I love luxury items as much as the next girl but some of the cutest stuff that I've purchased have been from Target. Yup, Target! I've received many a complements on dresses and tops from that super store. I love the disbelieving looks when I tell people that I purchased my dress/top from Target. Take that - Saks!
Mixing Hi-Lo is a must, especially in this economy. And if you mix it right, you'll look Hi only. I like to purchase trend-inspired pieces (which really translates to disposable pieces) at H&M, Zara and Target. Since it's a trend, I don't really care if the item (dress, top, or accessory) is going to last. It'll be out of style soon anyways. Just be sure that if it's an accessory, it doesn't look poorly made. That will just make you look cheap. Old Navy is a personal favorite of mine for basics: tank tops and long sleeve shirts (great for layering). Their swimwear line isn't too shabby either.
TWO things that should ALWAYS be Hi are the bags that you carry and the shoes that you wear. And Hi can mean contemporary/independent designers, not just your standard luxury brands. Ok, ok...two other things that should be Hi are your jeans and your winter coat. For some reason, designer jeans just fit better...whether it's the color, cut or fabric. They make your butt look really really good - that's priceless! As for your winter coat, it's something you wear every day during the winter and it's one of the first things that other people will see when you meet. More people will see you in your winter coat than your outfit for the day...think on that.
