The top comment on this look when I posted it to Instagram was “how chic are you?” and “why are you so fabulous?” I’ve decided to take a larger focus on style posts since I actually have people to take my outfit photos and some of the best shoot locations at my disposal. The pressure of having new outfits and keeping up with all of the trends comes tangled up in that decision.
I am a huge outfit repeater. In fact, most of the outfits I’ve posted since my decision to make fashion a bigger role on the blog have included pieces I’ve had for months, and even years. Today, I’m talking all about how to be fashionable without buying new items every single season.
DO buy versatile pieces.
My closet has taken a 180 turn from my high school and early college days. I used to be all about a fun print and bright color. As I’ve gotten older, I find myself being pulled toward more muted color palettes. I’m super happy about it too. If you’ve ever seen my clothing racks in my new apartment *hint hint*, you know that I basically focus on 4-5 different tones and colors: cream/brown, whites/grays, blues, and blacks. My closet is a neutral playground.
I can style all of the pieces in my closet, even the crazier patterned ones like these pants that I LOVE, so easily. I’ve already worn them 4 different ways dressed down and dressed up. My number one tip is to buy pieces that you can mix and match easily in your closet. You can do this with a more colorful wardrobe too, but I’d still stay stick to buying basics in neutral colors and throwing a pop of color in sparingly.
DON’T splurge on trendy things.
This is just a personal opinion maybe, but I don’t ever splurge on trendy things except for maybe that one pair of 70’s-esque Kate Spade platform heels. But, I anything even a little bit trendy is going to be from one of my favorite affordable retailers. I’ll get to that later. I do however try to prioritize budgeting for higher-quality staple items like outerwear, shoes, jeans, and sweaters. I’ve been bitten in the butt too many times from cheaper coats and sweaters that I end up replacing. The crazy thing is that whole saga [9 times out of 10] costs more than the more expensive option.
Now that’s not to say that I don’t use my sale savvy ways to find good deals. I like to take trips to the outlets before the change of the season to stock up on the goods. I found two pairs of winter boots at the Timerbland outlet that are going to be perfect for my first winter here in NYC.
DO invest in high-quality staples.
DON’T forget that accessories will complete every look.
This is something that I seriously overlooked for a very long time. I always wondered why my outfits would never look as polished or stylish as my favorite bloggers on Pinterest and Instagram. And then, I realized how that one blogger’s fun handbag added a pop of color to the monotone look and another blogger’s necklace layering completed the chic look of a simple button down.
I still have yet to find a hat that I like even though I’m going to have to go warm for the winter. I also love the look of the page boy hat, but it just doesn’t look the best on my head shape. Darn.
Find retailers that match your style and your budget.
I don’t even know how I would really describe my style at this point. Maybe some cross between chic, preppy, cool city girl. I love fun patterns in neutral colors, denim, and classicly tailored pieces. There is absolutely nothing wrong with pairing sneakers with any outfit and I’m a huge fan of skirts and dresses.
Boohoo and Forever 21 are my go to shops for trendy pieces. These pants, a fun pair of 70’s style flare crops, a star print romper, and a midi-length leather skirt are just a few examples of fun styles that I’ve been able to try for pretty cheap. Boohoo is always having 40-60% off sales and the quality is pretty dang good for the cost.
J. Crew Factory and Nordstrom Rack are where I get most of my higher quality staples pieces like sweaters and dresses. I also love combing the shoe rack of The Rack to find name brand shoes at pretty crazy prices. I’ve found Hunter boots, my favorite Adidas sneakers, Marc Fisher wedges, and some very cute Sam Edelman mules.
Lastly, I shop Old Navy for basics like denim, basics tees, summer shorts, and casual dresses. My favorite ever denim jacket is from Old Navy and is pretty great quality. I also have two cool weather jackets from Old Navy that I love too.
Coat | Turtleneck Sweater (similar) | Pants | Sneakers (similar)
So, those are all my insider secrets to being fabulously stylish on a budget. When I first moved here, I immediately knew that I needed to step up my style game because the people here are so fashionable. It really pushed me to elevate how I expressed myself through clothing. These people even make gym wear look cool as heck. So, I’m 100% a believer that you can create whatever personal style you want with whatever budget you have.
keep on keepin’ on,
