So I was recently contacted by
Money Supermarket concerning a value-for-money clothing competition. Being a student, and also being a tight-wad (for my lovely followers who aren't au fait with every English phrase, this translates to 'tight with money') I jumped at the chance to get involved and put together five different outfits, all for under two hundred smackers.
Me being me, I jumped into this but then realised how hard it is to create an outfit (accessories and all) and, on a few occasions, I nearly reached my £200 limit! However, I succeeded in the end and thought I'd share my outfit choices with you guys. Hope you enjoy them!
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Asos Pablo Platforms with suede detail £65//Boohoo Giselle Velvet touch clutch with twist detail £18//River Island silver & gold spike tone crystal cuff £25// ASOS statement Pharaoh collar necklace £35//Motel Jet Plunge Neck Playsuit in Black £48
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I adore this outfit as it makes your look a little bit different and is suitable for drinks with friends or a nightclub. All the items are very versatile, so can be re-worked and re-worn with other items - the look won't date and the accessories will hit the A/W S/S trends with little change. Although some items appear steep, they're good quality and also discounted at the online checkout.
ASOS offers students (lucky me!) 10% off purchases so I'd save a tenner on the shoes and necklace and Motel Rocks offers 20% student discount so the playsuit would cost £38.40! Boohoo.com also offer students a lovely 10% off with an NUS card, which means my bag is reduced to £16.20!
TOTAL COST: £169.60
This was definitely one of my more expensive looks and for £169.60 - I think it's a classy, easy-to-wear outfit. (Please note: since the publication of this outfit, Company Magazine has published a 20% off voucher for all students at River Island! This means that the cuff, shown above, would now cost £20 - saving you lucky lot a fiver!)
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River Island Grey Lace Up Platform Shoes £20// H&M Chain £3.99//Next Dipped Back Cable Sweater £35// Chelsea Doll Grey Corn-Knit Snood Scarf £11// Topshop Fur lined parka £95
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This is a classic winter look, made a little more urban with the gold chain, flatforms and a parka. I chose these items due to their laid back style which can be mixed up for different occasions. For me, this would be my walk-in-the-woods look - an outfit you'd wear to take the dog for a walk, keeping you warm and stylish.
The coat is a little steep at £95, but it's a quality piece which will last the test of time, never-mind this season. It's classic design means that it won't date, and you can bet that Parkas will be seen way after A/W 2012. Also, because the lovely people at Topshop offer 10% student discount, taking £9.50 off the price of the coat. ASOS also offer this, meaning the oxblood jeans cost £27, instead of £30. Working at Next means that the jumper will cost me £26.25 (LOVE my 25% discount!) or for all of you who aren't Next employees - Next's surfer voucher competition, entitles all new customers who sign up to £10 off their first order - bringing this gorgeous cable-knit piece to £25!
Accessories-wise, the necklace from H&M, flatforms and River Island and snood from Chelsea Doll are really competitively priced - you'd have to pay alot more for these bits and bobs in other high street stores (I'm naming no names!).
TOTAL COST: £172.49
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Next Grey check jacket £55// Next Grey check skirt £25// Next Thin strap vest £4// Zara Studded court shoe £39.99// Kate kanzier magnolia handbag £65.00// Chelsea Doll Roman numeral loop necklace £8
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I always find that people moan about work wear, complaining that the mags put together these crazy, amazing looks which they couldn't wear to the office without being frowned upon by their overly-conservative bosses, yet more traditional work clothes leave a lot to be desired.
When putting this outfit together, I took these views on board and feel I've created a look that is very smart, will flatter most figures, but also shows a little spark of catwalk inspiration.
The spiked shoes are huge for autumn/winter while the suit should take you right through to spring and, because of Next's current surfer offer, the suit would cost £74! The Zara court shoes are very well-priced at £39.99 and the bag & necklace add some colour to the look and are both from independent sites - making them unusual as well as being value for money!
TOTAL COST: £186.99
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Glamorous flocked spot peplum dress £22// Topshop Gabbi toecap pointed courts £50.00// Rock n’rose aurelia stone bracelet £14// Accessorize Carrie binoculars bag £30// Accessorize Statement triangle long pendant £16 // New Look
Cameo Rose Black Ruched Pocket Jacket £19.99
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This look had to be a show stopper, but also had to have that sweet, underdone feel. Although I've gone for some pretty wowza accessories, I think I've kept the look cutesy with the mini-mouse style dress courtesy of GlamorousUK - an online boutique stocking reasonably-priced clothing. You can also get a 25% off voucher
here which is valid 'til September 17th, giving you an extra 20% off all items from Glamorous!
Other savings include: 10% off the Topshop heels (student discount!), the Accessorize bag & pendant were knocked down in price due to a 10% student discount and 10% is also deducted from the New Look blazer at the till!
Purple is set to be a huge colour trend for A/W, so this look will save you pennies in the long run; step out in an on-trend colour, which won't date and will still be hot for S/S 2013
TOTAL: £136.00
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American Apparel riding pants £64// Topshop studded dip dye sweat £36// Vans authentic vi trainers schuh £45// Frassy rags mini skull necklace £6// Dorothy Perkins snake buckle shopper £25
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This final look has to be one of my favourites. I love casual clothing and feel that it's harder to put an outfit together to pop to the supermarket or for coffee than going the whole hog and getting dressed up for a night on the town. These items were chosen due to their versatility - a large theme throughout this post. All of the outfits created have multiple uses and can be mixed and matched to create totally new looks.
Vans are the shoes of the season and, as a chic alternative to a standard pump, will wear well and last longer due to the reinforced bottom, what's more, at Schuh students get a 10% discount!. Dip-dye is a huge trend for A/W 2012 and this beauty from Topshop is yours for only £36, with student discount £32.40!
This gorgeous little skull necklace is from Frassy Rags and only costs £6 - it's so petite and simple that you could pair it with any look, the same goes for the gorgeous riding pants from American Apparel - arguably steep in price, but so easy to wear.
The snakeskin bag is the final touch to this look, and, with the 15% student discount offered by DP's (making the handbag £18.75 instead of £25) how can you resist?!
TOTAL £161.65
So here are my outfits - hope you like them and for more info on Money Supermarket's competition, visit the site
here
