Curating a Designer Wardrobe on a Budget
image via @Wandler
“i like my money right where I can see it, hanging in my closet” - Carrie Bradshaw.
Personally, I look at designer purchases as a step towards curating a wardrobe with intention. I may also choose to believe this to make myself feel better whenever a new, higher-priced item enters my wardrobe. Nonetheless, there is some truth to it and whilst we all wish to have a Kardashian closet or an unlimited credit card, the reality is, that we need to purchase with intent.
My first piece of (obvious) advice is to take your time. The key wording in this guide is ‘curate’. This should be a process, not a race in who can spend the most money as quickly as possible. You don’t need me to remind you that impulse purchases and designer items do not play well together. Keep that shit for the high street.
Starting small and practical with your purchases is one of the best ways to introduce designer items into your wardrobe. Take a look at entry-level pieces from your favourite brands. Small accessories and t-shirts are a popular entry point. Often lower in price, these items are a great way to add a touch of luxury to your everyday styling.
image via net-a-porter.com
Wearability is key when spending your hard-earned money on those higher-end pieces. We have all joked about ‘Girl Math’ but breaking down an expensive price tag into the ‘Cost Per Wear’ ideology is a great way to determine if a piece will be worth the price. Choose key items of good quality that you will wear often. As they say, ‘wear the damn clothes’.
During your curating process, you will inevitably be faced with a ‘Do I? Or Dont I?’ Situation. I’m often faced with this question when I am looking to purchase an item that has been influenced by a trend. And whilst I think there is a time to indulge in a trend you have to look at these costly purchases objectively and review your decision making. In this situation, we want to spend our money wisely. After all, we don’t want our wardrobes to be solely guided by trends but to contain high-quality items we will wear season after season.
Speaking of seasons, a little reminder that purchasing from past-season collections is not taboo. Purchasing designer items on a budget is all about saving money where you can and mid-season sales from luxury fashion retailers such as Net-a-Porter are a great place for grabbing those lusted-after items with a hefty discount. Signing up for retailers’ newsletters will keep you in the know and may also give you early access to those deals.
Outlet stores such as The Outnet, are another great place to find past-season collections. Often marked with up to 70% off these online retailers have an impressive list of brands and in turn have some great pieces at an amazing value. Whilst these discounts are enough to tempt you, don’t overlook the payment options. Most retailers now offer Klana and PayPal pay in 3, which just helps take the edge off those otherwise spendier purchases.
One of the most common ways to build your designer wardrobe on a budget is by purchasing pre-loved. Vestiaire Collective is my go-to for pre-loved luxury pieces. Whilst you are making a more sustainable and cost-effective purchase, Vestiaire also takes away the guesswork and offers a sense of security with its Expert Authentication service. And if one-of-a-kind vintage pieces are your jam then you may have found your heaven.
Investing in luxury fashion right off the bat can be somewhat of an unnerving process. And if you are anything like myself, indecision can squander any plans to treat one’s self. Designer rental platforms such as Hurr Collective are more commonly marketed towards luxury occasion wear without commitment. However, if you have a particular item on your wish list, it’s worth checking to see if you can rent it first.
Think of this tip as a try before you buy. Simply rent your item and see how it works with your wardrobe and your day-to-day. Hurr Collective have a long list of luxury designers to choose from, think Prada, Loewe to Chanel. You could save yourself some time and money by trying this out!
Let us know if you have any tips of your own by tagging us on Instagram!
