My friends are asking me even more these days, “How can I reconcile the desire to be stylish with the necessity to be frugal? “ Shop at Give Simple of course! While I can’t address their clothing needs, I can suggest something that honestly has always struck me as brilliant – Buy fabulous accessories that are priced right, plus some great tops in the hot colors of the season (purple, fuchsia and teal for Fall) and magically, your black pants, your simple skirt, your favorite suit can all look fresh again.

I myself used this strategy this week at Banana Republic, where I bought sweaters in you guessed it, purple, fuchsia and teal, that will update the wool clothes from “The Archives” aka the depths of my closet for a weekend trip to New York. I’ll throw a Big Buddha Snake Texture handbag, heap on some Stein & Blye chains with Semi-precious stones, and their fabulous cuff bracelets, and I’m ready to hit the big city.

I’ve always collected beautiful pants and skirts mostly in black from the designer sale racks. While I don’t need the Armani suits any more, those well made black bottoms will survive as wardrobe staples for years to come with careful care and continuous updating with new tops, shoes, handbags, and of course jewelry.
This Saturday afternoon, I’m planning to do my semi-annual closet flip, where summer goes to the back and winter comes forth. This includes shoes and bags too. I also empty all of my jewelry out and look for what hasn’t been worn lately, or can be combined with something new. Because big jewelry is especially in style, combining several necklaces in a layered look is great fun right now. Wine helps in this process, and if I can get a girlfriend to come over and critique, even better.

So what should you buy? First, a great handbag that is NOT BLACK! It is a season of color, and while yet another black handbag may look elegant with last year’s clothes, a colored bag gives you much more bang for the buck. Something about the way Big Buddha designs their bags is just so of the moment, so trend right, that I just LOVE them. And at $70 to $80 each, you’ll feel oh so virtuous!

Second, BIG JEWELRY. If you really feel uncomfortable in big jewels, maybe you can’t go there. But upsize a little, please! The easiest way is with a bigger necklace. You can stick with your stud or hoop earrings if you like; the fashion interest is at the neck or at the wrist. I come from Texas, land of big hair and bigger jewelry, so I wear a big necklace and 20+ Metalsgirl bangles, or a big cuff with no problem. I love the Stein & Blye jewelry. It is costume, but with semi-precious stones, and designer inspired. I actually had to give a friend the Triple Multi Chain Necklace right off my neck at a wine bar on Wednesday night –it’s that fabulous. And at $30-$60, again, so much bang for the buck! Their cuff bracelets are real attention grabbers, too. And $35-$60 can’t be beat!

So live a little without spending a lot! Update for Fall with a new bag and some new jewels, add some colored tops, and feel pretty and virtuous at the same time.