Staysfit: Our family's umbrellas are all from Walmart.

Walmart does sell great umbrellas, Totes. I got one for my son when he lived in Memphis. It rains a lot there!

My best low cost items were probably thrifted. I've bought a lot of vintage Coach bags, but this duffle was my first thrifted one, and one of the best. I think I paid around $25. The leather is fab.

A dressy

100%

wool jacket from Target that I bought 8 years ago for $40. It's collarless, looks expensive, and has worn like iron., I've also had good luck with black Old Navy pixie pants and a stretchy jersey dress. Both look great on.

A grey wool-blend 3/4 length duffle coat from NY&Co. that cost about $35 on sale 6 years or so ago.I I've heard that you're supposed to go with quality on outerwear, but I live in Georgia (where it passed 100 degrees today) and only need a heavy coat a few weeks of the year. I wouldn't spend much on coats or formal wear since I don't wear either very often.

It is confusing to me because some of my most valued and valuable things were thrifted for $2. My best buys from lower end stores have been from the Gap and Zara on sale. I am sure I would find more things at Target or Costco if I lived near either.

Brooklyn- I will check out H&M next time I am near.
Also Dotti- I found a long-sleeved knit dress there recently for $15.
Sometimes shopping with my teenaged daughters brings unexpected finds!

I really love my Target purses. They last years for me. My number one all time Target purse is probably the one I use to walk Lilypup daily. I wear it around my waist (it's really a shoulder purse) and hook the leash to it. Admittedly Lilypup is not puller, but still lots of strain.

Next on my list is a pair of high waisted fake skinnies. Real cheapies. I parcel out wears on these because I love them so much and they were a one off find.

My fave sweaters come from F21. They aren't forever sweaters, haha, pilling up eventually - but they are always soft and warm and fit the bill style wise.

Oh, and my fake drugstore crocs really hold up like iron. I wear those at the bakery and Lilypuppo's after work walk.

I've only now had a chance to come back to this thread and wow, I'm loving all of the low end treasures!

Angie, thanks for your high-low blog post. I really enjoyed it and I loved to hear that a lot of us dress this way. One thing I'm going to admit to....I usually cut the tags off my Kmart, Target and similar purchases because I fear that I'm subconsciously influenced by labels. Does anyone else do this?

BC, thanks for the tip about umbrellas at Walmart. The closest Walmart is inconveniently far, so I'm rarely there, but if I'm in that direction for something else, I will remember! A back-up would be nice!

Cococat, I cut the tags off of everything, high or low. I am not a brand person as much as a quality person. I love my eXilaration PJ's as much as my Jason Wu dress. If they fit and wear well they live in my closet next to each other and are equals.

CocoCat I will have to check out those jeans!!!

I think mine would be the $24 long vest from Temt or the $30 suedette jacket also from Temt.

And I have just found this dress at Cotton On for $30.0...could be in the running

I bought second hand shorts last year (Glassons brand) for $4 which were well worn, along with a new striped Dotti tee for $10. Both held up well for one season, and the tee will last a full second season I believe. The shorts got some paint on them so will become gardening, home shorts.....which sadly means I will need to get some new ones. UGh- I prefer swimsuit shopping!

Lyn D, I stopped into H&M today and got a scarf for $3. I never go into Dotti. I am too intimidated by the youthful demographic. I will give it a go!

Oh, one more: My coral/white circus stripe fake scuba full-skirted skirt comes from Rainbow (next to Ross, next to the petstore). I don't think there's anything over $20 at Rainbow. I like to wear this skirt on Sundays. It's frankly more wearable than I really secretly thought it would be.

An LLBean red wool overcoat, classic single button style, with an extra layer of insulation. Found at a thrift store a few summers ago, perfect fit, clearly never worn because there were paper covers on a few buttons. $10. It's not a coat I wear every day in winter (although I could) but it's nice to have a coat in a bright color for our long cold winters and for that price it had my name all over it.

Can't get the find to work but here is a link

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop.....e_0=Molten red

Thrift stores within an hour (or less) of the LLBean "mother ship" in Freeport Maine often have lots of LLbean items because the locals buy and donate them and of course they last forever.