First Angelina Jolie made headlines for wearing a $26 vintage dress to the New York premiere of A MightyHeart. Then Hilary Swank wore a dress she’d bought for even fewer (15) dollars. It goes to show that even for those who can purchase almost anything, there’s still the thrill of a great cheap find.
For most people, the search for clothes on the cheap may be a more frequent occurrence – and not always such a thrill. The unexpected joy of finding a good deal is infectious, but needing a new outfit on a low budget can also be difficult, sifting through seemingly endless Sales racks.
Some say the key to finding inexpensive clothes is to look for details that make them appear expensive. While this may sometimes be true, there weren’t any details on Jolie’s or Swank’s dress “pretending” to be expensive. Rather, the key to clothes on the cheap is keeping things simple. The following tips are also key:
- Make sure colors are “true”, especially with black and white. Black should be dark, and not as though the item has been already washed too many times. White should be very clean and without any odd yellow or gray tones. A good rule of thumb is to be able to name the color: a “brown shirt with cream design” is good, an “orangey-pink skirt with pinkish trim” is not.
- Clothing should fit well. A good fit makes any pair of jeans, dress or other item automatically seem higher-priced.
- Inspect the quality. It sounds obvious, but take a minute to look at the seams, zippers, tag or logo placement and button holes.
- A quick way to change the look of an inexpensive piece of clothing is to replace the buttons. (Word of warning: Buttons can be expensive. Unless you have buttons already saved, buying new buttons takes just as much time and effort to find a good deal.)
- Mix and match. Pair an inexpensive tank top and dress with a nice sweater for a sophistcated look.
- There’s often an idea that cheap clothing with sparkles, sequins or rhinestones looks even cheaper. But this is actually an outdated sentiment. In today’s bargains, there are many shirts, tanks, shrugs and dresses with sequin or rhinestone details that look fun and attractive (especially at night).
And although it’s perfectly acceptable to express enthusiasm for a good deal, remember, the price tag can be kept secret. No one else has to know!
