Search: label/thrifting

Reader Request: Budget Shopping. No, Really

by Sal on August 23, 2010 · 43 comments

The Raisin Girl asked this question ages ago:

I’d love to see more on budget style. I see a lot about budget style all over the internet, but the women writing these articles seem to have much larger budgets than me. I was raised to shop clearance, to buy cheaply even if you didn’t like what you bought as much. I’ve been talked out of many items of clothing that I LOVED and would have worn endlessly, simply because they were pricier. And the weird thing is, we weren’t badly off. I could have afforded those items, but I didn’t. Now that I’m working part-time and going to school, I don’t have much extra income, so it sucks that NOW is when I learn it’s not a crime to pay more than $20 for a good pair of jeans. So basically, how do gals budget-shop, when they’re REALLY on a tight budget?

It’s true that “budget style” means one thing to the average college student and something quite different to an InStyle editor. I’ve been alarmed to find that as my income creeps slowly upward, my idea of a “bargain” shifts and morphs. There was a time when I couldn’t fathom paying more than $40 for a pair of shoes. That time is long past.

But what about the women who can’t fathom paying more than $40 for a pair of shoes, right now, today? What about the ones who can’t afford any more than that? What’s a girl on a truly strict budget to do?

Read the Budget Babe: Love the looks you see in the mags but choke when you see the pricetags? The Budget Babe specializes in re-creating celeb looks for pennies on the dollar. And even if you don’t want to steal those outfits whole-cloth, seeing them rebuilt with affordable pieces is a great reminder that you needn’t spend big to look great.
Invest in basics, skimp on accessories: It’s an old adage for a reason. If you love jeans and live in ‘em, fork over for a pair that fits perfectly and will last multiple years. Get a gorgeous cashmere sweater in a timeless style, and a crisp black work skirt that makes you feel amazing. But don’t fork over big bucks for accessories. You can purchase or make them for cheap, and if the foundation of your outfit is comprised of quality pieces, no one will be the wiser.
Brave the crowds at outlet sales: Although outlet malls are great, outlet malls in the middle of a sale can be nightmarish. Totally worth it, though. Outlet products are more cheaply made than their mall counterparts, but most are still of decent quality. Find out when the sales start, arrive before the doors open, and learn to navigate the throngs.
Troll Etsy: You’ll find vintage duds at rock-bottom prices and handmade goodies for a song. If you’ve got something specific in mind, hit Etsy first and see what a quick search yields.
Search eBay: Although eBay is touted as a great place to find past season goods, you’d be amazed how many current season items can be bought for a fraction of retail. As always, check seller feedback … but consider eBay anytime you’re buying something online. ANYTIME.

In addition to changing your shopping and researching behavior, you can employ creative methods for procuring, altering, or creating stylish duds. A few tips can be found in my virtually free wardrobe makeover, but here are a few more:

Thrift: In my opinion, the ultimate way to stay stylish when you’ve got limited funds is to thrift. Hit charity shops, garage sales, estate sales, and consignment shops. Are you a thrifting newbie? Here are my various thrifting how-to’s.
Refashion: Need new shorts? Can you hack off a pair of pants you’ve already got? Want a new dress? What about belting that sacklike jobber that’s way too big now? Learn to see potential in the garments you already own, and make them work anew.
Overdye: Spend $15 for four colors of dye, spend an afternoon pretending you’re a mad scientist, and voila. Dingy tees and boring skirts have new life.
Create: Learn to knit your own infinity scarves. Learn to sew your own skirts. Learn to make your own statement necklaces from what you have in the junk drawer. Materials and labor are at a premium, I know, but investing in a clothing- or accessory-making skill is well worth it.
Style: The catalogs that land in your mailbox can provide endless inspiration, if you let them. Don’t focus on buying what they’re hawking, focus on re-creating the outfits they’ve so thoughtfully assembled for you. Learning to be a better and more creative stylist will help make dressing fun, even if you’re working with a limited wardrobe and a limited budget.

Those of you on tighter-than-tight budgets, do these tips ring true? How do you stay stylish when the cash ain’t flowin’?

Image courtesy SomeDriftwood.

{ 43 comments }

Thrifting Lessons from a Pro

by Sal on May 21, 2010 · 47 comments

You’ve probably noticed that nearly all of my outfits include at least one thrifted item. I’ve written a whole bunch of posts about various aspects of thrifting, but thought it might be helpful to cull some highlights. Especially since spring and autumn are high shopping times for most of us, and present fabulous opportunities to hit the charity shops and score some fabulous, affordable, environmentally-friendly new duds!

Make time to thrift: Very few people can duck in and out of a thrift store in 15 minutes. Since you’ll be sifting through rack upon rack of poorly organized goods, allot yourself a chunk of time so that you can truly explore the bounty.
Try stuff on: Eyeballing it can be incredibly risky at a thrift store, so try everything on. My method is to wear leggings and a tunic or dress whenever I thrift. That way, even if the store doesn’t offer fitting rooms, I can throw things on in the aisles and make sure they aren’t horrifyingly unflattering. Try it all on, kittens, including belts and scarves.
Keep an open mind: Take a wishlist of items to keep yourself on track, but always allow the Gods of Thrift to throw a surprise your way.
Experiment: Does something grab your eye because of color or texture, but scare you off because of how it’s cut? Try it on anyway. Are you drawn to that zebra print skirt, but have no idea if it’ll work in your wardrobe? Try it on anyway. Don’t buy stuff that’s unflattering or wildly impractical, of course, but thrifting is the best possible place to encourage your style to expand. Clothing is affordable, relatively sustainable, and the variety of offerings is VAST. Branch out a little. I mean, why not?
Don’t buy it just because it’s designer and a bargain: Oh man, have I ever been tempted to snap up undervalued duds simply because I knew their true worth. But here’s the thing: Unless you’re going to resell on eBay, you should only thrift items that you love and that work for your figure. A $5 Max Mara dress is a waste of $5 if it makes you look like 15 hot dogs shoved into a tube sock. Use your common sense, and don’t be tempted by something just because it’s designer.

Are you a thrifting fiend? Any tips to add, if so? What do you love most about thrifting? If you aren’t into thrifting, what turns you off?

Image courtesy Lance McCord.

{ 47 comments }