If you’ve been paying attention to the media lately, then you probably know an all new fall line has made its way to the runaway. Thus, you may be feeling the urge to put on your shopping shoes and buy a whole new wardrobe. This can be pretty pricey, especially if there aren’t a whole lot of sales going on, but there are a few ways to ditch the high price of fashion so you can enjoy your new looks without having to deal with the credit card bills caused by them. With these simple tips, you should be well on your way to enjoying a fashion savvy season that will make you proud of your shopping abilities.
1. Try On Clothes
Clothes shopping can be a challenge for a lot of people of all shapes and sizes. Most of the time, we tend to see something on the sales rack that we think will look outstanding but it turns out to look terrible when we finally get it home and wear it out. One way to remedy this dilemma is to actually try the clothes on at the store. Take a minute and make sure it fits your body well and is actually comfortable to move in. You might want to bring a friend along for a second opinion, so you don’t feel biased about the clothes. If you can’t bring a friend along then take photos of yourself in the clothes and text them to someone you trust. After trying on the clothes, wait a few minutes to make a decision. You may be surprised that you might not want it anymore after you browse around a bit. Plus, trying on clothes will actually limit the amount of shopping you can do because it will slow you down. Thus, you’ll end up spending less even if you do buy a lot of the clothes that you try on.
2. Split Purchases
A lot of stores now offer a coupon at the bottom of their receipts, which can help you save a whole lot of money. Usually, all you have to do is simply take an online survey and you’ll get a special code that could earn you around 20% or more off of your next purchase. Thus, it may make sense to buy different items at different times. For instance, if you have an eye on some cheaper clothing then you may want to go ahead and buy it and then return later to purchase the more expensive item(s) on your list. This will give you money back that can be used elsewhere on your budget. This will also help you decide if you really want to make the larger purchase, as sometimes when we walk away from an item the need to buy it goes away.
3. Go Vintage
You may be surprised as to which styles are in this season. In fact, there’s a whole lot 60s and 70s revival looks that will make you feel the flower power attire resting in the back of your wardrobe shout with joy. Grunge is also another look making a comeback, so all of those ripped up jeans and plaid tops you’ve been holding onto are sure to come in handy. Boho chic looks are still in style too, which opens you up to a world of possibilities. So, before you head out to do a little shopping, you may want to check out the items you already have hanging around the house. You may also want to check out your local thrift stores and consignment stores to see if there’s anything there you can find at a fair price. This will cut down on a lot of the big expenditures for new clothing, so you don’t have to stress your budget out too much.
4. Follow Sales
When it comes to shopping for clothes, waiting for sales is the best way to get things done. Generally, the fashion season will start out with a few sales in order to get people into the store so they can see just what’s up for grabs during the new season. This may be a good time to get your feet wet, but try to hold off until larger sales arrive. Generally, it is too warm to wear a lot of fall fashions anyway, so you may want to wait until holiday sales arrive. Of course, you should sign up for your favorite stores newsletters and text updates so you’ll be informed of when they will be having specific sales on the items you’ve had your eyes on. Keeping an eye on their website is also important. Sometimes, the store will have online exclusives that will save you big time. Plus, if the clothes arrive and don’t strike your fancy, they can be returned directly to the store for a simple refund.
5. Window Shopping
Window shopping doesn’t have to be reserved for the days that you’re broke. Instead, you should take to window shopping whenever you feel the need to spend money. This allows you to get a general idea of the styles you’d like to wear, without forcing you to commit to anything. Once you have a few looks that you’d actually like to spend money on you, you may want to look around to see if you can find similar items at another store for a lower price. This will save a bundle and will make you look amazing. Of course, window shopping also forces you to be patient about the things you plan to buy. You can stop and try things on, think on them and later, when you have the budget, you can buy them. Of course, one thing you should always do when you go window shopping is leave the money, in cash and card form, at home. This will prevent splurges that can get you into some major trouble.
6. Know Your Colors
Keeping up with this season’s colors and the colors that will actually look good on you are an absolute must. This will not only help you prevent buying clothes that don’t look good on you, but will help you make the most of the wardrobe that you already have. This season, the fashion world is showing off jewel colors as well as black, white and pink hues. For many, this means you’ll end up buying a whole lot of colors to play with, but will slide right back into your comfort colors after only wearing many of the clothing articles once or twice. This can be a huge waste of money, so make sure you know you’re going to want to wear the color before you jump into it. Trying the clothes on and asking a trusted friend’s opinion can help if you’re feeling uncertain. You never know, you may find the perfect color for you during your seasonal shopping adventures.
7. DIY Trends
With all of the throwback looks this season, it’s going to be easy to channel your crafty side to make fashion savvy styles that everyone will be envious of. Grunge is one of the easiest and cheapest DIY styles out there. You may want to start out with a pair of skinny jeans. You can easily make holes, worn areas or even add a touch of bleach to create the beat up look that made up this era. Plaid was a huge hit during the grunge phase, so you may want to take some old plaid and transform it into something irresistible. You can start by cutting the sleeves off of a top to create a fun vest that looks perfect with band tees. You can easily make a headband out of the scrap material, as well as a simple wrist band or a tie for your boots. The 60s and 70s are also great looks to DIY, simple headbands are a perfect thing to make to complete these looks. You can even make them with natural flowers if you’re feeling those kinds of vibes. Boho looks are as easy as pie too. One cute DIY is to add sparkling beads to a skirt for a look that will thrill you!
8. Use Rewards Cards
It’s hard to go shopping without having a sales clerk or cashier ask if you’d like to apply for one of their rewards cards. Although the repetition may be a hassle, there’s a good reason why you should fill out the basic form to enjoy the benefits of the card. Most of the cards actually take a percentage of the price tag off each time you shop. It may not seem like a lot at first, but savings are savings! Of course, some of the cards do offer even more benefits. For instance, many cards will actually store points each time you shop with the store, or chain of stores. These points can add up to offer you cash back on purchases or free gifts, which are never a bad thing, right? Of course, the cards do tend to add up, so you may want to have a special wallet for these cards that can be left in the car for whenever you decide to enjoy a day of shopping.
9. Rent Clothes
You’ve probably heard about the clothes rental craze that has been going on over the past couple of years. It may seem a little weird at first and if you haven’t already tried it then it may feel like a waste of money. However, once you do give it a shot, you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised. Basically, you get to go through a wide selection of clothes and choose a few outfits at a time for a certain price. These clothes can be worn as long as you like and when you’re tired of them you can send them back and choose something else. Better yet, the clothes are professionally cleaned and maintained too, so everyone you know will think you’re always buying new clothes. This comes in handy with fading fashion trends as you won’t have to buy items to upgrade your wardrobe every few months. Rather, you’ll have them mailed to you. Of course, if you tend to fluctuate in weight or you plan on losing or gaining weight over the next few months, then this program is also great. You won’t have to go out and buy all new clothes because of the changes in your body. Instead, you simply update your size!
10. Broaden Your Horizons
When it comes to shopping this season, try to think beyond the season as often as you can. Instead of worrying about buying items simply for fall, look at each piece and think about how you can incorporate into your yearly wardrobe. There’s lots of pants and tops that can do this without a problem, so it won’t be a hard task. However, if there is one look that will only work for the season, then you might want to leave it on the rack and move onto something that will save you money. Another thing you should keep in mind is to look for signature pieces. If you can find one stand out piece of clothing that can be paired with other items, then you’re looking at a great style that will work wonders for you. This will also make buying accessories and shoes a breeze.
Shopping for fall fashions can be a whole lot of fun if you’re not stressing out about your budget. With these simple tips, you should find a few ways to improve the experience while allowing you to keep your budget happy. Without the financial worry, you’ll feel a lot more confident about your fall attire.
