Tom Ford made a great point when he said that “dressing well is a form of good manners” – by this meaning that a person’s clothes are a reflection of both respect towards others and of self-respect. There’s a lot you can tell about what someone makes of themselves and of others by the way they dress.
In another interview, however, it was also Ford who explained that great style does not have to do a lot with money, that one can look cheap in expensive clothes and that you can also look fantastic if you’re on a budget. Surely, having close to no money makes the task more difficult, but generally speaking, you can look great even if you don’t have lots of clothes in your closet.
Here are some tips to follow to achieve great style on a dime.
Review what you have
The first step to look good on a budget is to review what you have. It’s quite likely you will find a few surprises in your wardrobe or an item you forgot about from last season. This may sound odd, but a lot of people discover cool things in the depths of their closets. Organizing your closet is the most important part of preparing several outfits without even paying a dime, because you already have the stuff.
Keep an open mind
It’s also important to keep an open mind while reviewing your options. Maybe you have that shirt from a previous impulse buy and you have no idea why you bought it. Sometimes, it may be the case that you don’t really have what to do with an item. In these cases, you can maybe repurpose it by having it reconstructed by a tailor (think of the upcycling trend) or maybe you can rethink the way you put outfits together. There are many interesting combinations you can go for: think of the mixing high and low idea or of incorporating workwear into your looks. Workwear can be fashionable too, especially if you style it up with dressier pieces and quality accessories. For example, think of a pair of workshop pants: put together with a cool dress shirt and suspenders, they turn into a holiday piece.
Also, given the athleisure/athluxury trends going on, mixing sportier pieces with dressier ones may also work.
Go for the basics/classics
Another great tip is that, when you go shopping, opt for classic and basic pieces, which you will then style up with smaller ones or with accessories (for example a classic pants-shirt outfit can be styled up with a great tie, a watch and a belt or with colorful socks). The idea is that you can never go wrong with a classic. When shopping, always opt for the basic items first, those you can match with anything and won’t force you to put on something specific. You need to have a list of essentials in your wardrobe, things you can always fall back to.
Be careful with online shopping
If you want to make the very best of the clothes you buy, it’s important to make wise decisions. Know what you can spend. If it helps any, try downloading a simple monthly budget template to see how much you can safely allocate towards new clothes. Online shopping is always fraught with risks, especially since you never know how the piece will eventually look on you. If you do get a piece that doesn’t fit, returns can be a hassle and you’ll already have wasted time and money. This is why you should opt for shopping from stores as you can try out the item and see the fit, plus you get a good feel of the material.
As a tip, you can try on something in a store and then, if you find it at a better price online, order it from there.
Look for outlet stores
Outlet stores and malls are always a good idea. You’ll find excellent pieces of clothing for less than half of what you’d usually pay. Thrift stores can also be great, but in this case, you really need to make a harsh selection of second hand stores, as many “vintage” stores are just not worth it. Second hand is not always the same as good vintage.
It’s the fit that counts
Some people make the mistake of assuming that just because a piece of clothing isn’t expensive, it’s automatically bad. In the end, it all comes down to how the piece of clothing looks on you, really. You can buy an expensive shirt that looks awful on you. On the other hand, at an outlet mall you can get something for third the price that is a perfect fit and looks much better than the expensive one. Always pay more attention to the fit and overall appearance first.
As a sidenote, the material from which something is made is also crucial. This not only helps with the fit, but also makes you feel comfortable in your clothes.
In conclusion, it can be said that looking good is not hard if you think clearly about your outfits: make sure you have some basic items that look great and that you can style these up with some accessories that showcase your personality. Ties, bow ties, pocket squares, scarves, hats and watches all have the power to make or break an outfit.
Investing not just money, but also energy in yourself is definitely worth it, as looking good will also make you feel good, which will give you a better attitude and put you in a better mood. And that’s what fashion is all about.
Fraquoh and Franchomme
Further reading:
The 5 categories of clothes you should have in your wardrobe
A guide to creating a lasting and money-saving wardrobe
How to make order in your wardrobe
How to create a versatile wardrobe
12 items a man should have in a basic wardrobe
P.S. We want to hear from you! What are you looking for in clothes when you have a limited budget? What’s your relation to online shopping? Do you buy from thrift stores? Share your feedback, questions or thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on style, fashion tips and cultural insights, you can subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!