How To Dress Well On A Budget
Create a timeless wardrobe and learn how to dress well on a student budget.
If you’re wondering how to dress well but you’re on a tight budget you’re not alone. However, having a good sense of style and dressing your best every day doesn’t always have to mean spending loads of money or wearing designer items.
Thanks to the popularity of both TikTok and fast fashion, trend cycles have come and gone over the last few years super quickly, meaning items that you might’ve bought in 2021 are now considered out of fashion and are gathering dust in the back of your wardrobe.
If you’re looking to move away from microtrends and curate a more timeless wardrobe we’ve put together some of our best fashion tips to help you learn how to dress well and own clothes you’ll want to reach for again and again for many years to come.
In this article:
How to dress well on a budget
First of all, “dressing well” is subjective and everyone has their own personal style. That being said if you want to look more put together or favour clothes that are a bit smarter than your uni hoodie and leggings here are some ways you can start to modify your wardrobe.
1. Buy secondhand
If you’re on a budget but want to invest in some more timeless pieces check out Depop or Vinted or one of your local charity shops. You never know what people want to get rid of and you can find designer and high-end, high-quality pieces for a fraction of the original price.
2. Skip fast fashion
Look, fast fashion can be great for the occasional item, but it’s cheap for a reason. If you want to own a wardrobe full of clothes that will last you for many years it’s best to step away from the fast fashion websites, especially if you’re thinking about buying something big such as a coat. A good way to tell the quality of the item is to look at the material and composition. Synthetic materials like polyester and nylon typically won’t hold up long-term, so look for items made of wool, cotton or linen instead.
3. Avoid microtrends
Microtrends are fashion trends that are considered fashionable for a short period of time before people move on and don’t want to wear them anymore. It can be hard to know what a microtrend is at the time but if you’ve been influenced to buy something by TikTok and you probably wouldn’t have been drawn to it otherwise it’s probably a microtrend. Prints and slogans can often go in and out of fashion very quickly, so it’s best to avoid these unless you’re certain you love them and will want to wear them again and again.
4. Choose pieces that are easy to style
You might love those neon pink trainers now, but are you actually going to wear them? Bright colours can be fun, but you might find you struggle to style them with your existing clothes. Timeless fashion normally prioritises neutral colours such as black, navy, white, brown, cream, beige or khaki as these colours normally pair well with anything. Of course, you can still wear bold colours and prints, but always consider what you could actually style it with before you spend your money.
How to create a capsule wardrobe
If you’re wondering how to dress better, a capsule wardrobe is a great way to curate your clothes if you’re trying to dress better. This prioritises having a few basics and not owning excessive amounts of clothing you won’t actually wear.
Some benefits of having a capsule wardrobe are:
- You can save money by not needing to buy new items every month
- It’s more sustainable
- You’ll have more space in your wardrobe
- It can be easier to get dressed and put outfits together
- You can invest in higher-quality items that will last you for years
Not to mention this is a great way to make some money if you’re having a big clearout and want to sell your old clothes online.
You could even try upcycling some of your old clothes to create something brand new that you actually want to wear.
Some things to keep in your capsule wardrobe could be:
- Straight leg jeans
- Long-sleeved tops in plain colours
- Smart black trousers
- Flared leggings
- Plain hoodies or sweatshirts
- Neutral crop tops & t-shirts
- Basic skirts
- High-quality jumpers and cardigans
Try to think about what you could easily wear a couple of times a week but in different ways. For example, wearing the same pair of jeans but with different tops or wearing the same long sleeve black top but underneath knitwear or dungarees to create new looks each day.
Remember that creating the perfect capsule wardrobe can take time but it can also help you to rationalise any new big purchases you make. Oh, and if you are looking to buy some new statement pieces for your capsule wardrobe don’t forget to check out our discounts on Student Beans.
Timeless fashion pieces to invest in
Alright so if you’re still wondering how to dress well and want some styling tips, here are the things we’d recommend investing in and keeping in your wardrobe.
Here are some timeless fashion items that will stand the test of time, both in terms of quality and style:
- Good quality jeans such as Levi’s
- A real leather jacket
- Dr Martens
- Converse
- A denim jacket
- Plain silver or gold jewellery
- Smart black or navy trousers
- Simple blouses or shirts in neutral colours
- Pleated or a-line skirts in black
- Denim mini skirts
- Plain jumpers or cardigans made from wool and not synthetic materials
- A trench coat
- A wool coat for winter
- Basic long-length t-shirts
- Plain blazers
- A plain black puffer jacket
- Smart hemmed trousers in neutral colours
- Midi skirts in neutral colours
Remember, you don’t have to buy these items brand-new and second-hand is always an option. Timeless fashion is an investment, but if you’re not spending loads of money on brand-new fast fashion items every month you’ll soon find you might be able to splash out on pricier high-quality items like Dr Martens knowing they’ll last you a lifetime.
Need more fashion tips? Check out what shoes to pack for uni and light & dark academia fashion on a budget.
