There are lots of tips we’re given for building up our wardrobes and developing our style. But when you’re on a budget, shopping can be difficult. So here are some pretty basic tips for shopping for that kick-ass wardrobe you want on the budget you have.
1. Don’t buy only from cheap retail stores.
It may be tempting to buy multiple items from one store over one item that is moderately expensive, but just don’t do it. Most of the time, the clothing from these stores is pretty low quality, and you’ll probably end up having to replace it sooner than you would with a more expensive item. That’s not to say that I haven’t found nice items from stores like Forever 21, H&M, and Old Navy, but the actual chances of finding good quality clothes from these stores is pretty slim. When it comes to clothes, always go quality over quantity.
2. Shop consignment first.
If you really want good clothing at an affordable price, go to second-hand stores. It might take you some time to hunt for exactly what you want, but the effort is worth it when you find what you’re looking for. At second-hand stores, you'll find clothes that were never worn, only worn once, no longer fit, or simply aren’t that person’s style anymore. You can actually find some items that are good quality and still in pretty good shape. You can also shop second-hand online. Websites like Poshmark are essentially online consignment stores that even sell designer brands like Kate Spade, Ralph Lauren, Dolce & Gabbana, and many more at highly discounted prices.
3. Splurge on quality, in moderation.
We're often told that we should invest in clothes that are more expensive that will last for a long time. While that's true, don't spend lots of money on these types of clothes if you don't absolutely love them. The point of buying these clothes is to have them with you five, ten, even fifteen years from now. If you can't see yourself wearing an item like this ten years from now, don't buy it. That being said, do buy better quality clothes that are a little more expensive that you can see yourself wearing in a few years from now. These tend to be the clothes with classic styles: the A-line skirt, the little black dress, the flattering pair of jeans. These are clothes that you'll wear again and again, and are styles that you can mix and match with plenty of other items.
4. Shop sale.
I'm sure this one goes without saying, but shopping sale, especially in the more expensive stores is key. Usually the items that go on sale are from last season, but by buying these items, you can build up your closet for next season and save yourself loads of money. Stores like Nordstrom and J. Crew have really good prices when their clothes go on sale, since their clothes are usually so expensive.
5. Buy items you can mix and match.
The trick to having a great wardrobe is having a bunch of clothes that you can match with each other. You don't even need to have a lot of clothes to begin with. You should have a few wardrobe staples that you can match with some of the other items in your closet, like a button-down shirt, a black t-shirt, and others, that you can wear again and again. Jennifer L. Scott has some great tips for this in her book, "Lessons from Madame Chic: 20 Stylish Lessons I Learned While Living in Paris," where she talks about what she calls the Ten-Item Wardrobe.
6. Buy clothes flattering for your body shape.
Finally, buy clothes that look good on you! I know this one seems obvious, but a lot of the time people choose items that they really like the look of, but when they end up wearing it, find that it just does not look flattering on them at all. I've found this to be the case many times with myself, where something looks great on the mannequin, just not on me. Figure out what shapes and styles look best on you and stick with those. You've got a great body, buy clothes that show it off!
And there you have it! I find that if I stick with these tips, I can't go wrong. Happy shopping!
