By Sophia Vivenzio
After another successful New York Fashion Week, many of us college students are feeling ready to ditch the t-shirts and sweats and pull out some of our nicer fall outfits. But, when you combine living on a college campus, paying for food and housing, and your summer job money slowly depleting, it can be hard to choose a new leather jacket over a week’s worth of dinner. While we may not be able to blow our bank accounts, there is still a way to be ballin’ on a college budget. Here are a few of my tips:
1. Decide What’s Worth the Investment, and What’s Not
When it comes to making smart decisions about the clothes you buy, it can be challenging to know when to treat yo’ self by dropping a few extra bucks on something, and when to hold back on the spending. Here are some of the types of clothes you should be investing in:
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Denim
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Denim is one of those fabrics whose value is very evident. Good quality denim will always work best to compliment your body, last you a long time, and ensure you don’t run into any wardrobe malfunctions (a.k.a. ripping your pants). And don’t worry, if you’re still nervous to drop some big bucks on denim, check out tip #4!
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Heels
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Heels are already a pain to walk in, so you want to invest in a solid pair that are comfortable, reliable and stylish all in one. As fashion designer Christian Dior stated: “You can never take too much care over the choice of your shoes. Too many women think that they are unimportant, but the real proof of an elegant woman is what is on her feet.”
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Leather
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Just like denim, cheap leather is hard to mask, so it’s smart to spend your big bucks on a nice leather jacket that you know will last you a long time. Also, leather jackets have never and probably will never go out of style, and they can easily be dressed up or dressed down. So, you know you’re getting the most bang for your buck.
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Special Pieces
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We’ve all had those moments where we walk past a silk, studded or sparkly clothing item and our money-saving conscience goes away. You can spend a little more on special pieces by being cheap about the basics. If you have a nice pair of jeans, shoes and a rocking jacket, you can work any $5 t-shirt or dress and people will still stop and admire your outfit.
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2. Don’t be Afraid to Repeat Outfits
This one’s pretty self explanatory, but can still be challenging to do if you’re someone who always wants to look fresh. The trick to successfully repeating outfits is to be smart about where and how you wear them. If you’re smart about your styling, you can create a week’s worth of outfits from only 5 clothing items. Mixing and matching is key!
3. Sales are your Best Friend
The best way to find out about sales for your favorite stores is to sign up for their newsletter. Sometimes a little spam in your email is worth it! Also, try to online shop from as many different sites as possible, because chances are you will stumble upon way more promo codes and sales than if you were to stay on a single website.
4. Thrifting is KEY
Thrift stores are all the rave at the moment, and no one is complaining! Many current style icons are rocking the thrifted look, and it won’t hurt your bank accounts to follow in their footsteps. Plus, who would’ve guessed that the mom-jean would actually ever be in style? With stores like Goodwill, the Salvation Army, the Melrose Trading Post, and other local thrift stores carrying vintage designers like Levi’s, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger-as well as your grandpa’s old t-shirts from the GAP-you can find some really great pieces for a fraction of their original cost. And if you still don’t believe me, just listen to the wise words of Macklemore: “One man’s trash, that’s another man’s come up!”
5. Find your own style and stick to it
People look and feel best when they are wearing clothes that make them feel confident. Once you are able to find a style that is truly you, you will have no trouble only buying the clothes that you know you will wear. Your style and wallet will both thank you.
Lastly, don’t forget that what you’re wearing isn’t everything. Being stylish is all about feeling your best and being confident, so if you feel most confident in a hoodie and leggings, feel free to continue wearing that! Just don’t forget that you should always dress for yourself and nobody else!