Here's a look at what I purchased in June. I ordered 1, 4 and 9 online, and the rest I scored here and there after shopping with clients (I always see items I want and then go back and scoop them up!). The items that were on my wish list include: anything print (top row), a mint cardigan, this exact colorblock skirt, and minimalist shoes. The other items (jewelry, the camel skirt, and jean shorts) were not planned, but were great prices and good choices for my closet. No coupons were used other than the Foursquare deal at American Eagle - check in, then show them your phone to get 15% off your purchase.
1. Limited graphic shirt, $32
2. H&M printed top, $25 (similar)
3. Francesca's Closet shirt, $23 (similar, similar)
4. Limited mint print, $22
5. H&M shoes, $35 (similar, similar)
6. H&M spike necklace, $13 (similar)
7. Banana turquoise cuff, $10
8. Limited camel pencil skirt, $20 (similar)
9. Limited colorblock skirt, $39
10. Limited mint cardigan, $18 (similar)
11. American Eagle shorts, $25
12. Not pictured: Banana turquoise ring, $5
= June $267
I decided to dip into my July budget early, while the sales are hot. The two best times of year to shop are after Christmas, and at the end of June (when the seasons switch) so I hit up the mall on Friday with my friend Ashley (the first time I have gone shopping for fun - not work - in months, loved it!). Everything I bought was on my wish list: prints/stripes, anything purple and I've been hunting for a mustard skirt for forever. No coupons were used other than the Gap shirts (bottom row), which were purchased together with a $20 reward (prices without the coupon would have been $19, $8 and $8). Everything else was purchased right off the rack! As I always say, prices are usually way better in stores than online so try to shop in stores if you can. What deals did you score this month?
1. Limited watercolor top, $15
2. Limited streaks top, $15
3. Limited tribal top, $25
4. J.Crew purple shirt, $45
5. J.Crew mustard pencil, $45
6. Gap Ikat top, $9
7. Gap graphic tee, $3
8. Gap striped tee, $3
= July $160 (so far)
For more info on clothing budgets, please see my post "How to Set a Clothing Budget."
I love the H&M printed top! That is a fabulous selection for the month! Hope you have a great day!
ReplyDeletehttp://easyoutfitsbypip.blogspot.com
I love our similar taste :-) I also purchased the JCrew pencil skirt in "neon Pink" but only paid $25.00 at the store. Girl I made out like a bandit on this one...lol
ReplyDeleteDayi
http://www.dayissenseofstyle.com/
I love all the mint I am seeing! I love the Jcrew items too :-)
ReplyDeleteMaria
www.daintyanddecadent.com
I'm loving those mint H&M shoes...I also love those silk J Crew blouses, aren't they the best?
ReplyDeletelove that turquoise cuff from Banana! Gonna venture out to the mall to do some shopping for upcoming events in July!
ReplyDeleteAllison
I'm so jealous you get to enjoy the deals in the stores! I can only shop online thus, I know I'm not getting the best deals! Love what you purchased!
ReplyDeleteAmy
www.LeopardandLillies.com
You are so inspiring! I actually bought some gold deck shoes this past weekend (with a gift card so free!!!) and I wouldn't have looked at them if you hadn't worn something similar.
ReplyDeleteI am in the middle of losing weight (20 lbs so far) and am not shopping for clothes until September. I am able to wear alot of things in my closet that have been too tight so it's ALMOST like new clothes! I love your site. It really makes you think of your closet in a different way. At least it does me!
love the budgeting - I've been using the example for my own blog and budgeting! Thanks J!
ReplyDeletesarahsavvystyle.com
you are an incredible shopper - so much fashion for your dollars!
ReplyDelete♥ ThankFifi
I wish I could set clothes budgets like you do! I just don't have the willpower haha : )
ReplyDeletehttp://allthingsprettyandlittle.blogspot.com/
I love all the prints! I have been ignoring Gap for a while now because I hadn't found anything there in years, but I actually love the tops you got. (I *really* want that Ikat one, but online I only see it in pink and for almost $50! I guess I better get to a store!)
ReplyDeleteIrene, make sure you are looking at the item in the regular size, not the petite. It is available in blue, but is still $49.95.
ReplyDeleteloving the deals and items you got so far!!
ReplyDeleteLove that you show us your purchases and budget info....thank you! Since my husband and I got married I have been working on a $200 a month shopping budget. At first, I hated it...but now I have gotten used to it and find it helpful so I don't go over board with my shopping.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing :)
Lindsay @LindsayJEveryday.blogspot.com
Like it!)
ReplyDeleteThat cuff is amazing!!!!!!! :)
ReplyDeleteI second what Stephanie said - not sure what's up with that link, but if you click "regular" you can see all three color options for that shirt. It's still full-price online but in my store it was marked $19 on the sale rack!
ReplyDeleteYou are right! The gap sales were awesome. I found 5 tops and a cardigan tops all $4-7 each. Banana had some good deal too: a sweater, 2 bracelets, and a beautiful print top for $30 total. Loft also has 50% off sales right now. They had some great deals online for accessories.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on losing weight!! :-) That is very much like getting new clothes haha! I love your resolve to wait to shop.
ReplyDeleteYes! I wanted that one really bad but they didn't have my size. I also considered a purple color that was only $30 but I felt like 4 pencil skirts in 2 months might be a bit much lol. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThose shoes are the absolute best!
ReplyDeleteHi J,
ReplyDeleteQuick question: Do you always include accessories in your clothing budget? And what about instances where you have to buy items for say, a wedding? For each new wedding I am in, I am finding myself buying a dress, shoes, accessories etc.. and if I include this in my monthly budget, it it totally blown.
What is your take on glitter shoes...specifically these by Michael Antonio? Is this something you would purchase?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.6pm.com/michael-antonio-keme-2-black
I looked at the mustard j crew skirt but it says $69, not $45... am i doing something wrong? I have been after a mustard skirt FOREVER!!! thanks for the tips!!
ReplyDeleteOliviamoone.blogspot.com
Excellent questions. I do take accessories out of my clothing budget (sometimes I don't include Stella & Dot, but that's a much different relationship since I sell it). For a wedding, if I'm a bridesmaid I take that out of the "gift" fund. My bridesmaid dress in October was $275, and my clothing budget at the time was $100. Thankfully I'm a big saver and I like to put a lot in the bank each month, so I had some wiggle room and just took the dress from that. As a regular wedding guest though, I would almost always take it from my regular budget.
ReplyDeleteI haven't hopped on board yet with the glitter shoes, but I do love them, especially for NYE, Vegas or a birthday. I really like the black and gold colors of the ones you linked to!
ReplyDeleteGreat Tip about shopping this time of year! I always do all the kids school shopping now, the malls are not as crowded as the week before school starts and there are tons of clearance items! pippa
ReplyDeleteLove those heels, very chic! I just bought an H&M top for $17 that is similar to item #2. It was actually in the swimsuit coverup section, but I think it could easily double as a blouse if worn with a cami underneath!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kavi! Love that tip. I thought $25 was a bit over-priced for that blouse but I loved the print so much I went for it. I'll look for that coverup - I've worn a coverup with a pencil skirt before, a la this post: http://www.jseverydayfashion.com/2011/05/6-clothing-items-you-can-repurpose-now.html
ReplyDeleteI bought the same camel skirt ON SALE (woo hoo!) at the Limited. It was a size too big but it was so fab I bought it anyway & had my fab seamstress take it in. I also got red line camel skinny & utility belts, already had a mint green silk top from JCrew (2-3 years ago) so, inspired by one of your outfits, i have a great new outfit! That skirt will wear into fall here in PA (esp with tights!) and will go with soooo much I already have! Thank you J, for your fab blog & affordable inspirations! :-)
ReplyDeleteYou are going to make me have to take a trip to JCrew...I want that blouse and the skirt..prices much higher than what you paid online.
ReplyDeleteYou know I am a big fan of these posts and started sharing my purchases with readers this month too - you definitely have inspired me to set a budget & stick to it! :)
ReplyDeleteI love these budget posts! Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteI love your blog! I love clothes but always need inspiration to put things together you do a great job!
ReplyDeleteThanks!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSuch cute pieces. Can't wait to see how you style them!
ReplyDeleteCreamy
Thank you for all your post they are awesome.
ReplyDeleteI have a question...how do you track what is on your wish list for future purchases, and what pieces you buy and how much you spend etc? Do you have a certain spreadsheet that you use, or a site that you use.
ReplyDeleteI want to do this so bad, but just don't know how to keep track.
You scored some excellent deals J! I love the turquoise cuff you found at BR for $10? OK I missed that one! I am waiting for the Zara sale to begin.....let's see if ANY of the items I want are still left!
ReplyDeleteI have a to-do list on my desk for all sorts of stuff, and I jot down things I want to focus on like "polka dots" and "white sheath dress" (two items on my current shopping list). I've heard that Mint has some great products for budget tracking. I'm not quite that organized, I just keep all my new stuff hanging in one spot in my closet. Helps me remember what is new when I get dressed, but also when I sat down to write the post it was all hanging right there so I could write it all down. Hope this helps!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kelly! :-)
ReplyDeleteLove the bracelet and yellow skirt.
ReplyDeletethanks for the tips! :)
ReplyDeleteLove these pics! I featured that H&M necklace on my blog today for 4th of July Fashions! I would love for you to come check it out & follow my blog back if you enjoy!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Brooke
www.decorgreat.blogspot.com
I like that gap graphic t. I like it even better for 3 bucks (:
ReplyDeletesuper picks J! btw, i too scored both gap tops - ikat tee n striped tee. that striped tee is versatile!
ReplyDeleteCan I just say that I hate Gaps Canadian pricing! I bought a orangesih version of that stripe tshirt and paid 19.95 plus tax!
ReplyDeleteI've heard that Canadian pricing in general is rough, such a bummer. If you ever take a vacation to Florida, be sure to find some time for shopping - the prices here are some of the best in the country!
ReplyDeletei've been eyeing that yellow skirt from jcrew - is it really a true mustard??
ReplyDeleteWe love that you like shopping at the Limited, because we have access to those great fashion buys as welll! :)
ReplyDeleteYes ma'm, mustard it is! I believe the skirt in the picture is the exact one I bought, and if so then it is slightly less bright in person.
ReplyDeleteawesome! I just ordered the light rose during the online sale and it was very unexpectedly NEON - a nice color, but not one that fits with my wardrobe. Now i will stalk the yellow until it goes on sale further :)
ReplyDeleteJust did some more research, that is definitely the same skirt. Same item #, and the color says GSU on the tag which I think stands for "Golden Sunflower." Definitely looks way more mustard/muted in person, at least compared to my computer screen!
ReplyDeletethis gives me such confidence that we can all look nice while still being budget friendly! thanks for posting.
ReplyDeletehttp://ohhhsolovely.blogspot.com/
You are so right about June being a great time to shop and Black Friday and after Christmas! I have been shopping soooo much in the past 2-3 weeks, I have purchased stuff from NY and Co, Aldo and The Limited (I bought the exact same skirt that is pictured). I do not plan on shopping until Black Friday unless it is for winter necessities. Since I am still a college student, I always try to find deals and get clothes that will last me a while and that will be appropriate when I enter the work place full time. When I tell people where I shop, they often exclaim that these stores are expensive, but I say that with careful planning and preparation, you can definitely buy nice clothes without breaking the bank.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree Kemi. Stores like Banana used to scare me, but you can find amazing deals there. And Black Friday is not all it is cracked up to be. They do heavy promos like 50% off, but that is on full price items. After Christmas and after NYE, they mark things down low AND do promos, making the prices way cheap. I remember being a college student and doing the same thing. Sounds like you are on the right track for sure! :-)
ReplyDeleteI saw your top on Katie Holmes! So cute!
ReplyDeletekatieholmes-gap.jpg
I meant: http://www.thebudgetbabe.com/uploads/2012/201206/katieholmes-gap.jpg
ReplyDeleteJust got the limited color block skirt for 17.99! What a great deal! Can't wait to see what you wear it with.
ReplyDeleteJust got the limited color block skirt for 17.99! What a great deal! Can't wait to see what you wear it with.
ReplyDeleteI just went shopping like crazy on the limited website and then I came on here and saw that I bought almost all of the same items you did! I guess you are making a subconcious impact on my shopping!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing J. I think its so important that we (as bloggers and just people) to stick to our budgets. I love reading about what others buy to stick within their budgets. I think its good that you buy a few "classic" pieces to round out your closet, and then buy more trendy pieces to have fun with.
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