There is nothing wrong with wanting to look good — so long as it doesn’t become some sort of obsession, where we are maxing out our credit cards for new shoes — it can make us feel really good about ourselves. Liking how we look increases our confidence, and is important for creating the right type of impression in our professional and personal lives. One of the pillars of our appearance is our wardrobe, and if you are not lucky enough to be able to buy whatever you want without a thought to the cost, you have to get a bit creative to stretch those dollars. Here are some helpful tips for being fashionable without busting your bank account.
See What You Already Have to Work With
Though the phrase “I have nothing to wear” has been uttered millions of time throughout history, it is very rarely the literal truth. Chances are, you have more to work with than you think, it is just a matter of shifting perspective, and letting go of the resentment you may feel for not being able to just go out and fill up your closet with brand new goodies.
Take some time to go through your wardrobe, and see what you already have that you can work with. You might have some stuff that could easily be brought back to life with a bit of tailoring or the purchase of some affordable pieces that would go well with it. Do the same thing with your accessories too — you might be able to fix up that old necklace with a new clasp, or fix that buckle on your favourite belt.
Invest in Some Quality Staples
When you just can’t buy whatever strikes your fancy, it is important you have some quality staples in your wardrobe that can form the basis of a variety of outfits. Examples include a well-fitting blazer, an awesome pair of boots, quality denim, and skirts and pants in basic colours that go with almost every other colour. These are the types of things you can wear frequently without it being noticeable. These items will form the core of your wardrobe.
Don’t Be a Clothes Snob
This is one of the most helpful tips for building your wardrobe on the cheap. Sure, you like clothes, and are drawn towards the good stuff. So, you often blow a ton of money on just one item — if it is one of the aforementioned staples, then no worries, you’ll get some good use out of it. But, if it is one some super-trendy item that you won’t look twice at in six months, or something really unique-looking that you won’t wear often because people will notice, this is kind of a waste if you are trying to build up a more varied wardrobe.
If you are a bit of a clothes snob, you might want to loosen up a bit. You’ll stretch your clothing budget much farther. Not all cheap clothes look cheap. In most cases, you can’t tell the difference between a 10 dollar t-shirt and one that cost five times that.
If you follow these three tips, you are well on your way to building a great wardrobe on the cheap.
