Frugal Fashion Friday

by Momma · 2 comments

I have to admit, I know nothing about fashion. I don’t read the magazines. I don’t know what the “it” colors or fabrics are. I’m a comfort and warmth girl. Most of the time I manage to leave the house looking like an adult chose my clothes (although a rumpled adult) … on the days that my 13 year old daughter raises her eyebrows at my clothes, I change. It works for me.

But I have some gorgeous friends. They always seem to look fabulous and well put together. They’d never find themselves wearing two different colored shoes while walking into the office on Monday morning (I’m pretty sure that’s just me). Luckily, they’ve offered me … and now you… some wonderful tips on how to manage to look great on a budget.

As long as they keep sending me really great tips, I will be hosting Frugal Fashion Friday. First up, the lovely Danielle Bovee. Not only does she know a lot about looking great on a budget, she makes beautiful clothes herself and knows quality workmanship when she finds it. Danielle shares these tips:

Photo By D Sharon Pruitt

Know what looks good on you. What colors/styles suit you best? If you have no idea, go spend a couple of hours at the mall with a friend. Try on what interests you, but get your friend’s honest opinion. Don’t buy anything unless you can both agree on it. (Editor’s note: Now there’s an idea… get them to go to the store WITH me.)
Image from StyleDecoded.com

Make sure your “wardrobe basics” fit well and still look good. You should always have certain items in your closet, like jeans, neutral pants/skirts, plain solid-color tops, etc. But it’s important that these pieces which you will wear all the time fit well and don’t look too worn out.
Photo by LizMarie

Know what’s in your closet already. Do you really need another pair of black pants? Are the ones you have in great shape or is it time to replace them? Or, you found a great top on sale- if you have to buy three other items to complete the look, is it really worth the investment?
Investments: shopping the clearance racks. Often this means buying out-of-season, so be prepared to wait a few months before wearing a certain item. Special note, thrift stores are great for buying nice winter coats at a fraction of department store prices.
How will you care for your new purchase? Personally, I avoid almost anything that has to be dry-cleaned. If it can’t be put in the washer or hand-washed, I don’t really need it. Also, avoid using the dryer as much as possible. Hanging your garments to dry will dramatically extend their useful lives.
Sign up for email sales alerts and discount coupons. Have a favorite store? Make sure you are on their mailing list for deals, sales, and many times huge discounts and/or free shipping. If you’re not sure that the item you want is on sale or that the discount applies, just ask an associate.