How we love to buy new clothes! But as we all know, it can be a very costly habit if indulged in too frequently and there are times in everybody’s life when money is tight and other considerations come first.
At these times, if you really can’t do without your clothes fix and want to keep your sense of style, follow some of the simple tips below and your purse will thank you for it:
- Plan ahead: Shop out of season and you are sure to get the best bargains. Start looking for your summer wardrobe around autumn time and vice versa. Go for classic looks that will never go out of style and it won’t matter if you aren’t keeping up with the next season’s trends.
- Go wholesale: For essential items of which you will always need a steady supply, try to find good wholesale deals either online or from out-of-town warehouses. Wholesale hosiery, for example, is a particularly good idea because items such as tights are always prone to laddering so most women get through a fair amount of them. Also, with wholesale hosiery you can experiment with wacky colours and styles without feeling you are wasting too much money on something you won’t wear all the time.
- No credit cards: If possible, when shopping for clothes take only the amount of cash you can afford and leave credit or debit cards at home. This way you can’t be tempted into spending large amounts of money you don’t have, kidding yourself that you can pay for it later.
- Shop online: Sign up with some of your favourite retailers on line and they will send you details of their latest special offers, coupons or sales. A word of warning though: Only shop in sales for items you have already decided you need, and don’t be tempted to part with your cash just because something is cheap.
- Stick to certain colours: If you know the shades that suit you, then plan your wardrobe around these and this way you won’t be left with a heap of items that are lovely in themselves but don’t go with each other. If you want to make the most of the clothes you have bought, shopping with an eye to coordination is the way forward.
- Discount stores: If you really are a sucker for big brand names then try looking in shops such as T.K. Maxx which offer designer gear at huge discounts. All you need is a practiced eye for spotting the bargains.
- Second-hand stores: If brand names don’t mean much to you and you have more of an eclectic style then some of the best clothing finds are to be had in charity or second-hand shops. Beware, however, of shops that label themselves ‘vintage’, as often this is just another way of saying second-hand but enables them to push up their prices.
- Avoid trends: Go for a classic style of clothing that can go with lots of different pieces and can be worn year-in, year-out without looking passé.
- Garment care: Simply put, your clothes will last longer if you take care of them. Always follow the garment care instructions on the labels of your clothes, however unnecessary they may seem. Most importantly, although it may be a pain, never put something in the washing machine if the recommendation is to hand-wash it.
About the Author:
Chris Jenkinson is a business and marketing consultant working and writing for Pamela Mann a wholesale manufacturer of tights.
