I attended first NYFW show with Ellie & Ilaria and I was stressed about what to wear. I was ready to run to the mall and splurge on a shopping haul just to blend in. As you might have read in my post “How I Afford to Travel (& How You Can Too), I am heading to Ireland on Friday and a trip to the mall is not in my budget.
So I had to make do with what I had. Most of these pieces I’ve had for years, some are borrowed like the shoes, belt, and sweater.
Jacket: Zara
Black Blazer: Topshop
Sweater: Shein
Pants: Zara
Shoes: Steve Madden
Earrings: Target
Bag: Gucci (this was my 17th birthday present and my only designer bag. I have worn it to every special event for the past decade)
So often, we confuse name brands with style that we forget what true fashion is.
It is easy to head to Fendi and buy the trendiest bag. Anybody can put together trends if they have access to the best designers in the world.
You know what impresses me more?
These 9 girls below who make affordable pieces look luxury.
Hope you enjoy.
If you guys know of any other girls who are killing street style, please send me their pages. I would love to see!
XOXO,
CK
- Melany Cecilia
My girl. She is in my top 3 go-to if I need fashion inspiration. If you watched her IG stories, she put this look together at midnight for a 6am call time. Her leather beret is from a little designer called Forever 21.
2. Stephanie Leigh
The Queen of street style. I don’t know anyone else who is creating incredible content on a daily basis. When do you sleep, Stephanie?
3. Taylor Skoletsky
Apart of my top 3, Taylor just started blogging and she literally gets more likes then she has followers. From head to toe, everything she wears is affordable and she looks like this. If you don’t follow her yet, you need to now @tayskostyle
4. Yenevie Santana
A fellow Long Islander looks absolutely stunning in H&M and Forever 21. It’s all about the way you put it together.
5. Emily Luciano
3/3 of my style obsessions, Emily Luciano shares my love of neutrals and can make anything look luxury. So many of her outfits are from affordable but quality stores like Zara and Mango. She also graces us with style tips and guides on her IG stories. You can check out her blog here.
6. Ellie Danver
Have you ever seen anyone so dreamy? I met Ellie recently and I am blown away by her. Originally from Florence, she’s been in NYC for 10 months and she makes life look like a dream. An interior designer with an incredible eye for style and design, she can turn anything into an aesthetic including affordable pieces.
7. Kendall Becker
A feed filled with fashion from Zara, H&M, and Forever 21, She is living proof that it’s not about how much you spend, but how you put it together that matters. 
8. Madison Russell
A beauty and fashion writer, Madison is not only a style influencer but she turns fashion into art. She’ll keep you up to date on all the latest beauty and fashion trends. 
9.Kimberly Pardo
From fashion, to beauty, to skin care; she covers it all. Like me, Zara is the staple of her closet and she can turn anything into a whole look. 
10. Grace Ashley
From my own hometown, one of the sweetest and most talented girls I’ve ever met. Grace’s Instagram is a combination of her love for music, fashion, and exploring to new places.
