Summer is the time of the year when we can really let loose with our fashion. In winter we have to contend with keeping ourselves warm and in spring we have to keep ourselves dry, choosing big, cumbersome coats and jumpers. The summer is a different story.
Men and women alike have no major concerns other than picking the most stylish clothes they can and keeping up to date with the hottest trends. The only problem, however, could be making sure that your wallet can afford all these great new styles you have seen. It takes a shrew shopper to update their wardrobe without breaking the bank but it can be done! Here are a few tips on how to look stylish this summer without bankrupting yourself:
Wait Until Sales
This tactic may seem amongst the most obvious but is a sure-fire way of making your cash go further and can be a sound way of making sure you get the maximum value for money possible. Whilst most high street brands launch their summer ranges marginally before this period starts they will, only a few weeks into the season, begin to mark down a lot of their stock significantly. As they will be looking for additional cash to invest in their autumn/winter stocks, along with room to host them, many stores will knock anywhere up to 50% off their ranges within weeks of launching. This means that the sales often begin mid-season so you can still get summer fashion in time for summer but whilst saving a significant amount of money.
Invest In Classic Clothing
Who, in the world, is better dressed than George Clooney? The answer, even after a long pause for thought, would be “no one”. Similarly, are there many better dressed women than Marion Cotillard? The answer, again, is negative. The reason for this is that they both tend to stick to styles that are not only elegant and sophisticated, but are timeless and ever go out of style. Nothing the pair wears will ever be deemed as “out of season” as they both boast clothes styled in a golden age of dressing which look as classy today as they did eighty years ago. Pencil skirts, little black dresses, and black high heels will ever go out of style for a woman and suits and oxford shoes will never be off-trend for men.
To save money, make sure to purchase clothes that will last beyond the end of the season and years into the future. LBDs and suits, for example, can be picked up quite cheap with a bit of time spent in research and can last many years into the future. Faddy item of clothing, however, such as the current trend of wearing leggings as trousers, will unlikely extend to next year and, as such, represent poor value for money as they will need replacing very quickly.
If you need to think about it, the answer is “no”
When browsing through a stores stock, there are many items of clothing and many pairs of shoes that will catch the eye momentarily as items that could be worth investing in. If the outfit is something you really love, however, you will know straight away that you want it. If, on the other hand, the item needs picking up and examining, this means you are not really convinced. If this is the case, it is unlikely the clothing will stand the test of time and it will no doubt be consigned to the back of the wardrobe in the not too distant future. Only consider buying outfits that you don’t have to put much thought into.
Look for styles that will be in next season
Some trends are destined to be short lived whereas others will likely continue into the next season and even beyond. Those taking note of developments in the fashion world can make a good guess as to whether clothes they want to buy will be on trend in the near future. A good example would be floral print dresses which have become one of the most popular styles of the year so far. The fact that this trend looks to keep on running into Spring 2013 at the very least means that any items bought now will still be high fashion at this point. Keep your eye on the ball and your wallet will feel the benefit!
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Guest Author Bio: Kieron Casey is a fashion blogger who writes regularly about the latest styles and mens shoes.
