Boujee on a Budget
In a world filled with expensive fashion and constant evolving trends, it’s hard and frankly quite pricey to keep up with the latest fads. If you’re like me you can probably spend hours scrolling Instagram or Pinterest “ooo-ing” and “aww-ing” over eye-catching outfit inspirations.
It may be a fun to get this inspo but after looking at your bank account you may quickly become disheartened when you realize that some of these items are completely out of your budget. It seems like today the trendiest clothes are often on the more expensive side of things, however it’s important that we acknowledge that just because something is expensive, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s high quality. The key to building your wardrobe in an efficient and cost effective way is looking at quality vs quantity, focusing on your personal style, and digging for the right pieces. It’s really important that we consider the quality and the price. For example you may come across a pair of sunglasses that are 25$ and a pair that are 250$, both are made of the same material, but one has a brand name logo slapped on it. It’s really easy to fall into the trap that expensive means quality or style. Now, since not all of us can afford a shopping spree at Nordstrom or Holt Renfrew, I’ve luckily found a strategies that have helped me build a quality wardrobe without breaking the bank. All you need is an open mind, a little bit of inspiration, some creativity and of course my recommendations below!
This is my first and truthfully my FAVOURITE store. You will seriously save money just by walking into this store and leave with some true gems. Now even though wearing the biggest and hottest brands won’t make you necessarily stylish, it’s great to know where you can find these brands and at a fraction of the normal retail price. They seriously aren’t joking when they say ‘big brands for less’. This place is my saving grace - - the amazing deals and great finds I have managed to snag over the years are thrilling. Winners has everything from brand name makeup like Anastasia Beverly Hills, to Urban Decay, to clothing such as Adidas, Kate Spade and Zara. Going to Winners is something you need to prepare for because you’ll have to dig through the lines of clothing racks, but it’s worth it!
Okay so if you’re a sit-on-your-couch and shop kinda person then this next one is for you! I’m probably late to the game on this one because I discovered missguided this year and absolutely love it. This online store has some really great pieces that are super trendy and sooo affordable. There always seems to be a sale every time I’m on their website. Shipping fees are low and if you live in Canada duties/taxes are approximately around 20$, a fair cost compared to the price you’ll save on your items! You can find anything from shoes, an outfit for work or even a new bikini - - such a wide variety to choose from!
THRIFTING
You either love it or you hate it. Thifting can be exciting and fun when you snag an Aritiza sweater for 9$ or gently used adidas track pants, but other times it can be quite painful. Growing up I never stepped foot in a thrift store. It usually smelled like stale clothing and overwhelming to go through the items. It wasn’t until a friend showed up in the cutest levis mom jeans that she had thrifted from Value Village, when I gave the whole thrifting idea an second chance. Since then i’ve acquired so many staple pieces for dirt cheap. From Zara, to Wilfred, to levis and band tees, you name it. If you have the patience (and nose plugs) do it! You’ll be surprised what sort of gems you’ll walk away with.
Okay this next one is a combination of my last two recommendations. Two words: Online Thrifting. I know crazy concept! Thrifting is so much easier when it’s done from the comfort of you own home. Thredup is the world’s largest online secondhand shopping destination with thousands of like-new styles from your favourite brands at up to 90% off estimated retail. We’re talking Coach, Gucci, Lululemon - - you name it, it’s there! So many great pieces to view and SOOO affordable. Thredup also has a really cool feature that allows you to keep tabs on brands you love or want to try and receive notifications on new arrivals within those searches. It’s so exciting getting these sort of notifications, you always end up finding exactly what you’re looking for at an incomparable price!
With some time, patience and strategy, you can look just as incredible, and stay in your real-life budget. Everyone deserves to dress like a million bucks. It’s just a matter of knowing how to do it without spending thousands of dollars. To achieve your look, the usual guidelines apply, like defining your style and focusing on fit. To go from stylish, to expensive, there are some elements that will make or break your look. Hears to hoping these few tricks will help you shop & save, and leave you with a boujee wardrobe that wont break your budget.