How to look Stylish & Fabulous - On a Budget.

Up-cycling is the name of my game! I find amazing pieces at vintage fairs, charity shops, clothes swaps and second hand shops. The dress I am wearing above is Pucci and I haggled it down to £90. That dress would have cost me many hundreds of pounds, possibly over a thousand, to buy retail and I really do feel like a million dollars wearing it to a special event.

Don't be afraid of colour - black is draining and ageing (especially near your face) - and wear what suits your shape and style. Cover the bits that make you feel less confident and you will feel and look absolutely fabulous.

HAIR

Your crowning glory is one of the few areas you should spend a bit of money on. After 30 years of dyeing my hair red or orange and trekking into the hairdresser every six weeks for root touch-ups, I have decided to go naturally and fashionably grey! That'll save a fortune.

However, a good cut and regular conditioning are essential, especially after 40, whether you dye your hair or have gone natural. Save money by finding a model evening at the best salons that will cost you nothing but your time. Look out for special offers and consider a mobile hairdresser who will come to your home. They don't have the overheads a local salon will have.

The sunglasses are from Trash in Byron Bay and the top from H & M.

SHOES

Lovely comfy but quite stylish Ecco sandals. I can walk for miles in these! Photography by A Beautiful Weirdo.

The one area that you shouldn't scrimp on. An Italian friend of mine (you can see her in my Goodwood blog) came up with the best quote ever: "You should never buy cheap shoes or a cheap bed because you are either on one or the other!" Comfort is essential for me but comfort & style rarely come cheap. But that doesn't mean you have to over spend. I bought the most comfortable and fashionable ankle boots from Kurt Geiger - in the summer. They were half price. Shop around, online and in the stores, at sale time, and you'll find a bargain that's both comfortable and stylish.

HEADWEAR

My sunnies were from Trash in Byron Bay and the turban is from Fullana. Photography by A Beautiful Weirdo.

DRESS YOUR HAIR!

Turbans, headscarves and hats can all turn any old outfit lurking at the back of your wardrobe into a "wow" outfit. And they're cheap as chips, especially if you look in markets, charity shops and on-line. I have also found head scarves a real bonus for covering my roots while I am growing my hair back to natural, so they save money on root touch-ups as well!

BELTS

The black & white trousers, in the above photo, were bought in Bali years ago, the belt & sunnies were loaned by the photographer & stylist from A Beautiful Weirdo, & the little silver sneakers were found in a market in Australia.

In the above photo, my dress is ancient & bought from Boden, the belt is from Vivienne of Holloway, the leather jacket, also old, is from Zara & the sunglasses are from Trash in Byron Bay. You can see more of this outfit in my bog on how to jazz up an old dress & love it again!

ADD A BELT

If you have an hour glass figure, try an elasticated 50s belt cinched at the waist. It can make such a difference to an old dress and add an accent of colour to your outfit. And they're really cheap, especially online.. Belts don't suit everyone, but experiment with them on different parts of your body. The silver one round my monochrome outfit above was added by Charlotte of A Beautiful Weirdo,. I would never have thought of that.

BAGS

I don't spend a lot on handbags. I really don't see the point. But the right one can really bring an outfit alive. Major retailers like Debenhams & TK Maxx do great bags that don't cost an arm and a leg. You can also find amazing pre-worn designer bags on e-Bay and, again, by rooting around markets and fairs for vintage bags.

BANGLES & BOOTY

I love bangles to liven up an outfit. I found these over the years, cheap as chips, apart from the solid silver one.

I like an arm full of bangles and hunting for cheap, unusual ones has become a bit of a passion of mine – especially whilst travelling. Look in antique shops, charity shops and market stalls for bakelite or resin. They often come in unusual colours, look better than plastic, and shouldn't cost you more than a couple of quid.

Chunky necklaces or earrings will also add that je ne sais quoi to your look, but not together! I have found some gorgeous and cheap ones on my travels.

The vibrant silk scarf was bought in Montenegro for a song. The vintage sunglasses are from Trash in Byron Bay & the necklace was loaned by my wonderful stylist & Photographer Charlotte, A Beautiful Weirdo.

SPECTACLES & SUNGLASSES

I dig around every vintage shop and fair I can find for interesting frames. I bought the pair of black vintage frames I am wearing with the Pucci dress in New York at Fabulous Fanny's. They cost a third of the price they would have been at my local optician. After I've found some awesome frames I then find the best deal I can to have prescription lenses fitted: on-line, abroad, or even a local independent who you can bargain with! I got a £70 discount for having two pairs done at the same time.

NAILS & MAKE UP

Pretty nails complete an interesting outfit. Loving this gellux green this summer.

Good make up and nails finishes off that groomed look. Find a relative, or a local girl who works from home, to save money. And make-up wise: less is more! Next time you need a new eyeliner, go to one of the major retailers and get a free make over. It will save you money in the long run and help you find the best look for your skin tone.

My final top tip is to have a brutal look in a full-length mirror before you go clothes shopping, declutter your clothes, or go out. If you look in the mirror and don't LOVE the way you look, then it's a 'no'. You need to feel like a million dollars in order to look it!

(This blog was originally published on Gransnet)

Let me know how you get on, I would love to hear about your bargains!