Doing Red Carpet Glam on a Budget…

Last weekend I got the honor of attending the 5th annual La Jolla International Film Festival with a blogger’s pass.  Sooooo very excited about this!

But when you try to live your life “classy on a budget” and are going to be surrounded by people wearing Chanel, Dior and Prada as well as one-of-a-kind designer outfits, it honestly can make you a little intimidated.

But I knew I could pull it off.  I just had to be a little bit creative.  Ok, maybe a lot of creative.  But with the compliments I received throughout the weekend, I say I rocked it.

What do you think?

This was opening night.  I bought the jumpsuit at Ross on the Las Vegas strip for under $20.  I wanted it super flowy since I was attending a summer event so I went with a size 8P even though I’m a 0/2 (also it was the only size they had it in and I loved it!)  The shoes are Prabal Gurung for Target purchased on sale for about $30.  The handbag and belt were also Target and purchased YEARS ago.  I think I paid $20 for the belt and around the same for the purse.  The jewelry is all from the swap meet here in San Diego.  The ring and bracelets are just simply, inexpensive costume jewelry.  The earrings though are vintage from the 1950s.  I also bought them from the local swap meet but bought them from the little old lady who originally owned them.  So I think total for the outfit was under $130.

Second day was seminars.  This is an amazing black vintage dress given to me by a good friend.  It belonged to her mom, but didn’t fit either of them anymore.  My friend knew that I would give this dress new life and so she gave it to me.  The shoes are from the local Goodwill store for $5.99.  That’s right, FIVE BUCKS!!!  That killer necklace is once again from my favorite store, Tar-jay, and I bought it on clearance for $10.  The shades are from the Dollar Tree.  Total cost of outfit?  $17 baby!!!

Day two red carpet!  I ALWAYS get compliments on these shoes.  People always ask me if they are Valentino.  Nope.  $24.99 at Burlington Coat Factory!  The glitter shorts I got at one of the cheap, hole in the wall type stores for $10.  The ruffly shirt is from Wal-Mart.  Got it on clearance for $5.  The blazer is a White House-Black Market one, but got it at my local Goodwill for $10.  And my handbag was a gift with purchase from purchasing make-up brushes!  Jewlery from Target for about $15.  Total cost: $65

Day three: seminars.  And I brought my little fashionista in training with me!  On me: hat-swap meet for $7, Shirt, belt, shoes, purse from Target for $20, $20, $30, $40 respectively (Prabal, Mossimo, Prabal, Mossimo respectively). Skirt is Bebe from a thrift shop in Temecula called Ritzy Rags for $25.  Cost of my outfit: $142 but the belt is the same one that I wore on day one.  I actually repeated accessories at the same event!!!!

Final day of the event: red carpet.  The shoes which you can’t see in the photo are the same ones I wore opening night-Target for $30.  The purse was a gift.  The dress is Bebe from once again my trusty local Goodwill and I snagged it for a whopping $14.99. Total cost for outfit: $44.99.

So, how’d I do?  Not too shabby if I do say so myself.  This event really forced me to be creative and to look at my wardrobe in a completely different way.  What do you have in your closet that you can get super creative with?