How to Be Stylish Woman on a Budget

Being stylish doesn't have to cost you a fortune. Why dish out the big bucks when you can still get the same look for so much less? With some know-how and creativity, you can be stylish woman on a budget and even have some fun along the way. Here's how:

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Browse, browse, browse. Many stores have their sale items listed at their websites, and the online sales typically last longer than they do in the brick-and-mortar stores.

2. Be thrifty. Thrift stores and consignment stores are an often-overlooked fashion goldmine. If you take the time to go through their clothes, you can often find some absolute bargains. It is not unheard of to find a barely-worn designer piece at a mere fraction of the price you would otherwise pay at a high-end store. Shop vintage shops as well. You can find unique, classic items that you can use to create a unique look that is all your own.

3. Find out which thrift stores offer the best bargains. Once you begin to visit a number of thrift stores, you will get a feel for which ones offer the best bargains. Thrift stores that are located in affluent neighborhoods are often the best places to unearth bargains on designer clothes, as their wealthy residents clean out their wardrobes . Many thrift store chains will often stock-up their flagships stores with their very best stock. It is worth the time to locate and shop this store, as well find out when they get deliveries so that you can get first pick.

4. Go to the market. New designers who are just starting out, and will often sell their designs at market stalls, particularly in the trendy areas of a city. This is not only a great way to get a stylish piece that's in fashion at a bargain price, but you may even find that you have a future classics hanging in your wardrobe.

5. Update the look of your wardrobe by customizing your clothes. You can give a garment a totally new look using buttons, ribbons, patches and other creative accessories. T-shirts, jeans and bags are great candidates for crafty creativity. Learn how to sew and invest in needles, scissors and pins. These will come in handy not only to customize garments but also to do minor repairs that would otherwise make a garment un-wearable. Sewing machines are also pretty inexpensive now.

6. Create a unique look with just a little cash by crafting your own jewelry and accessories. Beaded jewelry is actually very simple to make, and can be elegant and stunning. Buy a beading book or borrow one from the library. Browse the craft websites and flip through magazines for inspiration. Many sites and online bead vendors offer free instructions and patterns for designing your own jewelry. Buy old jewelry from thrift stores and flea markets and break it up for beads.

7. Shop eBay. This is a global trove of fashionable bargains. From discounted brand new clothes to classy vintage gems, you will likely find it on sale at eBay. Be sure to read descriptions very closely and email the seller for clarification if you need to. Set a spending limit, and stick to it when you place your bids.

8. Learn how to dye. If you find a garment that you absolutely cannot live without, but it is in the wrong color, just dye it. The dyes that are on the market today are inexpensive and easy to use. Some just need to be tossed into the washing machine with the garment. You must, however, check the garment's label for the fabric care and washing instructions before you buy and dye the garment to make sure that you can change its color this way without damaging it.

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[dezeri]

on 3/17/2009 this was a very cool article, thanks!