“People will stare. Make it worth their while.” —Harry Winston
After months in comfortable clothes, going back out into the world might be daunting for many. As lockdown in the UK is easing up, many are wondering if a new wardrobe is worth it? Well, maybe not a whole new line, but a few new things might be nice to wear when you get to meet up in the park and have a picnic during the next few months. Treating yourself doesn’t need to be expensive either – you can look a million dollars for a fraction of the price if you follow some of the tips below.
Without further ado, here are some of the best ways to spruce up your wardrobe for summer, for less!
Clothing
Whatever your style, there are some cracking deals out there for you to explore… even if you are not comfortable with a trip to your local shopping centre.
Have a guess at how much the dress on the left cost. £120? £100? Maybe more? It definitely looks on the more expensive side as the material is quality and durable. If you are a fan of this style of dress, you may be familiar with those seen in Phase Eight or Ted Baker stores. The dress in the photo is that quality. Although this photo was taken in 2017, the dress is just as beautiful as it is there. For those with up-and-coming invitations to weddings/graduations/you just want to look good as you strut down the street, this is probably the type of dress you are likely to look for.
Well, I will not keep the suspense any longer… it was only £50! Oh, and it was from Dorothy Perkins. This might still be on the expensive side for some, but about 1/3 of the price of the brands already mentioned. Dorothy Perkins own line, Luxe, is a go to for this style of dress or skirt, if you want to change the top half. These are sometimes on sale, but if you want to possibly buy now, go check out their website as there are some good deals to be had right now!
Sometimes, supermarkets have some cracking deals. I managed to get this red jumpsuit for £18, but you wouldn’t know that! I have worn this for various occasions and it’s still going strong. If something is still a little bit on the expensive side, either wait for a sale (and risk it not being your size) or some places will have a reward points scheme you can use to exchange for money off.
Another favourite trick of mine is going shopping in charity shops! This is a much more sustainable way to go about new clothes and hey, you might just find some cracking things in there. Personally, I found a M&S denim jacket for £4! I saw a similar one in M&S for £45, so I definitely saved here. It is a bit big, but that’s the look I was going for and I’ve sown on many patches to decorate it as I like. Sometimes, you’ll find designer clothes in there for a fraction of the price. So if you are visiting an affluent area, pop into some of their charity shops and see what you can pick up!
Accessories
I’m not big on accessories myself, but I do know a bargain when I see one. Whether it be earrings, rings or masks you’re after, I know a few tips that can give you more bang for your buck.
Ah yes, masks have become a part of our every day life in 2021 and is likely to stay for the foreseeable future. I am lucky to have a great mum who has made many masks for me out of many different cottons, but I suffer from acne and the masks have not been kind to me. So to combat this, I had a quick Google and apparently satin masks are great for that. They are fashionable and been spotted in the likes of Vogue… for around £45! If you have the money, then go ahead but there is nothing different than the one I have on. My favourite place for accessories is Etsy and let me tell you, I got the mask for a bargain. £5.10 to be exact. Best of all, my money was supporting a small, independent business and the owner even gives you a 10% off your next purchase. Anyway, Etsy is a great place to look for unique accessories too and if you are looking for a little pizzazz in your life, check it out.
If Etsy isn’t coming up with inspiring results, you can always check out other places such as jewellerybox.co.uk and see if anything there takes your fancy. I found a sterling silver band on there for £3.81!
Another trick I’ve learned in the ripe old age of 22 is to follow some accounts on Instagram; that’s how I found these cherry earrings. They were from a independent jeweler and whilst they are more than what would pay for a pair of earrings, I couldn’t say no to them. They were 50% off because it was coming up to Christmas when I bought them. If you like a certain style of accessories, search them on Instagram and keep checking to see if any discounts do come up. They likely will at some point and that is when you should swoop in and get what you’ve been eyeing up!
Shoes
I admit, I rarely buy shoes since I tend to wear the same 3/4 pairs over and over. However, I do have some tricks up my sleeve that I will share with you.
If you are a student, majority of places online and in-person will offer you a discount. USE IT! Yes, it might be only 10% off, but sometimes places like Schuh will often bump it up to 20-25%. On the same note, sometimes it is also worth comparing the prices and student discount offered by different retailers such as JD Sports, Office etc. They will often stock the same shoes or similar but at different prices OR the student discount is higher in one place OR you can combine student discount with the sale price.
Another tip is downloading the app the shop has. I did this with Koi as they offered me 25% off for joining the app and I could combine it with my student discount… I saved 45% in the end. They did end up messing my order up, but they did fix that and I got to keep the wrong pair. I wasn’t going to say no to that, so nor should you if that happens.
And lastly, if you are blessed to have feet on the smaller side, shop in the kids section. You may think I’m crazy, but I have seen an identical pair of white Nike Air Max trainers in the kids section for £45 in comparison to the £95 in the adults. It is a bit of a weird one, but you don’t pay V.A.T on children’s clothes nor on their shoes so take advantage of this. Usually, the largest female shoes will go to is around size 6, but they can be larger. You just need to sieve that out.
I implore you to shop consciously though. Where possible, it is always best to shop local as it helps keep your CO2 emissions down. Likewise, please try to support small independent businesses too!
A Journey to the Centre of Me 