How to Buy Designer Clothing on a Budget

For those of us with average incomes, buying designer clothing means making a tremendous investment. While the quality of designer clothing often makes the price tag worth the gut wrenching hit to the bank account, there are mistakes that can be made when buying designer wear on a budget that can devastate the average shopper. For a few quick tips on how to maximize every dollar spent, keep the following suggestions on how to approach buying designer clothing on a budget in mind before you hit the boutiques.

Designer Clothing on a Budget Tip #1: "Designer" clothing doesn't always mean quality. If you aren't familiar with the fashion industry, it can be more than a little easy to fall into the trap of believing that a label instantly means quality. Anyone who can market a product and a style successfully can call themselves a designer. The word isn't reserved for the elite of the fashion world. As such, research your labels carefully. Learn who uses the best materials and has a renowned talent for quality work (especially if your designers of choice haven't been around long). After all, faux materials are faux materials, no matter whose hands work with them. If buying a designer piece for you means spending an entire paycheck, you'll want to be sure that the materials are pure and that the crafting is excellent. Avoid making purchases based on the latest designer craze.

Designer Clothing on a Budget Tip #2: Go with a designer that you love, not just one you've "heard of." We've all heard of a certain handful of designers. After all, even our grandmothers were wearing Chanel. In other words, some fashion houses have been around the block and we all know who they are. As such, we fall in love with the air of sophistication surrounding their labels. However, do take the time to research runway shows and collections before making your first designer clothing purchase. You may find that, as much of a tradition as they have become in the fashion world, some more well known designers simply may not turn out pieces that appeal to your tastes. Be discriminating.

Designer Clothing on a Budget Tip #3: Start off with formal attire. If you can only afford one or two designer pieces, and you know that your collection won't be growing very rapidly, begin by selecting pieces that can be saved for special occasions. This is where many women on a budget find themselves disappointed after making their first designer clothing purchases. While that $2000 pair of pumps might seem like a fabulous addition to your wardrobe, wearing them with a $35 sweater will seem more than a little out of place. You'll find yourself having no reason to wear casual designer pieces if you cannot add to your wardrobe consistently from designer lines. To avoid this problem, start by selecting one or two pieces that will constitute an outfit saved for very special occasions. Over time, complete the outfit with shoes and a handbag, as well as the necessary accessories. When that special event comes, you'll have a well "proportioned" ensemble that is appropriate for the occasion.

Designer Clothing on a Budget Tip #4: Buy only classic cuts and colors. Regardless of whether or not you heed the advice given in Tip #3, at least start your designer clothing wardrobe with enduring classics that have stood the test of time. Neutral colors and clean, simple lines work best. Avoid current trends and try to foresee what will still be wearable in the future. When you have your basics, such as trench coats, bags, pumps, and crisp shirts, you can focus on the more trendy items in future collections. Start with pieces you'll be wearing five years from now, or this month's paycheck will be invested in pieces that will become next season's garbage.

Designer Clothing on a Budget Tip #5: If you are seeking designer clothing for the prestige, buy labels that have been around. Ok, so we're all a little guilty of this one. Sometimes, we just want to be able to tell others "who" we're wearing with a little pride. We want to display our accomplishments through what we're wearing. This can backfire if you are an avid fashion enthusiast who knows the names of every popular designer. Popular and classic are two entirely different animals. For your first few purchases, select designers with an enduring history and with excellent name recognition status.

Remember, how you approach buying designer clothing on a budget can determine your financial health as well as how long your wardrobe actually endures. Stretch every dollar by choosing pieces that will last and by choosing designers who are, based on your careful research, worthy of all the fuss. In the end, your little splurge will have become a wise investment.