How to Clothes Shop on a Budget

I am updating my post on how to clothes shop on a budget today. I thought with the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale starting this week and all the other summer sales popping up that this would be a good time to bring out this post.

I try to be as wise and thoughtful with my clothes spending as I can! After all, I want to get the biggest bang for my bucks! These tips and guidelines I’m sharing today are some I try to use when buying clothes for my own closet. So, let’s get started!

Before doing any major shopping for your wardrobe, it’s always a good idea to first evaluate current lifestyle needs and how you like to dress. One way to do this is by looking at some key areas and answering some basic questions. As we go along, I will also give you examples of how I answer these questions and use this guide.

How Much Can I Spend On Clothing?

We all should begin by setting a realistic budget of what’s affordable. A good budget can be set up in a variety of ways. Dollar amounts can be set aside for clothes shopping each month, each season, or twice a year. Use whatever time interval works for your specific needs. I usually set a little aside to shop for clothing each season.

What Is My Current Lifestyle?

What do you spend most of your time doing? Do you work in an office setting or at home? Do you have a more strenuous job that will put a lot of wear and tear on your clothing? If you spend the majority of your day working in an office, your dress code needs to be appropriate for your work environment. 

Dressing for what you do the majority of your time will play an important role in where most of your fashion budget will go. I work at home so my wardrobe is pretty casual. I’ve learned after years of being a stay at home mom that casual can be fashionable and look put together. I also like to keep some dressier outfits in my closet too for special occasions like a date night, a wedding, the holidays, or for travel.

What Is My Fashion Style?

Do you prefer to dress in classic pieces, or do you like to follow the latest fashion trends? Do you tend to be drawn to feminine pieces, boho pieces, or something more edgy? Do you prefer to dress up more even when hanging out at home or keep it as casual as possible anywhere you go? A whole other post could be dedicated to this topic! 

However, don’t get too stressed out if you are not sure or can’t exactly define what your fashion style is. The most important thing is to pick styles you enjoy and feel confident wearing. Besides, I think the majority of us are attracted to more than just one style. 

As for my fashion style, I like more feminine/romantic clothing in classic pieces for when I need to dress up more or that special occasion. However, working at home, I like to keep it casual and comfortable! So, my everyday life pretty much dictates most of my wardrobe choices. Remember that if you are in the same boat I am, a casual lifestyle doesn’t have to mean a boring wardrobe! I try to mix up my casual closet basics with pretty prints/patterns, favorite bright colors and throw in some favorite current trends.

What Is My Body Type?

This is an area that I think can get complicated to figure out, but I do think it is worth putting some thought into it so we can try to look our best. My friend Kay at Dressed For My Day has some of the best Posts I’ve read on determining your body type, so be sure to check them out sometime! At the very least, it’s good to know your own proportions and what you may want to emphasize or not emphasize.

For instance, I know I am pretty close to an hourglass shape. I am also very short-waisted, petite at only 5′ 2″ tall, and my legs are the longest part of my body. One of the things I prefer in my tops is a v-neck to elongate my body if I can find them in styles I like.

Knowing what styles suit our body type plays an important role in what we buy for our closets. After all, we all want good fitting, flattering clothing.

What Clothing Items Do I Value The Most?

Cole Haan Blush Sandals

Think about what is most valuable in terms of your wardrobe. This is where we really have to focus on what is most important to each of us. That will determine where we are willing to spend our money or save our money.  What items do you enjoy shopping for or wearing the most? When buying these items, ask yourself if it is more important to have superior quality, more quantity, or both? 

A good example for me as to where I am willing to pay a little more is shoes. I love shoes and would have a whole closet full of them if my budget allowed. When I was younger, I could get away with spending less on them and having more pairs. As I have gotten older, my feet are a lot more finicky. I value investing more for the comfort of my feet as well as my feet looking stylish. I would rather have five pairs of cute, comfortable shoes than seven pairs of cute shoes that are so uncomfortable I won’t wear them.

A way I save is on handbags. I don’t carry a purse with me unless absolutely necessary! I can just hear the gasps of all you ladies who love handbags. LOL I only buy one or two handbags to carry throughout the year and don’t spend much of my budget on them.

What Is Already In My Closet?

Finally, I try to go through my closet periodically. I clean out any clothes that are worn out, no longer fit, or that I just don’t wear. I will often make a clothes shopping list of what I need too. While I know this may not sound very fun, it is sometimes necessary if you’re on a tight budget. When I’m clothes shopping without a list, I may end up overspending on more than I can wear in a season or on what I don’t need.

I also try to shop with a certain color palette in mind. I choose colors that go well together to mix and match items. Now, this does not mean your wardrobe needs to be all the same color or only neutrals. Start by picking your favorite colors or ones that look best on you. Pick a mix of neutrals and brighter colors. Some of my colors include black, white, purple, green, and pink. When shopping, I try to find clothing with these colors in mind.  Whether buying a whole outfit or just a few new pieces, each item I buy will usually go with several other items already in my closet.

Now, I will go through some of the basic items we all have in our closets. I will give examples of items I might shop for or have bought in the shopping widgets. Plus, I will share how I try to stay within my budget for each category.

 Shirts

Shirts are where I like to express more of my personality, add color, and follow more of the trends. I usually shop for the best deals I can find when buying tops. I have more of them than any other item in my closet. Be careful though not to buy something only because it was a great deal though. If the item does not hold up or you don’t really like it, it will end up costing you more in the long run.

Jeans And Pants

I tend to spend a little more on jeans than I do on shirts. Now with my lifestyle, I must specify that my closet is full of jeans with a few pairs of pants. Obviously if you work in a formal office setting, your closet is probably opposite of mine. 

As I have gotten older, it is getting harder and harder to find jeans or pants that fit well. So, I will spend a little more to get a good fit. Paying a little more for jeans is worth it to me, even if the style changes next year, since I will wear them most everyday when it’s cool outside. I have had a lot of success with budget-friendly jeans like American Eagle and Articles Of Society. If your budget allows, I know many women prefer designer jeans.

Shorts

In the summer months, I wear shorts most days. I am still able to find ones that fit well at a reasonable price. Since I can generally spend less on shorts than jeans or pants, I will follow trends more when it comes to buying them. While I usually have a few neutral colored pairs that will go with everything, I also like to invest in fun colors and patterns.

Dresses And Skirts

I hardly wear dresses and skirts, especially during the winter in Indiana! It is not that I don’t like dresses. I just don’t have a lifestyle that requires I dress up very often. The only time I really wear dresses is when it is warm outside, so I have more casual day dresses in my closet than formal ones.

I will typically spend less on casual day dresses and go for something a little more trendy. If I am buying something more expensive or a formal dress, I will buy the best within my budget and get a classic piece that can be worn on multiple occasions or for several years. 

Shoes

As I stated earlier, I love shoes but have very finicky feet. For someone who loves shoes, this makes the process of getting something comfortable and cute within a reasonable budget much harder. I try to plan ahead by shopping sales and using coupons when possible. Booties are one of the things on my list when shopping the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale this week!

 Jewelry And Accessories

I like jewelry but don’t wear a lot of it being at home most days. I tend to buy quality classic pieces that I can wear for a lifetime. Since I have a smaller frame, I also feel like less is more for me when it comes to wearing jewelry. 

If you follow trends closely or love accessorizing, buying inexpensive pieces can be a great way to change up the look of an outfit. Of course, accessories like scarves and belts can add a whole new dimension to existing outfits too.

 Handbags

As I also stated above, I don’t invest as much in handbags. I tend to buy ones in colors that match the season and go with everything. Again, this is a personal preference as to what is most valuable to me. You may want to invest in a nice quality handbag that will last for years as often as your budget allows. If you follow trends closely, you may invest less money buying different styles more often.

Outer Ware

I tend to wear the same coat for years. I invest in good quality classic pieces that are warm and functional. I am more likely to follow trends when it comes to jackets, so I look for budget friendly options that I will also wear often in a given season.

 Some Shopping Mistakes To Avoid

Buying a piece of clothing that you don’t love or feel confident wearing.  Even if it is the latest trend or color of the season, don’t buy it! If you don’t love it or feel good in it, you won’t wear it.

Buying a piece of clothing that fits poorly or is uncomfortable. I have made this mistake one too many times! I’ve loved the item but could not find it in my size. Of course, I ended up not wearing it because of the poor fit.

Buying most of your wardrobe at full price. Most all retailers regularly have sales. With a little planning, you can buy most items for less than full price.  The only exceptions being when you need an outfit last-minute for a special occasion or want an investment piece that never goes on sale. Also, don’t buy something just because it is on sale, you have a coupon, or a sales person is pressuring you. If it’s outside your budget, you are likely to regret the purchase in some way.

Spending more money than you should on the latest trend. Unless you absolutely love the style and won’t feel like you look dated when no one else is wearing it anymore, save your money. I try not to over invest in the latest trends unless it is a classic look that I love. For example, stripes and polka dots seem to come and go in popularity from season to season. Yet, stripes and polka dots are also classic looks that can be worn at any time.

This pretty much sums up all the things I consider when shopping for clothes. Whenever you are online shopping, I would love for you to use my links. There are no additional costs for you to shop through them and it helps me keep this little blog going! Thanks so much for your support!