How to be Fashionable on a Low Budget

Budget Friendly Fashion

For years, my favorite fashion pieces in my closet were previously owned by my older sister. Everything cute or fashionable I had was, for the most part, a hand-me-down. The truth is, I wanted to dress nice, but I was under the impression that to buy cute clothes, I had to have a fat wallet and money to throw around. Do you want to wear cute, stylish clothes too, but just don’t know if it’s in your budget?

I hear you, girl. I used to stare enviously at other girl’s trendy outfits and just WISH I had enough money to look that good. But now, I know that looking good doesn’t have to cost me $100 an outfit. And don’t worry, I’m going to share with you what I know. After reading this post, you’re going to be excited to get shopping because you’ll have learned how to be fashionable on a low budget and where to buy affordable, trendy clothes so you can look and feel your most confident!

I’m sharing with you a few of my favorite places to shop for budget-friendly fashion, and some shopping tips for a less expensive shopping cart. Some of these places you may have heard of, and some might be new to you. Whether you’re a fashionista with a shopping addiction or you’re just in need of some new pieces for your wardrobe, this post will show you some of the best and most popular places to shop for affordable clothing.

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Top online shops for affordable clothes

Jane Online Boutique

I only recently discovered Jane, and I really wish I’d discovered them sooner. Jane sells boutique clothing for bargain prices. They bring together small boutiques and big brand names, so you can shop for trendy, fashionable styles while on a budget.

Highlights: With more than 400 new items added every day, you’ll always find fresh looks. No more getting bored and having to wait for next season’s styles.

Pro tip: If you see something you like, jump on it fast. With new daily deals, what you see won’t be there for too long. 

Prime Wardrobe (new!)

Yes, it’s true. Amazon has it all. I’ve been seeing so many blogger posts lately on cute fashion finds from Amazon, and I have to admit I was impressed with their finds. 

THEN I found out that Amazon just recently launched their Amazon Wardrobe for Amazon Prime members. Here’s how it works:

First, you pick out 8 clothing items you like and would like to try on. Then, Amazon sends you those 8 items and you have 7 days to try them all on. Finally, you pack up the items you don’t want in the Amazon Prime box, apply a prepaid shipping label and drop it off at your nearest UPS location. Since Prime Wardrobe is a perk of being an Amazon Prime member, you only pay for the things you keep. 

And that’s it!

Ross

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So technically, Ross isn’t an online store. But I’ve linked the website for you anyway, so you can find one near you.

I love shopping at Ross for a number of reasons. One, they constantly are getting in new items. So every time I go, there’s something new for me to try on. Second, their clothing, home decor, and beauty items are all so affordable, I usually leave with about 3 items for under $30 ish.

Highlights: Ross sells high quality, department store items at bargain prices. I almost always leave with a little something to treat myself.

Marshall’s

Similar to Ross, Marshall’s sells high-quality fashion for prices 20 percent to 60 percent below full price retailers, according to their site. 

Highlights: No two stores are ever exactly the same! So, if you’re not loving what you find at one Marshall’s, you can try another one for different options.

Target

I’m a Target Girl, through and through. Next time you go to Target, don’t go straight to buying deodorant and toothpaste. Take some time to mosey through the Target clothing section, where you’ll find pretty dresses, trendy jeans, super cute swimsuits, and tons of stylish shoes and boots for every look.

Forever 21

Forever21 has looks for every style you could want! Preppy, chic, grunge, tomboy, streetwear, athletic, glamorous, and more. Plus, their pajama and lingerie section is *kisses fingertips like a proud chef * muah! Magnific! 

Highlights: The Forever21 basics section is perfect for simple clothes that can easily be dressed up with some jewelry!

Missguided

Missguided is great for those who want to follow the street style and pop culture trends. This brand turns out 1,000 new pieces every week, so you gotta jump on the clothing items you want while they’re available. The good news is since they’re always getting in new items, they have sales and promotions nearly all the time. 

Highlights: Besides having plus-size clothes, they also let you shop specifically for tall fits, petite fits, and maternity. Being about 5’9”, I love that they offer jeans that’re long enough here. You can also shop according to the occasion, trend, or clothing item!

SheIn

If you’ve shopped online before, you’ve probably seen ads for Shein before. I love that you can shop according to style to nail the exact trend you’re going for! 

Highlights: Tons of sales! Like, an almost ungodly amount of sales haha. You can even shop “under $5,” “under $10,” and “under $15.” For fashion inspiration, shop under their “trends” tab. Check out various styles like chic, preppy, elegant, boho, sporty and more. You can even shop by trend, like “sparkly,” “corset,” “puffy sleeve,” “oversized,” etc.

Asos

Asos isn’t necessarily what I’d consider a 2/47 budget friendly brand, like some of the other websites on this list. However, they do have a great sales section. You can also use the “price range” bar to filter through the prices and get exactly the price range you want.

Highlights: In addition to the “Sale” section, Asos has another tab for even BIGGER discounts. Go to their “outlet” tab, then select “Further Reduction: Up to 70% Off.” Trust me. You won’t be sorry. 

For vintage clothing, go to Asos Marketplace. Again, check out their sales section.

H&M

To be completely upfront with you, I’m not personally a big H & M shopper. That said, they do have some good basics and great prices. The basic tops and bottoms are timeless and simple. But, H&M has options for a variety of looks, so take a glance around and see what you like best.

For their sales, click “Women,” and check out the tabs under “Offers.” As of today, they also have a “Fashion Finds Under $25” under the “Trending Now” tab.

Highlights: They offer a 15% student discount!

Boohoo

Another constantly up-to-date fashion site, Boohoo drops over 500 new products every week. I love that Boohoo is all about celebrating individuality. If you’re looking for fashionable and affordable looks that let you show off your own unique style, Boohoo is for you.

Highlights: With so many new fashion pieces every week, rest assured the Boohoo Sales page is fire. Shop PlusSize & Curve, Petite, Tall and Maternity for whichever fit suits you. 

Cotton On

Cotton On provides stylish and affordable looks that can be mixed and matched with just about anything. I love the timeless pieces at Cotton On and how simple it is to pair them with my favorite accessories.

Nasty Gal

You’ve probably heard of Nasty Gal before, either through the grapevine or via Instagram influencers. And for good reason. Nasty Gal sales and deals are not something you want to miss. Whether your style is pretty, elegant, casual, street style, grunge, boho, or you like a little bit of everything.

Nasty Gal has got you covered with super cheap sales that are gonna have you feeling like the hot tamale you are.

Lulus 

I started out loving Lulus for their dresses, specifically. Their section for dresses under $50 is where it’s at.

But it doesn’t stop there. Lulus is everything I want to be when I grow up: glamorous, trendy, flirty, hip, and oh-so-chic. Lulus’ prices are hard to beat, especially considering the high quality of the actual products.

A lot of clothing companies offer cheap prices, but it shows in the clothing. At Lulus, the quality of their materials is consistently great and can fit into any budget.

For their most affordable clothing and fashion items, shop under their sale section. There, you can shop by discount, sale item, or price (Under $40, $25, $20, $15, and $10).

Highlights: Sign up for the Love Rewards program, Lulu’s loyalty program, for free! It’s super easy and offers great perks, such as:

• Free shipping on domestic orders over $50
• Free returns
• 15% off after every order, to use on your next order

You can also sign up to be a Love Rewards VIP member by making 2 qualifying purchases within 6 months. VIP benefits include:

• Early access to sales and new product launches
• 20% off after every order, to use on your next order
• Exclusive specials, deals and anniversary gifts for VIP

Dress Up

I’ve just recently found this little online boutique, Dress Up. Their prices range from cheap to average, with a particularly great sales section.

While I haven’t yet ordered from them personally, I love their pretty, chic styles that look like they’re also super comfy and classic. Dress Up has something for everyone. From ultra soft, cozy knits to outfits perfect for the office, cute and casual daily looks, basics and more.

You can shop according to trend, such as girly, statement sleeves, animal print, tie-dye, boho, and more.

Highlights: Shop Dress Up sales items for super cute finds $20 and under. If you’re feeling frisky, you can also shop their “New Arrivals Under $42.” They drop over 65 new items every week.

Don’t know the first thing about style, or just looking for a bit of third party fashion advice? You can literally call their number to speak to a stylist for some fashion advice!

Romwe

The sales and promotions at Romwe are INSANE, y’all. I’m talking, sometimes they’ve got necklaces for $2 and a buy 2 get 1 free type offers. Besides the dirt cheap price tags in their sale section, their prices are already super budget friendly.

And like the other shops in this list, Romwe keeps up with the trends. Featuring pop culture and social media influenced fashion, this site can keep you busy for days.

Highlights: Under the Sales tab, Romwe has “lightning deals” for trendy, super cheap clothing, accessories, home decor and even electronics. Purchases are limited to 10 items per lightning deal.

General Tips for Budget Friendly Clothes Shopping

The Best Days for Clothing Sales

Okay! Now you know some of the best clothing shops for bargain deals and budget clothing. Now, I’m going to tell you about a few overall tips for trendy clothes while on a budget. 

The best times of the year for buying clothes on sale are:

• Cyber Monday
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Black Friday
• After major holidays (like Christmas or New Years)
• Labor Day
• Columbus Day

Shop Off Season 

• Buy winter clothes in January as stores begin to get ready for spring
• Buy swimsuits and summer clothes in August while stores get ready for fall
• Basically, if the season is transitioning, buy last season’s clothing. It will generally be much cheaper than whatever the upcoming season’s clothes are.

Tips to be Fashionable on a Low Budget

Sign up to Companies’ Email Lists for Discounts 

It’s not fun to get spammy emails from retailers and online clothing shops, but being the first to know about upcoming discounts IS super fun. Sign up to get on your favorite retailers’ email lists to receive exclusive deals and promotions.

You can also sign up for their loyalty program, if they have one. Most online shops will reward you for continuing to shop with them.

Shop with Cash Back Apps

Getting money back for buying something you were going to buy either way is an amazing feeling. Try a cashback company app. 

When you shop through these apps, you’ll get actual, real cash back for your purchase. The amount depends on the app you use, but I suggest trying Rakuten (formerly eBates) or TopCashBack.

Leave Your Shopping Cart Wanting More

Leaving your shopping cart is a sneaky method, but oftentimes it works. 

Do your shopping, fIll your shopping cart, enter your billing and shipping info, then exit out of the window. Not always, but many shops will follow up with you and offer an extra discount just to get you to follow through with the sale.

Be a shopping tease. It gets the company’s attention ; )

Download the Honey Extension

I personally use the Honey browser extension, and while it doesn’t always have huge deals, it saves me a few bucks here and there. It’s free to download and use, and it automatically looks for and applies any available coupon to your shopping cart.

You also can get more discounts when you sign up and make an account. Again–it’s totally free!

Dress up the basics

Looking expensive on a budget doesn’t have to require fancy dresses or blouses in every shape, style and color. If you’ve got a limited budget, buy the basics and use jewelry, accessories and the right pair of shoes to dress them up.

For example: a white tank top and jeans can become a whole outfit with the right touches. Put on some pumps, a blazer or oversized cardigan and throw on a hat or a pair of sunglasses. Ta-da! You’ve just turned a basic outfit into a Pinterest-worthy look.

The key is to buy basics (which are often the most affordable) in neutral colors like beige, white and black. Then, let your accessories do the talking. A scarf, some earrings, a necklace, sunglasses or hats can all transform an outfit instantly.

Conclusion: How to be Fashionable on a Low Budget

Alrighty, you trendy and thrifty fashionistas! Can you feel your dreams of being the best dressed chica in your friend group already coming true? My favorite fashion retailers and top pick clothing shops will keep your wardrobe stylish and up-to-date, while staying within even the most thrifty-spender’s budget! You now have the shops and budget spending tips to remake your wardrobe, or to add a few new pieces to your closet to dazzle the masses. (Or to dazzle your hubby/cats/bedroom mirror. Whoever you’re modeling for!) Now, let’s get shopping, shall we? 

I truly hope this post was helpful to you. If you it was, please share it! It will only take a moment and it would be super appreciated by this one-woman show 🙂

Okay, y’all are awesome. Thanks so much for reading and I truly hope you found this post helpful!

‘Til next time, you hot tamales.

Love, hugs and good vibes,

<3 Sav