Who ever said that style takes Blair Waldorf-type money?
One thing that I fail to understand, when it comes to dressing and fashion, is that money equates style. If you have money, you can dress well. This is simply untrue. While having money may result in being able to purchase pieces of the upmost quality, in no way can it buy you a sense of style! Style is being able to make a ten dollar t-shirt look like it's worth ten times its' actual value.
So, for those of you who don't want to spend too much money on clothes, but still want to look put together and fashion-forward, here are my top ten tips for dressing with style while on a budget.
KNOW YOUR BUDGET
Make sure you actually have a definite amount of money you are willing to spend each month. Set that amount aside, either physically or in your bank account, so you know that it is ready for you when you want to spend it. But don't feel pressured to spend every month! If there's nothing that catches your eye, save up that money for something else!
SHOP YOUR WARDROBE BEFORE SHOPPING FOR NEW PIECES
Make sure you know what you already have to work with in your wardrobe. Go through your wardrobe before going shopping. This will prevent you from spending money on pieces you already own, but may have forgotten about. This will allow you to get creative and inspired by your own clothes. Create outfits and style old items you forgot you loved once upon a time.
IF YOU DON'T WEAR IT, YOU WON'T WEAR IT
Get rid of clothes you don't wear. If something hasn't been touched in six months to a year, it's time to toss it or donate it. Whatever clothes you're left with can give you an indication as to what your personal style is. You'll also have a better idea of the kind of pieces or fashion style you generally gravitate towards. Knowing this information will make shopping easier and cheaper. It will keep you from buying pieces that are difficult to integrate into your wardrobe or just generally don't fit with your style.
BUILD FROM A BASE
Behind every killer wardrobe is a strong base. Good basics are key. Find pieces that are easy and comfortable to wear. Some of my favourites basics are durable t-shirts in neutral colours like black, white and grey, nice fitting pair of skinny jeans as well as boyfriend jeans, black jeans, straight leg jeans, a simple black dress, a basic white button down, and a thin knit, chunky knit sweater, neutral sweatshirt, joggers, a pair of black sneakers and white sneakers, black ankle boots, a comfortable flat of your choice, and a black leather jacket. Once a base is established, you can experiment with trends.
BAGS, JACKETS, AND SHOES... OH MY!
Accessorize basic outfits with bags, jackets and shoes. By investing in neutral and also funky accessories, you can totally transform a boring outfit into a fun and trendy look. But, remember that investing is not synonymous with expensive. When spending any amount of money on an article of clothing, you are making an investment. Don't let that word scare you into thinking you need to buy something with a big price tag in order to make it an investment.
SAY YES TO SALES
Sometimes the sale section can be scary. The clothes available are the weird ones that no one dared to touch when they were regular price, the only sizes left fit a quarter of you or two of you, or they're just not really your style. Once you get past all that, especially the last reason, the sale section is a blessing! Use it to your advantage to challenge your personal style. Try to find pieces or styles that you wouldn't normally buy if they were full price.
"GOOD PRICE"... GOODBYE!
Don't tell yourself that you need to buy something because it's a good price. Only buy items that can elevate your wardrobe and ones that you truly love. If not, I can pretty much assure you that the piece you've bought will stay in your closet, untouched, and every time you look at it you'll say "I'll wear that soon" but never end up reaching for it. Save the money that you would spend on a "good deal" and put it toward a piece that you genuinely want.
TOO BIG? TAILOR
Sometimes you stumble upon an item that's a total steal or a sale-find that's too good to pass up, even though it may not fit properly. Tailor a piece to fit you just perfectly, whether it be a top, dress or pair of pants or jeans. When an item fits your body perfectly, it doesn't matter what you paid, it will look expensive. You can even tailor pieces that you've had in your wardrobe for a while to give them a little re-vamp!
DON'T ALWAYS TRUST TRENDS
Trends are super fun to play around with and sometimes stick around but, unfortunately, trends come and go very quickly. Spending a lot of money on trendy clothes that will only really be in style for less than a year is probably one of the quickest ways to drain your bank account. When shopping trends, find pieces that are priced well, and ones you know you will keep on wearing even when the trend dies.
NO SEASONS
Don't let seasons dictate the majority of your wardrobe. Make sure that your clothes remain versatile and you can wear them throughout various temperatures. When you shop, ask yourself how much use you can get out of a piece. Also, consider the climate. If you live in a city or country where it's cold for half of the year, don't buy seven pairs of shorts in one summer. Chances are before you even get to wear them all, summer will be over. Purchase one or two pairs and build up your summer wardrobe over time. For warmer climates, if your winters are short or even non-existent, don't buy dozens of heavy or chunky knits in a single year. Versatility in your wardrobe is key to saving that cash.
Those are my ten tips for having style on a strict budget! I hope you enjoyed them and will apply them while shopping.