How to Look Good on a Budget (11 Style Secrets)
Welcome to Be Your Own Date - a space dedicated to all things self-care and wellbeing. This includes financial wellbeing and financial self-care, which can easily be neglected and fly under the radar. In this post, I am honing in on ways to feel and look good through what you wear - no matter your budget. So keep reading to discover my 11 style secrets below, where personal style meets personal finance. If you haven’t already done so, I also encourage you to take a look at my other posts; I hope you’ll like them and find them useful too!
Serving 1940's glamour! | Photo by Neli Prahova
Expressing my personal style and creativity, rather than simply following fashion trends, is where my focus lies when it comes to fashion. When I reflect on some of my interesting style choices growing up - I'm sure that you can relate - I smile because it was a time when I could wear all sorts of things without worrying about what others thought. And I am often reminded to draw on that confidence and positive energy, especially when feeling nostalgic and looking back at old photographs.
What we wear and how we wear it, is functional in terms of the need for clothing, but it is also an expression of our creativity. It often helps me to feel good and boosts my confidence, and also enables me to decide how I wish to present myself to the world. From dressing smartly for work, to dressing for a special occasion, to dressing casually in my down time. Dress for what you want and how it makes YOU feel!
I pay particular attention to colours and how they can be used to reflect how I am feeling or help me get into the right frame of mind. For example, there is something so uplifting about wearing bright colours and/or bold prints, or daring to wear something a little different - a departure from what you would typically wear and therefore stepping outside of your comfort zone. In this sense, fashion and our clothing can have a really positive impact on our wellbeing and how we feel about ourselves. However, we are also bombarded with so much information and imagery on what to wear, often very aspirational and out of our reach that do not necessarily serve us or give us the uplift that we might need.
Deciding what to wear can be fun and make us feel and look good too. Inspired by a recent conversation with my partner, I would like to share my take on how to look good on a budget and ways in which to develop your personal style without breaking the bank. I am definitely a high-waisted jeans and t-shirt kinda gal, but I absolutely love the vintage aesthetic too - particularly the cut and design of clothes from the 40’s and 50’s. Oh yes! In the photograph above, I am wearing a vintage navy calf-length crepe dress bought on sale in Paris for around 25 Euros, paired with cream tassel earrings bought for a couple of quid from a local charity shop in London. Timeless and perfect for evening events.
What’s your clothing budget?
Our earnings do, of course, determine how much money we can spend on clothing. However, I am more interested in our budget plans and how they help determine how much we choose to spend on clothing. That is, the amount of money put aside specifically for our clothes, shoes and accessories. You can even drill down further to separate essentials from nice-to-haves, and what’s great about having a budget is being able to indulge in guilt-free spending, knowing that your core needs have been considered and taken care of, such as your rent/mortgage, food and utility bills.
For more details on how to budget effectively, check out my Budgeting Checklist to assist you and share with those around you. Once you have set your budget and accounted for your income and outgoings, I hope that you will have a better idea of what your clothing budget is to guide your spending now and in the future.
Tip: It’s not a bargain unless you actually need it or are going to use it. For support around spending your hard-earned money more mindfully, check out my Conscious Spending Checklist.
How to look good on a budget (11 style secrets)
I mostly like to shop for clothes with a purpose in mind, aided by a shopping list to keep me on track, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy browsing and picking up items, unplanned, from time to time. Here are my favourite ways to look and feel good on a budget and, where possible, not spend any money at all. All you need is some time and effort…
1. Shop for items on sale - this is probably my favourite piece of advice. I rarely purchase clothing full price. That said, don’t believe all the hype and be savvy on promotional days e.g. Black Friday and Cyber Monday - you get the gist!
2. Shop outside of the current season - this is related to the first point. Sometimes, when you shop out of season you may come across better deals and items that have been discounted. Think shopping for swimwear in winter and cashmere sweaters in summer.
3. Root around in your local charity shop or car boot sale - this isn’t for everyone, but you can find some great pieces at affordable prices when purchasing them secondhand. Just look at those earrings in the photo above! Ha!
4. Vintage shops are your friend - let’s face it, charity shops and vintage shops are pretty similar, most items are secondhand after all. However, for items that are older and from a specific era, vintage shops can be a great option. I love, love, love them!
5. Cashback websites and promotional codes - these are particularly useful for purchasing items online and the savings or discounts available may apply to sale items, full priced items or both. So, check the terms and conditions carefully. I use TopCashback when shopping online. It is a free service enabling you to gain cashback from a variety of shops and you can sign up to the website using my referral code, at no extra cost to you. Looking for more ideas on how to spend less money when shopping online? I got you!
6. Quality over quantity - this is down to personal preference, but I would much rather have a few quality items, rather than many items that are not made as well and are likely to be replaced far sooner. This may be a little more costly up front, but can be more cost effective in the long run, and is often more sustainable if that's important to you. Think long-term when it comes to your budget and personal finances.
7. Invest in multiway pieces - I love to buy items that can be used in different ways and that are multi-purpose, this goes for furniture too, but I digress…My go-to item is my large, brightly coloured scarf that can be used to elevate any outfit, keep me warm when it’s chilly, used as a headscarf at night or even as a sarong or top when the weather is warm. What’s yours?
My go-to item is my favourite scarf because it can be used in sooooo many different ways | Photo by Amy-Jo Lynch
8. Capsule wardrobe - this refers to key pieces that will take you through each season and in some cases are seasonless, like my beautiful scarf! Look out for my top tips on decluttering and creating a capsule wardrobe in a future post.
9. Mend and repurpose existing items in your wardrobe - before chucking something away because it has a fault, consider whether you can fix it or arrange for it to be mended at a reasonable cost. This is a great way to bring new life into something that you haven’t worn in a while. You can also experiment with styling it differently, so that it can be worn in an alternative way.
10. Clothes swap - my poor mum, I have accrued some beautiful items over the years. On a more serious note, consider swapping items with a loved one, especially if they are hardly used.
11. Look out for items with minor faults that are easily fixed - especially when shopping in higher-end stores. They may well have a clothing rack with items that can be purchased at a great discount if you are willing to repair or clean before wearing. Sometimes, the fault may be so minor that you can wait until after your first wear. Thank me later!
As you can see, fashion and expressing your personal style does not have to be prohibitively expensive! Looking good and feeling good on a budget is totally within our reach, made easier when it forms part of your budget plan. Tell me, will you be using any of the ideas shared above? Let me know in the Comments section below and connect with me on your socials.
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