Frugalista Finds

Those marketing people at Target are evil geniuses, I tell you. Evil because they separate me from my hard-earned money. Geniuses because they do it so well. This “frugalista” fashion campaign is totally working on me. One cardigan, 3 different looks? Sold.

I’m not a high-fashion person by nature. I like to look cute, but practicality usually trumps style. I will never wear heels to the playground, no matter who tries to convince me I should. (Sorry, Stacy London.) I think the shoes all the celebrities wear these days look like bizarre, futuristic fetish-wear. (Yes, that means you, Rihanna.) And I will never, ever pay 4 figures for a single item of clothing other than a wedding dress, even if the magazines call it an “investment piece.”

Except for the occasional business meeting, school function, or date night, I have no need to look stylish. Whatever I’m wearing is just going to get covered with spit-up and peanut butter anyway. But every once in a while, the urge to be at least moderately fashionable surfaces.

So off I went this morning to Target. Another reason to love this store? It’s the only place I know where you can shop for clothes at 9 a.m. after you’ve dropped off the kids at school. Plus you can pick up groceries, diapers, and Starbucks while you’re there. (How am I not on Target’s payroll??)

Actually, it took me a while to warm up to Target as a fashion destination, if you want the truth. Except for workout wear, I was hesitant to buy clothes there. A holdover from my label-conscious teenage years when I would only let Esprit and Benetton touch my body? Who knows. Anyway, then I had 2 kids and got over it.

Now, I have an extremely sensitive buyer’s remorse threshold. If I feel I’ve gotten a bargain or scored a great find, I go home happy and confident. If I spend too much, though, I’m laden with guilt and berate myself every time I DON’T wear those pricey boots I bought just because InStyle said they're hot this season.

As a certified accessory-phobe, I surprised myself by buying a scarf and a belt, among other things. When I was growing up, my mother -- the queen of accessories -- was always urging me to throw on a necklace or tie a jaunty scarf around my neck. But I couldn’t be bothered. Call it minimalist, call it lazy -– whatever.

But I’ve changed my ways. Those Target ads helped me realize I could wear the same pair of jeans and cardigan 3 days in a row and no one would know if I mixed it up with some different accessories. The scarf has a whole range of fall colors that matches some sweaters I already have. And now that I’m no longer pregnant and have a waist again, I can belt my shirts and cardigans.

If you spot a trendy, fashionable mom at the playground this fall, it just might be me. Unless she’s wearing heels. In that case, it’s most definitely NOT.

TIP O' THE WEEK: Did you know an $11 Target bra beat out Victoria's Secret in a Consumer Reports test?

LAUGH O’ THE WEEK: My son Miles can’t read yet, but the kid knows his logos. He can identify “the donut place,” the pet store, Chick-fil-A, and of course, Target, just by the sign. Also, he pronounces Target funny because of this SNL skit we always reference.