How to Copy Fashion Magazine Clothing Outfit Styles for Less

I love looking at the layouts of the models wearing the latest styles in fashion magazines like Glamour, Vogue and Elle. The clothes and accessories have been combined by a professional to make someone look their absolute best. Most of the pictorial layouts also list the designer's name and, of course, a huge price tag. Some of the outfits would cost well over $1000 if you purchased each piece that is depicted. However, I have found that you can create a very similar look at bargain prices. You simply have to know a few tricks.

Rip Pages Out of Your Favorite Magazine

The first step is to go through your latest magazines and find pictures of complete outfits that you love. Also, find pictures of accessories, jewelry and separate clothing pieces that catch your eye. Next, tear these pages out! We will call these pages your Research Photos. You will bring them with you on your bargain shopping trip. They can be placed in a simple folder which you will carry with you. Don't worry what others may think when they see you referring to your folder. Who knows, they may assume you are a clothing buyer for a department store or a fashion designer.

Examine Your Research Photos

Before leaving the house, look carefully at your Research Photos. For example, if you have torn out a page showing a model wearing a gray wool skirt, white turtleneck sweater, gray cardigan sweater, red scarf, black tights, black leather boots, and a chunky necklace, first go directly to your own closet and see if you already own any of these pieces. You may already own the black tights and perhaps a white turtleneck sweater. If not white, do you have a cream color that could be substituted? Make an "X" on your Research Photo over any items you already have.

Prepare to Shop

Now it is time to select 2 or 3 thrift or discount stores to visit. Thrift and discount stores have brand name clothes for low prices, and you can pick up a lot of basic items which can be layered. When you layer items, they don't have to each be expensive designer names. Spend a little more on real leather shoes, boots and belts and your look will be high-end. I have found some great leather boots and belts at thrift stores as well. Plan your route so that you can visit several stores in one shopping trip, as when price is a consideration, you may have to try several stores before you find the right piece at the right price. Be sure to bring your folder, and keep in mind the clothing and accessory items that you already have at home. Outline a budget for yourself and prepare to stick to it. If you know the boots are your big-ticket item, you will have to spend less on the gray cardigan and red scarf.

Start Shopping but Stay Focused

As you begin shopping, have your Research Photo in your hand so that you can frequently refer to it and do not become distracted by all the other colors, fabrics and exciting pieces in the store. Stay focused on "gray cardigan sweater." Many thrift stores have the merchandise organized by color, so it will be easy to find the gray section. In a discount store, you will have to go to the sweater or cardigan section first, and then see if they have gray. If you absolutely cannot find gray, see if there is another color which you can substitute and still keep the original look going. Many thrift stores charge about $4-5 per item and you can find many brand name items in excellent condition, as I have done many times. Be sure to try on all items as sometimes the return policies are not as liberal as a typical department store. Keep your Research Photo out and refer to it often as you get distracted in the store. Do not buy things that are not in the Research Photo. If you stick to this plan, when you arrive home with your packages, you will have the same outfit you saw in the latest fashion magazine but for a bargain price.