Want to be super stylish, but your bank balance is screaming no! Is your wardrobe full of clothes that you just don’t wear?
Then this article is just for you!
Being frugal when it comes to female fashion is almost an oxymoron – but, not quite! There are ways in which you can get the wardrobe of your dreams without breaking the bank.
I don’t profess to be a style guru or fashionista, I don’t have an endless supply of cashola and I definitely am a work in progress when it comes to putting myself together.
But I do know one thing, I like looking nice and feeling good – don’t we all?
Whatever your drive for frugal female fashion is, it doesn’t matter. Adopting a new mindset about how we buy clothes can help in so many ways:
- Save you tonnes of money!
- Help the environment and reduce your carbon footprint.
- Reduce exploitative work conditions.
- Ensure your wardrobe is not packed with impulse buys.
Think Outside The Box/Shopping Bag
According to Credit Donkey, women have an average of $2,000 (£1,500) of clothing sitting in their wardrobe. Worse still, 9% of women have more than $10,000 (£7,000) sitting in their closet! Crazy right!
We often buy clothes for the person that we would love to be, or hold onto things because they remind us of happy times or my personal favourite, for when we have lost those unwanted kilos that never seem to shift.
The result? Unused items in your closet and wasted money.
The answer? Be consumer savvy. Buy cleverly.
How?
Here are some top ideas to save you money and make frugal female fashion – fashionable!
Buy Through a Money-Back Website
By buying through these sites, members can earn cashback on their online and in-store purchases. You simply create an account, click on the store you want to buy something from, shop as usual and you will receive a percentage back – in cash (not points).
Oftentimes, such sites add extra money for activities such as recommending a friend or doubling up points on special promotion days.
And before you know it, you have a nice stash of cash to spoil yourself on something new. The more you spend, the more you earn.
My fave is a fantastic site called Top Cashback. They have portals both in the UK and US and are super easy and free to join. They have most of the top fashion stores available (but they are not limited to just fashion). It’s a great way of getting something back from things you were ordinarily buying anyway so, why not be rewarded?
CLICK HERE TO JOIN TOP CASHBACK – FREE!
Find an Outlet Store
Who cares if it’s last year’s season! Not me! Of course you don’t always get a range of sizes and the selection is limited, but there is something about finding that one thing, that is beautiful, that fits and is 70% off. I would be so bold as to say that this feeling is almost addictive!
You need to take your time in these stores but you can find some real gems.
My advice with outlet shopping is give yourself time and go with the flow. When you find something that you love, and it is your size and you get that real “that is so meant to mine” kind of vibe – enjoy it!
On the other hand, when something doesn’t work out, surrender to the fact that it’s not meant and move on.
Buy at the End of the Season
Your wallet will thank you for buying at the end of the current season for the following year.
The key to getting this right is choosing your favourite stores and staying connected for when they have their end of season sale. One great way to do this is by joining their mailing list. This will enable you to keep up to date with sale dates as well as special offers and promotions.
Also, you’ll need to have the money available when the time is right so perhaps make sure that you have a little put to one side towards the end of the season to allow you take advantage and strike while the iron is hot.
Hit the Charity Shops
If you live in London or New York, charity shops are just a way of life with some of them stocking designer garments at a crazy discount price. Like the one in Hampstead Health or the specialised boutique thrift shops in downtown New York.
Charity shops are a way to give used goods a second life. They prevent tonnes of clothes ending up in landfill which is brilliant not only for the environment, but also saves local councils money too.
Don’t be shy about this. There is nothing to be ashamed about in recycled second hand clothes. Second hand clothing is great for the environment and super brilliant on your purse strings.
Not only are you helping yourself and your pocket, but you are contributing to the designated charity bringing a smile to those in need.
Online Selling Stores
Women are fickle creatures when it comes to fashion. Many items in these online stores still have the price tags on them which is a real treat. Once you know the brands you love, and your size is in this brand you can find some amazing bargains.
And there is something quite fun about the bidding war you can find yourself in on eBay! Afterall, everyone loves a bargain right?!
And there is not just eBay anymore. Online used clothes stores are plentiful with names such as Poshmark, Etsy, Tradesy, Depop and ASOS Marketplace offering great ways to pick up cool items that worked well once upon a time for someone else but need a new home. The opposite is also true, you can also register and sell your own unwanted items and put the cash you earn towards something more suitable for you.
Use Your Points, Coupons, Vouchers
There are many shops that offer reward schemes. Or groups of shops. Join them.
Save them up and use them for larger priced items that you know are very likely to not go on sale or that you would feel guilty about buying normally. Some stores also give extra treats for the month of your birthday so it is a great time to invest in new fashion items with a good amount of money off.
Do Not Open a Store Card
Opening a store account card may seem like a good idea at the time as they often give you a tempting discount on your initial purchase. And, the best bit is that you don’t even part with any of your money at the time and you walk out with a big bag of nice new clothes.
But, READ THE SMALL PRINT. The APR (the total amount that you will pay back) is incredibly high, which is one of the main disadvantages of a store card. Oftentimes, once these credit card companies have your details, it can be difficult to cancel them.
Chances are you will end up paying double or even triple for an item of clothing, which totally defeats the purpose. You are better to save up and wait. Do yourself a favour frugal fashionista – step away from the store card!
Swap Items
Granted this was pre COVID but I have attended several bring and take events. One kind (AKA brave) person opens their home and invites attendees to bring unworn, unflattering and unwanted items from their closet that no longer serve them well.
Whatever doesn’t get ‘swapped’ is taken to the clothing recycling bins.
This is a great way to scale-back your wardrobe, meet other like minded women and enjoy some new treats to pimp up your closet.
Car Boot/Garage Sale
Get out all the things you haven’t worn for a year, wash them, press them, get a rack and sell them! Be realistic with prices but this is a great way to get rid of those unwanted items and whatever cash you earn, put it towards something super special that you know you are going to reach for.
Get Wise About What You Wear
Be discerning in your fashion picks. Don’t just buy something cos it looks good on the hanger – ask yourself – will you reach for it in the morning? Can you see yourself wearing it often? Will it match other items in your wardrobe? Better still, ever tried anything on in the store and wanted to keep it on? Yup, me too. This item is likely to serve you well.
As our body changes, and we redefine ourselves midlife, chances are what once did a sterling job for us in terms of style no longer has a place in the story of our life.
My tip: Keep it real and get good at letting go.
Frugal Female Fashion: The Start of Something New
The way we shop has changed over the years and continues to do so. The environmental impact of the fashion industry, online shopping, financial restraints and a shift towards recycling has meant that we need to open our minds to a new way of buying fashion.
Being open-minded doesn’t demand a major investment of your time but rather, a fresh new way of thinking.
We hope that this guide goes some way in helping you start to think differently about being more frugal, savvy and discerning when shopping for clothes.
