Revitalize your wardrobe on a budget
Posted by peter88
from the Fashion/Accessories category at
19 Jul 2011 10:12:35 pm.
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Those without a set budget may be able to afford monthly shopping trips to add new pieces to a wardrobe. However, the average person lives on a tighter budget, and there may not be as much room for discretionary spending on clothing and accessories. According to VisualEconomics.com, a family of three making about $64,000 per year can expect to spend roughly 4 percent of those earnings on apparel and services.
People interested in refreshing their selection of clothing more frequently should consider alternative options than buying retail. Here are some ideas to think about.
Clothing Swap
A good way to socialize and switch-up a wardrobe is to host a clothing swap party. Invite around 10 friends or family members to be part of it. Be sure to have at least 2 or 3 of the same-sized people so that there won't be an abundance of items to fit one person and not enough to fit another. Shoes and accessories are also acceptable.
Set the rules for the event, where each person is entitled to take as many items as she has brought. Encourage guests to bring clean, gently used items that are in good quality. Because this type of get-together involves some advanced work of sorting through clothing, be sure to give guests ample advance notice.
Have refreshments on hand and opportunities to chat over styles and options. Whatever clothes are not taken by others can be donated to charity.
Consignment Stores
It used to be that consignment stores were the stepchildren of the retail world. Many people viewed them as glorified tag sales and didn't think they were worthy of investigation.
Nowadays, consignment shops are big business and good places for savvy shoppers to visit. Much like overstock stores sell items on discount that are on par with department stores, consignment shops often offer new or very lightly used items for resale -- at a fraction of the original retail price. Plus, they're an ideal place to look for unique pieces and accessories that might otherwise have been out of budget.
Shop Basics
When buying new items at a store, buy pieces that can be put together in a variety of combinations. Stick to similar colors and themes so that each piece will work seamlessly. Consider multi-layered items that can be worn with a cardigan or without; or go from the office to a dinner date afterward. Remember, items that blend can be worn more often because they won't stick out in the minds of others as something flashy.
Consider Shopping Online
Shoppers are often amazed at the wide variety of items that can be purchased online. If a shopper doesn't see something in a store for the price she wants, she can comparison shop online. Although she can't try on merchandise, with the exception of some sites that offer a virtual model, many online retailers offer free shipping on returns.
Online shopping also takes the hassle out of visiting several stores, finding parking and dealing with crowds. Plus, a shopper can purchase things on her own time, whether that's early morning or after the kids have gone to bed.
Explore Tailoring
Think about how Molly Ringwald's character turned pieces of fabric into new creations in the cult 1980s film, "Pretty in Pink." With some simple tailoring, just about anyone can modify items to make them look brand new. For those who don't know their bobbins from their seam-rippers, make friends with someone who does and enlist some help with fashion redesign.
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