How To Dress Well Without Breaking The Bank

The beginning of my minimalist journey coincides perfectly with the beginning of my college. Clothes must be purchased! Money must be spent! I am already failing at this minimizing thing. As a sort of rule, I have decided that for every item that comes in, one item goes out. This has worked to my advantage so far, and I’ve already rid myself of some clothes that even the homeless would refuse to wear. I think I’ve figured out a way to do a wardrobe makeover on a budget. The general idea is to become a fashionista without becoming insolvent.

Presenting….

MINIMALIST FASHION HACKS

The goal is not to build a wardrobe that is as small as possible, but as functional as possible (at a reasonable cost).

RULE #1: You don’t need better clothes, you need better outfits.

When you try to get the fanciest clothes, you end up exceeding your budget. The trick here is to buy good quality plain tops and dress it up. This also gives you control over how decked up you want to be. Have a party? Wear a leather jacket over it. Grocery shopping? Pair it with some cotton shorts.

– Buy some bling: They’re basically long chains that you can wear over plain tops to add (you guessed it) bling.

– Shrugs are your best friend: They add color, character, and make dull tops classier.

– Wrapping a scarf around your neck instantly adds jazz to the outfit.

RULE #2: Reuse and Recycle clothes.

If your jeans are getting a little too snug around your calves, just cut them into shorts. You can either stitch it up or leave the edges to fray (giving it a rugged look).

RULE #3: Wear the right colors.

– Most of us already have a few favorite colors that we wear most often anyway – usually because we like the way we look in them. Understand which colors suit your skin tone and purchase more from that color pallet.

– This also simplifies your accessories (belts, jewelry, handbags, etc.). You can get more creative with your pairings because everything goes with everything.

Note: If you love multi-color designs and funky prints – go for it. Fashion is about self-expression and what makes you happy. Build a wardrobe around your personal style, and get rid of the clothes that you only half-like.

RULE #4: Focus on quality over quantity.

Minimalism is about having the best of few things, not mediocre quality of everything. Only buy clothes that you truly like and which will last for a longer time. At the end of the day…Fashion is what you wear. Style is what you do with it.