The two colors you should be looking out for this fall are purple and black. Fashion shows were full of them. Personally I think brown still is more interesting than black.

Marc Jacobs went for both the colors big time. Even though the line has been critisized for being too shapeless this season, it’s one of my favorite designers.

Most designers accompanied black with grey, which I think easily can get a little dull. Then I like Marc Jacobs twist better by mixing the basic black color with more exciting colors. Black and grey can still be great, but the outfit need to be mixed in a more exciting way.

My favourite thing in the world is to go secondhand shopping. I especially love cheap crappy stores, cause when you find that special item for a super low price, the joy is ten times as big. It’s like going treasure hunting. These are the biggest kicks I get.

Over the years I have developed some tricks for getting the stuff I like at extra low prices, and I will share some of these with you.

The first thing you need to do is look at the garment closely. Stains and holes can be a problem, but I often find that it can be fixed quite easily. A stain can be covered with a flower pin if it won’t come off, and holes can be sewed without much damage. If this is the case; complain. Always make the seller aware of problems with the garment, no matter how little it is or how easy it can be fixed. Usually they give you a better price without making a big deal out of it.

It’s also a good idea to pay attention to similar things in the store. Often the items are priced quite randomly, and the shoes you love can cost twice as much as similar shoes that you don’t like. If this is the case, there are two solutions: One is to complain about the price, and make them aware of what similar things cost. The other is to remove the price tag, and when the seller is wondering what price to set on it, point to the similar item and let them know what it costs.

Something else I have noticed is that different people give different prices. In stores where some or all items are without price tags, hang out for a while and pay attention to who gives the better prices. It can be that some people haven’t got a clue about designer items, or that they just are nicer people. When you have the different people under control, turn to the better seller to pay for you item. This can make a huge difference!

Some stores you go to again and again cause you love it so much or cause it’s close to your home. Use this. Chat a bit with the sellers, make sure they remember you from time to time. After a while it’s quite possible that they will give you good prices just cause they like you.

And last; remember that it’s always allowed to give it a shot. I seldom come across sellers that aren’t willing to give better prices, even if the garment is in perfect shape. Don’t be afraid of being cheap.

For broke girls, like myself, it can sometimes be needed to turn to the sewing machine to keep your style looking fresh. Not just to freshen up old clothes that has gone out of style, but to make brand new clothes. I must admit that I do not have much experience with this. I have a sewing machine, and it’s one of the best investments I’ve ever made, but to sew something from scratch is a different thing…

Anyway, I took a chance and bought a lot of vintage sewing patterns from Ebay. Most of them in too big sizes, but I figured I could fix it easily. The next step was to find fabric. Many stores sell out some fabrics at really low prices, so I made sure to keep an eye out for something I liked. Once I found something I took a deep breath and started sewing. And I must say: for my first attempt, it didn’t turn out bad at all. That’s why I thought I’d share this with you, cause if I can do it, anybody can do it. All in all, my brand new vintage dress turned out to cost me something like $ 10. (The flash makes it look a little shinier than it is.)

Even though those vintage sewing patterns can be fun to work with, they can be a hassard as well. New sewing patterns are often much better, and once you find a pattern you really like, you can sew the same garment over and over again, just changing it with different fabrics and details. A good idea is to invest in a few basic and simple patterns, then they can easily be turned into that style you’re looking for at the moment. And to make it extra cheap; keep an eye out for fabrics at flea markets and secondhand stores. I have even made successful clothes out of curtains.