Developing a love affair with high fashion is too easy. A single trip to Flannels or a shopping tour of the French Riviera is usually all it takes. The next thing you know, you’re spending hundreds of dollars on a single pair of plimsolls.
The problem is, you just can’t let it go. You want that Gucci bag and nothing’s going to stop you!
If you find yourself in this predicament, it can feel like there’s no escape from endless credit card bills. But it doesn’t have to be this way. It turns out that you can indulge your love affair with high fashion on a limited budget. Here’s what you need to do:
Scour Thrift Shops
The first port of call for the fashion-obsessed is to scour thrift shops. You never know what you might find there. Many people give away items, not realizing their true value.
You can also do a tour of consignment shops and vintage markets. These regularly offer pieces with tremendous history at a fraction of the usual price.
Refashion And Recycle
Another option is to get crafty and turn your existing items into something new and better. If you’re a dab hand with the sewing machine, there’s almost no limit to what you can do.
You can also make use of dyes, sequins, and threads to recreate some of your favorite items in the store. Adding color and vibrancy can help you emulate the sort of clothes you see on high-end mannequins in malls.
Go Vintage
If you can’t get the latest garments, another option is to go vintage. Older items tend to be significantly cheaper but also higher quality, due to the way things were made in the past.
This is particularly true for jewelry. Artisans made gold rings and necklaces of exceptional quality in the past because they were so rare. You didn’t get that mass-market feel that you have today which is seeping into everything.
Older shoes and bags are also a great option. People typically made these from a combination of brass and leather, which go for a massive premium in today’s marketplace.
Add Investment Pieces
If you are really struggling to find designer items you want at lower prices, consider adding investment pieces. These are garments that have a high visual impact that you can wear on multiple occasions and accessorize in different ways.
For instance, you might invest in a high-end dress that dazzles while reducing how much you spend on accessories. Likewise, you could choose a statement necklace and wear that on multiple occasions with various cheaper blouses.
Sell Your Old Stuff On Rotation
You should also get into the habit of selling your old stuff on rotation. Whenever you go out to buy new clothes and jewelry, you should fund 50 percent of it by cashing in on older garments and items.
The abundance of cash 4 gold locations makes it more straightforward these days to get money for jewelry you no longer want. Plus, you can often sell designer items second-hand online, letting you recover some of the original cost.
Keep this practice going on an ongoing basis. You’ll be amazed at how much it can slash your fashion bills.
Go To Swap Parties
Another option is to host swap parties with your friends where you share clothes. Agreeing to buy and share high-value items can be a great way to expand your wardrobe instead of having to wear the same items all the time.
Whenever a friend purchases a fresh addition to their wardrobe, you add one to yours. The bigger the pool of people you can create (of the same body size), the better off you’ll be. You can arrange to share items every week, so you always have something new to wear.
For instance, suppose that you and four friends agree to buy a designer item every six months. This means you have access to five pieces at any given time instead of the usual one if you were buying alone.
Go Shopping In The Off-Season
Another way to indulge your love affair with high fashion on a limited budget is to make a habit of shopping in the off-season. Buying coats in the summer and bikinis in the winter can slash your overall spending as retailers try to shift stock. Sure, you’ll need to wait a few months before you can start benefiting from this strategy, but in the grand scheme of things, that’s not all that long!
So, there you have it: some of the ways you can indulge in a high-fashion love affair on a budget.
