Creating a fun summer style on a budget can be challenging, especially when you prefer certain looks and brands that tend to be more expensive. However, with a little effort, you can get comfortable enough to beat the heat and look good on just about any budget.
Here’s what I do to stay stylish and cool during the summer.
I look for good deals on common items.
If you’re trying to maintain your style on a budget, looking for good deals is essential. There are tons of businesses selling the same items at varying prices, and if you don’t look for deals you could end up paying significantly more for no good reason.
One thing you may not realize is that you don’t have to sacrifice quality to get a good deal. For instance, if you like leather goods, you don’t have to settle for anything less than high-quality when you buy from brands like Portland Leather Goods. High-quality, genuine leather goods can be affordable when you get them from the right company.
I search Etsy for upcycling ideas.
Sometimes it’s easy to upcycle old clothes to give them a fresh look, especially for summer. Since summers tend to be warmer, you can get away with cutting the sleeves off shirts and jackets, and you can also turn pants into shorts.
There are a lot of people who sell upcycled clothes on Etsy that are perfect for summer. I look around for ideas first to see if there’s anything I can do with the clothes I have. Sometimes I find ideas I can use on clothes from the local thrift store. It’s easy to find simple ideas that won’t cost much, but if you’re short on time, you can just buy the clothes directly.
If I find something I love, but I’m not interested in doing the project myself, I’ll buy my upcycled clothes from the seller who makes them. It’s a little more expensive this way, but it’s great to support individual crafters.
I don’t pay attention to the size.
Looking for clothes at the thrift store is an excellent way to get a budget-friendly summer style, but it’s easy to get frustrated when you can’t find your size. Personally, I stopped looking for my size and I stay open to larger sizes, even several sizes bigger than what I normally wear.
The thing about large sizes is that you can cinch waists with belts and it’s easy enough to hem pants (and even shorts) that are too long. Sometimes shirts and other tops are perfectly okay baggy, especially in the summer when the weather is pretty hot.
I shop for look-alike clothes.
Popular brands tend to make clothes that look similar and sometimes identical to clothes you can get just about anywhere else. For example, many brands make plain t-shirts or plain jeans, and aside from the tag or button, you wouldn’t know the difference.
When I see a summer look I like, I start shopping for lookalike clothes to see what I can find at a bargain price. Sometimes, it’s just the general look that captures my attention, like a certain style of shorts with a t-shirt of a specific color. Other times, it’s a brand name item I’d like, but I’ll settle for something that looks similar.
I hit up Facebook Marketplace.
You’d be surprised at what you can find on Facebook Marketplace. There are some real treasures to be found there. People sell their old clothes for good prices, and many items are still in excellent shape.
If you’re looking for brand-name clothing or accessories, getting them second-hand will save you a ton of money. Search on Facebook Marketplace to find the items you need because you’ll probably find someone selling exactly what you want.
Looking for summer styles on a budget? Go second-hand.
On a budget, the easiest way to get the summer style you’re looking for is to go with second-hand clothes. Most of the time, you’ll be able to find second-hand clothes that have barely been worn, or at least they’ll look brand new. Even well-worn clothes can be just as good, depending on the style. For instance, well-worn jeans and t-shirts are perfect for summer, especially when you’re headed to the beach.
The only clothing item you probably don’t want to buy second-hand is shoes. Other than that, you can get an amazing look for summer on a budget with just a little bit of searching.
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This content is made possible by Larry Alton
Photo credit: Shutterstock
