When reflecting on the months of September and October, for most people, the first things that come to mind are football, changing leaves, and pumpkin spice lattes. But, for the average fashion-forward woman, these first two months of Fall mean one thing, Fashion Week. During September and October we spend hours looking at runways, behind the scenes photos, and envying the street style of today’s iconic models such as Gigi and Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, and new-to-the-scene, Kaia Gerber.  However, for us college students living on ramen and five cups of coffee a day, the question in our minds is, “How can I get this look if I’m not an A-List model who can afford to pay $1,380 for a t-shirt?” Well ladies, just because you don’t see yourself shopping at designer stores like Gucci and Prada ANY time in the future, doesn’t mean you or your wardrobe has to suffer. Here are a few tips to up your street style without draining your bank account!
Take Your Time
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The first thing to remember if you’re looking to change your wardrobe or keep up with the latest fashion trends is to make sure that you know what you are looking for, and what you’re willing to spend your money on.  If you are one of those shoppers who buys a bunch of cheap stuff just because it’s a good price rather than because you actually think you’ll end up wearing it, this tip will help.  To avoid throwing away an endless amount of t-shirts and sweaters you never wear but bought because they were on sale, resist the urge to buy the cheap stuff, and save it for that one sweater at Saks or Bloomingdale’s that you’ve been eyeing online for weeks.  This way you’ll appreciate your purchase, and not just hang it up in your closet to never see again.  Now, some people would rather buy five ten-dollar shirts than spend that money on one, and a lot of times doing so does not affect the quality of the clothing that much at all, and that is completely okay too, as long as it is the style you want. If you leave a store feeling like your money was well spent, not just money you spent because it seemed like a good deal, then the trip can be labeled a success.  Fashion is all about value in the eye of the beholder, be confident in your clothes, just make sure you double check to see if you’re getting the most out of your money before you swipe the card.
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Resist “Love-at-First-Sight” Urges
This tip coincides with the one above about taking your time. While it may seem easy to simply buy the first thing you see and like, it usually leads to a pang of regret in your chest when you stumble upon something even better at the next store over.  Before making any impulse purchases, know the stores and options around you to make it easier to decide if you’re making the right purchase.  When I can’t decide on whether to buy something or not, I ask the employee at the register to hold the item for me, walk around the area and look in other places, maybe wait a few days, and if I still want it, I go back and buy it.  That way I know I won’t regret my purchase in the future.
When it comes to shoes, opt for Faux Suede, NOT Pleather
With the colder weather approaching sooner rather than later, our desire for the perfect pair of booties or D’orsay stilettos to wear with an adorable pair of sheer tights is slowly intensifying.  Finding a pair that fits into your budget and looks high end is a bit of a difficult task, but definitely not unachievable.  If you aren’t willing to pay the daunting price of genuine leather or suede, but don’t want it to be obvious your shoes are “pleather” to the untrained eye, go for a faux suede bootie or stiletto. Unlike pleather, which can tend to look too shiny or cheap, it’s hard to tell the difference between suede and its more budget-friendly sibling, faux suede.
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When it comes to bags, simplicity is key.
Yes, beads, pearls, shiny embellishments, and designs are cute and eye-catching, but when you’re looking to save money while keeping up with the latest bag trends, simplicity is a girl’s best friend.  It’s difficult for a company to make quality embellishments on a bag without the price skyrocketing, so they tend to lower the quality in order to keep the price at a more reasonable level.  In order to get the most out of your bag and the most out of your money, buying a simple, understated black crossbody that will never go out of style is the way to look chic and put together without completely draining your credit card balance.
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Accessorize, Accessorize, Accessorize!
One way to save money is to save it when purchasing clothes.  Instead of spending a lot on numerous items, buy a few basic items that can be put together in different ways to make various outfits for certain moods and events.  By saving on the actual clothing, you can use the leftover money you would have spent to buy cute accessories to pull your outfit together.  A cute choker, a few rings, a scarf, and a hat can really make an outfit go from drab to fab! And the plus side is that it’s super easy to find cute accessories for reasonably inexpensive prices anywhere.
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Look at “off-price” sites and stores
Shopping at stores like Saks Off Fifth, NordstromRack, RueLaLA, and any other “outlet” stores and websites can be a great way to save money and purchase the high-quality name brand clothing you never thought you could afford. These stores put up clothing, accessories, beauty products, and shoes from hundreds of brands and stores, and sell them at discount prices.  While most of the clothing is from past seasons, it is still easy to find pieces that tailor to your personal style while giving you the satisfaction of knowing you got a great deal on it! With the internet it’s much easier to sift through the brands and find what you like for the best price! On RueLaLa for example, sales are announced daily for various high-end brands such as Prada, Fendi, Chanel, and Tom Ford. Â
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Shop Secondhand
If you enjoy collecting vintage designer items that will never go out of fashion, or you just don’t want to spend the extra money it costs to buy something brand spanking new, shopping at local thrift stores, consignment stores, or online secondhand shops such as Poshmark, Gilt, and The RealReal may be your go-to way to get the most out of your money when trying to up your fashion game.  The perks of these stores is that you can find great vintage items for much less than market price with only the slightest bit of wear and tear! Shopping secondhand helps you save money while giving your clothes and accessories a bit of character(;
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Sell
If you find that you have certain outfits you NEVER wear, instead of letting them collect dust in your closet, sell them for some extra money! After a while it adds up and also helps you keep your closet organized and less cluttered.
Know What YOU Want
The most important tip of all to remember when trying to maintain your fashion cred when you’re on a tight budget, is to know what you want and what kind of look you’re hoping to achieve.  No matter where you shop, whether it be at a thrift store or a top designer, if you use these tips and listen to your preferences, you will succeed in being fashionable and trendy no matter how much money you spend.  At the end of the day, fashion is about risks, testing boundaries, and owning your own personal style, not the name of the brand on the tag of your shirt.
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Sources:
http://www.whowhatwear.com/budget-cheap-style-tips-fashion-winter-2014/slide2
https://www.moneycrashers.com/fashion-on-budget/
https://fashionistabudget.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/woman-shopping-clothes.jpg?w=768
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/7b/0b/d2/7b0bd2a4e1eef543477a5c6c903d14f3–womens-street-style-mini-bag.jpg
http://data.whicdn.com/images/25289950/tumblr_m0dr5w0T8V1r3gqyxo1_500_large.jpg
https://68.media.tumblr.com/646f28d955cb963c4bf43a58297acafc/tumblr_nfq7k9fvcv1qgf1i8o1_500.gif
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