“There are two types of girls: those that can make cheap clothes look expensive and those that can make designer clothes look cheap.” –Lauren Santo Domingo
People would always have that innate desire for the finer things in life. Some of us may not always be so outspoken about it are clearly as obvious, but once in our lives, we would want something that is a bit extravagant. For fashionistas with a taste for something a bit gaudier this penchant is even more palpable—especially in their choice of sartorial items. However, these items are not easily acquired considering their profligate nature, but it is because of this critical feature that fashionistas are driven to purchase them. Fashion magazines would only feed the frenzy as they feature page after page of innumerable sartorial pieces at exorbitant prices and we lust after these items hoping that one time, we would be able to own them.
You may find apparels of similar style and cut but at a more economical price than their designer counterparts. But the affordability may come at an individual cost: It may not be as durable, would not last as long and would not be as visually appealing and flattering on you. Apart from this, it would also be nice to splurge on extravagant clothing once in a while—a little reward for a month’s hard work. For many of us, it seems like owning a piece of designer wear is equivalent to having an impossible dream, something we would constantly fantasize about but not have. However, if you are smart enough and determined enough to own a piece for your own, you may find that there are ways of getting these items even while you are on a budget. Make staring at designer pieces in magazines and pining for them a thing of the past. Shop for an item you have lusted over for months now whether that may be that particular pair of wholesale steve madden slip-ons or the designer handbag you have always wanted by following these steps.
1.) Focus on quality over quantity
Unless you are a corporation magnate who is making millions of cash per month, you would have to make do with what your allocated budget can accommodate. It may be easy to fantasize about having a wardrobe filled to the brim with designer essentials and items, but for many, it is not only impossible but quite impractical as well. Instead of hoarding whatever designer find you may find and like, hold back on the spontaneous buying and purchase items that you are confident you would indeed use more than once. In the same vein, do this for regular priced items without the designer tags, you will save so much more money which you can use to purchase a designer item which would outlast any of your other fashion items. After all, is it not much better to have one quality item in your hands than surrounded by low-quality ones that would only see the light of day once?
2.) Utilize online websites
The world of online shopping is teeming with unlimited potential for shoppers like you who have a penchant for designer buys. And the best thing is? It is easily accessible and incredibly convenient. You can find some of the best deals online that would offer you discounts and maybe some coupons which you could use. Other websites will notify you whenever there is a sale or an offer, or even when a particular item is back in stock. Do a bit of researching and sign up for these websites and you can be rest assured that you will never miss a deal. With this in mind, create sales alerts. Find websites that would let you add personal settings by selecting your preferred designers and sizes and would notify you via email if a particular item is on sale. Alternatively, if this feature is unavailable, note down important announcements—they might just announce a deal or a sale.
3.) Buy designer items second-hand
If you are intent on owning a piece of designer clothing item and are amenable to buying things second hand or as online sellers would call it “thrifted” or “preloved” then you may find this option as a worthy compromise. There are a lot of choices that are available to you online as some sellers may have hoarded a lot of designer items over the years and are looking to make a quick sale by selling these items online. The great news is that some of these items have been barely used and are almost new yet are priced at a fraction than their brand new counterparts. A word of caution, though, be very wary when online shopping, make sure you trust the seller you are transacting with and read the reviews before you finalize your purchase.
4.) Shop trends carefully
Trends may look stylish and may be the vogue currently, but there will come a time wherein what used to be a trend would be considered a passé. For this reason, you need to be incredibly meticulous and discerning in choosing which trends to buy and which ones to forgo. For someone who is budgeting for a designer fashion buy, it is imperative that you buy only from the trends that are going to be around for a while. This will ensure that you will have no regrets for every purchase you make.
5.) Stick with the classics
Try to limit your purchases to sartorial items that you know are timeless classics and would never go out of style. In this way, not only are you making a smart, fashionable purchase but a smart investment as well. For an instance, you know denim never goes out of style and neither will the little black dress. In ten years’ time, these two clothing items will still be closet staples, and you can be assured that this would still be very much in style.
Hunting for the perfect designer item that would seemingly fit your tight budget may seem like an arduous and impossible task. But with hard work, commitment and thorough online research you are guaranteed to find a piece that would very much cater to all of your wants and desires in a designer item—affordable price included.