Cute Shit. Cheap.

"The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize." Miss Clairee, Steel Magnolias

Accessories are a great investment. The right accessories can update traditional pieces in your wardrobe, take an outfit from day to night, or add a pop of color or interest to basics. I don't mind splurging on timeless pieces or things I know I'll wear often - like a nice watch, diamond stud or pearl earrings, or a classic handbag - but I hate to break the bank on trendy pieces which will be out of style by the end of the season.

You can find great accessories at a reasonable price at all of the usual suspects - Banana Republic, Anthropologie, J. Crew - but sometimes you don't want to spend a reasonable amount. Sometimes you just want some cute shit. Cheap.

My "go-to" for cute shit cheap - Forever 21. Personally, I don't shop for clothes there. It's just too stressful for me- clothes are strewn everywhere, it takes forever to search through it all, and the lines to try on and check out are always a mile long. Plus, the quality on most of the pieces isn't great and the sizing is inconsistent. I swear some of the clothes they sell in there are made for Barbies. As in the actual dolls. "Large" means something entirely different in that store. It's enough to send a girl running to the food court to drown her sorrows in Mrs. Fields cookies.

But I digress.

Where were we? Oh right - cute shit cheap. There is no better place for accessories on a budget than Forever 21. They have a huge selection and everything is dirt cheap. Sure, it's not the best quality and some of it will break after the first time you wear it - but at $2.80 for a pair of earrings, who cares! I suggest ordering online from their website. They have almost everything you can find in the stores, but you don't have to deal with the mile-long lines. Also -their S&H is very reasonable.

A few current favorites:

Bouquet Medallion Necklace - $7.80

Shimmer Flower Earrings - $4.80

Thin Braided Headwrap - $2.80

Now, I realize this is not exactly breaking news. Most American females between the ages of 13 and 35* know that Forever 21 is a sure bet for inexpensive, trendy items. But here's something you may not know - you can almost always find "knock-offs" or less expensive substitutes for accessories you've seen at other stores. Say you see a great necklace that you can't live without at Anthro but don't want to spend much on a giant rose necklace that you'll probably be embarrassed you ever wore six months from now. (who would do that??? oh, right me.) Run into Forever 21 and you'll probably find an acceptable substitute, if not a blatant rip off, for about the same price as the tax on the Anthro necklace.

A few examples:

Anthropologie Gilded Posy Ring - $118.00

Forever 21 Blended Floral Ring - $4.80

J. Crew Classic Leather Belt - $29.50

Forever 21 Skinny Round Buckle Belt - $4.80

Antropologie Clou Strand - $38.00

Forever 21 Rainbow Stone Necklace - $6.80

Anthropologie Rose-Is-A-Rose Headband - $32.00

Forever 21 Dual Satin Flower Headband - $4.80

Anthropologie Serpentine Shimmer Headband - $32.00

Forever 21 Elastic Bead Trim Headwrap - $5.80

There were a million more examples I could have posted. So, next time you're pining over pricey accessories, head on over to Forever 21 - or better yet, to their website - to do some comparison shopping. I bet you'll find a great substitute for next to nothing. Happy Shopping!

*And the occasional 60 year old who doesn't realize she's too damn old to dress like she's 16. You know the type I'm talking about - you've seen them. They're picking through the racks of little sundresses and you're just hoping she's shopping for her daughter. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for older women remaining youthful, but there's an age at which mini-skirts should be retired - and it's before you qualify for the senior citizen discount at the movies. I'm just saying.