fashion on a budget

blondie42107 · October 2015

So H and I are trying to save as much as we can and pay off some remaining debt (outside of our mortgage). We both need some winter items and I'm looking for suggestions on where to shop. H is tall so finding stores that carry that can be hard. I'm short so I have trouble finding pants that fit. I need some new shoes for work. I wear dressy pants daily with nice tops/sweaters/cardigans, etc. I never wear a suit. After my second pregnancy, I've been needing a W shoe more than a standard M. I need a new winter coat too.

Any suggestions?

formerlyGDaisy09 · October 2015

first I'd do a critical evaluation of your closet...consider purging anything that you don't think you'll wear anymore, you might find some gems you forgot about.

Second, avoid the urge to stock-up on a whole bunch of things at once. in the last couple years I've gotten more into "investment pieces", nice things that can be used for more than one purpose, have the quality that will last through several years, and fit me well, stay away from trends that may not have staying power. Check out consignment places, and be willing to be patient to find the right item for the right price (I've had a pair of black knee-height low-heeled riding-style boots on my wish list for a couple years, I've still not found the right pair). try to build a wardrobe that can be mixed and matched (most my wardrobe hase ended-up in the black/white/grey/tan color family and I have pieces in blues, purples, and pinks that can be thrown in for accents.

If both you and your H ill end-up with the best fitting clothes if you have items that might be too big/long for you taylored, budget that in. I'm tall, so I struggle to find pants that are long enough, I find that The Gap (and related stores) seems to have pants in a variety of lengths.

als1982 · October 2015

I'm a big fan of buying quality neutral classic pieces that can be easily mixed and match and wear well for years. For example, I buy shoes in all the same height from Cole Haan in black, tan and brown, and pants in black, tan and navy from Nordstrom (having them hemmed for free to fit the single heel height). As for tops, I also stick with basics. I'm a big fan of the J. Crew Tippi sweater, which they offer in tons of colors which rotate and go on sale very regularly. I like to pair these with a scarf or statement necklace depending on the season. Easy peasy and while initially pricey, when well cared for these items will last for years!!

hoffse · October 2015

I think the above advice is right on point.

I have also learned the hard way that it's better to spend a bit more on a good piece than cheap out on something you don't really love. You will never wear it, and that's a much bigger waste of money than spending an extra $20 to get a piece you will wear a lot.

I like some of the pants I've found at Banana Republic outlet right now. They are fitted all the way down so they show off your shoes (or will tuck into boots), and they are stretchy and made out of a material that doesn't really wrinkle. In fact, I'm probably going to pick up a couple more pairs this weekend because I like them so much.

For shoes, you will have better luck finding W shoes if you are willing to pay a bit more for nicer brands (Cole Haan, etc.). If you have to dress professionally for work, I personally think you need 2 pairs of black shoes, 2 pairs of nude, 1 pair each of navy and brown and that's it. The second black and nude pairs are for rotation because they are probably the colors that will get worn the most, and therefore they will wear out faster than brown and navy. If you can only afford one pair of high end shoes, I'm an advocate for nude. They match everything.

I don't know if this is acceptable in your office, but the younger women in my office have introduced riding boots in the workplace, and it's wonderful. A pair each of black and brown can match lots of wintery things. For office wear, I find myself gravitating toward black because I have black and grey cigarette pants that easily tuck into them. For casual wear, I like brown with jeans. Again, this is a place where I would invest a little bit because you only need one or two pairs, and good riding boots should last years.

I don't live in a climate that requires heavy winter coats. However, I will say that the coat I've worn the most with office wear is a white mid-thigh peacoat with black buttons. It's adorable, it's a bit more formal than puffer coats so it looks good with office wear, and like my nude shoes, it matches virtually every work outfit I have. People say to avoid white because it's not practical, but I really only wear it to and from my car and occasionally when I leave the building for lunch. There's not much opportunity for it to get dirty, and I've gotten 3 seasons out of mine so far.

I'm afraid I'm no help with men's clothes. My H is an average size.

short+sassy · October 2015

blondie42107 said:

So H and I are trying to save as much as we can and pay off some remaining debt (outside of our mortgage). We both need some winter items and I'm looking for suggestions on where to shop. H is tall so finding stores that carry that can be hard. I'm short so I have trouble finding pants that fit. I need some new shoes for work. I wear dressy pants daily with nice tops/sweaters/cardigans, etc. I never wear a suit. After my second pregnancy, I've been needing a W shoe more than a standard M. I need a new winter coat too.

Any suggestions?

Juuuussstttt in case you can't tell from my username, I'm pretty short myself. 5' even to be exact. I've found longer capri pants to be a great solution for me and you can even find them dressy. On me, longer capri pants = perfect length for normal pants. I wish I was joking, I am not, lol.

Also check out thrift stores. You'd be surprised the items you can find there that are almost new and sometimes even still have the tags on (NWT).

My other go-to places for lower-priced clothing are stores like Burlington Coat Factory, Ross, TJ Maxx, etc. Just be careful to check for quality, because types of stores carry a hodge-podge of different items...some good quality, some cheap quality.

For items that are a bit harder to find, like your shoes and clothes for your H, try Amazon and/or Ebay. You'll have a large selection of items that are usually cheaper than retail. For Ebay, many items are NWT and you can also structure your search so only "New" items come up. Just watch the shipping cost(s) and/or the return policy if the item doesn't fit right.

simplyelise · October 2015

Honestly, right now I only buy clothes from Plato's Closet, including my business casual work attire. But these are my picks for good budget work clothes for women.

H&M or Maurices at the mall if you have those.

Marshall's, TJ Maxx, or Ross as discount department stores if you have those. Especially good for the winter coat.

Gap and Kohl's are also good for business casual attire if you shop the right sales.

Erikan73 · October 2015

WWW.SIERRATRADINGPOST.COM

I have been able to get myself and my husband Carhardt items for a huge savings. They have other brands too. I'm plus size and my husband is Big. If you put your sizes in, you can find great deals. Also if you sign up for their emails, you can save additional money.

I also find Old Navy online can be good for dress clothes. They have a lot more options on sizes online then they do in the store. Again, if you watch for sales & check out their clearance sections you can find good deals.

Mustard76 · October 2015

I'm a big fan of New York and Company. They're not super expensive and they actually have sales quite often. They're usually BOGO sales, but their coupons are often 50% off. I find them to be decent quality, too. My attire is somewhere between business casual and business professional. I only wear suits when I'm going on or conducting an interview.

Sisugal · October 2015

Ditto the pre-planned wardrobe! I stick to black, gray and tan pants, black, tan pencil skirts. Then I like solid color tops &/or sweaters and prefer bright colors that go with all the bottoms. Add a scarf or very simple necklace. Done.
Ditto also the consignment approach - you never know what you will find and there are some great items to be found at bargain prices.
Basic pumps and flats.
Don't forget to shop end of season clearances
Go for quality basics and cheap for trendy accessories.

maple2 · October 2015

I know not everyone is comfortable shopping there, but we have had good luck with thrift stores like Salvation Army for clothes. Even winter stuff. There is obviously a lot of stuff that you wouldn't wear for work, but there can also be amazing deals if you have the time and patience to look for them. I haven't been very successful finding shoes there, but I am generally am pretty picky about footwear. Clothes can be altered if need be to improve the fit, but there isn't much you can do with uncomfortable shoes.

dragonstarjk · October 2015

Once you find a style/brand of slacks that you like, just buy one in every color. Seriously, this has been a lifesaver for me with work pants. Easy to find, I know my size so I can order online, and I can watch for that particular style to go on sale. My favorites have been from Macys; I own them in brown, tan, navy, grey, and black. They are often on sale for $20ish which I think is a steal for work slacks.

For shoes, try Amazon. Way bigger selection, especially for hard to find sizes. I'm not much help here, as I now splurge on really expensive shoes for health reasons (my feet were in the beginning stages of plantar fasciitis and the only thing that helped were expensive Naots)

dragonstarjk · October 2015

Oh, also for winter items, we like Cabelas, but you can often price around and find the same items cheaper on Amazon.

I second the Salvation Army too; ours has a surprising selection if you want to go the thrift store route.

I assume you're not new to 'winter' and just need to replace a few things; otherwise, if you are new to having to gear up for winter, be prepared for sticker shock. I'm a firm believe that when it comes to warm weather gear, you definitely get what you pay for. Quality counts unless you want to freeze your tail off!

julieanne912 · October 2015

I bought a lot of my work wear at JC Penney. They have a nice petite section for work wear. I have a 28-29" inseam and their petite length works with flats or low heels (depends on the pair of pants). I buy their Worthington pants when on sale. I got my current set (5 pairs in various colors/patterns) on Black Friday (went in the afternoon after the crowds calmed down) for $12/pair, and so far they all still look nice even after machine washing. For work tops, I really like their MNG brand. They're cheaper quality though.

I also hit up outlet malls... like Banana Republic, LOFT, and J Crew outlets. I like Nine West outlet for shoes. I also got a gorgeous pair of real leather black ridingboots at DSW last winter for like $95 which is crazy good for knee high real leather boots.

For coats... I'm not much help there, the coats I have I've had for years. Purchased at Bennetton and Nordstrom when my income was better. I did break down and buy a North Face down coat 2 years ago at REI but I don't wear it to work.

I'm no help on men's clothing... my H is short.

formerlyGDaisy09 · October 2015

for coats, I've said before I'm a big fan of LLBean...this is currently on my wish list (as soon as I've worked the LLBean Visa card for enough points!) Can't beat their Lifetime Guarantee.

for more "professional"/dressy wool winter coats I actually found a great coat at Target. once the temps here drop into the single digits (and much lower) fashion goes out the window...wear whatever keeps you warm.

als1982 · October 2015

In addition to LLBean, I'm also a fan of Lands End for coats.

MissKittyDanger · October 2015

As someone who is also short, I have/had issues with pants in the past. I'm not sure where you're from but if you have a Ricki's then run - don't walk - to their store! Their short section is exactly what you want - normal sized waist, but shorter leg so you don't have to hem. They aren't cheap but they fit great so I justify it.

Otherwise, try check out local 2nd hand stores. I can typically find tops there.

blondie42107 · October 2015

julieanne912 said:
I bought a lot of my work wear at JC Penney. They have a nice petite section for work wear. I have a 28-29" inseam and their petite length works with flats or low heels (depends on the pair of pants). I buy their Worthington pants when on sale. I got my current set (5 pairs in various colors/patterns) on Black Friday (went in the afternoon after the crowds calmed down) for $12/pair, and so far they all still look nice even after machine washing. For work tops, I really like their MNG brand. They're cheaper quality though.

I also hit up outlet malls... like Banana Republic, LOFT, and J Crew outlets. I like Nine West outlet for shoes. I also got a gorgeous pair of real leather black ridingboots at DSW last winter for like $95 which is crazy good for knee high real leather boots.

For coats... I'm not much help there, the coats I have I've had for years. Purchased at Bennetton and Nordstrom when my income was better. I did break down and buy a North Face down coat 2 years ago at REI but I don't wear it to work.

I'm no help on men's clothing... my H is short.

@julieanne912
I snagged 5 pairs of the Worthington trousers last year on black Friday also! Couldn't beat that price! I hope they have the same sale this year. I'm 5'2. I'm having trouble finding khakis but found some on Old Navy website for $20 that I might try.

blondie42107 · October 2015

formerlyGDaisy09 said:
for coats, I've said before I'm a big fan of LLBean...this is currently on my wish list (as soon as I've worked the LLBean Visa card for enough points!) Can't beat their Lifetime Guarantee.

for more "professional"/dressy wool winter coats I actually found a great coat at Target. once the temps here drop into the single digits (and much lower) fashion goes out the window...wear whatever keeps you warm.

@formerlyGDaisy09

I didn't even think about L.L.Bean! Thanks! My last three winter coats have been from Columbia, we have an outlet nearby. My boots have seen better days - not cute ones but actual snow boots so I'll look for those as well.

My job can be tricky. I'm in the office 50% and in the field seeing clients 50%. I have a small handful of clients that smoke so I try to plan ahead and dress accordingly so that everything I wear is easily washable. Spending an hour or two in a smokey home often requires immediate laundry when I get home.

I'm not sure I'm ready for icy roads and wind chill warnings yet! Lol

fashion on a budget

Re: fashion on a budget

Choose Another Board

Search Boards