Times are tough and money is tight. If you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for a way to stretch a fashion buck, while still looking stylish. Read on for tips on how to be a frugal fashionista.

Let’s talk about accessorizing on a budget with guest writer Holly

Shamelessly hunt for deals

With the economy still recovering, sales aren’t very hard to find. You can find deals on rings, necklaces, and earrings on the Internet, or try checking out the clearance bins at your favorite store in the mall. If you know how to accessorize properly, it won’t matter if you only paid a few dollars for an item. All that matters is how creative you can be with what you have.

Mix and Match

Too often, you buy a specific accessory for a specific outfit, and then never wear it again once that outfit is stashed away in the back of your closet. Why not put those forgotten accessories to use? You would be surprised at how adaptable most accessories are, especially if you keep versatility in mind when shopping for them in the first place.

Give Color Blocking a try

One of the hottest trends this season is color blocking, where you can boldly mix and match complementary colors to make a fashion statement. If you have brightly-colored costume jewelry, scarves, or headbands and don’t want to put them aside until next summer, why not give color blocking a try? You don’t have to worry about “proper” accessorizing, and you definitely don’t have to worry about being matchy-matchy. Have a little fun with this one, and see what you can come up with.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

When in doubt, it’s always fun to experiment with repurposing jewelry, or using items in a way other than how they were intended. Scarves make cute belts or headbands, brooches and pendants can be used to adorn plain sweaters or spruce up a pair of old jeans, and so forth. With a little creativity, you can have a different look for every day of the week.

When All Else Fails…

…ditch the usual accessories, and let your makeup do the accessorizing for you. Often, a manicure and pedicure is all it takes to spruce up an outfit, or you can experiment with your makeup to create new and exciting looks. Dressed in all black? Try deep red nails and matching lipstick, and keep everything else at a minimum. Getting ready for a wedding or other formal occasion? French manicures are always a classy choice. If you choose to accessorize in this way, the thing to remember is to not overdo it. As long as you keep this simple rule in mind: the world is your oyster.

As you can see, it is completely possible to accessorize and still remain within your budget. With a little resourceful creativity, you can be the envy of all of your friends as you turn heads at the next social event you attend. Have fun!

Author bio: Today we’ve got a guest post from the ever lovely, Holly Watson. She’s a full time student and TA studying towards her Doctorate in literature and writing. She is an avid runner, blogger and fashionista who enjoys sharing her experiences and faith.