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Can’t afford to NOT be picky: Looking great on a budget

By Meg | July 2, 2007

There’s a saying that goes, “Beggars can’t be choosers”. For many people who are just plain broke, clothes are understandably their last priority. However, there a lot of people - whether they are broke or just trying to be frugal - who buy truly awful clothes because they think that they are saving money. You may know someone like this, someone who buys a pea green shirt that’s two sizes two large because it was so cheap. It may even be a name brand. But however much the original price was, the shirt probably looks cheap. That’s not frugal. Buying awful clothes is a waste of money.

One cheap looking shirt is bad enough, but there are many people who have a wardrobe full of cheap-looking clothes. If that is truly all you can afford, that’s fine. I get it. However, many people can do better but don’t because the only thing that they look at is the price tag. They often end up with many more clothes than they’ll ever need, but few outfits that actually look decent. Why is this important? Because people do judge others on their clothes, and if they’re not sending the message that you want to send, then your clothes aren’t working for you. I’ll go ahead and assume that most people don’t want to look cheap.

Now, I do pride myself on being a smart, and rather frugal shopper. I tend to get most of my clothes from discount stores like Ross and TJ Maxx, with some pieces from Goodwill and consignment shops. I even get some items free through my local Freecycle group. However, while I do have some rules about how much I am willing to spend on an item, I also have another, even more important rule that I try to follow: I try to only buy/keep things that make me look good and that don’t look like someone else’s cast-offs. As a result, many people assume that I spend a lot more on my clothes than I really do - even people close to me. They may even assume that I make much more money than I actually do.

There is of course an obvious trade-off. To save money and still look great takes time. I have to try on and pass up a lot of clothes to get to a few gems. However, I’m not always shopping. I take a few afternoons a month to visit my favorite discount stores and try on lots of clothes. Fortunately, the more I learn about what does look good on me, the easier it is to find great clothes and weed out the unflattering stuff before I even get to the dressing room.

Now, without further ado, here are my tips for being a frugal, but stylish shopper:

1. Shop at places that you know have great discounts and don’t look at the price tag until after you’ve tried something on. You’ll have more options in your price range, so you don’t have to worry about checking the price. You can still look at the price tag before making your purchase, but the idea is that you decide if it looks good before you get swept up in discounts or discouraged by higher prices.
2. Pay attention to what colors and cuts look good on you. It’ll save you time as you look for pieces that work. However, it’s also good to experiment now and then. Some items have really surprised me in the dressing room.
3. When you try something on, ask yourself, “Does it do anything for me?” Your clothes should work for you. They should bring out your natural beauty and send the message that you want. Clothes should fit right and be a flattering color. If the only thing they do for you is cover you up, then don’t buy them.
4. Instead of looking just at discounts, ask yourself, “Is it worth the price?” My little black dress cost more than I normally plan to spend on dresses, but it was the perfect little black dress for me because it was so flattering. I knew that I would get a lot of use out of it (which I have), so the cost per wear was quite reasonable. I’ve also spent a little bit more on killer accessories that I knew would make my outfits more versatile. Know what to spend money on. Really good basics and accessories can dress up an outfit. Are there items that generally don’t fit well on you? Spend more money if you find those that do. I’m willing to spend more money on great fitting jeans or button-up shirts because I have a hard time finding jeans and button-up shirts that fit right.
5. Buy dressier items. They’re less likely to look cheap. T-shirts will almost always look cheap, no matter what you pay for them. A nice dress, on the other hand, will likely look more expensive even if it is the same price as the t-shirt.
6. Ignore brand names. Most people will notice whether something looks good first, then maybe they might care about the brand name. While I love saying that I got my Neiman Marcus tote for $1 at Goodwill and my Chanel scarf free from a fellow Freecycler, I wouldn’t have bought/kept them had I not loved them regardless of the name.
7. Will you wear it next season? Don’t buy into trends unless they truly look great on you. Otherwise, you’ll be tossing that piece out as soon as the trend has past (or when you figure out that it looks awful on you).
8. Buy quality items. Always examine clothes to see if they are made well. If they are already unraveling in places, they are not going to last long. If you here things ripping when you try them on (even if they aren’t tight), then put it back.
9. Know the return policy and try on your clothes again at home. I never take tags off until I know that I love an item and am walking out the door in it. When I bring clothes home I try them on again. I might experiment with accessories and makeup to see what works. I take a good look at how things fit. I experiment with different bras if needed. I again examine the clothes to see if there are any problems with the stitching. Then I usually wait a week or two and try them on again to make sure that my body or tastes haven’t changed. I get opinions from my husband and sometimes friends (fortunately I have a few friends that seem to enjoy giving their opinions on clothes). Then, if I’m still not sure about an item, back it goes.

Well, I’m off to exchange some clothes myself after I publish this. Best of luck on your own shopping trips. If you remember only one thing, remember, “Don’t buy it unless you love it.” You’ll save money and look great.

Now, do you have any tips on frugal clothes shopping? Are there any frugal finds that you are really proud of?

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