High fashion looks for bargain prices

Doesn’t Kate Moss look hot? What about Sienna Miller, doesn’t she look darn amazing? Well,… Doesn’t Kate Moss look hot? What about Sienna Miller, doesn’t she look darn amazing? Well, these women better look spectacular because the pieces of clothing that hang from their famously fit frames add up to hundreds, many times thousands of dollars.

Staring at their silky gowns and oversized bags fresh off the runway will bring out the green-eyed monster in the best of us.

The shine and embroidery on their outfits simply can’t be found at the nearest mall, and those particular styles of shoes just haven’t reached Payless shelves yet. All these setbacks make us wonder, “Can high fashion overcome high prices?”

Unlike these girls, most Pitt students don’t get paid to appear in Hollywood films or to strut the couture catwalks.

Unfortunately, the average student cannot afford to walk around in high fashion simply because high fashion means high expense, and we do not get a paycheck for going to class (an issue that must be addressed).

The way I see it, a girl has two options: Wait to be stopped on the street by a modeling executive or film producer, or make use of the alternatives at hand. Many of the top looks can be duplicated or outdone with a keen sense of direction (an understanding of how to get around Pittsburgh or an ability to surf the net) and a budget.

I realize the word “budget” creates mental images of old women and bargain bins, but it really can be an effective technique.

With expensive shoes in every store window and beautiful dresses peering out from every magazine cover, it can sometimes feel that the fashion world is involved in some evil plot to make the already modest girls feel even less wealthy and terrible-looking to boot.

This is not entirely true, though. Designers and fashionistas alike have been reaching out, using their knowledge of style and their loads of money to create affordable clothing lines for the rest of us.

It’s reminiscent of when Cinderella’s fairy godmother transformed her rags into a beautiful gown, except we get the better deal: We choose from wide selections and get to keep the clothes in the end.

Sarah Jessica Parker, the journalistic vixen of the hit show “Sex and the City,” recently released her new line, “Bitten.” Although the clothing is only available at Steve ‘ Barry’s at this point, the collection is something to get excited about.

A buyer will find everything from pantsuits to jean jackets, and sizes range from 2 to 22. The prices are unbelievable: I felt like I needed to be bitten to wake up from this merchandising dream. Every piece costs $20 or less. That’s less than most name-brand bras, for goodness’ sake.

Vera Wang decided to step away from her usual glamorous designs and wedding dress monopoly to create a low-price line of her own. Her brainchild is called “Simply Vera,” and it can be found at your friendly neighborhood Kohl’s.

A bit refreshing for Kohl’s, the collection is rather edgy. “Simply Vera” manages to cover simply every area of fashion: a broad spectrum of home accessories, underwear and quirky, vintage-inspired dresses.

If there is one name to thank for giving penny pinchers a chance, it’s Target. I mean the all-inclusive, warehouse-reminiscent superstore that year after year, has managed to put rising star designers’ clothing on their low-price racks.

For those of you uninformed, the section is called “GO International.” Chosen designers create cheap clothes that happen to look amazing, and Target sells them at prices to match the neighboring no-name labels in the store. It really is a beautiful thing.

If these options haven’t convinced you that there is hope in the world of high fashion for bargain hunters, just hop on the bus and head over to the South Side. Truthfully, one needn’t step farther than a block away from Carson Street to find the greatest shops with the lowest prices.

It involves a little browsing, but Carson is chock full with tiny vintage shops and independent clothing collections. The key is to look for the crappy or eccentric looking signs; fancy looking exteriors are warning flags for scarily high price tags.

South Side Works is home to both H’M and Forever 21. While H’M offers a slightly edgier look, Forever 21 will carry one solid-colored shirt in about 21 different styles, a benefit not to be overlooked.

Both stores are bursting with outfits and accessories for mixing and matching, but with these countless options and lower prices can sometimes come less reliable quality.

In other words, approach these bargains with caution. I never buy anything without inspecting every inch of the fabric for the beginnings of tears and hanging strings. There is nothing worse than going out wearing a brand new shirt, thinking you look good, then finding a gaping armpit hole in the fabric.

It’s not an easy task transforming sky-high fashion to meet the needs of a poor college student, but then again, it’s not impossible. I’ve learned that if you shop smart and keep an eye out for new lines, keeping up with the styles of today isn’t something to stress over.

Kate Moss, you may look hot, but did you put that outfit together on a tight budget? I didn’t think so.