Shop like a Celebrity... for Less

Today has been a great day for this fashionista. I found what may potentially be the greatest website for high-end fashion designs on the web. You did notice the section this article is located in, correct? That's right... Frugal Fashionista. This website is perfect any penny pinching design diva, like me!

Designer Exposure

Designer Exchange is a sort of "second hand" clothing and accessory dealer- a great one! Now, before you turn your pretty little nose to the sky and say "I am not wearing anyone else's old clothes..." ask yourself this question: What if these second hand pieces were from the closets of some of your favorite celebrities? Now do I have your attention? I thought so.

Designer Exchange was founded by a beautiful Auckland native named Maria Williams. She started a tiny second hand shop in Oliver's Arcade in Auckland's New Market when she was only 16 years old. Seventeen years later, in 2001, this "tiny" shop turned into an empire which included a 5,000 square foot outlet store called "Double Exposure," and a retail website... DesignerExposure.com. Since its establishment, Double Exposure has become the place in Auckland for those shoppers in search of recycled designer clothing and accessories. Each piece sold is less than two years old.

When she was 21, Maria moved to Sydney, Australia and continued to collect designer pieces for her store back in Auckland. Her mother, Denise, ran her store and kept all business related matters in tip-top working order. While in Sydney, Maria was able to expand her networks and learn the "ins and outs" of the rag trade. Maria contributes her success to word-of-mouth referrals, which have made her retail store in Auckland the largest, most popular of its kind and eventually led to her launch in the United States seven years ago.

When Maria came to the States to visit New York, she established key networks and sources in the US. This network has progressively grown to include many of our favorite celebrities including film stars, royalty, socialites, and some of the most elite designers in New York and Los Angeles. Maria chooses her pieces wisely and uses the most severe discretion when choosing what she will sell in her store and her website. She goes to the homes of celebrities, goes through their wardrobes (with permission of course!), and pays cash for the pieces she pulls on the spot. Each and every piece she chooses must be in absolute pristine condition and be no older than two-years-old.

The clothing Maria chooses may have been worn, but typically the pieces have only been worn once to charity functions, on the red carpet, or possibly to film debuts. Some of these pieces have never been worn at all and still have tags intact! Maria also does an extreme amount of research before choosing and purchasing items. She visits designer boutiques, goes to fashion and runway shows, and ensures she knows the proper value of each garment, shoe, and accessory she purchases. She knows "what's hot," and "what's not," and makes sure she follows a strict protocol.

Now, this is the part that I absolutely love! The designers Maria's website carries include: Gucci, Christian Dior, Fendi, Hermes, Armani, Valentino, Versace, Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana, Jimmy Choo, Fendi, and of course, Prada. Can you say Heaven?! Designer Exposure launched in September of 1999 and is hosted from New York. The website nets approximately 33,000 hits per day and many of these customers return multiple times throughout the day searching for new treasures. (Guilty!!)

Each item on Designer Exchange includes a digital photo (or five!), description, original price, size, description, and a discount price in US Dollars. Maria ships all over the world and has incorporated a currency converter and International Size Chart on her website for this reason. Searching this site is so simple, a monkey could do! What is my favorite way to search? The 80% off tab!!

I've added photos of some of my finds to the Frugal Fashionista page- but don't jump on buying these items too fast! I may have to hurt you if you buy my charcoal Prada sweater!! (So kidding...) Happy Shopping Fashionistas!!

My Intimate Affair...

It is time to come clean. I have made peace with my affair and I feel I must share the intimate details of this obsession with everyone I know. This affair, as unhealthy as it may be, has become an addiction- a fatal attraction. I am talking about my love affair with shoes.

Do you feel cheated after reading the subject line? Do you feel as though you have read to this point and will not find a proverbial pot of gold at the end of this rainbow? Well, my fellow fashionistas, you ought to know me better than that! Let me further elaborate on my "fatal attraction," as this affair I am speaking of is with three very specific men. You can now pull your minds from the gutter they are in... I am referring to designers!

My three favorite designers: Michael Kors, Kenneth Cole, and Steve Madden. My favorite men! If you have never placed your pedicured toes into a shoe by one of these designers, well frankly, you are depriving yourselves. These high-end designs are not only trendy, sexy, sophisticated, and versitile, they are comfortable! Feet love these men...

Now you may be thinking, "This information is all great; however, I also know how expensive these shoes can be!"

Not anymore! I have found a website that is a "must see" for Frugal Fashionistas like myself:

Gotham City Online

This online piece of Heaven boasts a "Lowest Price Guarantee" on the designs they sell, offer free domestic shipping (within the United States), and even better... NO SALES TAX!! Not enough to tickle your fancy? How about the online personal shoppers? This Fashionista was a bit surprised to receive an online-chat invitation from "Chloee," my personal shopper. She gave me tips on finding great deals, offered excellent advice on the "in" styles for the Fall, and walked me through searching the site. F-A-Bulous service, my dears!

Oh, but wait: there is more! This website is dedicated strictly to shoes! Be still my heart! All of my favorite designers can be found in one place! I am willing to bet yours are there, too! Just to give you an example of how absolutely lovely this find is, I will tell you about my purchase:

I found the most perfect pair of Steve Madden anke boots. (For those of you who are unfamiliar with the style - these are boots that rise to the ankle and can be worn with just about anything! I have included a picture for your admiration. Trishia style.)

These boots retail for $99.00 in stores (and on the Steve Madden website). How much were they at Gotham City Online? How does $59.97 sound? (TOTAL... no tax, no shipping... just love!) This place is a shoe-lovers dream come true!

To "Chloee": I promised you a shout-out. You got your love! Kudos!

(Read more about this season's hottest styles in "The Scoop")

A Frugal Fashionista's Best Friend...

Now, I am not typically the type to spout off on a verbal frenzy about just anything. It normally takes quite a lot to impress me. So, when I tell you that this website has made me absolutely giddy, believe it.

Here it is:

Celebrity Fashions for Under $100.00!!

Now, bear in mind, you will never find a pair of Chanel sunglasses for $5.00. You will never find a pair of Michael Kors peep toe pumps for less than $200.00. What you can find (using this website) are articles of clothing and accessories that look identicle (or very similar) to the pieces of the outfits the top celebrities are wearing. For instance, I am a die hard Cameron Diaz fan, so I went to this site to see if I could find one of her signature looks for less than $100.00. Oh, and I did! (Apparently Cameron is a fan favorite when it comes to style!)

No, the Oxford style button-up shirt I purchased was not from Barney's. None of the items I found were; however, I will tell you this: my outfit looked just as good as Cameron's and I got all my pieces for less than $95.00 total. It is possible to get great deals on high quality clothing! You just have to be a true bargain shopper. Push aside the whole "you aren't good enough unless you're wearing a high end label" mumbo jumbo and go to Target! I can guarantee you walk out of there with more in tow than you would walking out of Bloomingdale's.