Guest Post-FAshionably Frugal

Today, since I’m on the road, my sister Vick is helping me out with the first of a 2 part guest post.

I love being thrifty. I love looking fabulous. And I think I can have it all! Here are my personal, time-tested tips for looking great on a shoestring.

Know Thyself

The first hint to a great, frugal closet is to know what you look good in. What colors look best on you? What are the cuts that maximize what you have and minimize what you don’t?

Also think of the outfits you were wearing the last time you received a compliment. What about those clothes made you look great? Search out these styles and colors when you’re sifting through the shops. You want outfits that you feel comfortable in and that flatter your body. We all are shaped differently—why try to shoehorn yourself into a pair of super-skinny jeans when you’d look fabulous in a pair of flat-front khakis with a sparkly top?

Now let’s get to work on building our wardrobe.

Don’t Hate France

The women in Paris always look fabulous. If you’ve never been to France, just trust me on this one. But Paris is also notoriously expensive. So what gives?

Parisian women have mastered the basics. The trick is to pay a little more (I know, on a frugal website!) and get a few basics that will last you for years and that always look crisp and good.

To choose your basics keep these things in mind: buy things that never go out of style; spend more on items that will work in two or more seasons; and keep it simple when it comes to colors or patterns. Navy, cream, white, tan and gray are my basics colors. I almost never spend on basics that aren’t a standard color. Okay, sometimes I whip out a red item….

Anyhow, in my closet I have a few basic trouser-style pants (you can dress up or down a pair of khakis) a white oxford shirt I had tailored to my shape, a gray and navy pencil skirt, a few colors of silk t-shirts and a black v-neck dress. I wear it with flip flops and it’s casual, I wear it with heels and it’s dressy.

And you don’t necessarily need to spend more—I got a great, gray cashmere t-shirt at a thrift store for just a few dollars.

Thin is In

The second step to a fabulous frugal wardrobe is to purge, purge, purge. If it is a dated style or you haven’t used it for more than a year (pregnant ladies get a pass for this rule), throw it away, give it away or (my favorite) sell it.

Then, organize things so you can see them. I like to hang all my clothes in my closet so I can get a quick visual. I also group by colors and/or types (i.e., all long sleeved shirts together). This will make putting together your next amazing look SO much easier.

Fads are so OUT

One of the antidotes to frugal fashion is to need the “latest thing”. You’ll wind up with a closetful of leggings and not a pair of sensible pants!

DISCLAIMER: I love wearing the “latest” thing. To satisfy this, I either improvise, or search high and low for the best deal.

Right now, I’m really into flats. After two months of searching, I found a simple, white flat for under $10 at Steve and Barry’s. Then, today at the thrift store, I found a snazzy espadrille-type flat with a crazy design for $2. It just doesn’t get better than that.

And exercise restraint. Don’t try to follow every trend. And trust me—wearing something one-of-a-kind will get you more compliments than rushing out to department stores to get what everyone else has.

All in the Details

This is where it gets fun. You may be wondering how you can be truly fabulous with a closetful of “sensible” clothes and only a few of the latest fashions. I have one word for you: accessorize.
You can afford to buy unique earrings, hair clips, belts, necklaces, scarves and purses. And, as a bonus, many of these one-of-a-kind items can be found in thrift stores and discount bins for rock bottom prices. Let your creativity go wild and be a trendsetter. I wear big scarves. I love them. And I get lots of compliments because not many people wear scarves nowadays…

Where to Shop

I think thrift stores are the best places for finding wonderful clothes for steep discounts. But there are strict rules for thrift shopping to avoid spending money on things you’ll never use. Stay tuned tomorrow for my thrift shopping tips!

Vic is a freelance journalist and sister to the internet’s premier frugal blogger. She has been a spendthrift, but has been on the frugal wagon for six years.

frugal fashion dressing well frugal