Spring’s finally here, and we’re all ready to ditch winter’s wool sweaters and tights for sundresses and sandals. The key to transitioning your wardrobe to warmer weather is to have a few key pieces that you can pair with great accessories to make it look like you have a closet full of outfits. The perfect place to start? Some statement-making earrings.
For this issue of Frugal Fashionista, we’ve partnered Meg Zatko, author of style blog Dekan DC (it’s naked, spelled backwards!). Because accessories are a huge statement for spring, we asked Zatko to identify several “Frugal Fashionista” worthy accessories, essentially lower priced versions of their runway counterparts.
We love that she chose earrings, one of this season’s biggest statement pieces. They’re perfect to jazz up a plain white tee, and look fresh and summer-y when hair is pulled back into an updo. Plus, they’re becoming increasingly easy to find at budget prices—shops like H&M, Zara and even Target have had great finds recently.
“While personally I would love to have a chest full of nice jewelry, with the word recession ringing in everyone’s ears it just isn’t logical,” she says.
Zatko compiled three looks, each with high and “low” counterparts. Let’s just say we can’t wait to get shopping!
The colored bauble
These are a great way to draw attention to your face while playing off the fresh makeup and unfussy hair you’ll be wearing this spring. My fantasy pair: Nina Basharova’s $3,800 earrings of 18-karat gold, fire-opal, garnet, yellow sapphire, and amethyst. A girl can dream, right?
My cheap-steal counterpart: Avon’s $9.99 caramel-colored linear earrings. The warm hues will complement any complexion, and the long drop looks great with long, wavy hair or a no-fuss updo. Even better, these earrings can dress up any outfit, taking you from an afternoon event to an evening black-tie wedding.
Turquoise earrings
There’s a definite bohemian vibe floating around this spring, featuring peasant blouses, flowy pants, and ocean-inspired tones. If you’re like me and find it hard to incorporate color into your wardrobe, then bright earrings are the perfect accessory. I love the cool blues of spring, especially paired with a neutral beige or an all-white outfit. My dream pair: Devon Leigh blue chalcedony drop earrings, $337.
My cheaper counterpart: Anzie’s $275 turquoise flower earrings.
And my cheapest counterpart: Nugaard Designs amazonite cascading drop earrings, only $35.
Lucite, Lucite, Lucite
Sometimes less is more, which is what makes Lucite perfect when it comes to jewelry. If you’re wearing a bright blouse or printed dress, then you definitely want to downplay the jewelry. Recently, Lucite has reappeared as a favorite for many designers, especially in simple, understated earrings. My dream pair: Emporio Armani Lucite teardrop earrings, $155 (available at Emporio Armani, NYC)
My cheap counterpart: Erickson Beamon for Target bubble dangling beaded earrings, only $14.99. True, they may not be made of Lucite, but no one will even know the difference.
If you’d like to be part of an upcoming Frugal Fashionista column, please email McLean Robbins at McLean.Robbins@gmail.com. Not sure you’re up to snuff but have an idea for an upcoming theme? That’s fine—we’d love to hear feedback. And you’ve welcome to be a “fashionisto” too… we’d especially like men to take part in upcoming columns.
