The SaneShopping Magazine

Making a home stylish can get very overwhelming at times. It can be extremely detrimental to the pocketbook, too. Here are some shortcuts to take for styling your home:

1. Focus on one room or one section of a room at a time. This breaks your entire home into very small manageable chunks. It’s easier on your brain this way and much easier to stretch your dollars out between paychecks.
2. Collect clips from magazine photos and shopping sites to find the look that you are after. No matter how expensive it looks, just clip it for inspiration.
3. Decide on how much you want to spend per section.
4. Start at discount stores like Target, Kmart, IKEA or Home Depot. In the past several years, these stores have been teaming up with high-profile designers to make great looks for less.
5. Make it a fun challenge to find the great look for less! Read the rest of this entry »

My honey and I are in the process of building our house and as we stand in the gravel and stare up at a mass of wood, Tyvex wrap paper, really expensive windows, and an unfinished roof, we realize how quickly building costs multiply. It’s a running joke when we overshoot the nail gun, “You know, nails aren’t free!”

But! We will stay sane and modern with a little bit of research and a whole lot of style. Our big tip? Save on lighting! A Le Klint pendant lamp caught my eye years ago. It was designed in the 70’s and rocks any modern household. But this sucker costs $435 at DWR.com! I am going to save those pennies, and will instead buy a very similar pendant at IKEA for only $24.99.

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Fall is just around the corner, and it’s the perfect time to update your wardrobe! Be it Back-to School or simply seeking inspiration after a beautiful summer, it is time to evaluate your look.

Both Ralph Lauren and Dolce & Gabbana’s runway collections took inspiration from British royalty. A key piece to this look is the perfect riding boot, and brown leather–as seen in these equestrian-style Etienne Aigner boots–feels fresh compared to the typical black. Read the rest of this entry »

Q: I work for a financial planning firm. Our work attire has always been suit and tie. We are starting to adopt a business casual attire and the mandate from one of our owners is to wear a long sleeve dress shirt with the company logo on the left breast with dress pants. It feels blue collar or good for an exec in a manufacturing industry.

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Planning my yearly back-to-school wardrobe as a child was, in many ways, the beginning of my styling career. I honestly remember this activity more than any other during my 4th - 8th grade years (ok, maybe my first kiss was up there, too), so I understand how important it is for children to look and feel confident and stylish as they begin a new school year.

My best friend and I had a tradition for Fall shopping every year: our parents would give us a budget, so we each had exactly the same amount to spend on clothes. It did not matter whose parents made more money, our parents got together every year and came up with an affordable and reasonable budget, and we stuck to it! Read the rest of this entry »

Let’s face reality, kids (and parents!). 4th of July was weeks ago, and August is passing us by at rapid speed. Tick tock. Summer is winding down, and your first day of school is just around the corner.

Usually, the Back-to-School season represents a time of new beginnings: the air is crisp, the pencils are sharp, and most everyone has a closet full of new clothes to match their new grade level. However, in light of recent economic downturns, the average family has less disposable income, and parents are feeling less motivated to spend big on Back-to-School shopping.

Kids may not understand terms like “recession,” but they sure do understand the word, “No” when it follows the question, “Can I have a new Hannah Montana backpack this year?” So, to help everyone avoid embarrassing temper tantrums in the ‘School Supplies’ aisle of Target, the experts at SaneShopping are offering up our best Back-to-School shopping advice.

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This Fall, look for footwear that’s a little bit girly and a little bit rock and roll, like these black ankle booties. Premiere designers like Christian Louboutin and Prada paved the way, with others like Jessica Simpson and Steve Madden following closely behind with similar styles at very affordable prices.

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On a recent episode of Gossip Girl, Leighton Meester’s character sported a sunny yellow trench over a belted black shirt and (surprise!) orangey-red tights. This bursting-with-color look is the perfect Fall transition ensemble, ideal for anyone who needs a little school girl charm in her closet. Get a similar look with a few great finds from favorites like Victoria’s Secret, American Apparel and Target for around $200.

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Who says women have to sacrifice style for comfort? Flat jelly-style sandals that are comfortable and easy to wear. Plus, they conjure up all kinds of nostalgia and fond memories of 80’s footwear. Cameron Diaz has been seen sporting the high end Chanel design, but you can test drive the look for a fraction of the cost.

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Are you a Shopping Expert? SaneShopping is currently seeking shopping experts from across the globe to contribute editorial content and advice. Interested writers may contact editor@saneshopping.com.