Models with US fashion stylist and blogger Shauna Miller. AAP Image/AC Agency
The American fashion blogger worked at a Paris fashion house before deciding she wanted to empower real women with real budgets to express themselves through what they wear.
Here are her tips and tricks to looking chic this spring/summer for those who are pinching pennies.
WEAR SMART STAPLES FOR WORK
At work there is only so much creativity and liberty you have because of the need to be professional, says Miller, but that doesn't mean you can't play around with your outfits.
Miller, 25, says one wardrobe staple is the blazer.
"You just need one black blazer and you can reinvent that in every outfit to work.
"It doesn't really matter what's going on underneath, you can wear that same blazer everyday and nobody's going to be like `she's wearing the same black jacket'."
Miller, who writes the blog pennychic.com, suggests pairing a blazer with a black pencil skirt and solid coloured top.
Dressing for the office, she says, is not about wearing one-off pieces with special embroidery.
"It's really about the simple pieces and just switching it up when you put it together.
"Everyone can find a tailored jacket; it never goes out of style."
She also says work is one environment where you don't need to bedazzle with a lot of jewellery either.
DON'T BE A FASHION VICTIM
"I have a love for the luxury fashion world and the couture world because it inspires me," says LA-based Miller, but that doesn't mean designers dictate what she wears.
"Designers create what's in style but who says that's in style?
"I think a lot of what people forecast as the trend is just PR, branding, marketing narrative."
Women should never stay stagnant in one style, Miller says, but should instead take elements of what is trendy to compliment their personal style.
BE INSPIRED
For those who struggle with how to wear certain styles and colours, Miller suggests creating an inspiration board.
"Pick up your favourite magazines and rip out the looks that you like," she says.
Miller goes to fashion week and reads style magazines but says it does not consume her and is an unrealistic lifestyle for most women.
But, she says, she rips the pages out of magazines for inspiration on what looks work.
"I'm like `God that would look good on me; that's cool; I never thought about it that way'."
She also says celebrities are a constant source of what is in-fashion.
"Who's not looking at a tabloid with celebrities; who's not looking on TV?
"There's certain celebrities we all relate to and there's the ones that we kind of feel we look like or they have a similar style to us, so use that as inspiration.
"I mean designers would say `travel the world, go to India'; that's not realistic."
PAY ATTENTION TO DETAILS
"How we look affects our confidence whether we like it or not and there's something so special about being able to express yourself with what you wear," Miller says.
If you're going somewhere formal, her top tip is to iron or steam your outfit so it looks its best.
"You can have the most beautiful couture gown but if it's wrinkled or faded or has lint in it, it's going to look super cheap."
Her other tip is to dress up a basic ensemble with costume jewellery, such as big bangles and chandelier earrings. Or, she says, rummage through your mum's jewellery box for some great vintage pieces.
Costume jewellery will spice up a basic dress, Miller says, along with a good pair of pumps or comfy wedges.
"Costume jewellery, it should not cost a lot. It does not take a lot to make it and so if you're looking at stuff that's super expensive that's not real, it's not worth it."
You can also mix family heirlooms with cheap jewellery.
AVOID EXY BIKINIS
"If I had to pick two things that are so overpriced and (I) have no need to splurge on, (they) would be denim and bathing suits," says Miller.
"Bathing suits are all the same material, pretty much. It has to be waterproof so there's only so much you can do with it and actually in some ways the more delicate, the less use you'll be able to have."
Miller says a swimming costume should not cost more than $30 in total and is simply about finding the right cut to suit your body shape.
To make them last, she advises rinsing off the sea water or chlorine under tap water after wearing them. Hand-wash bikinis, she says, and never put them in a washing machine.
SHAUNA MILLER'S TOP FIVE STAPLES
A BELT
Can be black or leopard print, worn at the waist so it breaks up an outfit.
"That works with a really big dress, like if you've recently lost a lot of weight or you have a hand-me-down that doesn't fit you exactly; it's tailoring without going to the tailor and you can also put that on high-waisted jeans, a high pencil skirt."
A LITTLE BLACK DRESS
A dress that fits your body correctly is crucial, says Miller.
"The great thing about a black dress is you can dress it up with costume jewellery and create a statement piece."
BOOTS
"A nice pair of knee-length or just-under-the-knee boots are timeless in my opinion and can be worn over jeans, over tights, without tights, with a short skirt, long skirt."
A BLACK BLAZER
The blazer is a great piece for work that you can wear over and over again by mixing up what is worn underneath.
A FAVOURITE
Miller says choose a piece you always feel good in and is what you love, no matter whether it's considered trendy or not.
*Shauna Miller is visiting Australia as part of the Kmart Spring/Summer Fashion Parade in Sydney (Oct 5).
By Jennifer Chapman
I think a great way to save is buying versatile styles that you can just easily wear with anything, esp when it comes to shoes. However a cheap pair will look cheap, so I always go for good quality leather shoes that last, like these ones
http://lookdelicious.com.au/ballerina-flats