I don’t know about you, but I love to shop for clothing, shoes, and accessories. I get excited every time I see a Kohl’s coupon in the mail and I often window-shop and shop online without buying anything just for fun. When I was a kid, I enjoyed dress-up and matching my own outfits. Now that I’m grown up, I don’t enjoy fashion any less. A side effect of this is that my closet is filled to bursting with clothes and that my fashion sense is constantly changing. However, I have to keep my own budget in mind—there’s no way I can afford designer clothes as a college student.

A big downside to shopaholic tendencies is a mismatched wardrobe. Flowered tops, pinstriped pants, and polka-dotted dresses all have their place, but when your closet is full to the brim with trendy or busy pieces, it can be stressful to build an outfit. That’s why there should be these basic, timeless pieces in your closet:

• Jeans
• Black pants and/or skirt
• Khaki or light colored pants
• Denim button-down or white button-down—or both!
• Solid tee shirts in flattering tones
• Blazer

These are great staples to have in your closet so that you can integrate more adventurous choices!

These are the absolute basics of a good wardrobe, and they are pieces that should fit you well and be durable for many seasons. Because it’s not likely that basic clothing like this will go out of style the same way that hi-low tops, crop tops, maxi skirts, or bubble dresses will, you can wear them for many seasons. This is why it’s a good idea to invest in well-made, durable pieces. Basics are important because they allow you a lot of freedom in the other pieces you purchase—it’s much easier to match when you have a handful of simple pieces to augment more daring choices. Try Polyvore to build outfits around moods, needs, or your own personal style.

Before you shop, you should also have a good idea of what makes you look and feel good. Some people prefer skinny jeans, while others like boot-cut or flare. It’s all a matter of preference. Dress for your comfort and confidence foremost. Also, find your personal style—Visual Therapy sorts you into one of five categories that describe your style best.

When it comes to trendy pieces, I tend to bargain shop. This serves my wallet well, but tends to take more time: going through rack after rack of clearance clothing can eat up hours of time, and each piece must be checked for holes, rips, snags, or tears. Because my budget is so limited, I think that it’s definitely worth it, but that’s not true for everyone! I ask myself two questions when looking for bargain pieces. The first is, “Would I wear this?” If I wouldn’t wear it, why buy it? I’m one of those people that can be easily swayed by a low price tag, so it’s important for me to make absolutely sure that I love the piece and the way it fits and looks. The second most important question I ask myself is, “Would I buy this full price?” If the answer is no, back on the rack it goes. Like I said before, it’s easy to get dazzled by a piece of clothing for a few dollars, even if it’s not your style or even cute at all. Remember, there’s usually a reason that something’s on the clearance rack.

There are all kinds of fashion tips and tricks, what to wear and what not to wear, and it can get lengthy and confusing. Style really boils down to this: Be comfortable, be confident, and use your wardrobe to express yourself.