4 Ways to Maximize Your Style on a Minimum Budget

The economic climate isn’t great. College students are finding themselves out of work and heavily in debt and we are just not able to afford the luxuries we once could. Sure, we have Pokemon Go and Netflix but we’re spending way less time shopping than we were just a few years ago. Yes, it’s a downer. But, on a good note, it just makes us that much savvier! It’s important now to know how to make your wardrobe so versatile that it’s less obvious that you consistently recycle items.

Being one of those girls that does this, here are my tips for making your little wardrobe and little budget go so much further:

1. Invest in a really good pair of jeans.

I would suggest more of a dark wash because this allows you to use them for both daytime and nighttime excursions. Jeans are an important staple piece anyway, but having a pair that’s both comfortable and flattering makes all the difference and saves you a lot of money in the long run. I would purchase really unflattering $10.90 jeans at forever 21 and they worked for a while but I ended up having to replace them far sooner than I wanted to because they would fray or the denim would become tatty and, therefore, it becomes obvious that you wear them a lot. Spending more on a good pair has saved me a lot of money in the long run. My favorites are from Banana Republic since I have short legs and they have a great petite section! Make sure you try before you buy!

2. Choose classic pieces.

Opt for a black blazer or an understated black blouse or a crisp white shirt and you can use more wallet friendly accessories or accents to completely change the outfit. Wearing a sleeveless black blouse in the day with beachy waves and natural makeup works but you can totally mix up the same outfit at night by choosing a darker lip or a striking bold red lip and a top bun and your outfit is completely different. Yes, we all want to be on trend but keeping your wardrobe more classic allows you so much more opportunity to get creative and really use your fashion brain to mix up your look with consistent pieces. Try it – It’s fun!

3. Know where to look.

Sometimes stores with constant sales can be overwhelming. I walk into Kohl’s or JC Penney and the racks upon racks of 60, 70 & 80% off items are just too much. My advice would be to make sure you have an idea of what you’re looking for before you step foot in the store – understand your own personal style. It makes it a lot easier to be savvy when you have an idea in mind. That might sound so obvious but we’ve all been there when we’re just rifling through sales racks with no end goal and we end up purchasing something we wear once. I go into Kohl’s and I know I like LC by Lauren Conrad and Elle, so those are typically my first stops once I walk in. If I don’t see anything there, I know I like feminine details or certain prints so I keep my eye out for those in other sections. Another note: never buy anything you’re unsure about just because it’s 80% off. It’s not worth spending less and wearing once. It is much better to have only a 20% discount but get years of use out of that particular item.

4. Have fun!

Fashion is all about emphasizing who you are. It doesn’t matter if you have a $100 budget, a $20 budget or a $1000 budget. If you are confident and willing to use fashion as a way in which to present the most authentic version of yourself to the world, then you’re doing just fine! There’s a common misconception that you have to splurge to be fashionable. You don’t. You can be on trend with a small budget. However, it’s way better to be true to your own style. You may only have five shirts in your closet but it doesn’t matter as long as you have fun with them. Be confident and use fashion as your ammo to feel your absolute best whatever your budget! Remember it’s not about quantity but quality.

Happy Shopping!