Hello there strangers! I apologize for my long absence from blogging. Real life tends to get busy, and sometimes fun things (like blogging) happen to get pushed to the side. Nevertheless, I’M BACK!

Next month, I will be embarking on a new journey to Chicago, Illinois. Which means, I’ll have lots of new turf to explore and lots of new places to SHOP! I’m so excited to finally be living in a big city, I think I might burst.

Starting today, I’ll be researching some local spots for cute and budget friendly clothes in the Windy City. Once I arrive, I’ll be sharing all of my fashion discoveries, deals, and misadventures in this glorious town. It will give me the chance to share snippets of my new life as well as continue passing along advice and deals to you, my lovely readers.

In the meantime, if any of you have suggestions as to where I should shop first or where I may find a great deal, tweet me @pltgirl or email me at poorlittletrendygirl@gmail.com. I need all the help I can get!

Thanks for staying patient and loyal. I hope you all can enjoy the journey with me!

There are many ways to save cash when trying out new fashion trends. A Do It Yourself Project (DIY) can save you lots of money and best of all, you can say that it’s your own personal creation! This is my favorite DIY project to take on because it is easy, fast, and cheap.

Last year, I fell in love with these denim cutoffs from Urban Outfitters. However, they are around $40, and I realized I could make a pair of these at home with little effort. After I made my first pair last year, I wore them to Urban Outfitters and the employees couldn’t tell the difference.

This vintage, high-waisted style is everywhere right now and I’m going to show you how to make a pair for yourself for less than $10 (or less than $5 if you have some of these common supplies at home and shop on the right day). READY? Let’s go.

First, head over to your local Goodwill and start digging for some high-waisted jeans. Regular price for these is about $7 but if you go on a 50% off Saturday (which I did), you can score a pair for $3.50. That way, you might be able to get 2 pairs in case you mess up one.

FAIR WARNING: This project does require some sharp objects, so please be careful and use your best judgement.

What you’ll need when you find a pair:

- Jeans (obviously), I like to find a pair of high-waisted ones circa 1980’s or 90’s

- Scissors (a pair of heavy duty ones from a toolbox works best)

- A Razor or Razor Blade (for fraying and distressing)

- A Sharpie Marker

STEP 1: Try on the jeans and decide how short you want them to be. Take them off and then mark on the outside seam with the marker. This should be the shortest point of the shorts.

STEP 2: Cut jeans at an angle going downward towards the inner seam (the bottom edges of the shorts should make a V when you’re done). It’s important to do this because if you cut them straight across, they will not lay correctly and you’ll be disappointed.

STEP 3: Start fraying and distressing. This can take some time, so I just like to do a little bit here and there.

To fray: Pull and drag over the loose strings on the bottom edges of the shorts. This can be meticulous, so be patient. Take the razor edge and rough up the bottom edges of the shorts.

To distress: Drag the razor across the fabric and rough up the outside of the shorts. A loose razor blade can speed up the process because it allows for more cutting, but they scare me (haha) so I just use an old safety razor that I’m done using in the shower. Once again, this can take a while.

You won’t get them perfect right away. I’ll do a little fraying and distressing and then throw it in the washer (it helps the process along). I’ll do it over the course of a few days. I like to see them evolve over time.

AND VOILA!!! You have you’re own pair of cutoffs! (I felt adventurous and made three pairs this weekend. All three cost about $11.)

p.s. Can you spot a cute, little cat tail on the ground? haha. Coco wanted to help out with the project.

I hope this inspires you to get a little creative! I always have so much fun doing these projects, and I’m sure you will too.

Understanding classic style should be important to fashionistas everywhere. Some items never look dated and will always be relevant. I think that there are 5 essential, classic pieces that work as building blocks for a great wardrobe because of their supreme staying power. These pieces can be paired with almost anything and make any outfit look more polished. You’ll keep these around for many years to come.

1) A well tailored white shirt. Make sure it fits properly (no gapping or pulling near the buttons) and make sure you feel comfortable in it. I love this one from J. Crew ($65). They are famous for classic, well tailored clothing.

2) A crisp blazer. This item is most important because of it’s ability to transform any look. You can go from casual to dressed-up in seconds. Again, J. Crew makes a great blazer ($188). This is one of my favorite things that I own.

3) Dark-wash skinny jeans. A dark wash is universally flattering and looks clean and polished. I love Express jeans ($80). They look great on every figure.

4) A versatile black bag. A purse is one of the pieces that you wear the most. Choose something structured and simple. Once again, J. Crew makes a beautiful, black leather shoulder bag ($238).

5) Black pumps. These will work with just about any outfit. They are essential to any work wardrobe and can dress up more casual outfits as well. I love this classic pair by Aldo. ($72)

I know some of these pieces are a little more expensive than what I usually post, but remember you’ll be wearing them quite often, and they’ll last a long time. Think of it as an investment in yourself! I’d much rather spend more money on a classic piece than a trendy one. These 5 essential pieces with never fail you though. You are sure to look fabulous!

Sure seeing flowers on clothes for Spring may seem kind of obvious, but words cannot express how much I love floral print. Whenever spring arrives, I always have the urge to break out every flowery piece in my wardrobe and I’m automatically attracted to every new floral design that comes out in stores for the new season. I did some digging online and I’ve created a floral print “wishlist” for spring/summer (brace yourselves, there’s a lot of flowers):

Now I’m not saying that I’ll wear these all at once, but I do like each individual piece on their own. I found some great floral jeans (HUGE trend this season), a floral high/low skirt, a funky flowery bangle, and some rosette hair clips all at Forever 21 for under $55 TOTAL. I also love this cute little one piece swimsuit from American Eagle ($40), and I’m utterly OBSESSED with this floral print bustier from Topshop ($60). It’s floral madness and I love it! All of these clothes make me so excited for springtime, and I can’t wait to get outside and have some fun.

(If you love them just as much as I do, click the pics below the graphic and they’ll take you to their specific website to purchase them.)

I recently had a request to do another How to Wear It about denim button up shirts. These can be somewhat difficult to style. I personally do not like a denim on denim look. Some people can pull it off, but I can’t. So, because of this I like to follow these two rules: (1) Pair it with a different fabric and (2) pair it with a bright color.

Here is an example:

I chose a pair of sunny yellow, twill pants and a lightweight midi skirt to go with this denim button up from Delia’s (only $40). Both the pants and skirt are from Forever 21, and you could score both items for less than 30 bucks (two outfits!). Each of these are a different fabric than the denim and have a fun, bright color. This adds contrast and balance to the outfit. Balance should be a general rule of thumb when putting together a look. If you are wearing a bright color, add something neutral. If you are wearing something voluminous, add something more form fitting or structured to go with it.

To complete each look, I think a pair of white oxfords would look great with the pants, and a pair of chunky heels would look fabulous with the skirt. When deciding what to wear, experiment with your closet and try out lots of different combinations with your clothes. Just remember to balance out the look, and keep it simple.