No matter the number of times we are told that good style can be affordable, which is true, there still are some clothing pieces that we like but are out of budget. Happens to everybody and happened to me a lot.
There are two things we can do about it, saving up and getting that clothing piece or buy a cheaper alternative that looks similar. Other than getting expensive pieces once in a while, the everyday style can be affordable. You don’t need to spend a ton of money.
How to start buying good stuff affordable and start shopping smart
The first thing should be deciding how much to spend on clothes and making a budget. Some basic things to do while shopping for pieces that you like are shopping when there’s a sale and the products that you like are on discounts.
Joining newsletters of brands can get you some additional discount on your first order. You also receive coupon codes in the future from these brands in your mail list. You could save a good amount if you buy multiple pieces in your first order.
By avoiding super hyped-up trends that might cost hundreds and even thousands of dollars, you are saving for the other pieces that could be worn season after season. Most of these expensive trends feel outdated quickly. You could opt for a similar-looking but cheaper alternative from fast-fashion stores if you want the same aesthetic like that of the expensive trend.
Budget
You should have a general idea of how much to spend on a particular piece by setting up a budget. Spend on your basics first. Basics are the essential pieces that should be in every man’s closet.
These pieces can include – an oxford shirt, khaki chinos, a solid sweater, etc. The foundation of your wardrobe is based on these pieces. You can wear these pieces season after season. They can be paired with everything in your closet as these key pieces are versatile too.
If you own a particular piece, like dark blue jeans for example, if possible try not to buy another similar looking pair until you got all your basics covered. Instead buy a pant that you don’t own. This way you’ll have more stuff that looks different and more different outfits can be composed.
Cheap and Free Upgrades-
Accessories
The best cheap way to upgrade your outfits is by wearing accessories with them. Not every guy wears accessories so you’re already a step further and looking different than most of them. It’s all in the details. Accessories are small details but can play an important role in making your outfits.
A minimal necklace and a bracelet when added to an everyday casual outfit can instantly make it more stylish. It works if you don’t wear jewelry every single day but should own a few to wear them once every few days.
Fitting Matters
‘Fit is king’. Some of you might have heard that phrase. Fitting makes a difference, it really does. After I got one of my pants tailored in my late teen years a few years back, I was so impressed that all of my pants are now tailored and fit me the way I want them to look.
If you get your pants and shirts tailored, you already look sharper than others. Fitting and tailoring are not cheap everywhere but most of the stores in shopping malls offer it for free when you buy from them.
Shirt over Shirt
Style and fashion is all about going out of the box. Layering a t-shirt over another and a casual shirt over another is something most guys would avoid. You don’t have to and it’s free.
A short sleeve tee can be worn over another t-shirt of a different color. This look will be more on the streetwear side of things. Roll the sleeves of the t-shirt on the inside up so that the color difference pops.
Same can be done with a shirt. A t-shirt as the base layer and a casual shirt over it, wear another shirt that is thicker like a shirt jacket or a flannel over both of them.
Color Matching
Color matching of your accessories like belts and shoes is something we know about. Matching the topwear piece of your outfit with the shoes is what you should be doing whenever you can. If done the right way it can make your outfits and appear more appealing.
– Beige sneakers can be paired with blue jeans and a beige sweater.
Adding Layers
Adding layers in outfits is generally a wide concept in fashion that can be done in various ways. The fall and winter months are the best time to add layers to your outfits to make them more stylish. It can be –
a denim jacket over a hoodie,
A leather jacket over a flannel shirt
A wind heater over a sweater
A peacoat over the outfit.
During the hotter months, you can add a casual linen shirt over your t-shirt.
Knee Cuts\slits
The best way to use old pants that you don’t like is by distressing them. The boring pants can look stylish if cut the knees of the jeans or distress them with few rips. Knee slits look cool and give a modern trendy vibe. Make sure to distress the pants right, there are many tutorials you can learn from online.
Alternates
High-end luxury labels often make certain pieces that we like but they might be super expensive and out of budget. Fast fashion stores are the best alternatives to them if we talk about design. We don’t get the quality or the big brand name but for the price, but we can find some cool trendy pieces that look expensive. The quality of most products made by fast fashion brands is pretty decent and being affordable, discounts keep running on them often.
Solid Pieces
Every man should own some basic solid pieces that has no patterns or brand logos. These pieces can include polos, shirts, sweaters, etc. Even if you get them at cheap stores, they’ll look expensive as they’ve no names or logos. The only thing to keep in mind is the fit, they should fit you well.
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