Tunic Sweaters and Leggings -The Best Budget-Friendly Fashion Trend for 2009
This season’s trendy look is comfortable, easy and best of all, very affordable. Pair some opaque cotton leggings with a tunic sweater and some boots and you have “the look” of the season. This fashion trend is a revived 80’s look that has been updated to flatter almost any size or shape. You don’t have to worry about the pieces going out of style soon because they are so versatile that you can wear them with other things. The leggings easily double as dance or workout bottoms. The tunic sweater can be worn with jeans and of course the boots can be worn with just about anything including; skirts, dresses or a pair of skinny jeans.
Photo by: Lupzduts Flickr Creative Commons
How to get the tunic sweater dress look:
Tunic Sweater Dress
Cost: $15-$40
Where to get it: Ross, Marshals, T.J. Max, Kohls, Old Navy, Sears, JC Penny
If you are truly a renegade bargain fashion hunter, discount stores like Ross can be rewarding when looking for this season’s tunic knit top. I have some friends who do not have the patience to hunt for items at these types of discount stores. While I do love to browse these stores, I have to admit it is hit or miss. You may find the perfect tunic sweater top for example, but you may not find it in your size and you have to sort through a lot of crap. Kohls and Old Navy also carry a nice selection of trendy tunic sweater dresses, but don’t forget to check out the “softer side of Sears “or JC Penny. These retail stores have come a long way with fashion and both have young and hip clothing lines that are privy to the tunic-style sweater dress.
Leggings
Cost: $5-$20
Where to get them: Walmart, Charlotte Russe, Forever 21, Burlington Coat Factory
If you shop wisely, you shouldn’t have to pay more than 20 dollars for a pair of leggings. To get the most out of your leggings, it’s best to go with dark neutral colors such as brown, black and gray. However, if you are really bold, don’t hold yourself back. While I have never been able to pull it off personally, I’ve seen good use of royal blue, mustard and even wild patterned leggings on fashion-forward women this year. Look for leggings that have a good blend of spandex and cotton for a smooth look. If you go too cheap, leggings may bunch up at your knee making you look like a little kid.
Boots
Cost: $50-$150
Where to get them: DSW, Shoe Carnival, Rack Room Shoes
They’re not “pleather”, they’re “Vegan.” Saving money on boots is easy when you don’t buy real leather. In recent years, there have been some great advances in vinyl materials previously mocked as “pleather”. Today, real leather is actually passé. In fact, some of my favorite shoe designers such as Blow Fish and Steve Madden mostly design vegan shoes and they look and feel great. For the tunic sweater dress look this year, I personally think it’s best to have knee length boots. However, I have seen it done with ankle boots as well. It really depends on how long your legs are and your weight distribution to decide what works best for you.
