One of the best parts of GO TRY IT ON is connecting with people all over the world and getting an insight to their style evolution. Every Friday, we “sit down” with a user and today’s feature is especially sacred to us. For almost two years now, Mary F. has relied on GO TRY IT ON to document her style, seek advice and offer her own tips to community members on the hunt for an outfit that kills. Below, Mary talks about her tight budget (she reads up on fabrics to know what she can save on!) her go to sites (Etsy for jewelry) and her most defining feature—the bob! Read on…

GO TRY IT ON: Living in Michigan, what has the biggest affect on your style? 

MARY: The weather in Michigan has the biggest effect on my style and what I wear. Sometimes the seasons here can be very drastic. One day it will be so hot and the next it might be freezing. So I’m constantly checking the weather to determine if I need to layer up. Also, I live in a very small, rural town so I read blogs like cupcakesandcashmere.com and lookbook.nu for worldly inspiration. 

GO TRY IT ON: Recent designer collaborations and accessible/affordable fashions allow us to avoid splurging. What tips can you offer about staying on-trend while shopping on a budget? 

MARY: I have an extremely tight budget that doesn’t allow a whole lot of wiggle room so I’ve had to become very creative with my fashion and smart about what I buy. I save up and invest in quality and versatile pieces that will always be in style—think a little black dress, pencil skirt, neutral blazer, a couple pairs of great fitting pants, black heels, trench coat, and a cardigan. Then you take your classic pieces and add interest to them with accessories. I turn to Etsy for interesting and odd ball jewelry that will contribute character to my outfits.  And finally, read up on different fabrics and clothing material. If you educate yourself on how to tell if a piece of clothing is of better quality, you’ll be able to go to thrift stores and know what is a good buy. 

GO TRY IT ON: How do you make your clothes work season to season so you reduce the amount of spending when the seasons change?

MARY: Layer, layer, and layer. Invest in quality sweaters/cardigans, blazers, scarfs and tights. These will allow to wear your light pieces of clothing during chilly months. 

GO TRY IT ON: You add such an edge to the dresses you wear, taking away the ultra femininity. How do you do this? 

MARY: I absolutely love dresses. They are super comfortable, versatile—you can wear them on their own or layer over it to change the look. There are days where I feel like being feminine and girly so I’ll add some ruffles or lace, a killer heel, and some delicate jewelry to the dress. Then there are days where my creative rocker side is fighting to come out. So I’ll take that same dress and add a blazer or leather jacket, some boots, and some chunkier jewelry. 

GO TRY IT ON: What is your favorite piece in your closet?

MARY: My faux leather jacket is a treasure for adding instant edge. I also love a handful of my blazers because they can be worn with jeans and a t-shirt, over dresses, and with trousers or a skirt. They help pull a look together and make it a little more sophisticated. 

GO TRY IT ON: Lets talk about your hair. One of the coolest aspects of your style is this cutting edge bob! How long have you had this hairstyle and was it scary to make the initial change? You wear it with such confidence - how do you make it work?

MARY: I’ve had my bob for about a year, but am in the process of growing it out. I used to constantly dye my hair to change up my look, but have decided, for the good of my hair, to go all natural. I grow bored with my hair very easily and play around with different hair cuts. Because I’ve done bobs before, I didn’t fear taking the plunge. It is a low maintenance and simple cut: wash, dry, straighten and you’re out the door!

GO TRY IT ON: What’s the best piece of feedback you’ve received on GO TRY IT ON? How has it changed your style and/or dressing habits?

MARY: It’s really great when I try something different and get a lot of positive feedback from it. It encourages me to continue to take fashion risks and thinking more outside the box.

To get more of Mary, add her as a personal stylist!