FitBeauty: Be fit, fashionable and frugal this fall

Just because I'm advocating tossing your cheapy clothes and choosing pieces you can invest your money, style and pride in, doesn't mean I'm not cheering for great fall fashion found on the cheap. Let me be clear - stay away from things on the clearance rack you wouldn't care about otherwise and steer clear of the brands in the store that are priced way lower for a reason. That said, you can still find those investment pieces at Target, Kohl's and other big-box retailers. After all, spending $30 is an investment for some of us and spending $30 on a well-made, perfectly-fitting and fun fashion is smart for all of us.

Here are five fall finds for the fashionista who is fit with her wallet and her handweights:

1. Tie it up with a belted shirt-dress to show off or whittle your waist. Quite honestly, after too many twin sets and t-shirts that stretched out and faded in the first wash, I have steered way clear of Merona clothes at Target. I'm much more of an Isaac Mizrahi type of grrrl. But I stopped in the aisle when I saw this shirt-dress and just kept accidentally-on-purpose wandering past it. Now I'm convinced that this is the key to looking fab this fall -- from preschool pick-up to Bunco night -- by accentuating the positive and smoothing over the bits I'm trying to burlesque away. Although I didn't see it online, this dress is in stores in a yummy brown with white pin dots and -- me oh my! -- it is adorable for under $30.


2. Ruffle it up with a floofy short-sleeved blouse that flaunts your bis and tris. Take note of the sudden surge of morning talk show hosts and models in magazine spreads wearing ruffled blouses, then find a toned-down-from-TV version to fit your life this fall. These blouses will sweeten up jeans and make for a great excuse to pull out your pumps or buy a pair of fancy (but budgetista) new flats. They also will make dressing up for the inevitable office holiday party or obligatory in-law gift exchange easy-peasy. Just pull on over black pants and go. Compliments on your muscley guns are sure to follow. This pretty purple pick is by Simply Vera, Vera Wang's new and gleefully affordable line at Kohl's (KOHL'S!) and is a bit more cash and fun at $58. There's a similar version at Old Navy for a lot less. Just be sure it falls into your good-buy (not just bargain-buy) category.

3. Wiggle it out with wide-leg pants to show off your buffed up backside. Do you remember palazzo pants? Sadly, I do too. But I also remember great old movies with class-act leading ladies who go casual with wide-leg pants. The 07 version skims the same way as the classic model so as not to overwhelm the body like palazzo pants did in the early 90s. The key is getting the right fit (as always) so that the waistband sits without gapping and without squeezing (and a tailor can do wonders for five to ten bucks if you go a size up). When wide-leg pants work well, they are the perfect walk-away apparel with the swing of the leg matching the shake of the bootay. Nice, eh? These silk wide-leg pants by Isaac Mizrahi for Target are $27.99 pinch pennies but not your pooch.

4. Top it off with swingy coat with a bit of sass to show off your toned legs and quick steps. I love that a great coat can turn jeans and a tee into a statement, or that it can make that same old black dress you where to work and dinner and everywhere look just different enough. This tweedy houndstooth delight by Sarah Jessica Parker's Bitten line is just under twenty bucks and just funky enough. I heard SJP tell Oprah that she was insistent that the clothes in her line would be affordable and very well-made. Let's see if she's kept her promise.

5. Wrap it up with a frilly scarf to frame your best feature of all -- your beautiful face! The flood of trench coats, swing coats, cardigans and knits this season beg for well-coordinating accessories. Whether your favorite little cropped-sleeve sweater or Burberry knock-off trench from the back of the coat closet is keeping you cozy in the autumn climate, a scarf will jazz it up and pull together your look. Thirty bucks can get you a great scarf, and I vote for choosing a bold color or pattern in a fabric that will feel good around your neck (anything scratchy or too fussy just isn't worth it). I love my long zebra-print sheer scarf to tie on a black bag I've had forever, use as a headband on non-shower or stressful days or spruce up last year's pink trench coat. I also keep my pashmina-ish wrap folded in my purse for emergency warmth as well as to hide a spill or de-blah my black on black on black wardrobe. Just go for more old Hollywood than Girl Scouts when you tie one on. Try faux fur for fun ($30), nautical stripes for the noggin (under $7), played-up plaid ($25), delicious pashmina ($25 - $55), menswear ($20) or ch-ch-chunky knit ($29.50) in neutral or as a color splash ($29.50). My FAVORITE is this neutral plaid muffler that has a touch of whimsy and might make your Burberry-true friends jealous ($29.50).

Now, lovelies, with all these pennies saved, you have no excuse not to feel great in your fall wear and about making smart shopping choices. Plus, now you have some extra cash to put toward a personal training session, gyrotonics class or new sports bra!