Staying up to speed with the latest trends is tough. You want to look fantastic, but you can’t afford to shell out tons of cash for high-end designer clothes. The average person spends around $161 on clothes each month. To put that in perspective, you can fetch a MacBook Pro for $248 and a diamond ring for $446 on average at a pawn shop.
There are many ways that you can look stylish working with a tight budget. With a bit of ingenuity and creativity, you can find clothes worthy of a runaway model and still have plenty of money to pay for all of your other responsibilities. Here are six tips on how you can stay fashionable without breaking the bank this summer.
Create A Purchase List
Creating a list of clothing items that you need to purchase will help you stay focused and avoid purchasing duplicates of items you already have. Concentrate on your absolute must-haves first before jotting down what you would like to have. You may want a fancy new dress but what you really need is a quality pair of dress pants for work. Focus on investing in items that can be mixed and matched with the things you already have in your wardrobe.
Choose Timeless Accessories
Each year, many clothing and jewelry stores feature hot fashion items that quickly lose their popularity by the same time the following year. Instead of wasting your money on these items, look for timeless pieces that look great no matter the decade. Some examples include an infinity scarf, a stylish handbag, or classic hoop earrings. You may want to skip heavy earrings or you may end up having to spend upwards of $3,000 on otoplasty to fix tears and deformities that can happen from snags or even skin damage from too much weight on your earlobe. Then you’re really talking about breaking the bank.
Check For Quality
When searching for updates to your wardrobe, look for items that have a reputation for being well made. You can spend $10 for a shirt that falls apart after a few washings. Or you can choose to spend $100 on a shirt that will last for more than 50 times tumbling around in your washing machine and dryer. You may spend more upfront, but it will save you money in the long run by not having to buy the same item over and over again.
To check for quality, pay close attention to the seams. The stitching will be straighter and you won’t find any dangling strings on higher quality items. The type of material the clothing is made of can give you clues to its level of quality. Choose natural blends and fibers over synthetics. Read reviews of the designers and brands that you’re most interested in. Find designers who are doing something similar to the name brand designers who can give you a similar look at half the cost.
Stay Classic
Have you ever been guilty of buying an amazing new shirt and then went home to find you have nothing in your closet that goes with it? That hot new item then just gets shoved to the back of your closet, never to see the light of day again. Instead of wasting your money chasing the latest trends, look for classic items that are highly versatile. Before you head to the checkout, ask yourself, “How well will this work with the clothes I already have?”
Reach for relaxed jeans that highlight your curves or a button-down shirt and classy dress pants for work. A dressy jacket can upgrade almost any outfit. Black flats or pumps add chicness to casual wear as well as nights out on the town. It’s completely possible to get 340 outfits out of 20 tops, 10 pairs of pants, 5 pairs of shorts, and a couple of skirts by going with classic fashion styles. Choose neutral colors over prints to give you the most versatility.
Search For The Best Deals
You can get some incredible luxury consignment from various retailers online. Subscribe to their newsletters to get discounts. Many retailers will often offer a steep discount to first-time buyers. Check out their clearance sections and try to buy items off-season. However, resist the urge to buy something for the sole reason that it’s on sale. You want to make sure that you get a great deal that you won’t want to return or stash in the back of your closet.
Check out thrift shops, vintage stores, and consignment shops. Often, people donate high designer clothes that you can snatch up for yourself at an incredibly low price. It can take a bit more time and effort, but you can save up to 75% off of high ticket fashion items.
Try On Before You Buy
Before you go shopping, know what works well for your body type. Think for a minute what you like about your favorite dress, shirt, or pair of jeans. What about this piece of clothing makes it your favorite? The reason it’s your favorite is that it fits well and flaunts your assets while camouflaging your flaws. Knowing what works well on you will help you avoid wasting money on clothes that don’t work in your favor.
It’s better to try on clothes in a store rather than buy blindly online. Different designers have their own sizing charts and they can vary widely, especially for women. You’ll reduce the chances of having to make returns or wasting money on items that can’t be returned. When shopping online, look for sizing charts whenever possible. Resist the urge to buy clothes that “have potential”, such as items you think will look great if you meet certain criteria in the future.
By following these tips, you can avoid spending six months filing bankruptcy because you’ve spent too much on your designer wardrobe. Reach only for items that you absolutely love and will last you for a long time without going out of style. Your bank account will suffer fewer issues and you’ll look stunning look at a great price without any guilt or remorse.
