Cheap Fall Fashion: It's All in Your Closet, Old Man Clothes, and Scrapbooking Supplies

Fall is my favorite time of year. Not only are the leaves the most magnificent colors of any season, the palette of my fall fashion wardrobe has limitless potential. Only in autumn can I get away with wearing the most provocative colors of sunset: deep burnt oranges, canary yellows, and reds that will make your mouth water more than a Chile pepper ever could. I'm not the only one with a thing for fall fashion. Peruse any fashion magazine and you'll see that industry leaders feel the same way. Sadly for them (and more so their readers), they think fall fashion comes with a mandatory price tag in the triple to quadruple digits. If you are penny pincher like me, fear not - it's easier and cheaper than you might think to strut down a leaf-strewn sidewalk wearing a fall fashion ensemble fit for the runways.

The first suggestion I have is to hit your closet. Look at all the clothes you have - do not discriminate by season. You're looking at color. If you have any Earth-tone tanks that you normally save for the summer months, add them to your fall fashion pile. You can pair these with an autumn-colored sweater or jacket. There's no need to keep them imprisoned all year waiting for only the hot months! Now remember - don't leave out possibilities from any season. Look at your heaviest winter sweaters and pants. A pair of wool slacks might be something you normally hold onto for those chilliest of winter nights, but wouldn't you have more fun in them if they were transformed into a knee-length skirt for fall? You can easily make any pair of pants a skirt by cutting them up the inner leg on either side and sewing the cut sides together. This doesn't require a special pattern, sewing machine, or much money. You'll just need some thread (we're talking under $5 here, and less if you can find some at home) - that beats buying a skirt!