Stay-at-home Mum and fulltime blogger Kimberly Smith (34) lives in upstate New York and began Penny Pincher Fashion because she is passionate about encouraging women to look stylish without spending a fortune. Her style is crisp, pretty and girly with the occasional preppy touch. She is a high heels gal at heart, and uses Modern Classic pieces, interesting jewellery and her fab collection of footwear to create outfits that are polished and elegant:
“My style has changed so much since the inception of my blog. I find myself gravitating towards a more modern, streamlined silhouette now and I definitely favor tailored pieces since they work well for my body type. I’d say my style is classic, feminine and sophisticated.”
Kimberly often reaches for classic items as the go-to building blocks for her outfits. Both the sassy cropped jacket and crewneck sweater are examples of traditional tailored fit. She then adds in a good dose of modern with the faux leather pants, which with their sleek shiny texture also create outfit depth. Sporting earth tones from head to toe ensures visual coherence, but it’s not just the Autumnal colour palette that screams Fall here. Opting for texture-rich fabrics like the sleek leather look (trousers and Zara handbag) and tweedy jacket further enhances the Fall vibe. Our blogger is a fan of neutrals like cream, black and white, but these rich browns and the mossy olive green look just as flattering on her, don’t you think? Chunky, baroque-looking jewellery and a plaid infinity scarf finish off the outfit.
The first thing I noticed was the timeless, well-fitting coat with beautiful military style detailing. Such a versatile piece to have in your wardrobe. Then it struck me how all the elements in this outfit effectively play off against each other. Kimberly is de-bombshelling her curve-hugging leather pencil skirt by pairing it with a very fun sassy sweatshirt. I adore the graphic vibe of the XL heart. Plus, notice how it perfectly ties together the entire outfit because the black is repeated in the high-heeled black booties and the sleek skirt. At the same time the leather skirt helps to dress up the inherently casual plaid shirt, resulting in a modern look that is both playful and polished. The accessories too are well-chosen, with the mixed metal chain link necklaces and bracelets picking up the colour of the coat and sweatshirt, and the red satchel echoing the subtle red in the shirt. The cream hat looks cosy and emphasizes Kimberly’s soft wavy ‘do, while the red lippy packs a cheerful punch on a snowy day.
My word, isn’t this the prettiest bomber you have ever seen! It’s the combination of the delicate see-through effect and romantic red and pink flowers. So fun, fresh and feminine. Bombers are often made of more substantial fabrics, but here the lightweight material collapses back onto the body in a very flattering way. Lovely for warmer weather. The peony red top matches the colours in the floral print jacket, the ruffles further enhance the romantic vibe. I like how Kimberly lets the happy flowers do all the talking by sporting simple skinny jeans and fashion-forward nude ankle strap pumps. Her trusted cognac Zara tote, chunky gold bracelets and aviator sunnies add subtle sheen and texture.
A strong minimalist look after my own heart. When trying out new trends, like the sporty bomber jacket here, Kimberly likes to mix them with classic pieces to make sure she still feels like herself. She kept the high-contrast mixed media jacket refined by picking one in a neutral colour palette. The black sleeves emphasize the crispness of the dressy button-down. Turning up the cuffs of the shirt creates a subtle colour block effect, which almost makes you think the jacket is three-toned instead of two-toned. Clever! Slim-fitting boyfriend jeans also contribute to the overall streamlined silhouette. The girly red pumps — gorgeous with the rest of the colour palette — are a fab ladylike accent. Throw in a strap-free spunky animal print clutch and sleek silver cuff and you are good to go.
Kimberly got most of these fab items on sale. Her tip for finding affordable and stylish pieces when you don’t have time to constantly monitor sites for the best deals:
“Subscribe by email to your favorite retailers so you get alerted of sales and specials they are running. Sometimes if you visit a site and add items to your cart but don’t check out that same day, you will get an email in your inbox offering a discount incentive to purchase.”
Many of us struggle with dressing for hot temps when layering is not always an option. Well, this sweet Summertime look proves you don’t need a lot of pieces to create a stylish outfit. Just throw on an easy dress, add a great pair of trendy shoes, pick a fun clutch, and you are good to go. Jewellery or a topper are wonderful extras, but by no means essential to get you out the door looking put together and fab. Case in point: the embroidery on Kimberly’s little white frock offers built-in textural interest. The tan lace-up sandals give this look its fashion-forward edge, while the colour is repeated in the nude clutch with studded detailing. They also provide some toughness against the girly dress, as does the camo jacket. A juxtaposition that is played down again by the braided hair, sporting girly bling and turning up the collar of the jacket.
Putting together striking denim looks is definitely Kimberly’s strong suit, and this ladylike tomboy outfit has stolen my heart. The proportions are exactly right, with the longer length black blazer hitting at the hip, and the dreamy ankle strap pumps elongating the leg line of the rolled up jeans. The tailored blazer is a classic with stretch that makes layering a breeze. This outfit gets it boyish ruggedness from the cropped, light wash denim jacket and distressed boyfriend jeans. Turning up the collar of the blazer and jacket, and faux tucking the grey turtleneck adds extra structure. Lots of yellow and rose gold arm candy, and that delightful colour blocked clutch perfectly complement this polished tomboy look.
Hop on over to Kimberly’s blog to browse the rest of her archives and to get shopping tips from our budget-conscious blogger, or find out what inspires her on Pinterest. But first let us know in the comments what you think about her Modern Classic outfits.
