prudence [ˈpruːdəns] -noun 1. caution in practical affairs; discretion or circumspection 2. care taken in the management of one’s resources 3. consideration for one’s own interests 4. the condition or quality of being prudent

What bargains await on this rack?

Greetings, and welcome to Pretty Prudence! The inspiration behind starting this site was my endless love of fashion, combined with my compulsive urge to save money. I admit it- I am a HUGE cheapskate. And yet, I refuse to let that keep me from having a unique, fun style that expresses who I am! It is possible to dress in a way that shows off your personality, without sacrificing all of your hard-earned resources.

How did I come to be this way? Well, like many people with siblings, I grew up with very little in the way of luxury items. Upon moving from the city to an upscale community at the tender age of 14, I had no choice but to get resourceful and find a way to still dress with flair regardless of my financial situation. Teenagers are harsh, and fitting in was critical. I wanted cool clothes, but to my dismay, it wasn’t in the budget.

As I grew up, I realized that when parents have mouths to feed, rent to pay, bills to cover, and cars to maintain, clothing falls pretty far down the list… so I got creative. In 1995, thrift stores were still somewhat passe. Unlike today, where it’s called “vintage” or “retro”, back then it was different and eccentric. Young me found a style that blended old and new– often mixing polyester blouses with flared jeans from Kohl’s, adding in clearance-rack accessories and a fun hairstyle, throwing it all together in an effort to express myself in a way that says “I’m an individual!” rather than “I’m too poor for name brands!”

That style of mine has continued to this day. I’ve discovered over the years that tossing out my fashion inhibitions allowed me to see a garishly-printed dress on the clearance rack that no one else wanted (that happens to be a size too big), and know that with a thrift-store belt and a pair of leggings, I’ll have a cute-ass outfit!

When I tell inquiring friends and associates that said outfit cost me less than $15 head-to-toe, they are always in disbelief, as though I am some sort of bargain-hunting wizard. My goal with this blog is to teach budding fashionistas that they too can be a bargain-hunting wizard! In 15 minutes, anyone can walk into a store, visit three key locations, and walk out with an addition to their daily fashion rotation. It takes a lot less time than you might think- the trick is knowing where to go, where to look, and what to buy. Putting the outfits together is easy, and throughout the course of my blog posts, I will teach women everywhere how to look pretty with prudence.