How I Create High Maintenance Looks on a $70 Budget

The Prelude

Hey, Hey! I’m back with yet another blog post on fashion and finance. If you know me then you know that both fashion and finance are near and dear to my heart. I live, breathe, and strive to get better at both each and everyday but it just so happens that fashion is my career of choice.

For today’s fashion and finance chat, I wanted to talk about my own budget and how I’m able to use every cent of it to purchase quality pieces that I then use to create high quality outfits. As a fashion stylist I feel that a lot of people look at me and think that I’m blowing a ridiculous amount of money on clothing or that I tend to shop more than the average person. The truth is…I rarely do either one of those because thankfully I have everything I need (and more) in my closet.

The tips that I’m about to share with you is proof that you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to build a high quality wardrobe. In fact, you can use the clothing that you already own as your foundation and then adjust your budget to an amount that you’re comfortable with. However, I wouldn’t suggest going lower than $50 a month because it decreases the quality of your clothing.

As stated in the title, my maximum budget at the time of this article is $70, but each of these tips cater to a variety of budgets. So if you’re ready to start looking high maintenance for less than your monthly phone bill then scroll down and meet me in the section below.

How I Create High Maintenance Looks on A $70 Budget

1. I always shop with a plan. Before the beginning of each month I always have a plan in place. My shopping plan consists of purchasing clothing that I need and gently reminding myself of what my spending limit is (at the time of this article it’s $70 for the entire month). Being clear about my purchasing goals and spending limit suppresses my desire to impulse buy and it also helps me fill my closet with intentional pieces that support my lifestyle.

2. I don’t wear a lot of logos. Throughout the years of creating high maintenance outfits I found that clothing with no logos make an outfit appear more poised, expensive, and exclusive (especially when paired with quality fabrics and thoughtful designs!). Plus, wearing clothing with small or non existent logos tend to expand my outfit combinations and assist me with matching different colors and fabrics more easily. As a final point, I also enjoy people being able to see the creativity in my outfits rather than focusing solely on the brand that I’m wearing.

3. I invest in quality pieces. When I had little to no experience about clothing and fabrics I would sometimes purchase clothing that would shrivel up in the dryer after a few washes or rip at the slightest tug. Now, with much more wisdom and practically dedicating everyday to learning how to extend the life of clothing, I pay attention to the quality of my future garments. Doing so has allowed me to wear my clothing years after purchasing them and it has also increased my cost per wear allowing me to get the most value out of my items. Not to mention I’m always feeling really bossy and wealthy when I step outside thanks to the upgraded fabric.

4. I factor shipping costs into my budget. I know it may sound strange but my rule of thumb is to always include shipping costs into my clothes shopping budget. Doing this takes a lot of practice and discipline but it has always kept me from overspending. I’ve found that when I didn’t factor shipping costs into my budget I would start to pull money from other places to cover the total cost of the purchase. Although it seemed harmless at the time, it ended up negatively affecting my personal finances which led me to creating this strategy. Let’s just say I haven’t looked back since.

5. I comparison shop. Comparison shopping isn’t something that I do often (because it’s so time consuming), but when I take the time to do it it can be very effective! I mostly use this strategy if I feel like I can get a better deal on the item that I’m looking for or when I want a better customer experience. Comparison shopping doesn’t save me a huge amount of money (more like a few dollars), but it has introduced me to new brands and has put extra money into my pocket for my next shopping trip.

6. I negotiate. We all love a good sale but not many are willing to go the extra mile and negotiate. Negotiating takes courage but it almost always pays off! I don’t negotiate as much as I used to, but when I do negotiate I usually walk away with less than the asking price. It can seem a bit intimidating at first, but once you start practicing it more the process gets easier and your negotiating skills get sharper.

7. I shop at off price retailers. Off price retailers have become one of my favorite places to shop (especially online!). I’m always amazed at the high quality name brand clothing that I can get for a fraction of the cost. It also helps that they run sales regularly which really helps me stretch my budget. Additionally, most of them offer in store pick up which allows me to get out of the house for a bit and save on shipping.

8. I keep a positive mindset. Creating a high maintenance look and wardrobe takes time (especially when you have a smaller budget). However, what keeps me motivated is pacing myself, giving grace to myself, and enjoying the process. Keeping these three things in mind and maintaining a positive mindset has allowed me to have fun building my wardrobe, feel less restricted with what I can spend, and gradually move the needle to achieve my clothes shopping goals.

Need more tips on how to make the most out of your clothes shopping budget?

Then join me in my other article 7 Ways to Save Money on Clothes. In this article I teach you how to create better shopping habits and how to cut down on monthly spending by nurturing the clothing that you already own. I look forward to seeing you over there!