
‘It doesn’t matter what pieces or colours you have in your closet, it’s how you put it together. Be daring! Come out of your comfort zone. Mixing and matching has always been an alternative when dressing on a budget.’- Jermell Williams
Shop Discount Stores
If you’re all about brands and flashy labels, it can be very tempting to overspend in a pricey department store. If you’re dying for the real deal, try a discount store. These stores purchase end-of-season extras from other stores, which means you get deep discounts if you’re not picky about the season.
I always buy my sunglasses from Ross or TJ Maxx. I have the worst luck with breaking shades, so why would I pay $150 at the department store when I can get the same style and designer for $20 elsewhere?
Invest in a Tailor
Honestly, it’s never the brand of pants that matters – it’s the fit. That’s how your favourite stars always look perfect in their clothes. They’re tailored to fit their bodies perfectly. Then, when you dash out to buy the same trend, it falls flat on your body.
Instead of buying pricey denim and dresses, you can buy cheaper threads and then head to the tailor. Getting a pair of pants tailored costs about $15, but it can really make you look like a million bucks. Find a tailor in your area and make nice. You’ll have a way to make sure that even the cheapest clothes look amazing on your body. No one will even notice that you’ve spent less.
Your bank account balance shouldn’t ever make you feel bad about yourself. The truth is that some people have the money to spend on pricey designer goods, but most of us need to work with what we have. By scoring amazing retail deals and using a good foundation from your own closet, you don’t have to sacrifice high fashion because of a low budget. Get creative and you’ll be surprised at what you can pull off.
Dress for success on a budget
Buying high-end, expensive clothing is not in everyone’s budget, and it doesn’t have to be in yours to have a professional look. Just follow these simple rules to make a clean, crisp statement:
Spring clean your wardrobe. If you have clothes old enough to learn multiplication, you should probably stop wearing them to work.
Damaged clothes aren’t helping your case. If there are any holes, rips, or frays in your clothing, either put them under house arrest or introduce them to a tailor.
Don’t wear anything wrinkled. Embrace the art of ironing or pay to have wrinkled clothes dry-cleaned.
If wrinkled is in style, I still recommend keeping that a weekend look. Put your best foot forward.
If you take good care of your shoes, they can last a long time. Make sure your shoes don’t look like they lost a fight.
Save for new clothing. Make a conscious effort to limit your coffee/pop intake by one drink every day and set that money aside. At the end of the month, you’ll have enough to slightly expand your wardrobe—maybe a new shirt or a new purse whose strap isn’t about to break off.
If you’re on a budget, stick with classic simple styles when buying new clothes. Don’t buy the latest fad since it could be out of fashion the following year.
Men use collar-stays. Plastic or stainless steel just make sure you use something. The appearance of your shirts will greatly benefit from them.
If your three-year-old loves it, it may not be suitable.
At work, I saw a woman wearing a bright blue sweater with an enormous whale stitched on the front of it. Fish were swimming below it, the whale was smiling, and water was spewing from his spout. She said her son loved it. Your children won’t be the ones who evaluate your professionalism at work, so don’t dress for them.
Use common sense. If you question for even a moment if your outfit is suitable for the workplace, don’t wear it. If you question it, someone else will think it. Judgment is just a fact of life. You can’t avoid it, but you can shift the odds to be more in your favour.
“Comfort may aid productivity but, in this era of ‘Me, Inc.’ and ‘the Brand Called You,’ are flip-flops, sweats, jeans and flashy or revealing clothing part of how you want to be judged?” “You might think you are expressing your individuality, but you could also be sending the message that you’re not a serious professional.
by Jermell Williams
‘Don’t let your wardrobe hold you back from the job you want. Dress for success, stand tall and see what happens.’