In another country, a world away and another lifetime ago, I was working as a fashion editor at Japanese Vogue magazine.
Although I was regularly handling designer pieces worth thousands of dollars on photo shoots, there was no way I could afford them on my tiny salary – and besides, I had always enjoyed making and customising my own clothes, and continued to do so even after moving to Tokyo.
As a card-carrying DIY enthusiast, I was delighted when the editor accepted my pitch for a regular column that involved me sewing or upcycling pieces and showing readers step by step how they could do the same.
I was even more delighted when the editor breezed into the office one day and, glancing at the blouse I’d made from an op-shopped shirt and some lace, asked: “Is that Balenciaga?” She was genuinely surprised when I told her it was just something I’d whipped up for my next DIY column.
Apart from me reliving a fond memory, the point of this story is that you don’t need to spend a fortune to have a wardrobe that has a luxe, designer look to it. If you can make or customise your own clothes, the world is your oyster. And even if you’re not so confident with a needle and thread, there are plenty of other tricks to get that champagne chic on a beer budget. Here are a few – let us know in the comments if you have other tips.
Second-hand is not second best
Few of us can afford to buy designer wear new every season or even every year, especially with cost-of-living pressures.
Luckily, these days it’s much easier to find second-hand designer pieces, and they’re often in mint condition, or worn only a few times. It’s possible to find great designer gear for super low prices if you’re prepared to fossick at op shops and flea markets or trawl for bargains online, but if you want to improve your strike rate and prefer shopping at bricks and mortar stores, visit the new breed of consignment boutiques such as Goodbyes and Mutual Muse.
These kinds of stores provide a resale service, allowing customers to sell quality preloved items including clothing, accessories and footwear for cash or store credit. This means you may even be able to ‘swap’ items you no longer wear for ‘new to you’ designer gear, effectively upgrading your wardrobe for free.
Many of them also have an online presence, so if there isn’t an outlet close to you in real life, jump onto the internet to find a virtual one.
Look for quality, not quantity
Do you remember when your entire wardrobe fitted into … well, a wardrobe? If so, then you’ll probably also remember how well items were made back in the day: designed to last, created from quality fabrics with attention to detail. These days, cheap fashion abounds, and it’s tempting to purchase several pieces for lower prices rather than one item that seems more expensive.
However, well made clothing in natural fibres looks better and will last much longer than anything from the fast fashion stores, and can be repaired over and over, whereas it’s usually difficult if not impossible to mend synthetic items even once. Some examples?
Cheap jeans often contain stretch fabrics that soon sag, whereas quality denim is durable and keeps its shape. Fast fashion knits tend to be made from synthetic yarns that don’t breathe and tend to pill irreversibly, compared with wool that is known for its breathability and can be trimmed if it pills.
And the surface coating tends to eventually peel off anything made from vinyl (also known as polyurethane or vegan leather), while if leather is kept conditioned it will develop a beautiful, supple feel and a rich patina. So save up for one quality piece if you can, rather than making do with multiple inferior items.
For one-off occasions, rent
Got a big event coming up but can’t afford to buy a new outfit? Why not rent one instead?
With the number of designer rental options out there, it hardly makes sense to purchase a garment that you might only wear once or twice.
A quick search online reveals several places (both physical and internet-based) where you can browse and borrow the latest fashion for a fraction of the retail price, such as The Volte and GlamCorner.
Similar to the consignment boutiques, some designer rental services allow users to rent out pieces from their own wardrobes as well, so if you’ve stocked up on designer pieces in the past, this could be your way of making some money back.
Maintenance makes sense
If you want your wardrobe to work for you, you’ll need to put in a bit of effort from time to time. Apart from taking care storing and laundering your clothes, there are other things to consider.
At the end of winter, before you store them away, wash woollen items and depill them if needed – it won’t take long but will give them a whole new lease on life. Similarly, spot clean coats, or if needed, get them dry cleaned before you store them.
Clean and polish leather shoes regularly and check whether they need resoling. Patch-up kits are available, but for significant repairs, it’s best to take them to a professional.
It might surprise you to learn that there are also handbag ‘spas’ where designer bags (and no-name but good quality leather pieces) can be cleaned and revitalised beyond what a home treatment can achieve; they are not super cheap but with many people seeing luxury handbags as solid investments, they’re probably worth it. And if you’ve got spare cash, splash out on a day spa for yourself at the same time!
What are your tips to keep your fashion budget down? Why not share them in the comments section below?
Also read: Sharpen your style with these senior fashion influencers
