Clothing has practical aspects, including protection from weather and elements. But clothes are also tied to our personalities, expressing personal taste and fashion consciousness for the individuals who wear them. As a result, clothing is an expense which is both necessary and discretionary. On one hand, we must cover ourselves and make the right impression, yet there are no hard fast rules about the best ways to get the job done. For many consumers, the cost of clothes weighs heavily on wardrobe choices, which can lead to overspending for some shoppers.
In order to manage clothing budgets, it is important to stay realistic about your wardrobe possibilities. When money is no object, of course, designer fashions are priced within reason, but every day shoppers seldom have room for couture spending. Instead, common sense approaches help consumers make lasting impressions with their clothes, staying true to budgets as they assemble practical yet stylish wardrobes.
Stick With Wardrobe Essentials
One of the fastest ways to wipe out your wardrobe budget is with impractical purchases. Though you may be tempted to follow the latest fashion trends, updating your clothes with each passing fancy, you’ll quickly run out of money chasing high fashion. Instead of struggling to keep, look to timeless garments to outlast trendy fashions, keeping you prepared for any occasion.
Neutral colors are best for building lasting wardrobes. That’s not to say everything in your closet should be a single earth tone. There is always room for a splash of color here and there. What you want to avoid, however, is committing to brightly colored garments that don’t offer much flexibility. To stay stylish without excessive spending, work with basic colors for your main articles of clothing. To add new tones, spice things up with colored accessories, like scarves and belts, enabling you to make the most of each garment.
The way clothing is cut changes too. Skinny jeans, and dungarees cut low around the hips, for example, have taken over fashion catwalks, but these impractical styles are not for everyone. To maximize your clothing budget, concentrate on classic looks you can wear again and again, without fear of overstepping fashion boundaries. For women, a classic black cocktail dress serves many occasions, while a well-cut wool suit in black or gray is a men’s staple.
Adopt Realistic Expectations
Fashion magazines and other media pressures draw us in, luring us toward expensive designer clothes. If money is no object, and you appreciate one of a kind style, high fashion might be accessible. But those struggling with monthly budgets are less likely to have funds available for couture purchases.
Rather than chasing impossible fashion dreams, set realistic wardrobe expectations you can meet. Decent quality garments need not break the bank, so informed shoppers find realistic options within any spending level. If designer styles appeal to you, seek worthy copies, which can be had for a fraction of the cost of high profile name brands.
Off-Season Specials
Saving money on clothes requires a little planning. By looking ahead, for instance, frugal shoppers land off-season deals on clothing. Buying during prime retail seasons, on the other hand, leads to overspending on clothes that will be discounted in a few weeks.
Clothing retailers have limited display space, so they are continually rotating merchandise to capture seasonal sales. As a result, clothes are quickly put on sale as seasons change, resulting in bargains for buyers aware of the retail cycle. Even before the dawn of each spring, winter coats and boots are discounted by retailers making room for warm weather gear.
To make the most of your clothing budget, always shop during the off-season and maintain realistic expectations about what you can afford.