Splurge vs Save: How to Build a Wardrobe on a Budget

We’ve all been there. Perusing the latest issue of Vogue, examining merchandise in your favorite store, and something catches your eye. It’s exquisite, perfect, and incredibly chic. I need it! Your brain exclaims. Hesitantly you peep at the price tag, and instantly regret it. The stunning garment is well beyond your price range. You start to rationalize. Maybe if I cut out Starbucks for the next 39 months…maybe I’ll start skipping lunches, I’ve been trying to lose weight anyway… Deep down you know that none of these excuses are valid options, but still you scheme some way to justify the purchase. Maybe you’ll charge it to a credit card. Maybe you’ll actually stick to your frugal plan, and forgo your morning latte. Maybe you’ll begrudgingly accept defeat, abandoning your covetous quest. Whatever your solution, it seems to work, until the next time you glance over the glossy pages of a fashion magazine, or scan a clothing rack. Something catches your eye and the whole cycle begins again.

Given the frequently overwhelming expense of of upscale apparel it’s logical to assume that money is mandatory for an abundant wardrobe. However, just because you are on a budget, you do not have to sacrifice style. Anyone can look chic, on any budget; it just becomes a matter of utilizing your resources to their fullest extent.

Prioritization is an essential part of building an economical wardrobe. You need to evaluate clothing’s overall value, and determine if it’s worth the cost. Consider how many times you will wear an article of clothing. Each time you don it, it accumulates value. Divide the number of times you expect to wear a garment, by its total cost. Timeless styles that will stay in fashion indefinitely, such as classic jewelry, little black dresses, and jeans, tend to have a very low cost per wear, while the opposite is true for trends. For example, if you spend $500 on a trendy romper, and wear it twice, then retire it to the back of your closet once it falls out of fashion, your cost per wear is $250.  ($500/2 times worn= $250) But if you spend $200 on a divine pair of jeans, and wear them once a week for the two years, your cost per wear is a mere $1.92 ($200/(52.18 weeks in a year * 2 years)=$1.92). Try to limit cost per wear to about a $1, for your everyday wardrobe. Staples tend to be the best items to splurge on. Since they’re classic, you can expect to keep wearing them until their eventual deterioration. Therefore, it’s a good idea to invest in a high quality garment, that you’ll be able to wear for years, while the opposite is true for statement pieces. After all what does the longevity matter if you only wear the item once? 

Still, evaluating a garment’s worth is not necessarily effective means by which to justify or dismiss a purchase. Sometimes attire can have an extremely low cost per wear but a price tag that still greatly exceeds your means. Similarly, not all luxury items need to be costly. Quality items can be attained affordably with a little ingenuity.

Balensi, Alice and Olivia,

Zara, Urban Outfitters,

Thrift Stores-

Thrift stores are the promised-land for frugal fashionistas, and can provide easy access to some ridiculously good deals. I am a huge advocate of thrift shopping, and have made some incredible secondhand purchases, including, a Rebecca Minkoff purse, Ray Ban sunglasses, a Marc Jacobs sweater, and a Fossil wallet, as well as the dress worn in this shoot, all of which were genuine, in wonderful condition, and below 15$. Location and timing play the two biggest roles in success while thrifting. Try shopping in a variety of neighborhoods, particularly in low-income areas, where designer goods are frequently overlooked, to find locations with the best selection of items for your taste. Be sure to check stores frequently, as new merchandise is introduced everyday. Even if you can’t find any designer pieces, you are still likely to discover some very fashionable, and affordable merchandise. Some thrift stores even offer discounts to shoppers that donate their own used items to the establishment. Find the perfect dress a few sizes too big? Tailors are also incredibly helpful when buying used clothing. They can offer you near custom pieces that are still cheaper alternatives to buying new.

Online -

 The Internet can also provide affordable access to gorgeous, luxury styles. Numerous websites sell secondhand designer apparel, such as The Real Real, Vaunte, and Liketwice.com. These groups accept only premier brands in good condition, and validate each object to ensure authenticity. These websites are a great way to add high quality staples to your wardrobe at an unbelievably low cost, as you can be assured of clothing’s longevity, while still enjoying hefty discounts.

Don’t underestimate the usefulness of Ebay. It is another wonderful tool in developing an amazing but affordable wardrobe. Be aware that Ebay can’t validate its merchandise’s genuineness, like the websites above, so make sure to double check that items are authentic prior to purchase. (There are lots of amazing websites that outline the details in recognizing and avoiding counterfeit items, so it’s easy to determine if an object is real, prior to hitting the bid button.)

Before clicking “Buy” always check sites that can help make your deal even better. Retailmenot.com is an extremely helpful website for discovering sales and free promo codes, when shopping online. Styleshop is also a valuable tool for shopping on the Internet. It allows users to compare an item’s cost in various stores, and will point you towards the cheapest option. It can also be used to keep track of upcoming sales and discounts and will alert you if the price drops, that way you don’t miss or forget about a sale. Websites like Ideeli, Gilt, Ruelala, and Hautelook are also hughely beneficial for online shoppers. These sites offer high-end apparel for prices that are drastically lower than retail costs.

Discount Retailers-

If you prefer to shop in person, there are also a plethora of cost cutting options available. Nordstrom Rack, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Ross are some of my favorite discount stores. They often have amazing deals on stunning clothing. As with thrift stores, timing and location are important aspects of finding the best possible deal. However, these vendors update their merchandise less frequently than thrift shops, generally only once a week. Check with each retailer to see when they get their shipments, that way you have first choice of merchandise.

Fast Fashion-

Since trendy garments are likely to receive limited wear, it’s helpful to prioritize value over quality. Pieces don’t need to last if they are only worn a few times. Fast Fashion stores like Zara, H & M, and Forever 21 are your best options for buying trends, as they deliver the latest styles at remarkably low prices. While their quality may not always be outstanding, what does it matter if something holds up in the back of your closet?

Throughout history being fashionable has been a sign of wealth. Affluent members of society could afford to change their wardrobes on regularly as styles evolved, and trends changed, while less privileged individuals had to keep wearing the same ensembles indefinitely, until the garbs eventually deteriorated. Fortunately, today, people are offered more options. Beautiful clothing is no longer exclusive to the elite.  Through the use of modern amenities, adequate prioritization, and a little resourcefulness anyone, and everyone, rich or poor, can look chic.

Finances can be a daunting issue. While I hope these guidelines provided more insight on being frugal and fashionable, I have only been able to scratch the surface of money management, fortunately there are a number of resources available online to guide your way. Check out https://www.creditcardinsider.com/learn/debt-management/ for more information on living simply, yet stylishly. 

Postcards From Washington

Known for its bleak weather, thriving music scene, and coffee shops, Washington is anything but dreary.

A few weeks ago, I traveled to Washington, to visit one of my best friends from high school. I had never traveled to the Pacific Northwest before, but I was absolutely thrilled to go. From the band, Death Cab for Cutie, to Starbucks and Nordstrom, Washington has been home to a number of my favorite things. I was ecstatic to see the state that had contributed to so many of the things I love, not to mention getting to see my friend, whom I hadn’t seen in over a year. I was not disappointed, and became completely enamored with the state's natural beauty, art, weather, bustling cities, and the people I met there. 

Exploring Capital Hill

Railing behind Pike Place Market. The ocean's proximity to the market was surprising to me. I grew up in Denver, so I’m used to being landlocked in cities. Even after living in New York for a summer, I still can’t get used to the idea of having water so close to a metropolis.

Adventuring in Fremont

Graffitti under Pike Place

The Seattle Great Wheel, behind Pike Place. We didn't have time to go on it, but it looked like a lot of fun.

Based on Seattle's unofficial status as the coffee capital of the US, we couldn't resist hitting up as many coffee shops as we could.

Soaking up the natural beauty as we hiked at Whatcom Falls.

Chuckanut Drive had the cutest signs. Hundreds of trees were adorned with carvings that professed couple's undying love for one another.

Hopped out of the car, on Chuckanut Drive, to watch the sunset over Samish Bay.

Button-Ups: Uniform of the Modern Woman

Look in your closet. Whether you’re 19 or 99, a homemaker or a CEO, chances are you’ll find a white button-up blouse. Dress shirts have become a closet staple for any modern woman, largely due to their simplicity. These shirts are classic, polished and appropriate for virtually any occasion, from a crucial business meeting, to a casual day at home. Their extreme versatility explains the vast popularity of these classic pieces and their tendency for long lasting chicness. However, the simple button-up has a secret history, filled with conflict and controversy. This mild mannered wardrobe essential played a vital role in liberating women from the restricting undergarments that they had been confined to for centuries, and has played an integral role, in women’s quest for equality.

The button-up blouse emerged as women’s attire during the 1900’s. Although blouses would occasionally drift into fashion for chic women, the garment was most heavily donned by men, and by poor women, who sought cheap, functional attire. Wealthy, fashionable ladies tended to prefer more restricting, corseted dresses, as they had no need to entertain notions of “functionality.” However at the turn of the century, bicycling became a popular past time for both genders. Women’s fashions were ill equipped for such a strenuous activity. In order to accommodate women on bicycles, athletic companies introduced a style known as the lingerie blouse, a top exceedingly similar to the today’s button-ups. These blouses were heavily embellished and lacked the simplicity of their modern day equivalents. Still they managed to bridge the gap between classes, and became immensely popular, both on bicycles and off. While corsets were still worn with these shirts, blouses came to represent start of the end of their repressive reign. As time continued, more women abandoned their corsets, as to move around more easily. The blouses of the time allowed them to do so, as their style accommodated the more relaxed silhouette. In order to boost sales, corset companies introduced a style known as the tango corset, a longer style that was easier for women to move around in. This corset came with a detachable brazier. Eventually, the tango corset, too, was abandoned, leaving only the bras that we wear today.

The lingerie blouse gave way to the Gibson girl blouse, a simpler top, adorned with many tucks and pleats. Other styles of blouses drifted in and out of fashion in the decades that followed. The 1920’s fashion frequently featured loose unfitted tops, decorated with beading and other embellishments. Over time, women’s blouses came to resemble the modern day button-up more closely, however there was still a great deal of deviation between men and women’s dress shirts. Women’s tops, were generally far more embellished, than men’s, featuring lace, pleats, and other adornments. Women’s blouses were also buttoned from the left side while men’s were buttoned from the right, a custom that still persists today. However, during the Second World War, the two shirts became far more similar. As men fought abroad, there were fewer people working to produce the supplies that were essential for battle. In order to compensate, many women adopted men’s work in factories. With these jobs, women also adopted men’s garments, particularly, their simple collared shirts. While there were a few alterations, the shirts were simpler, less decorated and easier to wear than ever before. Yes, the button-up shirt had emerged, offering the classic, understated appeal that we still enjoy today.

Even after the end of WWII, and their return to the household, women continued to don the tops. While occasionally altered, the iconic button-up evolved very little in the following decades, while their popularity only increased. The garment became more engrained in the public consciousness, as women began to abandon domesticity and join the work force. Much like the workingwomen of the early 20th century, women enjoyed the functionality of the collared blouse, while on the job. In 1966, the garment was cemented as a modern classic, when Yves St. Laurent introduced Le Smoking, the first exclusively feminine suit. Button-up blouses have been considered a closet essential ever since.

White button-ups are a staple in any woman’s wardrobe. The style looks natural, polished and appropriate on anyone, from Michelle Duggard to Jenna Lyons, and can be styled in virtually hundreds of ways. While the top itself, can be boring and hackneyed at times, its history is anything but. From the shirt’s humble origins, as working wear, to its function in gender equality, the button-up blouse has greatly evolved, yet its impact on the world has been even greater.