Eye on Fashion: A Teen's Perspective // Fashion on a Budget

I do realize with all the posting about recent fashion trends and such, very few(if any) of us have the budget to actually  go out and buy new trends and clothes whenever we feel like it. So, in honor of those who still want to look fashionable on a budget, I wanted to  spend some time this week talking about some ways to manage a cute wardrobe without breaking the bank. 

1. DIY(do it yourself): Some of my friends’s most stylish clothing are handmade. If you’re the crafty type, DIY clothing would definitely be the way to go. High-waisted jeans from Goodwill can be cut and bleached to make high-waisted jean shorts with a color gradient. Cut off sleeves or shirt bottoms to make your own off-the-shoulder tops and crop tops. I even have a friend who took a pair of white men’s boxers, and sewed layers of lace on top to make a pair of adorable lace shorts(sewing lace to anything is a quick and easy way to make anything a bit more trendy). Printing out photos and designs on iron transfer paper, then ironing them onto t-shirts is a way to design your own entirely-original graphic tees.

2. vintage/thrift shops: These can be a gold mine if you know how to navigate them. The trick to vintage and thrift shopping is to be open to whatever crazy thing you might find. I’ve bought old men’s dress shirts, huge sweaters, band t-shirts, shoes, and all sorts of random finds by walking into a thrift shop with a few dollars and trying to see what I could find. Keep an open mind, and with patience you’ll be able to find some great and unique finds(Urban Outfitters takes a great deal of their clothing straight off the racks of vintage stores, so it’s very possible to find trendy clothing in vintage/thrift shops, if one has a little patience). 3. Clothing staples: Whenever a new print or clothing style becomes popular, it seems as if everyone immediately runs to the nearest American Eagle or Forever 21 to purchase it-- only to have it go out of style a few months later. Try to stay away from purchasing too much clothing based on “fad” trends that go out of style quickly. Instead, make sure your wardrobe consists of a good set of staple clothing (little black dress, dark wash jeans, black pants, flats, etc.), that you can accent with more-affordable statement necklaces or neon heels to make the outfit more trendy. That way you’ll always have a basic set of clothing that will never go out of style, and you can accent it with more modern and trendy accessories.