Fashion week prep: A street style maven shares 3 inexpensive and vibrant outfit statements
Having traveled from Halifax to Toronto for the past three years to document up and coming fashion, beauty and street style trends for my site Lion Hunter, I’ve come to accept the madness of fashion week. This season, as an online editorial intern at FASHION, I get to experience fashion week differently, having already been in the city for a few months and working for the magazine. Each day will still bring worries of failing to squeeze in a quick bite between shows, publishing up to date content and finding a moment to rest before the next day rolls in. Thankfully, concern over my sartorial choices is the least of these.
My approach to figuring out outfits leads to a heap of gathered wares from my favourite thrift and vintage stores that I’ve slowly collected since the lights dimmed last season. Vintage trinkets and jewellery, a plethora of prints and dope heels that I will curse at the end of each day, are all under scrutiny. As a frugal shopper I’ve found ways to create street style worthy looks without making my bank account sweat. I put together possible looks out of that pile of goodness allowing myself to change them due to last minute thrift store finds or an inspired trade of pieces between outfits. The upside of taking in Toronto Fashion Week is a prior month worth of street style inspiration from New York, London, Paris and Milan to inspire a week’s worth of looks.
In the spirit of anything goes when dressing for fashion week, here are 3 inexpensive looks that are worthy of a little show and tell.
The opening night dress
As a seasoned thrifter, I’ve learned to look through everything, even the costume section of Value Village where I found this gem. This is a piece that I knew I could wear to opening night the moment I saw it. As the top to a pair of purple harem pants that made up a traditional Indian outfit, I had already imagined it tailored into the perfect dress. The embellishments give character to a simple purple dress that makes me feel like a million bucks. The purple clutch, also a thrift find, combined with the dress cost me $17. A thrifted look like this makes Value Village my go to spot.
Mo’s wearing: Dress and clutch, Value Village. Heels, Shoedazzle. Earrings, 50 Hats Vintage.
The mid-week look
At some point in the middle of the week, I need a look that allows a mini break without compromising my signature look. I look to menswear for such comfort to create the foundation of the look i.e. these sweatpants and white button down shirt. The accessories and finishing touches are what maintain my personal style. I love the orange base that brings the on-trend tartan coat, glasses, turban and shoes together. The tartan coat cost me $15, a price easy to settle with for a piece that will take me from fall to winter.
Mo’s wearing: Shirt and coat, Value Village. Bag, Little Burgundy. Scarf and sweatpants, 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target. Shoes, Shoedazzle. Sunglasses, Old Navy.
Let’s end on a high note
It’s always bitter sweet to see the end of fashion week but what better way to bid adieu than with an attention grabbing look. It’s not hard to see that I’m obsessed with prints and this two-piece look is the perfect high note. This is sure to be a street style enthusiast pleaser with the tropical print, woven clutch and snakeskin-textured heels. I am not afraid to be a repeat offender and these previously-worn pieces took a little nipping, tucking and tapering after I bought them at the low price of $8.
Mo’s wearing: Skirt and top, Value Village. Earrings and sunglasses, Old Navy. Clutch, Dress in Time Vintage. Shoes, Guess.
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://fashionmagazine.com/style/fashion-week-prep/&title=Fashion week prep: A street style maven shares 3 inexpensive and vibrant outfit statements&picture=https://fashionmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Fashion-Week-Prep-Mo-Handahu.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_158538" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Photography by Stefania Yarhi[/caption]
Having traveled from Halifax to Toronto for the past three years to document up and coming fashion, beauty and street style trends for my site Lion Hunter, I’ve come to accept the madness of fashion week. This season, as an online editorial intern at FASHION, I get to experience fashion week differently, having already been in the city for a few months and working for the magazine. Each day will still bring worries of failing to squeeze in a quick bite between shows, publishing up to date content and finding a moment to rest before the next day rolls in. Thankfully, concern over my sartorial choices is the least of these.
My approach to figuring out outfits leads to a heap of gathered wares from my favourite thrift and vintage stores that I’ve slowly collected since the lights dimmed last season. Vintage trinkets and jewellery, a plethora of prints and dope heels that I will curse at the end of each day, are all under scrutiny. As a frugal shopper I’ve found ways to create street style worthy looks without making my bank account sweat. I put together possible looks out of that pile of goodness allowing myself to change them due to last minute thrift store finds or an inspired trade of pieces between outfits. The upside of taking in Toronto Fashion Week is a prior month worth of street style inspiration from New York, London, Paris and Milan to inspire a week's worth of looks.
In the spirit of anything goes when dressing for fashion week, here are 3 inexpensive looks that are worthy of a little show and tell.
[caption id="attachment_158539" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Photography by Stefania Yarhi[/caption]
The opening night dress
As a seasoned thrifter, I’ve learned to look through everything, even the costume section of Value Village where I found this gem. This is a piece that I knew I could wear to opening night the moment I saw it. As the top to a pair of purple harem pants that made up a traditional Indian outfit, I had already imagined it tailored into the perfect dress. The embellishments give character to a simple purple dress that makes me feel like a million bucks. The purple clutch, also a thrift find, combined with the dress cost me $17. A thrifted look like this makes Value Village my go to spot.
Mo’s wearing: Dress and clutch, Value Village. Heels, Shoedazzle. Earrings, 50 Hats Vintage.
[caption id="attachment_158544" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Photography by Stefania Yarhi[/caption]
The mid-week look
At some point in the middle of the week, I need a look that allows a mini break without compromising my signature look. I look to menswear for such comfort to create the foundation of the look i.e. these sweatpants and white button down shirt. The accessories and finishing touches are what maintain my personal style. I love the orange base that brings the on-trend tartan coat, glasses, turban and shoes together. The tartan coat cost me $15, a price easy to settle with for a piece that will take me from fall to winter.
Mo’s wearing: Shirt and coat, Value Village. Bag, Little Burgundy. Scarf and sweatpants, 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target. Shoes, Shoedazzle. Sunglasses, Old Navy.
[caption id="attachment_158545" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Photography by Stefania Yarhi[/caption]
Let’s end on a high note
It’s always bitter sweet to see the end of fashion week but what better way to bid adieu than with an attention grabbing look. It’s not hard to see that I’m obsessed with prints and this two-piece look is the perfect high note. This is sure to be a street style enthusiast pleaser with the tropical print, woven clutch and snakeskin-textured heels. I am not afraid to be a repeat offender and these previously-worn pieces took a little nipping, tucking and tapering after I bought them at the low price of $8.
Mo’s wearing: Skirt and top, Value Village. Earrings and sunglasses, Old Navy. Clutch, Dress in Time Vintage. Shoes, Guess.){kind=link}