Many fashion lovers mistakenly believe you must spend big bucks for a chic, upscale appearance. However, shopping smart is the key to looking expensive rather than wasting money on cheap or overpriced items.
These money-saving style secrets will help you craft a fashionable and timeless closet on any budget.
Splurge On a Bag
If you only splurge on one closet item, make it a top-grade handbag. Purses and bags are daily essentials, so find a durable and stylish option you can use for years.
Leather is a fantastic choice that always stays in style. A sleek and understated handbag is the perfect finishing touch for any outfit, making it worth the investment.
High-Quality Fabrics
Fabric quality is a significant component of looking rich for less. Cheap materials like polyester and nylon use synthetic fibers that harm the environment and potentially cause skin irritation.
Natural options like cotton, denim, and cashmere are ideal for clothes. These fabrics are comfortable and durable, helping your money go further.
Simple Jewelry
Don’t go overboard on the accessories. Bracelets, rings, necklaces, and earrings can make or break a look. Find several simple pieces you can wear alone or layer to alter your aesthetic. When in doubt, stick to the same metal for all your jewelry purchases.
Invest in Wardrobe Essentials
If you’re trying to look rich on a budget, it’s important to stock your closet with high-quality basics. There are several fundamental wardrobe essentials everyone should invest in.
Items like nice jeans, a white button-down, and a structured blazer are closet must-haves. You can incorporate these staple pieces into many outfits and accessorize them for a more casual or formal look.
Structure
Opt for structured rather than shapeless pieces. While there’s a time and place for a slouchy look, you’re more professional and put-together in an outfit that complements your body.
Avoid stiff and uncomfortable designs with shoulder pads and boxy silhouettes. Instead, shop for clothes that highlight your natural shape, such as tailored blazers and pants.
Neutrals
When shopping on a budget, stick to neutral shades and color palettes. Monochromatic outfits look elevated and chic, but you can also mix and match complementary colors.
Neutral pieces are incredibly versatile. You can style them up or down based on the occasion. They act as a blank canvas, freeing your creativity when accessorizing with handbags, jewelry, and shoes.
Steam and Iron Clothes
Wrinkles are every fashionista’s worst nightmare. They’re sloppy and unprofessional, which reflects poorly on your character and cheapens your look.
Steam and iron your clothes regularly for a sharp, clean aesthetic. Steaming and ironing will smooth wrinkles and restore garment structure for a cohesive outfit that looks more expensive than it costs.
Find Your Fit
You’ll look and feel your best in properly fitting clothes. Take the time to try on various sizes and find your perfect fit.
Sizing often differs between brands, making it hard to guess with conversion charts alone. Experiment with clothing styles and cuts to see what flatters your body shape.
Proper Garment Care
There’s no point in buying new clothes if you aren’t willing to care for them. It’s tempting to toss all your unsorted garments in the washing machine and start a load of laundry.
However, some pieces require special attention to maintain their quality. Always follow the care tag instructions to keep your favorite clothing items at their peak.
Thrift
Secondhand clothing is good for the environment and your wallet. Seek out your town’s highest-rated clothing thrift stores and scour the racks for hidden gems.
Browsing used clothes can take time and effort but frequently pays off. Look for established brands and timeless styles to maximize your shopping budget.
Quality Over Quantity
Adopt a mindset of quality over quantity when investing in your wardrobe. Fast-fashion companies appeal to budget shoppers with unbelievably low prices and fad trends. The deals can be tempting, but you’re essentially throwing money away.
Low-quality clothes and accessories have a much shorter lifespan than pieces made with expert craftsmanship. Paying more upfront can be daunting, but you’ll be much happier with items that last in the long run.
Minimal Patterns
Over-the-top prints can make you look outdated. Floral and geometric patterns, for instance, had their heyday but have fallen out of fashion in recent years.
Minimal patterns that stand the test of time are the better choice. Stripes and small polka dots are examples of prints that are always on-trend.
Clean Shoes
Don’t underestimate the power of a clean pair of shoes. Footwear significantly impacts your outfit for better or worse.
Wearing dirty, worn-out shoes can draw attention from your look, not in a good way. Keep footwear clean and in good condition for cohesion from head to toe.
Dress for Your Body Shape
Becoming familiar with your figure is crucial in capturing the luxury aesthetic on a budget. Everyone is uniquely different, and it’s worth spending the time to identify your body shape.
Knowing your body type is crucial to choosing flattering clothes and styles. Identify which areas of the body you want to accentuate and which you wish to downplay to dress confidently and embrace your natural beauty.
Avoid outdated fashion trends that make you look cheap
Fad clothing trends that are out of fashion can age your entire look. Stick with classic styles to always look chic and put-together.
Trendy No More: 13 Fashion Trends That Have Lost Their Appeal (And What to Wear Instead)
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Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
