“Countdown to the Crown” Episode Three – Fashion, Baby!!!

January 16, 2009

If you love fashion, you no doubt enjoyed Episode 3 of the reality series as much as I did. It got me to thinking about fashion in general, and how much we all try and look as good as our budgets will allow.

Given these tight economic times, it’s all the more important to watch our wallets, but you can still look great – and I’m going to tell you how I do it. And while I’m no fashion expert, I’d like to share some of my tried-and-true fashion tips and invite you to post some of your own fashion tips. Hey, we can all help each other look great on a budget! 

By the way, I also want to point out that you can forward this blog to a friend (using the “ShareThis” function), so if anything I say happens to sounds good, please feel free to email my thoughts along to any poor, unsuspecting fashion victims you may know.

The first “problem” I always think about with fashion is how we, as women, have to basically have two wardrobes. Our work wardrobe doesn’t really work for our casual life, and vice versa. I don’t really have a solution for this… just lamenting. I do, however, think that you can strategically buy certain pieces that can double for work and non-work life, like tops to wear under blazers or sweaters and those cool corporatey-type pants that are made out of denim material.  But overall, it comes down to having stuff for work, and stuff for non-work life. So if we are stuck having to have two wardrobes, how about some ideas on how to spend a little less on both of them? 

To really do it right, women need to fully utilize the three “C’s”: Clearance racks, consignment shops, and discount department stores. Yeah, I know – that last one wasn’t a “C”…  I was hoping you’d all breeze past that in wild anticipation of the amazing fashion advice you are about to receive. Anyway, moving on … 

Clearance racks: They are the first place that I go in a store! You have to be prepared to buy things off-season. I cannot count the sweaters I’ve purchased in June or tank tops in November, but they were cheap, baby!! And winter off-season is easier than summer off-season. Tank tops, short sleeves and lighter fabrics can be layered and worn year-round, so buy away!!

Consignment shops – okay, I recognize that some people just cannot get past the whole “someone has worn these clothes already” thing. Fine. But for the rest of us, THIS is the best way to get name-brand stuff at a great price! You need to be patient, though, because many times you will find racks and racks of stuff to go through. But your patience will pay off.  My favorite consignment shop is McShane’s Exchange in Chicago. I think Oprah even mentioned it on her show. This place is stocked with good deals. And I’ve also found a couple of consignment shops that I like in Atlanta where I live: Plato’s Closet and Alexis’ Suitcase, come to mind. Do an internet search in your area and I’m sure you’ll be able to find some similar shops.

Discount department stores – ohmygosh, seriously. These. Places. Are. The. Best. TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and my personal favorite – Filene’s Basement. I really like name brands/labels but I also don’t want to pay full, so these stores are the perfect solution!  It’s the best alternative for those who can’t do consignment. Even then, you need patience here as well, because clothing is not always in the best order and you may find yourself digging to find the style/size you desire. But there is a crazy the amount of label/brand name stuff you can find. So good luck in looking fabulous!

Now, on to some specifics from Episode 3 of “Countdown to the Crown”:

Oooh, a shopping challenge! So the contestants all have to buy new interview outfits with shared money. Can I just say that I love the fresh new looks that we see in interview now?  I’m so glad that the days of the stuffy interview suit are over. Way to go, Grey and Green!!

I just have to say how much I love Maine’s completely genuine reaction to being chosen as one of the wildcard contestants – I love “real” reactions and hers was really endearing.

And the “Little Black Dress” individual competition – I thought the contestants did a really good job, for the most part!  Some of my favorites were Oklahoma (I LOVED the peacock feather!), South Dakota, and the other contestant who used a white feather on her shoulder (who was that, anyway? Well, at any rate, she looked great). Way to go, South Dakota! I thought her design really took advantage of her height, yet it was kept nice and simple. 

We are getting so close to the grand finale. I can almost taste Vegas, where I will be blogging to you live, straight from the pageant.

Till next time!

Comments

[Nicole]

Hi Windy - I can't say this for a complete fact, but I am fairly certain that it's just an editing thing. They didn't want/need to show the host's full explanation each time for each girl, so they only chose to show it once to save air time... I'm sure that he told each contestant of their time constraints.

[Windy Formica]

I watched Episode Three and I have a question regarding the interviewer during the Final Challenge...WHY IS IT THAT HE ONLY MENTIONED TO THE FIRST GIRL THAT SHE HAD 15 SECONDS TO STATE WHY SHE SHOULD BE THE NEXT MISS AMERICA BUT FAILED TO MENTION IT TO THE REST OF THE GIRLS?!?! Sooooo NOT fair, in my opinion!!!!

[Nicole]

Hey there - ok, I responded to this post and now I don't see my response, so my apologies if it's really there somewhere and I am answering you twice.. To the best of my knowledge, here's what I know: Each contestant was mailed a Flip camera to make their own videos at home and send it back, and some chose not to participate.

[Nicole]

Hey there - sorry I didn't answer this question earlier. To the best of my knowledge, if there are videos missing of a particular contestant it is because that contestant chose not to participate in the videos. Each contestant was mailed a flip camera to make their own videos at home and send it back, and I believe not all chose to participate.

[YouTube??]

I have enjoyed the YouTube videos. Why are some missing? Miss Florida did a great job!

[Marie]

I thought the funniest part was watching the consultants critique the outfits the girls bought. It's hard to take a man in an ugly striped shirt and a women wearing a crop jacket with a skull on it seriously. Kim is way too old for that jacket. it belongs on a 15 year old. And I don't know if Anthony's purple stripes or limeade stripes were worse.

[Carol Baker]

The girl with the white feather on her shoulder was Miss Michigan-Ashlee Baracy