Call me crazy, but I get a kick out of finding bargains! Nothing makes me more proud than getting a compliment on an item I only spent 70 bucks on! It proves that style does not have to come with a high price tag. Style to me, is not the latest trend or wearing the most expensive clothing. Style to me, is about individuality and feeling good in what you wear. My last blog post was about the four "money items" which are good quality staple pieces that deserve some cash. Money items elevate your inexpensive pieces when worn together. Below are some tips on how to recycle/shop for the right inexpensive pieces, like trendy clothing, fun skirts, casual pants, basic vests etc. while keeping to a budget and saving!
1. A wish list - Your first step to saving is making a list of what you need (including what you can afford to pay for it) and to stick to it when shopping. Emphasis on need. It helps curb impulsive buying. Take your time here, a wish list shouldn't push you to get all the items in one month. Buy one piece every month to spread the load and to avoid withdrawals from the mall! Clueless about what you need? Look out for a blog post!
2. Cheaper priced stores - My favorite are factory shops, but my ultimate favorite is Mr Price. If it's not a "money item", really try spend less and stick to your budget. The best part is that you never have to feel guilty about overspending. If you go this route, be sure to follow these three rules when shopping 1. Keep the style simple and classic, no bling 2. Fit, fit, fit 3. Fabric is important, if it feels
like plastic, it is plastic! Stay away! The cheaper priced stores mostly use polyester, so be careful because it can look cheap. Watch out for fabrics that feel a bit coarse or with a slight shine to it. I'm not saying no to polyester, just saying choose it wisely, make sure it doesn't look cheap. Go for chiffon, poly cotton (cotton-polyester blend) or any fabric that has a matt finish and feels relatively soft.
3. Rework items you own - You'll be surprised what you can do with your current wardrobe and a great tailor. The price of a tailor is way cheaper than buying a brand new item, so it's a great saving. Turn outdated baggy jackets into tailored numbers, bootleg jeans into skinnies and straight cut trousers into cigarette pants with cute turnups. The possibilities are endless and you'll have fun playing designer. Tailors are also great to have when finding a sale item you love but not in your size. Remember you can only alter items that are too big for you. Try stick to only one size bigger especially if it's a tailored item like a blazer or trousers. It's challenging to get the right fit if it's miles away from your actual size.
Another way you can revamp items is with fabric dye. Get a professional to do it if you don't have experience. I turned my washed out black skinny jeans into a dark navy skinny jeans that I wore for a few years before I outgrew it sideways lol. I gave my powder blue corduroy trousers (I know, it sounds horrid, don't judge me, it looked cool) new life and dyed it black. It had a great fit and worked really well for a few winters.
4. Vintage stores - These "second time around" stores have absolutely amazing one of a kind items! I guess you need to have a little patience to look through everything, but I would say it's time well spent. What's great nowadays is that when you make a purchase, the store will tailor the items to fit you perfectly.
5. Accessorise - Belts, fun bags and shoes, jewelry, hats and my favorite scarves! Accessories can make the same outfit look totally different! They're pure magic! Let's face it, although accessories can be the cheapest way to add some pizaz to your wardrobe, it can also be the most expensive. It's hard to keep us ladies away from sparkly things! My advice is to remember your budget and if you buy the right accessory, you won't feel like you've settled at all. Again look for simple styles, little/no bling. Rather indulge in colour and pattern!
6. Different different but same - Never buy an item similar to items you already have e.g. buying two black jerseys because the one has a pattern around the cuffs and the other is plain. No...they are still the same thing. Another example are jeans. We all tend to have three pairs of jeans that are very similar, perhaps just a slightly different shade of blue.No...No "twin", "triplet" buys please. You'll probably only end up wearing one of them anyway.
7.And of course, sales, sales, sales! Lookout for Sales. Remember though, it's only a sale item if you don't have to buy 5 more things to make it work in your wardrobe. Make sure that whatever you buy can be worn with items you already have.
Saving money is hard, don't underestimate it. But once you see what you can do on a budget, you'll think twice about spending the extra cash! Would you believe that the outfit in the first photo has a total cost of R310 and the outfit in the second photo has a total cost of R370 at Mr Price?! It may be hard but it can be done! Who knows, the extra money you save could go towards an amazing overseas holiday or a new car! Happy saving and stay stylish!
Photo cred: Mr Price online store
