The J.Crew Look for Less, Part Three

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a great weekend! I have had a few requests for more J.Crew Look for Less posts and more Etsy finds, so this post will feature a little of each.  Going forward, I plan to make these once per month features. If you have not seen Part 1 and Part 2, be sure to check them out! I've also included one of my new go-to budget shopping tips below for when you are faced with the splurge vs. steal dilemma.

J.Crew Liberty Perfect Shirt in Margaret Annie Floral / Old Navy Lightweight Patterned Shirt

These two shirts are very, very similar in pattern and in color.  The big difference between the two is the PRICE. At the time of this post, the Old Navy shirt costs 84% less than the J.Crew version. Now, I know the J.Crew shirt is higher quality, but the quality of the Old Navy shirt is nice as well. The colors are vibrant, and the weight of the cotton is decent and not flimsy. If you're still undecided, one of my go-to budget shopping tips is to determine the price per wear. Think about how often you will wear the item. For instance, if the $150 J.Crew shirt is worn 20 times, then its price per wear is $7.50, which is pretty high. Is it worth it? Determining the price per wear is a new tactic for me. I think it's important to consider because we often focus only on the price of an item, which leads to impulse purchases because something "is such a good deal" or "so cheap." Our judgment is often clouded, and we don't consider how often we will actually wear the item, which then results in a closet filled with clothes barely worn. Been there, done that. For me, I know I wouldn't wear the J.Crew shirt enough to make the purchase worth it. I also know I'd probably layer it with sweaters and blazers, so purchasing the Old Navy version would work for me. 

Next up - I am sure many of you have seen the J.Crew pavé heart bracelet. A couple of weeks ago, reader Victoria B. emailed me with a version she found on Etsy for significantly less. Such a great find, so of course I wanted to blog about it! Shortly after that, my friend and fellow blogger, Renee at Style with a Story, posted a photo on Instagram of her look for less pavé heart bracelet that she recently purchased on Etsy for $100 less than the J.Crew version! As you know, I love to find a budget-friendly solution, and now, I've found two! Renee was kind enough to provide us with a review of her bracelet - see below.

(Left) J.Crew Pavé Heart Bracelet (photo credit: J.Crew)
(Right) HauteandSoul1 Gold Pavé Heart Bracelet via Etsy (photo credit: Instagram @reneestern)

"I was thrilled to receive my J.Crew look-a-like from the Etsy shop Haute and Soul1. It has five beautifully crafted pavé hearts on a chain link bracelet. The sparkles will be sure to catch everyone's eye!  It also includes a chain extender, so you can fit it to your wrist no matter the size. If you'd like the J.Crew look, but are living on a budget, this is the perfect solution!" --Renee, Style with a Story

You can check out Victoria's similar find at Apple of My Eye Jewelry on Etsy. Also, don't forget to check out Renee's blog, Style with a Story! It is one of my daily reads, and Renee has great style! Thank you, Renee, for the review!

What do you think of the looks for less above? Will you consider the price per wear when you're shopping?  It really works if you apply it. I challenge you to determine what your price per wear goal is and see if you can stick to it. Then, come back and tell me how it's going!

Have a great start to the week!