More style for less money

Let’s face it, fashion is expensive, and most of us are focused on paying for more important necessities like groceries and gas.

However, having an intentional wardrobe can make all the difference for us— elevating our otherwise stressful lives with a bit of whimsy.

We all know decision fatigue is a common experience in the morning. What if when you were choosing what to wear, you felt peace and calm rather than stress?

I’ve been spending the last few years studying how to curate an intentional wardrobe. I find that when I take my own appearance seriously, I’m in turn more respected by myself and others whether at my regular 9-5 or in my community.

I should add that being a woman on the shorter end of heights, I especially wanted to figure out my wardrobe because I still get mistaken for being a teenager or college student, and prefer to be viewed as a real adult.

Countless YouTube videos have been watched and blog posts read to help me learn the basics. So you’re in luck! Today, I will share with you 10 items that can help you create a stylish, yet affordable wardrobe.

But first, let’s go over a few somewhat subtle guidelines to keep in mind while building any curated wardrobe.

Check the Material

Make sure that you are choosing natural and high quality fibers when you can. Yes, this may be a higher price point upfront, but you have to remember that a natural, more durable garment can be washed and warm for years, where a 100% badly-sewn polyester garment might last you 3 months through the summer and one or two washes.

And no, I’m not suggesting that you buy $500 premium wool here. I’m just recommending that you opt for the cottons, linens, wools, etc. (even a blend!) over a purely plastic fabric.

Choose Your Color

The name of the game is swapability. You want to choose garments that can mix and match with one another, so that you can maximize how often you can wear them.

Choosing colors that fit into a color palette is a great way to achieve this goal. And contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to go with all neutrals for this to work.

All you need are three to five colors to focus on that you feel work well together and represent your personal style.

By consistently choosing colors in that palette, you’re sure to find items that always go together!

Quality

And thirdly, make sure to choose a garment that is higher quality over cheaper quality, when possible. I’m not talking about price here, but talking about the integrity of the garment itself.

For example, there are plenty of overpriced items made with 100% acrylic that aren’t worth your money. More money does not automatically equal better quality.

So, when you’re in the store, check the integrity of what you’re buying. Does that high-end item have loose threads? Is the trendy piece see-through fabric and ready to snap at a moment’s notice?

It’s better to go for the more durable option most of the time, so you can get the most value for your money.

A Note to Consider:

Fast fashion is a major problem in today’s world, and one to consider as you read through my list. My focus today is more on affordability than the ethics, because not everyone has the opportunity or ability to get the perfectly “sustainably-sourced” option.

And don’t even get me started on greenwashing and companies pretending to be morally better when they really aren’t. That’s a conversation for another time, *sigh*.

That being said, these same principles I share for clothing items can be applied to any budget! If you have the means to get a more ethically-sourced option, definitely go for that.

Hopefully corporations will recognize that people want more environmentally and socially responsible options that are still at a reasonable price!

5 Items for a Curated Wardrobe

Until then, let us begin with what we have here today, shall we?

1. T-Shirts

First on the docket are t-shirts! These, whether short or long sleeve, are a great staple for a gal any time of year. They tend to go with most outfits and are able to be dressed up or down based on the accessories you add.

Remember to focus in on getting 100% cotton fabric if you can, and consider getting at least 2 colors that match your personal style. You could also get a third that has a simple pattern like a stripe for even more versatility.

My affordable pick for this category comes from H&M!

This Cotton Oversized T-Shirt costs only $9.99!

2. Cardigans/Jackets

Okay now here’s a category that requires a bit more finesse, I would say. It can be more tricky to find an option in this category that is both affordable and good quality fabric.

Honestly, I would say your best bet is to find a high-quality wool or other natural-fiber cardigan that is on-sale or second hand to account for affordability.

Many of my favorite clothing options are from end-of-season sales where items were 50%-75% off or more! Another strategy is that I will wait to buy items even from the sale rack until the sale items themselves are on a double sale. I’ve procured many items this way!

My best cardigans have always come from Madewell, which offers great quality materials that stand the test of time.

A foolproof way to get Madewell quality at bottom-dollar prices is to find items through ThredUp, which is an online thrift store that allows you to buy used items at great prices that typically are gently (if ever!) worn.

This Madewell cardigan was priced at $33 with their current site-wide coupon, but the original price for this 100% wool sweater was $191!!

3. Well-fitting Jeans

Let’s address the elephant in the room. Finding a high-quality pair of denim jeans for an affordable price? Basically seems unattainable.

In my opinion, this is another area where higher-end products can be sought out for second-hand or double sale prices.

I’m going to recommend Madewell as the brand to seek out here, because they offer durable denim that lasts for years of wear and tear. Their jeans are well-sewn, properly dyed, and support a variety of body shapes (think short, tall, and curvy options!). There’s really something for everyone.

Here are three options to get Madewell-quality jeans for a more affordable price than $200…

1. If you have more of a budget, consider getting a new pair at a discounted price by bringing in an old pair of jeans to trade in. Many Madewell stores offer a monetary discount when you trade in any pair of jeans and buy a brand-new pair.
2. For those with a bit less of a budget, check their sale rack in the back-half of the store. They typically have around 10-20 pairs in various sizes and styles that are on a substantial sale of around 50% off!
3. And finally, for those who want to guarantee a low price, go for the second-hand option at stores like ThredUp!

4. Durable Shoes

Bring in the Birkenstocks!

Okay, but all jokes aside, you should try having one or two pairs of tried and true shoes that you wear on a regular basis.

This would probably be the one area to really “splurge” in. Be willing to invest at least $70-$100 to get something of better quality than just plastic and glue held with cardboard and a prayer.

But again, if you have one to two pairs of shoes that each last you five years or more? That cost per wear is going to be insanely low. And your value of wearing them would be really high!

When choosing a go-to shoe, think of something neutral-colored that would match with most outfits and work in multiple climates. You could even have a version for warm versus cool weather.

For me? I really enjoy Birkenstocks, so I have my summer Arizona sandals and my winter Boston clogs. They each get 6 months of wear and then rotate, rinse, repeat. I’ve had them for 5 years and counting!

Other ideas include canvas white sneakers, leather lace-up boots, mules, or hiking sandals. Each go-to shoe would really be based on your style and the climates you are typically in.

Choose a shoe or two that fits you and your needs the best.

5. Something of Whimsy

Now, this is the one category with the most freedom, I would say.

This item doesn’t have a specific category to it, because it’s truly based on your personality, culture, climate, and more. It’s meant to be specific to you.

For me, maxi dresses are the part of my personal style that brings whimsy and personality. So I make sure to have a few for every season that are well-fitting, good fabric, and according to the other guidelines I shared earlier.

For you, it might be a couple of good pairs of sunglasses, chunky heels, or athletic leggings from a specific brand.

Potential Whimsical/Personal-Style Ideas

• Head wraps
• Leather purses
• Graphic tote bags
• Gold-colored jewelry
• Oversized jean jacket
• Athletic sneakers
• Hiking sandals

Whatever you choose, make sure you have a few of that item so they don’t wear out too quickly.

And that’s it for now, folks! Hopefully, starting with these five sections of clothing will bring you closer to the affordable, yet functional wardrobe of your wildest dreams.