabulous top.

Fab and Frugal Deal of the Day: Sale Alert #2!

August 14, 2014

I have loved Calvin Klein since I put on my first classic black pencil skirt. You can only imagine how excited I was to find that Calvin Klein is having a huge sale today. The Calvin Klein classics are the foundation pieces for a spectacularly timeless wardrobe.

Here are a few of my favorite sale steals from Calvin Klein all for less than $69…

Wear White While You Can…

August 13, 2014

Vogue’s Best Dressed list was full of white ensembles this week. I love every one of them. White is so perfectly flattering on just about every skin tone and creates a sort of minimalist backdrop to show off those well-maintained locks.

To be honest, I don’t really believe in the old “no white after labor day” rule. I think that some of fall and winter’s best looks have been all white ensembles. However, to appease the crowd of traditionalists, here’s a great guide to wearing white before Labor Day arrives and before the color is no longer (traditionally) fashionably acceptable for fall.

For a little celebrity inspiration, visit this week’s Best Dressed list by Vogue.

For those fabulous ladies on a budget, here are some of the week’s best deals on one of my favorite wardrobe colors:

Quilted Rucksack ($69)

Maia Zipper Detail Stretch Pique Sheath Dress ($88)

Free People Star Slipdress ($98)

Halogen Linen Blend Jacket ($46)

Crepe Collarless Moto Jacket ($105)

Zara Checked Shirt ($69)

Hue Ankle Zip Skimmer Leggings ($44)

Asos Column Pencil Skirt In Leather ($110)

Soft Slipper ($39)

The Transitional Wardrobe

August 11, 2014

Good morning, fashionable friends!

Summer is slowly coming to a close as we prepare for new school schedules and cooler temperatures. So, even if it isn’t time to put away those shorts and pull out the parkas, it is nearly time for the implementation of the transitional wardrobe.

Transitional wardrobes are a girl’s best friend. Transitional wardrobes are a blend of pieces from warmer weather clothing and cooler weather clothing. With layers, you can be prepared for the first bits of cooler weather while still maintaining an appropriate style for the hotter moments of the day that are yet to let our sweaty selves be.

Although everyone is familiar with layering, Miranda Kerr is the queen of modern transitional dress. She has mastered color pallets, fabrics, and flirty styles while managing to remain appropriate for any woman to imitate on a daily basis. Here are just a few of her transitional wardrobe styles

In any one of these photos, a layer or two could be removed to make the outfits more warm weather friendly. Also, the end of summer time also means a rush to wear all of those nautical inspired items that we bought for summer (i.e. blue and white striped sweater, etc.).

The other thing that makes Miranda Kerr’s wardrobe so functional is that her statement pieces (i.e. cropped leather jacket, utility jacket, booties, neutral totes, etc.) are timeless and appropriate for all seasons. Summer may not yet be over, but it’s time to start preparing for some stylish layers.

Fab & Frugal Deal of the Day: Teeny Weeny Polka Dot Bikini

February 28, 2014

I love J. Crew’s swimsuit collection – they always fit great and last forever. This particular set from J. Crew is on sale and totally worth the leftover Christmas money. I recommend sizing up a bit in the cup size if you can since those triangle bikinis can sometimes be the perfect recipe for “wardrobe malfunction” if they’re not properly fit.

Happy shopping, fashionable friends!

J. Crew Dot Bikini ($59)

Fab & Frugal Deal of the Day

February 21, 2014

Hello, fashionable friends!

I love this coral bag! It’s a great spring color and the size is great for carrying around all of a lady’s must-haves. For Less than $40, this bag is definitely worth adding to your spring wardrobe aresenal.

Happy shopping!

Coral New League Purse ($39.95)

Celebrity Copycat

February 20, 2014

Hello, fashionable friends!

It has been a busy, busy week! I have lots of exciting news to share with you in the next few days. My lack of posts has been due to some hard work on additional features, so I’d keep an eye out. This next week you can expect a WGGGB app for IOS, some awesome downloads, and a secret email list with great info on sales and additional WGGGB features. I may even have some insider celebrity tips coming your way – shhhh!

Also, keep in mind that you can ask via Twitter (@WGGGB) or direct comment for specific celebrity styles to be repurposed for the gal on a budget. For your recommendations, you’ll get an honorary post mention and be entered into an annual drawing for some fashionably fabulous prizes!

In honor of the “celebrity tips” hint, it’s time for a Celebrity Copycat post.

Emma has deservedly become a fashion icon and managed to almost disconnect from the frizzy-haired wizard gal-pal of her Harry Potter days. She has matured into quite the lovely young lady and managed to find a great sense of grown-up style along the way. Her favorite go-to wardrobe staple – cropped black pants. She wears them ALL the time and they always look great.

Emma Watson’s Street Style

Emma Watson’s Fashionably Frugal Copycat Look

Fantas Eyes Tortoise Shell Sunglasses ($12)

ASOS Black Secret Heat Shirt ($52)

Longline Double Breasted Coat ($76)

Nordstrom Edyson ‘Sloan’ Skinny Jeans ($33)

VC Signature Nancy Loafer ($99 – originally $225)

Awesome Alternates

ASOS Classic Trench Coat ($79)

Free People Long Beach Tank ($20)

Wallace Oxfor by Steven Madden ($89)

Fab & Frugal Deal of the Day

February 11, 2014

Hello again!

This Anthropologie basic is ideal for any layering junkie. I try to buy this tank in every color every time it comes on sale because I love it that much! The colors range from red to neon yellow. I included two of this season’s new colors below.

If you’re looking for some wardrobe basics to layer beneath those winter duds or a great summer time top to pair with those cute cut-off shorts, this is your tank.

Anthropologie Basic Layering Tank ($9)

Comfy In Cargo

February 11, 2014

Hello again, fashionable friends!

I love a comfortable outfit which is also effortlessly adorable. Skinny military-inspired pants are all the rage right now and can be appropriate for many a body type. For a casual, feminine take on an otherwise masculine trend, check out this fashionably frugal ensemble…

Hinge Textured Cardigan ($46)

ASOS Tank High Neck ($14)

Tiri Cargo Pants ($59)

Red Dress Fashion Show – Day One

February 11, 2014

Hello, fashionable friends!

The Red Dress Fashion Show was a huge hit this year! In honor of that program, today’s post contains tons of awesome pieces in…you guessed it…RED.

Red has long been considered a wardrobe basic and continues to adorn runways across the seasons. Blonde, brunette, or ginger – red is your color! Enjoy this collection of chic, affordable red items and show your reddish hues in honor of those powerful individuals whom have battled heart disease and to create awareness for those who may still be at risk. In addition, keep a sharp lookout for multiple Red Dress galleries as the week goes on.

Happy shopping!

P.S. If you want more information about the Heart Truth Campaign, click here.

Marissa Dress ($89)