How to Dress Glam for Less

Become red carpet glamorous on a shoestring budget.

You can dress like a glamorous model or movie star on a budget, if you are willing to do a little footwork. Re-create high-end fashion looks without the price tag by shopping for non-name brand pieces. Vintage stores are also great places to find fabulous accessories to adorn an outfit and create a bit of bling. Yard and garage sales and clothing swaps offer slightly-used items for a fraction of the cost of new garments. Pick up a gently used party dress from a second-hand shop or private sale and be the belle of the ball without emptying your pocketbook.

Things You'll Need

• Fashion magazines
• Local newspapers
• Fashion websites
• Scissors
• Jewelry-making supplies

Instructions

1. Plan a frugal fashion outfit from shoes to earrings after establishing a budget. The clothes are just a part of a budget-conscious glamorous look. Look for outfit inspiration in fashion magazines and websites. Print or cut out the pieces you like and take them with you on your shopping trip.

2. Determine your measurements before making off-brand or second-hand purchases. Clothes brands are often sized differently, so knowing the exact measurements of your hips, bust and waist will help prevent disappointment. A tape measure purchased from a local discount store and the help of a friend to read the measurements should take only a few minutes and prevent wasting money on clothing that does not fit property.

3. Search online or in local newspapers for consignment shops and garage sales. Online auctions and person-to-person sales websites are another way to garner gently worn dresses, shoes and accessories for less. Read the descriptions carefully to make sure there aren't any flaws or stains on the items. Take advantage of marked-down broken or mismatched pieces and use them for making your own "glam" jewelry. Hobby stores typically offer free or low-cost jewelry-making classes, so even if you lack the skills to create a necklace today, you can learn how to become an at-home designer before your next big outing.

4. Plan ahead for big events and shop for off-season bargains at your favorite stores. Search for sales fliers and discount coupons to save money when purchasing new shoes and other outfit pieces from traditional stores. Purchase a formal or semi-formal summer dress and shoes at the end of season sale for steep discounts, and store them away in your closet until next year. Take advantage of after Christmas and New Year's sales and save a bundle on winter fashions. Purchase that sparkling silver dress you had your eye on and for up to 90 percent off and be ready for a special kiss at midnight next year. When you save big bucks on a glamorous dress, you have more to spend on jewelry and shoes to compete the look.

References

• "Los Angeles Times": Frugal Fashion
• inHer Glam; InFinance: Glam On A Budget; May 2011
• All You: Go Glam for the Holidays
• Skirt! Winston-Salem; Vintage in Winston-Salem: Glam on a Budget; Cyndi Briggs; June 2011