Fashion is definitely not something that comes naturally to everyone. You might even be the first to admit that you know very little about fashion. So, what happens when you have been invited to a very swanky soiree, and you know everyone is expected to show up dressed to the nines? Everyone loves a deal, and that sentiment shines particularly bright when it comes to fashion.
Keeping up with trends can get pricey, and savvy shoppers need all the tips and tricks they can find in order to score those perfect wardrobe pieces without breaking the bank. However, with just a little extra effort and some help from modern technology, it’s become easier than ever to be fashion forward on a budget. Here are some key pointers when you are trying to look fashionable and buy an on-point outfit while staying in budget.
Thrifting
There is nothing new about thrift stores, and yet they are still as relevant as ever when it comes to scoring a deal. The trick is to find a thrift store in a trendy part of town—if you go to one in a less hip area, the clothing will reflect that. It can take some patience to find treasures among the trash, but a day of successful thrifting, followed by a victory cocktail, should be a fun adventure rather than a chore.
Be selective with what you choose. Don’t end up with clothes that don’t fit or aren’t on-trend just because they were a great deal.
Trendy Over Trending
Trendy and trending are similar ideas. Trendy means that the product is currently in fashion. Trending means that it is a hot item to have in your wardrobe this season. One such fashion faux pas here is that ugly sweaters are trending, but they are most assuredly not trendy. However, the outfit you buy can be both trendy and trending. For example, a design that speaks about political or societal issues is both trendy and trending.
Shopping Locally
Buying local is not only good for the environment, it can be good for your pocketbook as well. Small local designers, still focused on getting their name out in to the world, can offer substantial savings over bigger name brands. It takes a little research to find the right boutiques or websites that offer the wares of these hometown heroes, but they are worth the work to find, and the end result is guaranteed to be more unique than a wardrobe made up of mass produced clothing.
Choosing Timeless Pieces
In the fashion world, most designers want a few clothing pieces to be timeless. This means that a shirt or a pair of slacks or a skirt can be worn anywhere during any decade, and still look like you bought it off the rack at a high fashion retailer yesterday. If you are not sure if something is timeless, ask someone in the know before you shop and make a purchase. A fashion consultant will give you some visuals and ideas of what is timeless and what is not. (For example, extreme low-rise jeans are not timeless.)
Shop online
Online shopping at stores like Blooming Daily has been a game changer for many a fashionista. It has leveled the playing field in a way that not much else could, making it possible for people to access unique and fashionable clothing from all over the world, no matter how small their local market.
Whether shopping on websites that offer one of a kind items from individual vendors, or browsing for name-brand apparel that would otherwise not be accessible without a long drive or plane ride, online shopping has brought affordable fashion to everyone’s doorstep. Besides discovering brands online that you wouldn’t find in stores, there’s the added benefit of variety. If you are looking for a specific style and size to fill out that missing space in your wardrobe, you are sure to find many options to choose from.
Sample Sale
Browsing sample sales, much like thrifting, can be a fun way to spend a weekend. It can also be a way to find unique designer items at a fraction of their regular cost. By their nature, supply is limited, so it’s first come, first serve. While that can make finding the perfect item more challenging, it also means that victory is even sweeter when that gem is found.
Be Careful With Prints
Most fashion designers will tell you that anything that looks like a Hawaiian shirt, wallpaper from the forties, fifties, and sixties, or your grandma’s muumuu is tacky. It may be fun to wear on vacation, but only if you want to be seen as a tourist. If you’re heading to a black-tie event, you want to avoid such prints as much as possible. However, not every print is bad. Crisp prints like pin striping in classic white, black, or festive metallic like gold or silver is typically an acceptable print.
Crisp, Clean Lines Versus Flowing and Billowy Materials
Unless you are on a catwalk or sashaying up the red carpet to a movie premiere, leave the flowing and billowy materials on the rack. Crisp, clean lines are preferred for events the average shopper will be attending. Again, if you are not sure how to shop, ask around for ideas.
Fashion should be fun, not stressful. Whether shopping in person or browsing the web, it’s easier than ever to have a unique and varied wardrobe on a budget. It just takes knowing where to look.
