NYC Fashion Week 2011 left everyone in the fashion business ecstatic. Despite the bad economy, people are still willing to pay a pretty penny for high-end fashion, and it’s the high-end department stores that are posting the highest growths in sales.
But don’t worry if your wallet can’t afford a trip to Bergdorf Goldman.
Here are 5 tips to help a fashionista on a budget keep up with the latest trends:
- Read budget-savvy fashion blogs for tips and advice on keeping up with trends without shelling out the big bucks. There are tons of these blogs out there in the blogosphere, but Shoestring Mag, My Life Scoop, and She Knows have identified consistently good blogs to check out like The Budget Chic and The Budget Fashionista.
- Avoid Impulse Shopping. Retailers strategically plan their promotions to get customers to buy more, and most stores have promotions that vary drastically from day to day. Monitor store promotions by signing up to receive emails from your favorite stores. You will begin to recognize promotional patterns and know when to get the best deal on what you need. This is just one of many “sale secrets” that a smart shopper should know.
- Join online websites like Covet and Polyvore that email you when your favorite brands and styles go on sale in your size.
- Shop your closet. You can “reinvent” pieces you already have by adding trendy new accessories or colors to the staples that should be in every closet. You can also make pieces look “new” or “refreshed” for the new season by trying some easy do-it-yourself updates.
- Still need your designer fix? Corporations like Target and H&M have partnered with fashion designers to create wallet-friendly clothing lines for the haute-couture-hungry shopper on a budget. Just be sure to shop early — these designs are limited and always go fast!
