How To Find And Wear Affordable Designer Clothing

By Lila Bryant


If you're serious about fashion, you probably love paging through fashion magazines and poring over the designer outfits. You probably also know that feeling of disappointment when you look at the price of each item the model is wearing and realizing that her outfit costs the equivalent of a year's salary. However, you don't have to be a billionaire to look fashionable. You simply have to know where to find affordable designer clothing and then know how to wear it.

If you want to be able to wear clothes by top designers but don't have the budget for this, the first thing you need to do is realize that you don't need to wear the latest ranges all the time. In fact, slavishly following the latest trends can make you look a little desperate or nouveau riche. If you choose wisely, it's perfectly possible to wear items from last season or even from a couple of seasons ago without anyone thinking that your look is outdated.

With classic, timeless pieces it becomes very easy to benefit from sales. Early in January as well as at the end of each season, department stores and fashion houses often offer their clothes at hugely reduced prices to make room for new stock. If you choose carefully, for instance a pair of jeans in a classic style or a simple little black dress, it won't matter that you make your purchases at the end of a season, because these items will still be stylish next season and even for many years to come.

Choosing second-hand clothes is a good option too. Look in stores that sell pre-owned clothing, at flea markets and in charity shops. Alternatively, check online suppliers to see what they have in stock. It's possible to find an item that has been worn only once or twice and pay only a few dollars, where it would have cost hundreds or thousands of dollars if you bought it new.

There's no reason to be ashamed of second-hand clothes. After all, both Reese Witherspoon and Penelope Cruz received their Academy Awards while dressed in stunning vintage gowns from the Fifties, Witherspoon's by Dior and Cruz's by Balmain. One of the most admired Oscar gowns of all time was the one Julia Roberts wore when she won her award. Her dress came from Valentino's collection from nine years before and she had to have it altered so that it would fit her.

Some people opt for fake designer brands. This is certainly a possible solution. However, it's unethical and by wearing counterfeit goods, you're supporting crime.

Supporting only the famous couture houses is the sign of an unimaginative dresser. Instead, keep an eye out for the work of young designers. Their designs are often more striking and much less expensive.

A final trick is to learn how to mix and match expensive items with ones that you got from cheaper retail chains. Sometimes the only way to tell the difference between a T-shirt that cost two dollars and one that set you back two hundred is to look at the label on the inside. It's better to invest in a pair of designer sunglasses.




About the Author: