Sometimes, we get our best tips and ideas here from other people. Tampa Bay is full of interesting people with creative and diverse senses of style who know about secret shopping haunts or wear things in a way we wouldn't expect. Many of them are bloggers like us who record their exploits in the off-hours between day jobs.

We'd like to start introducing you to some of these folks! Today we're launching the first in an occasional feature we'll call Fab Friday. We'll introduce you to a local style star, post an outfit picture and share a few of their shopping tips.

And we want you! If you live in Tampa Bay, have a fashion blog, some great tips or just plain super style, email us here and tell us a little about yourself. We want all ages, sizes, styles. No one is off limits. Men, too!

We'll kick off Fab Friday with Maggie Philbin, a sweetheart I have run into at a bunch of fashion events. She always looks amazing and classically chic, and she finds most of her stuff at thrift stores and consignment shops. At Tampa Bay Fashion Week this year, she was wearing a gold blazer from Goodwill and I was so jealous. She chronicles her finds on her blog, Mags Rags to Riches.

Here's Maggie! Please welcome her warmly. Hope you all have a Fab Friday!

Name: Maggie Philbin

Age: 24

City: Tampa

Blog: Mag's Rags to Riches

Day Job: Public Relations Account Executive at Brock Communications in Tampa

Style philosophy: Never pay retail unless it's absolutely essential to your wardrobe and you haven't found it a thrift or consignment shop first! 

Your best deal ever: A mother can't pick her favorite child, so I can't choose just one of my best deals. Here are my top three: 1. Louis Vuitton Multicolore Wallet from the Community Thrift Store in Lutz. It was half price, $1.95; 2. Chanel White Quilted Lambskin Medium Classic Double Flap handbag from Craigslist. After some impressive bargaining from my boyfriend and I, we got it down to $460; 3. Vintage Yves Saint Laurent men's tie for $1 at the Sunshine Thrift Store in South Tampa.

Favorite places to shop: Community Thrift Store in Tampa, 14244 N. Nebraska Ave. Goodwill in Wesley Chapel, 2390 Oak Willow Dr. On Twitter, @Goodlilly shares coupons, too! Community Thrift Store in Lutz, 21021 SR 54. P.S. - If you spend less than $10, you have to pay in cash. Simply Spring Thrift Store, 209 N. Willow Ave. Plus, proceeds from all sales help support The Spring of Tampa Bay and their mission to assist domestic violence victims and their families.

Maggie's outfit: Dark denim skinny jeans from Forever 21, white blouse from Zara, DIY ostrich feather blazer, DIY chevron necklace w/ supplies from Lowe's, vintage Chanel flap handbag, Michael Kors watch, Forever 21 rings

Deal Diva Stephanie

Photo: Courtesy Maggie Philbin