Realistically speaking, many of us are not millionaires or are simply college students just wanting to stay in-trend. There are a few ways you can accomplish staying stylish without breaking the bank. A few things I like to do include selling old clothes to consignment stores and recently apps for selling clothing have also become fairly popular (I must admit I am one to sell clothing on Depop when I need extra cash). There is also nothing wrong with thrifting and honestly it is sort of fun to have so many different styles, colors, etc. all in one place. I even enjoy putting a modern twist on older clothes. With thrift clothing, depending on what you buy, you can ‘refurbish’ the clothes ,as I like to say, because most t-shirts are only a couple of bucks ($.99-$5) where I thrift. Since the clothes are so inexpensive, I try to buy multiple of similar style t’s and just ‘refurbish’ them in different ways. Basically, sometimes I’ll see a really cute top that is way too much money and I’ll find something similar or with enough fabric that I could potentially make my own version of what I initially fell in love with (because I have champagne taste with a beer budget). Sometimes, you can even find brand new clothing with tags at thrift stores which is an awesome way to stay trendy for cheap. I have created a list of my personal essentials this coming spring season and some examples under $100 to try to keep it affordable.
1. Ripped Boyfriend Jeans
They are comfy, loose and destroyed. You can cuff them as capri’s or leave them down to your ankles. These kinds of jeans let air flow… Meaning if it’s around 75 degrees, you’re not going to be sweating your lady bits off. You can definitely thrift for vintage 80s high waisted jeans and destroy them yourself (or not, your preference). Nuff’ Said. The ones pictured below are mine from Urban Outfitters.
2. Pastels and Whites
Pastel pink, lavender, green, blue, etc. anything pastel. Pastel t-shirts with white lettering are super cute and you can easily make them yourself for around $10 after buying materials from an A.C. Moore or Michaels. There are plenty of websites who sell pastel shirts in general for a fair price, as well. Pastel pants, shoes and accessories are adorable too with light gray and white outfits and perfect for the spring time. Pastel tops look super pretty with some boyfriend jeans, too!
3. Flowy Mid Length Dresses
Flowy mid length dresses are not only gorgeous but really comfortable. The whimsical style is perfect for the spring for a more bohemian look. They don’t show too much and are perfect for when the weather is just a little too warm for pants. You can pair these nicely with knee high gladiator sandals or even your favorite sneaker. There are so many ways to accessorize this look as well and these dresses work well for all body types. Free People, Urban Outfitters, Cupshe and so many different designers sell many different variations and it makes it so hard to decide. The dress pictured below is from Cupshe and is only $23.99!
4. Spring Neutrals and Vibrant colors
By ‘spring neutrals’ I mean colors such as champagne, rose gold, light gray and tan. Popular vibrant colors for spring 2016 are vibrant royal blues, reds, yellows and green. Be on the lookout for items around this color scheme and you’re set for the spring season. Gold accents go well with both the neutral and vibrant colors and silver could even be incorporated in some outfits, this is all your own preference.
5. Sunglasses
Sunglasses are a must all year long. No matter what season, the sun still shines and you still need to protect your eyes from the sun’s UV rays. Regardless, finding a pair doesn’t always need to cost a small fortune. There are plenty of cute designers with really nice quality sunglasses. Nordstrom sells a huge variety with a ton of different designers and prices.
6. Bralettes
Big or small; all boobs are invited. Bralettes are awesome because they’re usually very dainty and socially acceptable to show off (throwback to the 8th grade when girls got bashed for their pushup bras showing out of their shirts). Regardless, they come in a plethora of colors, including the ‘trendy’ colors of spring 2k16! A few of my favorites come from Urban Outfitters and American Apparel and they’re not too expensive either. There are definitely places you can find them for cheaper than $18-$24 but they’re such great quality and they’re so lacey/mesh that it blows my mind how durable they truly are. Forever 21 sells some adorable bralettes for around $10, as well! If you’re crafty enough, a cheap way to make a bralette would be go go to your local craft store to get some lace and add your own twist to one of my personal favorite fashion musts.
7. High Waisted Wide-Legged Pants
One of my favorite looks this upcoming spring season are high waisted wide-legged pants. They come in various different springtime colors and are perfect for all body types. The high waist slims you along with the wide-leg; which is an awesome bonus to this current trend. The looseness of the pants allow you to wear long pants in warmer weather due to the airflow (ladybits, again, good idea to keep them cool). You can make these pants look either very chic or relaxed and I think since this item is able to be worn in so many unique ways is what makes it such a staple for every gal’s wardrobe.
8. Knee High Gladiator Sandals
These sandals are coming back with a vengeance again during these upcoming warmer seasons. There are so many different styles from lace up to strappy and you can find them in nearly any color and in various different materials ranging from suede to leather or faux of both. The style is so simple but it gives an outfit the additional boost it may need. These can be paired with shorts or even mid length dresses, as I mentioned before.
9. Baseball Cap
OK, I understand this may be weird to have on my list but hear me out. Nowadays, brands such as Adidas and Brandy Melville are making really cute girly versions of the stereotypical male accessory. You can find them in more vintage tones, black, white, pastels and so much more! They are cute, keep your hair out of your face and the sun out of your eyes. Definitely suggest investing in one! Doesn’t need to be name brand to be cute either, search around and find your favorite within your budget.
10. Sneakers
Sneakers are just trendy right now in general. Ranging from Adidas (personal favorite) to Nike and everything in between. Vans, New Balance, Converse and so many more. Perfect for any season but white shoes, pastels (baby pinks and blues are my personal favorites) and even the more vibrant colors such as maroon and teal are awesome for this spring season. Sneakers are durable, generally comfortable, and nowadays very much in style with most outfits. T-shirt, black skinnies and add a pair of some Adidas. That’s my normal day-to-day staple outfit right there when I want to look good but stay comfy.
Personally, I have already made my own twists on thrift outfits that pertain to this article. I hope this helps some people in the upcoming spring season to stay fashionable without going broke.
