jcpenney, jcpenney fall styles
About a week ago I dipped in to JCPenney at the Manhattan Mall. I was killing time in between meetings and didn't expect to find too much. But um, I was majorly surprised. I found a few pieces and couldn't resist trying them on. When I Instagrammed the houndstooth dress above, you guys all commented on how amazed you were at this being at JCP. It was affordable and super chic.
Besides having a really amazing sale going on, I had no trouble finding work appropriate wear, casual gear and even some cocktail attire.

looking fly on a dime, style guide

Remember when I Instagrammed this dress last year? It was Free People {a brand I love} and majorly discounted at TJ Maxx. I knew I'd get tons of wear out of the fitted, printed dress. A dress like this can easily be saucy with a high heel or a bit more casual. Now that the temps are dipping again, I'm back to rocking the Free People dress. And this time around, I decided to keep the frock pretty casual thanks to a few add-ons like accessories and a cable knit top.

thrift shopping tips, thrift shops in smaller city
Living in New York City means I have access to amazing thrift stores. There's even a strip of secondhand shops on East 23rd Street where I had one of my last thrift shopping tours. You really can't beat having seven day access to finding potential thrift store scores.
But what about people who don't live in major cities? Well, you're not out of luck. And I actually like thrift shopping in a quaint town. Here are 3 reason I prefer thrift shopping in a small town.

Target tall boots, Target and Looking Fly on a Dime

Earlier this week I did what I normally do at least once a week: I went to Target! As expected, I found a ton of affordable fall options, including some stylish outerwear, bold accessories and even remnants of the latest designer collaboration.I was really impressed with the variety of boots, luxe for less purses and I was amazed to find two racks full of Phillip Lim for Target pieces.

affordable outerwear, fall jackets under $100

There's no denying it. Fall is here. It's officially been here for a few weeks, but now the chilly temps are consistently in the 60s and below and nights are getting colder. Transitioning to fall fashion can be tricky, but it's easier than you think. In light of the new season, I wanted to share a few fall fashion pieces I've written for other sites.I write the weekly Cheap and Chic column for Ebony.com and this week it was all about fall's best lightweight jackets for the guys. Fall outerwear has to meet so many requirements: solid enough to keep the chill away, light enough so you're not burning up by the end of the day and roomy enough to allow for layering. And of course, all of the picks are affordable. Though the jackets are specifically for the men, a few of them, including the galaxy print above, can work for the ladies.Also, I was recently interviewed by BlackEnterprise.com and I shared my best tips for fall shopping. From when to shop to what pieces to save on or invest in, I dished on it all...