Cheap chic: Tips to look good on a budget
Got the urge to buy? We sure do.
But these are tough economic times, and before you head out, consider three well-tested steps to help freshen your wardrobe without emptying your wallet. The first is to purge, second to assess and third to shop.
Let's walk through the details.
Step 1 — Purge
You can't update your wardrobe without first cleaning your closet, said Teresa Hunsaker, a consumer science educator with Utah State University Extension Services. A regular sifting makes room for more clothes and can help you decide what new items to shop for, she said.
For example, do you need new shoes, shirts, a jacket or pants? How will a new item mesh with what you already have?
"Do your homework first by really going through your closet," Hunsaker said. "How better to slash your clothing dollar than to say, 'What do I need it for?"'
A closet purge can also save cash by educating a person about why some clothing sits on the shelf without being worn, said Alicia Richmond, owner of Chic on a Shoestring and a weekly contributor to "Good Things Utah" on ABC Ch. 4.
"Even if you find something hanging on the rack that's on clearance for $4.98, if it doesn't fit you, you've thrown away $4.98," Richmond said.
Here are some quick tips Richmond offers to determine good fit:
First, clothing shouldn't be too tight or too loose. If you can "pinch an inch" of fabric around the seat of your pants, near your hips or under your armpits, your clothing is likely too big, Richmond said.
If you can't pinch an inch, your clothing may be too small.
Other tips include choosing clothes that define the waistline, no matter if that's a problem area. Also look for clothing that balances your hips and shoulders and makes them look as if they are the same width, Richmond said.
Step 2 — Assess
Now that you've purged, it's time to decide what clothing items you want and need. Richmond recommends a person structure a wardrobe so 80 percent is a "working wardrobe" with classic pieces that can be reused over multiple seasons. The other 20 percent should be fun or fashionable, she said.
"It's really like getting a game plan," Richmond said. "When you go grocery shopping, don't most people take a list?"
So what's classic and what's trendy?
Hunsaker said classic items for women include a nice, dressy pair of jeans, lined dress slacks, a white button-down shirt, a solid-colored skirt and a professional blazer or jacket. Trendy items include the cropped jackets that are now in style and clothing in colors such as lemon yellow and bright pink.
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