Top | Pants (similar) | Shoes | Earrings | Bracelet | Purse | Coffee Mug
Being a #girlboss can take a lot of work so your outfit shouldn’t have to! If there is one thing that my mama taught me well, it was how to dress for success on a budget. Thanks mama! Dressing for success does not have to be costly and who doesn’t like to save a few dollars where they can? I don’t claim to always get everything for cheap, but I do make a conscious effort to make my dollars go as far as possible. That being said, here are my tips for all of my ladies out there that, like me, have a champagne taste on a beer budget.
Shop the sales
If you aren’t someone who normally gets excited about sales, it’s time to make a change! At some point the gorgeous blouse that you are coveting is going to go on major sale and you will kick yourself for paying full price. Stores are always looking for an excuse to push a sale so look out for the really good ones (40%+ off) and sit back for the duds (10-15%). Sign up for your favorite stores email lists and check them regularly. Sometimes email subscribers get inside information and it pays off to get all of those annoying emails! Outlets can also be your best friend. While they usually are a season behind, they offer greatly discounted clothes and you know they are still the name brand you love. J Crew Factory is my favorite for discounted work clothes- specifically their cropped pants. The majority of my work attire comes from Loft, Banana Republic, and J Crew Factory when they are having their major end of the year sales. I have scored work pants for $8/piece so I am telling you that the wait is worth it people!
Know when to save and when its ok to splurge
Have you ever heard the term, “Fashion comes and goes but style is timeless”? It is ok to splurge on the pieces that you know you will be able to wear for years to come. Think suits, blazers, an age-appropriate LBD, or well-made heels. This unfortunately does not include trendy pieces. So while you might be really tempted to run out and buy the season’s hottest new trend, unless you can find it for a reasonable price, I highly suggest saving your money. I tend to splurge on pieces that I can see myself wearing in 5 years and in order to do that the quality has to be there. Keep in mind that sometimes it is necessary to spend a bit more for quality if it is going to save you money in the long run.
Don’t allow yourself to shop for fun (on a regular basis)
This one gets me the most. Anyone else an emotional shopper? I get it, I have first hand experience that retail therapy can cure just about anything! I have spent hundreds of dollars trying to make myself feel better or simply because I was bored at the time. While this is ok on rare occasions, it can NOT be your norm. If you absolutely must- stick to places like Marshalls, TJ Maxx, or Target. I call these my safe zones because at least they are budget friendly. Be careful because these places can also sneak up on you if you go overboard, so my best piece of advice is to only allow yourself to purchase one item.
Stock up on staples
These are your classics that are never going out of style. They are the separates that you can wear to make several different outfits. For the most part, your staples are going to be your solid colors. Prints tend to come and go. Every #girlboss should own a white and black blouse, navy and black pants, and a black pencil skirt at the very least. These colors go with almost everything. I own several different white blouses because they go with any bottom that you can think of- pants, pencil skirts, shorts, you name it. You can’t go wrong investing in separates in white, navy, black, khaki, grey, and red.
It’s all in the details
Details can make or break an outfit but they can also help you recreate old looks and make them new again. Accessories can completely change an outfit by switching up your jewelry, belt, and purse so don’t forget about these. You do not need a ton of different details. Again, stick to pieces that you can wear with several different outfits and through multiple seasons. My go to place for details is Charming Charlie because they have great deals and everything is color coded so it’s super easy to choose from!
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