For centuries mankind has used body adornments and clothes to indicate what kind of people they are. Tribal women for example wear a lot of trinkets to show how wealthy they are while those in India wear certain types of adornments to indicate that they are single.

Fashion is not just about clothes or accessories or shoes or whatever we buy at our favorite boutiques. We wear clothes not only because we need to be clothed but because our clothes are a signal to other people about who we are –our identity. It is a language of symbols and signs so to speak that is why it is never far fetched to say that the clothes make the man or woman for that matter.

 Call it stereotyping but hipsters for example wear knit hats just about anywhere just to show that they are cool even if the weather is not cool. Apart from a good way to judge people and what they like, fashion is also deemed as a good barometer for cultural changes.

Photo Via Newfashion.in 

Being fashionable is not that difficult and if you are really bent on looking trendy, you will be able to find a few items that will prove to be useful for all seasons.

Now now, you do not have to spend a lot of money to get these items. According to budget experts, it is always a good idea to look into auction sites such as eBay to find a cute dress or a nice pair of shoes. Vintage shops are also an option. The question is, what are these items that you can use all year round?

The fashionista would call these items fashion repeats i.e. things that will stay useful throughout the entire year even if there are weather changes. However, even if the weather changes from hot to cold and vice versa, you would still need basic items such as long pants.

Alright let’s start with the first one – Knee High Boots. In some parts of the world, these may not be needed but come night time, they are accepted even in tropical countries provided that you are in a city setting. In the western hemisphere, you will see knee high boots during spring and fall and will prove to be quite useful for these seasons. The great thing about this item is that you can wear them with a lot of things i.e. with a nice skirt, a mini skirt, a pair of patterned tights and even skinny jeans.

Another piece you would need for your wardrobe is a durable leather handbag. You can use this one all year round and you do not have to spend a lot too because you only need one or maybe 2 i.e. in black or in brown.

Jewelry is timeless but you do not need to spend thousands of dollars to get them either. There are nice gold and silver pieces one can find in vintage shops and these items will be useful for your outfits. Two basic pieces you need to invest on are earrings and of course a watch.

Wear Your Attitude. Wearing your attitude is the best way to make a statement especially if you do not want to look generic. If you want to stand out, wearing clothes that are apt for  your personality is always a  good idea.

The Bad Girl Vibe. If you want to look like a bad girl, you can always wear one of those studded leather jackets. Yes they are still in style and they will always be so if you do not have them yet, you better get one today. The question is, where are you going to get them? There are some pretty nice studded leather jackets at Buckle.com priced at around $90 to $100. If you are a vegan, you can always get a faux leather jacket with studs. Do not forget to pair your leather jacket with a good set of leather boots too. No we aren’t talking biker girl here because this look is relatively versatile. In fact, you can wear a leather jacket with a tutu-inspired skirt.

The Good Girl. Good girls can wear studded leather jackets too but if you do not want to appear bad, you might have to stick to a cardigan or a plain leather jacket without embellishments. There are however a few studded leather jackets that do not appear like you’re a biker girl or Lady GaGa in her video for Telephone. Zara has a range of leather jackets for you to take a look at.

Again, wearing a leather jacket is always about attitude and if you think you cannot pull it off, it would be best not to wear one. The fashionable always have their own unique ways of pulling off wearing a leather jacket. So as it has always been, it all depends on you and your attitude towards fashion and towards leather jackets in particular.

Photo via styleguru.com

Shopping on a budget has always been quite a challenge for many a women (and men). If you are from Chicago and would like to shop on a budget in the area, do not fret, we got just the list you need.

The Daisy Shop located on 67 E Oak St 6^th Fl offers vintage steals for those who would like to have high fashion brands in their closet. The Daisy Shop is one of the best places for you to get high fashion brands at real affordable rates.

For those looking for shoes, you can go to 824 W Armitage Ave and look for Lori’s Discount Designer Shoes. Make sure however to go to the sale wall located at the back of the store for you to get real amazing discounts.

For more discounted merchandise, you can go to Nordstrom Rack at 24 N State Street and buy anything from home décor to lingerie to cashmere scarves.

Akira is another place to be, you can find a mix of designer labels sold at real affordable prices. At Akira, you do not really have to spend a fortune.

For those who are looking for custom tailors, you can get a shirt or a coat without having to spend much by visiting Nicholas Joseph Custom Tailors right on 1925 W Division Street. They sell suits at $500.

Another place one can go to is Fox’s located at 2150 Halsted St. the place offers brand name apparel at the fraction of the real price. This boutique is definitely one of the best places to go to if you want casual and active wear as well as accessories.

Another wonderful place to visit for your Chicago shopping is Filene’s Basement at 830 N Michigan Ave where you can find racks and racks of clothing as well as real nice handbags.

 The military is not only the entity that a country relies on during times of war and uncertainty but also serves as an inspiration for many fashion designers.

Military fashion is not something new though. In fact, it only has evolved through the years and has evolved into something chic, casual and very fashionable. There are two types of military fashion categories and this includes army and aviator. While army fashion is limited to military greens, it is still quite versatile with all the fur one can add to it and all other fashion accessories to make it look more chic. A great coat or a military jacket with shearling in the fabric is definitely a must-have for every woman during fall or winter. Stay away from camouflage prints though because it is still too early for them to be “in” again.

Since the army interpretation is limited to military greens, many women who do not like the shade but would like to wear military apparel can look at the aviator interpretation of the fashion industry This includes sleek looks and slim cut jackets with darker hues i.e. brown and navy.

If you would really like to wear something as chic as military wear without spending too much, you can go to vintage shops and look for military jackets in dark brown or light brown. Bomber jackets are also a must-have for military fashion enthusiasts.

Just this fall and winter, Versace brought out new military fashion designs which means that the popularity of the “genre” is definitely building again and de factor back in circulation. Other high fashion houses such as Givenchy have also used a lot of leather in their latest collections –leather being a mainstay for military fashion in general. 

There are other high fashion brands that came out with military inspired apparell in the past few years and all of them are just gorgeous.

Photo Via Fashionising.com 

 The military is not only the entity that a country relies on during times of war and uncertainty but also serves as an inspiration for many fashion designers.

Military fashion is not something new though. In fact, it only has evolved through the years and has evolved into something chic, casual and very fashionable. There are two types of military fashion categories and this includes army and aviator. While army fashion is limited to military greens, it is still quite versatile with all the fur one can add to it and all other fashion accessories to make it look more chic. A great coat or a military jacket with shearling in the fabric is definitely a must-have for every woman during fall or winter. Stay away from camouflage prints though because it is still too early for them to be “in” again.

Since the army interpretation is limited to military greens, many women who do not like the shade but would like to wear military apparel can look at the aviator interpretation of the fashion industry This includes sleek looks and slim cut jackets with darker hues i.e. brown and navy.

If you would really like to wear something as chic as military wear without spending too much, you can go to vintage shops and look for military jackets in dark brown or light brown. Bomber jackets are also a must-have for military fashion enthusiasts.

Just this fall and winter, Versace brought out new military fashion designs which means that the popularity of the “genre” is definitely building again and de factor back in circulation. Other high fashion houses such as Givenchy have also used a lot of leather in their latest collections –leather being a mainstay for military fashion in general. 

There are other high fashion brands that came out with military inspired apparell in the past few years and all of them are just gorgeous.

Photo Via Fashionising.com 

There are so many looks that are trending this spring and summer, you’re sure to find one that fits you to a T.

You’ll need a pair of sunglasses to block out the rays from the 70’s neon blocks that are walking off the runway to a store near you.  The bolder the better – fuchsia top and turquoise bottom – whatever, choose contrasting colors for a pleasing palate.

Short leather or pleather jackets – nearly bolero ones – are back as well.  Find them on e-bay or at your nearest Forever XXI and not just in black.  A grey one goes well with either the bright neons or the muted minimal look.

Leather/pleather jackets, pants, skirts and bustiers are all the rage again as the punk look is also back this season so channel your inner Kurt Cobain or the Vans.  Just add a sterling silver cuff and you’re off on your Harley.

Another look that’s hot this season is the ‘60’s ladylike – an imitation of Jackie O.  The sheath dress – in any color goes great with that string of pearls and big black sunglasses.

The hippie look is also trending this year – the long silhouette – bell bottoms, wide leg pants and the maxi skirt topped with a lace, crochet or macramé poncho or vest will make you look like a fashionista that just stepped off Yasgar’s farm in Woodstock.

If you’ve got the legs for it, shirttail hems that are short in front longer in back are strutting the runways.  The look is effortless and casual - covered up while giving a hint of leg in front.  To me it looks like the designer couldn’t make up their mind, though…

Also on the runways are stripes, all-in-one jumpsuits and mix and match prints – just make sure to keep the prints the same size.

I discovered another great vintage boutique on Etsy through the fabulous Joanna of Cup of Jo, and was thrilled to find that the prices are completely affordable. So, I scrolled through and looked at each item, loving everything, and settled upon these four adorable pieces. I like the contrast of the bright dress with the other more muted colors and think it would be the perfect outfit for that slightly crisp day where the seasons are so desperately trying to change—in this case, winter into spring—where it's warm enough for bare legs, but still cold enough for a coat. The clutch is fantastic with that rich color, plus I love the little buckle in the front. Can you believe it's only $19! And don't you love the cute bows on the shoes? Click here to see more from Dear Golden!

... Especially these mary-jane peep-toe heels from Plasticland:

They're so cute with their scallopped edges and spectator details.  Only $36!

Or, if you're really daring...

...these ruffled spat mary-janes are surely right up your alley! I think they'd be so cute... But i don't know what I'd wear them with! At only $56, they're too much of a steal to forego!

How would you wear these beautiful spat mary-janes?

So we've done our daily dose of quirky, let's get down to pretty pretty pretty.

This delicate, unique bracelet transforms any woman into a Greek Goddess. Paired with a simple jewel toned dress (perhaps in turquoise? Yes?) or even classic straight legged jeans and a cardi (CARDIS! YAY!) this is pretty enough to make the grade.
And boooys - this makes a PERFECT gift.