Let’s face it, as much as we wish we did, most of us don’t have a huge amount of money to throw at our wardrobe. Treating ourselves every now and then is always nice, but how can we make the most of our budget?
Affordable fashion doesn’t need to look cheap. Here are some of our top tips for how to style on a budget.
Wear monochrome pieces
One of the easiest ways to make your outfits look more expensive is to go monochrome. This usually works best with a classic black or white but lends itself perfectly to earthy tones too.
Try to avoid bright, bold colours if you can as these tend to give more a statement look. So, unless that’s what you’re after, keep it simple and stick to neutral shades. If you really can’t stay away from colours, look for monochromatic pieces in emerald greens, sapphire blues or deep red wine colours. Basically, anything with lavish, rich undertones.
Choose minimal jewellery
It’s true what they say when accessorising, always take off the last thing you put on. The more minimalist your accessories, the more expensive your outfit as a whole will look. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a gold or silver person, try to stick to one colour per outfit for consistency.
When we say gold and silver, we don’t mean the real thing. If you’re on a shoestring budget, you can pick up gold or silver coloured jewellery for a few pounds. If you want it to last a bit longer, look at getting gold- or silver-plated pieces. These will far outlive their cheaper counterparts but are still incredibly affordable.
Complement your shoes and handbags
Oftentimes, finding the right clothes is the easy bit. Knowing how to style them is the tricky bit. When it comes to handbags and shoes, try to coordinate where possible.
Say you’ve found the right bag but don’t know what shoes would suit, use the bag as a guiding point. Shoes are the best wardrobe pieces when it comes to affordable fashion. A few signature pairs can be paired with just about any outfit. So, there’s no need to splash the cash to find your fancy footwear.
Keep an eye out for sales and discounts
It goes without saying that the best affordable fashion can be found in a sale. If your purse strings are a little tight, keep checking back with your favourite brands to see when they launch a sale.
Good things come to those who wait. So, if you’ve spotted a few things that you’ve fallen in love with online, just wait a while before buying. By holding out a little bit, you’ll soon find that your favourite items will eventually be put on discount. This is a great way of getting an absolute steal on expensive items. Otherwise, there are plenty of retailers out there selling branded items at discount prices all year round. It’s all about looking in the right places.
Buy high-quality basic items
Sometimes, short-term pain is best for long-term gain. While you might not have much of a budget to play with, investing in a few staple basic items is essential.
It’s all too easy to pick up the cheapest version of something, whether that be t-shirts or shoes. But how long do they really last before you’re buying your next pair? Instead, look at stocking up on some basic items that are made to a better quality. These will probably look better and last longer – win, win!
Think about the materials
Speaking of high-quality, do you know what material the clothes you’re wearing right now are made from? For most of us, we go by what something looks like without even reading the labels. This is where we fall into the fast-fashion trap.
Before buying something, make sure to check out the label. If it’s made nearly entirely out of synthetic materials, like polyester, it’s probably best to steer clear. If you want something to look more expensive than it actually is, you’ll want to be shopping for cotton or wool.
When it comes to shoes, you have a little more leniency. Faux leather and suede are great affordable options to the real deal and look near enough identical. These will give your wardrobe a sophisticated touch without the eye-watering price tags.
Look after your clothes and shoes
Of course, putting a little TLC into your clothes and shoes makes a world of difference. Instead of throwing something out, look at ways of repairing or recycling it into something else. With your shoes, make sure to give them a little attention once in a while.
Just by looking after your wardrobe, you can cut down on the cost of replacing things and it helps to keep your outfits looking as good as the day you bought them. So, remember to always follow the care instructions to make sure you’re washing, drying and storing your clothes the right way.
See, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to learn how to style on a budget. Affordable fashion is a great way of looking great and helping you save your pennies for the bigger things in life.