The recession is bad news for anyone looking to get a job, save some money or sell a house. But it’s great news for fashionistas! Stores that were once dowdy and just screamed “crazy cat lady” are bringing in new designers to create chic lines at lower prices.

Take JC Penney. When was the last time you stopped in there (not counting those post-Starbucks bathroom emergencies)? I know: never. Because their clothes were cheap, outdated and just not cute. Well, that’s not the case anymore! JCP now sells several lines by popular designers (Charlotte Ronson, Nicole Miller, and Allen B. Schwartz, to name a few) and they not only have stuff that is totes cute, it’s totes affordable as well.  I can’t wait to add some of these pieces to my closet…

It’s no secret I am lovin’ all the plaid that’s out right now, and I think this shirt is particularly cute.  Reminiscent of a  lumberjack, with just the right amount of girliness to look feminine and fab.

This skirt is a great addition to your fall wardrobe, as it can be worn bare-legged or with a pair of tights.  Because of the simplicity of the skirt, you can have some fun by amping things up with a funky printed shirt, bold accessories or textured, printed or bold colored tights.

I love the print and details (belted waistline and ruffles) of this dress and, again, it’ll transfer over to colder weather with tights and a cardi or sweater coat.  It’ll look great with flats, boots or a pair of menswear inspired oxfords.

I think this tunic is totally adorable with its cut and flowy chiffon. Or perhaps because I have an affinity for owls thanks to Harry Potter…

Flowy tanks are not only trendy, they’re versatile and they’re great for these transitional months because you can easily layer with ‘em.  This’ll look especially cute with a boyfriend blazer and the bonus is that you can slip it off when you’re in a warm place and still look totally stylin’.

Fall/Winter is all about neutrals, which means grey jeans are a great way to wear denim with a bit of a twist. You can rock grey with black or the popular jewel tones of the season.  And hey, who doesn’t love jeans that are under $15?

Winter is fast-approaching and soon it’ll be time to bust out the scarves, mittens and hats soon.  Houndstooth is a timeless print that translates over for every season and is a great way to add a bit of oomph to your cold weather ensemble without going overboard. And you can get it in four different colors, which makes it that much cooler.

I’m all for wearing an all-black ensemble out to the bar, but only if there is something fun and fabulous to spice it up. Like this bag. Snakeskin, a metal handle, and a hot mixture of gold and black is the perfect combo to add some va-va-voom to your otherwise neutral look.