Thursday, January 15, 2009

How To Dress Well On A Budget

Dressing well does not have to cost a fortune. If you take a little time to plan your needs and treat your wardrobe like the investment that it is, you can make a little go a long way. You can also look like you spend a lot of money on your clothes when all you are really doing is combining a few well-chosen, high-quality pieces. Below are several ways you can be frugal and still look like a million bucks

*Take an inventory of your closet and make a list of things you need. Buying from a list will keep you focused and curb impulse buying.

*Buy the best quality of clothes that you can afford. They'll last longer, wear better, and ultimately, save you more money than buying inferior-quality pieces.

*Buy classic styles. These will stand the test of time and not date you as easily as buying into trends.

*Opt for mix-and-match separates. If you buy carefully, a little will go a long way. Five well-chosen shirts combined with two pairs of pants will give you ten combinations, for example.
Two head-to-toe ensembles that don't go with anything else will only give you two combinations.

*Try for a primary color scheme. Build your wardrobe around three to five colors that look good on you. Not only will this allow you more mix-and-match opportunities, it will reduce the number of accessories that you need.

*Opt for solids over patterns. Solids mix and match more easily and are less easily remembered than prints...which will make you look like you have a lot more clothes than you really do.

*Buy on sale whenever possible. Join your favorite store's mailing list to take advantage of "insider" sales notifications. With a little bit of persistence, you can find quality pieces at affordable prices.

Following these simple tips will keep you looking like you spent a ton of money on your clothes. But you'll know different.