one for the ladies: frugal fashion without op-shopping?
What has fashion got to do with frugal? Nothing probably. It’s just that I’ve been feeling daggy lately, tired of wearing the only two tops (maternity tops at that) that fit me over and over and wanting a wardrobe makeover.
As a frugal writer, it’s here that I’m supposed to extol the many virtues of op-shop clothing. But I have a confession: I don’t like shopping for clothes in op-shops. Firstly, let’s be honest, they’re smelly. Secondly, I don’t like rummaging through a tangle of odds and ends looking for that one great buy. Thirdly, I really don’t like clothes shopping altogether so the quicker the better, which is why I shop like this:
I find a cheap, plain, cotton knit tee (long sleave in Winter, short in Summer), get the size that fits and buy several of the same top in varying colours. And wear these with jeans. Yearly clothes shopping done in less than 2 hours.
Which reveals my final confession: I’m a fashion failure.
One of the other common recommendations for saving money on fashion is to invest in the ‘classic’ wardrobe essentials and supplement these with a couple of latest trend items and accessories for a personal look.
Ok, but what are classic essentials? I did some research and came up with a list of wardrobe basics and it seems that I already have some of them: jeans and casual tees.
Wardrobe basics to build on include:
- Jeans
- Casual khaki pants
- Black tailored pants
- A-line Skirt
- White shirt cotton or linen
- Casual tees long sleeve, short sleeve and singlet top
- Black woollen cardigan and jumper
- Casual jumper or sweater
- evening dress
- jacket
- tailored suit for work interviews etc
I would probably add shorts because I live in QLD and tracky-daks because I’m a dag and live in these around the house. Many of these ‘classics’ can be bought quite cheap in discount stores without the need for spending up big in designer stores.
And while I was looking around the net, I came across Chic Fashionista, a website full of fashion advice for fashion failures like myself.
What are your fashion basics and how do you save on clothing and stay fashionable?
Have you read these posts?
- frugal footwear – another case of spending more equals saving more?
- shopping online for bargains in australia
- tip tuesday–making supermarket shopping fun
- A Novel Alternative To Plastic Shopping Bags As Bin Liners
- frugal skirt in the eleventh hour
SAVE MONEY AND TIME ON THE GROCERIES
THE FRUGAL AND THRIVING WAY
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[...] admitted it before: I fail my fellow females when it comes to fashion. An addendum: I’m also not a shoe girl. High [...]
I confess that I adore op-shops. I am an addict. It’s the only way I ever get designer clothes on my body! It started because I didn’t want to spend too much money on a wardrobe for my post-baby body…which was reducing in size every week. Now I don’t think I can go back to retail. My tips for op-shopping are:
Leave the baby at home
Wear comfortable clothes with slip on shoes (to try on clothes easily & quickly)
Go to well-to-do suburbs and print out a list of store locations before you go.
Only ever buy it if it fits you right now (rather then ‘this will fit perfectly when I lose 5 kilos’).
This season I have scored a gorgeous black coat, a tan suede jacket, two pairs of tailored work pants, Sportscraft & Country Road work shirts, a lovely pair of black wedge peep-toe heels, 3 pairs of jeans, a delicate black crochet beanie and grey scarf. Don’t even get me started on the baby bargains!
My basics that I buy from K-mart tend to be long grey, white a black singlets that I layer. I also wear to death a long knee length black cardigan from Kookai that cost more than I would normally spend ($100) but is pure wool and goes with everything.
I agree that classics colours and cuts are best…they just don’t date.
PS ….oh & I love that op-shoppy mothball smell of a bargain!
Also living in Qld I find little use for Winter fashions and so I tend to wear teeshirts and sandals all year round with a jacket or cardi over the top of them, so I don,t feel the need to go to an op shop as I can pick up some fabulous off season bargains ( like the tee I bought last week for $1.00 ) I dont own boots and I only have 1 pair of full shoes. But I am an ebay fanatic, well a girls got to have some vices.
Unfortunately being on the larger size, it took me a few years to come up with my own frugal shopping. I wear jeans all the time, daggy ones around home newer ones out. For tops (especially around home) I buy men’s clothing. Men’s shirts are usually cheaper than girls and are great for basics. Often buy rayon shirts to wear over a singlet top – looks cool and floaty in summer. I live in Adelaide so come winter I buy men’s flanelette shirts (there are some nice colours) worn with a t-shirt, or men’s windcheaters. All cheapies from K-mart. Mens wear is also a little bit longer so covers the hips and helps to keep you warm. I only buy ‘other’ more girly clothes on sale. Never pay full price for an article.
It seems that when it comes to fashion, women have their way of finding a bargain. My MIL can sniff a bargain out at 20 paces. I would shop with her to get some of that bargain luck to rub off but some of the stuff she pull off the shelf for me…mmm no.
For me I find the cheapest way to save money on clothes and feel like you’ve still got a great wardrobe is to …clothes swap.
Yep that’s right, I’m sure you’ve heard about it before, I myself have a huge wardrobe..some of my items of clothing still have tags on them. But lately I’ve been trying to save money… so now, instead of going out and buying new clothes, for a few months or few weeks at a time, I will trade items from my wardrobe with those from a friends.
It’s so much fun, we make a night out of it once a month, where the two of us get together and raid each others unwanted items.
I suggest you try it…who knows you might find some hidden treasures for yourself or even an outfit that would suit you better than it does them.
The main thing is… you get a great wardrobe…without having to burn a whole in your wallet.
Cash Queen
Thanks for the tip cash queen. I have to find friends my size…
i too live in qld
what i do as i am also a large size,i go to our local drapery where i buy good quality mens tees for $5 each,these are round necks,which i convert to v necks and add embellishments e.g. reverse applique,appliques
Hi Glenda, nice to hear from you. That’s a great idea! Thanks.
I googled Greg Mann!!! He is remarkable. I love his work. It’s so beautiful and inspiring.
I used to live on Brunswick street above a shop in the main hub. So many shops with beautiful stuff. I used to buy clothes at Hunter Gather sometimes. But prefered to Hunter Gather myself in Savers and small suburban op shops.