By Kristin Hull

Inexpensive is always good. Cheap is never good. It takes a lot of digging to find clothing that is inexpensive but doesn’t look like it. That’s why I’m here. You don’t have time to do the legwork but I do. The best way to get good clothes at good prices is to shop sales at quality stores. And, don’t worry, I don’t mean Neiman Marcus (although they do have some great sales). I’m talking about The Gap, Express, The Limited, J. Crew, Dillards, Macy’s, etc. Of course, Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, JC Penney, etc. are often decent choices but you have to be really careful with quality. The do have some worthwhile pieces but you just have to be discerning. If you even think for a second that it looks cheap, it probably does so put it down and walk away. As I continue to find outfits and clothing options for you I will definitely utilize the cheaper stores but will also be checking other stores for sales. Point being, if you like something that’s on sale grab it while you can because sale items usually go quickly.

You will also probably see that I often recommend things that are black. There are a few reasons for that. First, as a mom, you are busy and often have to just “throw something on.” Because black goes with everything and always looks classy and stylish it is the easiest to work with, especially when time is of the essence. Second, many moms are carrying some extra pounds from having given birth, and from not having time to work out. This is totally understandable – so let’s work with it! Black is universally slimming and hides flaws more than any other color. And lastly, when purchasing inexpensive clothes (from stores like Forever 21 or JC Penney) black pieces most often look less cheap than other colors. Next time you’re in one of those stores compare the same piece of clothing in black to a different color and you’ll see that the lighter color looks cheaper. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule but for the most part, black always looks like it is made better. And accessories can be utilized to add some color so you don’t have to be concerned that you’re going to look like a Goth mom.

The photo here is a good example of a lighter color looking cheap. Notice the the outline of the pockets through the material? That’s a no-no. If it were black those lines would be much less noticeable. If you’re really determined to buy the dress in this color, I’d suggest taking it to a tailor and having them cut the pockets out and sew them shut. (But with the money you’d spend on that you could have probably just bought a similar, better quality dress elsewhere.)

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