How to stretch your wardrobe budget

We put together four affordable ways to stay fashionable this spring.

Try a style swap – and save!

If you’re bored with your wardrobe, chances are you have a few friends in the same boat. Rather than plan a shopping spree date, try a style swap instead. That way, no one spends anything but everyone walks away with fresh fashions – it’s win-win. Pick a date, invite friends and have everyone bring their unwanted (but still wearable) items. Divide up the pieces into categories to make things easier (dresses, accessories, boots, etc.), provide an area to try things on and ideally, the fashion frenzy is fruitful for all the guests.

Get creative with your closet’s contents

In order to avoid wardrobe boredom without going over budget, get creative with what you already have. Chances are you have a closet full of items that haven’t seen the light of day in a while. We all have pieces that we’ve forgotten about, that still fit, that are still on-trend, but have been relegated to the depths of drawers seldom opened. Rather than buying new, we urge you to see what you’ve been bypassing. Dig out long-abandoned pieces and see what you do with them. You never know what you might find.

Avoid impulse buys

One of the fastest ways to see your style budget disappear is to regularly give in to impulse buys. Sure, they’re fun (for about 30 seconds), but they also add up. Even the cheapest impulse purchases (costume Jewelry, T-shirts) can quickly equal one larger, good-quality item. So rather than going nuts for cheap (poorly made) pieces, save up for the styles that matter and that will last. Because let’s face it; impulse buys are usually things you only wear once or forget about immediately. If you’re going to stretch your style dollar, use your wardrobe budget where it really counts – on well thought-out, well-fitting, well-made items.

Shop second hand

Thrift stores can be a treasure trove of cheap, on-trend items or an affordable way to buy basics when you need them (a fleece jacket for the cottage, a warm sweater for winter). We suggest mapping out two or three, choosing a day where you have a lot of free time and seeing what you can find. It can also be a good idea to browse fashion magazines, Pinterest or store websites to get a better idea of what you’re looking for. Chances are, if you’re patient, you’ll find some stylish pieces for much less than you would if you were at the mall.