You may be strapped for cash but you can still look hot while keeping pounds in your pocket.
- Don’t waste money on quick-fix fashion – most trends vanish as quickly as they arrive, so trying to keep up can add up. Focus on forging your own unique style, concentrating on classic pieces that will look good year after year.
- Buy basics like white tops and jeans that actually fit and accessorise with statement pieces like eye-catching scarves, oversized necklaces and colourful belts and bangles.
- Wear only clothes that suit your height and shape – remember: micro-shorts don’t suit everyone.
- Focus on quality rather than quantity – it’s worth spending as much as you can afford on well-cut garments made from quality fabrics. It’s false economy buying a ton of cheap clothes that have a lifespan of a week. Choose cotton, cashmere, wool and tweed over nylon, acrylic, polyester and PVC.
- Buy a few key enduring pieces – the occasional splurge on a really good pair of leather boots or a tailored coat will pay off and you’ll be able to enjoy them for years rather than months.
- Resist the temptation to impulse buy: if you don’t LOVE it, leave it.
- Know where to go – get savvy and discover some off-beat shopping options. Venture to vintage shops and flea markets and remember that charity shops, particularly in affluent areas, can be like little goldmines.
- Make do and mend – with a dash of creativity you can alter and embellish clothes, giving them a new lease of life.
- Shop online, scouring auction sites and taking advantage of voucher codes.
- Dig around in discount department stores and outlets and you may just happen upon a pair of designer shoes or an end-of-line handbag.
- Know when to shop – maximise your chances of bagging a bargain by shopping off-season, on weekdays and at sale time.
- Invest in at least one dress that makes you look and feel great. Give yourself a treat and check out some of the latest spring inspired cocktail dresses
- Your wardrobe should always contain a couple of flattering pairs of jeans. With so many styles on offer at reasonable prices you don’t have to spend a packet to look stylish.
- Most of us wear only 20 per cent of our wardrobe 80 per cent of the time. Dig around in your wardrobe for any forgotten purchases and you may be surprised at what you find.
- Swap any unwanted clothes with your mates – one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
- Sell unwanted clothes online, at car boot sales or at clothes exchanges, where you’ll get a cut of whatever they sell for.
- Make sure your clothes are machine washable – you don’t want to be lumbered with a load of hand-wash only garments and endless trips to the dry cleaner will prove costly.
- Take a whole new look at your wardrobe and you’ll see how easy it can be to look good and spend less.