Save money on clothing

A guest post from Lindsay Edwards a personal stylist

1 Shop your wardrobe first

Before you give in to the urge to hit the shops for a new outfit, it’s always worth shopping for your own wardrobe first. I’d be willing to bet that there are lots of items lurking within, that you’ve completely forgotten you own. Maybe some still have the original tags intact and are just begging to be worn! You’ll have lots of clothes that you wear regularly too, but have you tried combining them in a brand new way? If you’re always reaching for the same old outfits on repeat, you’ll feel bored of your wardrobe of seemingly limited choices. It’s time to think outside the box and have some fun experimenting! Form fresh outfits from old clothes by pairing together items you’ve not worn together before, for example take that top you always wear with jeans and try it on with every pair of trousers and skirts that you own. Rinse and repeat. You’ll be amazed at how many new outfits you’ll create – none of which have cost you a penny.

2 Alter your clothes

If you have clothes in your wardrobe which fit you but you’re tired of, consider altering them. Simple tweaks such as swapping the buttons on cardigans, blazers and coats will transform their appearance at a far lower cost than replacing them. I regularly dye clothes in the washing machine (I use Dylon pods), as a fun and affordable way to breathe new life into them. Just make sure you read and follow the instructions on the dye pod carefully! The buttons and fabric dye are reasonably priced on Amazon and there’s lots of free tutorials on upcycling clothes available on YouTube to get your creative juices flowing! For any alterations to the fit of a garment that fall outside of your skill set, a local seamstress or tailor can work wonders.

Note from The Complaining Cow! Lynsey convinced me to try dying a top that I loved but didn’t work with my (grey!) hair on telly. I am old school and remember tye dying everything by hand in a bucket and having streaks! But here’s a shot of me wearing said top for an appearance on Steph’s Packed Lunch!

3 Rent an outfit

Buying an outfit specifically for a special occasion such as a wedding, often feels like a huge waste of money when you know you’re probably only going to wear it once or twice. In scenarios such as these, hiring an outfit is the ideal solution. More and more clothes rental sites are popping up online and I think it’s a genius concept. I have hired dresses from Hirestreet and By Rotation in the past. There is always a wide range of clothing in a variety of styles and sizes to choose from – accessories such as handbags are also available too. All the items, some of which are premium designer brands, can be hired for a pre-agreed amount of time at a fraction of the retail cost. Clients of mine have rented outfits for graduation, job interviews, photoshoots and even holidays.

4 Shop preloved

We live in a fast-paced world where clothing is frequently purchased then discarded with many more years of wear still left in it. For the savvy shoppers amongst us, second hand clothing can be picked up at rock bottom prices. I am a huge fan of preloved clothing. In fact, I gave up fast fashion as my New Years resolution in 2022 and saved myself a small fortune, without compromising on my style. I picked up some fabulous items (some of which were designer) from local charity shops and online sites such as Ebay, Vinted and Vestiaire Collective. Not only is preloved shopping great for the bank balance but also from an environmental point of view too – guilt free shopping! Just make sure that you’re not lured into buying an item solely based upon  the low price tag – a bargain is only a bargain if you’d have viewed it as a worthwhile purchase at its estimated original cost. Always accept the receipt for any purchases you make too in case you need to make any returns or exchanges.

5 Get swishing

Clothes swapping events, or swishing parties as they are sometimes called, are a fun way to exchange clothes with others. You take along clothes (in good condition) which you no longer wear to the event and receive tokens in exchange. You can then browse the clothes that others have donated and purchase any you like the look of with your tokens. These events are lots of fun and are becoming more popular, especially within London. If there aren’t any clothes swapping events locally, perhaps you could host one with friends.

6 Focus on the clothes that work hard for you

When you do hit the shops, always ask yourself two questions when considering whether to purchase an item ‘do I have three items of clothing already within my wardrobe that this item will go with’ and ‘can I think of three regular scenarios when I will wear this item’? If you can answer ‘yes’ to both questions, then this will be a hardworking addition to your wardrobe. If you answer ‘no’ then you will rarely wear the item and will probably need to buy more clothes to increase its lacking versatility. For me, if an outfit can be quickly thrown on for the school run, is stylish enough for seeing clients and comfortable enough for lounging on the sofa at the end of the day with a glass of wine in my hand,  then it’s an absolute winner in my books! You don’t need lots of clothes in your wardrobe, just clothes you can wear lots of ways on lots of days.

7 Buy better

Buying better quality means that clothes will last longer, giving you more value in accordance with cost per wear. That could mean that an item costs slightly more initially, but it pays for itself over time. That doesn’t mean that you need to shop from high end brands, there are lots of high-quality clothes available at mid-price points. The best way to check the quality of an item is to check the fabric, stitching and online reviews (people are very quick to leave negative reviews if an item isn’t up to scratch – and rightly so)! It is particularly wise to strive for good quality surrounding those items you wear the most (e.g. jeans, handbag), or rely on to keep you comfortable (e.g. waterproof coat),  to ensure maximum longevity and value.

8 Check for store and online discounts and cashback

Whilst shopping online has its frustrations, it does have its benefits too. Lots of websites run frequent discounts which aren’t available in stores. It’s always worth trying clothes on in store, but before you head to the tills, quickly check whether ordering the item online will save you money. If you’ve not ordered from a brand online before, you will typically receive a 10% off voucher just by signing up to their newsletter. They’ll run other offers frequently throughout the year too, typically around bank holidays and celebrations. For example, in the Spring there are lots of discounts on items with a floral print in celebration of the RHS flower shows.

Check to see if you can gain loyalty points from partner organisations or your credit card. And use cashback sites like Topcashback* and Quidco* as well as Kidstart*. There are others but these are the main ones.

9 Use google lens to find cheaper alternatives

If you see an item of clothing which you love, but it’s out of budget, utilise your google lens function on your mobile phone to find alternatives. Simply click on the camera lens in the search bar of Google and take a photo of the item you are coveting. It will then present you with a selection of very similar alternatives from a range of brands. I recently took a photo of a metallic pair of trainers from Mint Velvet which cost £109, but a quick snap with the Google lens showed me there was an almost identical pair available from M&S for just £25 which I went on to purchase.

10 Learn what suits you

If you really want to spend wisely when it comes to your wardrobe, it’s important to understand the colours and styles of clothes that flatter you. A Personal Stylist can show you your best colours to wear as well as the style of clothes which work with your body shape, proportions, and personality. Although the session is an investment in yourself initially, it pays for itself very quickly as it will revolutionise the way you shop and dress. You’ll have the knowledge to ensure you never waste another penny on clothes that don’t suit you.

For more style tips follow Lindsay on Instagram @lindsay_edwards_stylist

About Lindsay Edwards

Lindsay Edwards is a Personal Stylist based on the rural outskirts of Biggleswade, in Bedfordshire. Over the years, she has helped hundreds of women to understand the colour and styles of clothes that truly suit them. Lindsay wants to dispel the myth that a great wardrobe costs a lot – she loves showing others how they can spend far less money on clothes without compromising on their style. Last year Lindsay made the pledge to give up fast fashion and only updated her wardrobe by altering clothing she already owned or the addition of preloved purchases. She picked up lots of high quality items from local charity shops, many of which were unworn with their original tags still intact! For those wanting specific wardrobe advice, Lindsay provides 1:1 and group styling sessions within her studio.

See Lindsay Edwards – saving money & the planet with clothes interview on The Complaining Cow Consumer Show

Lindsay’s website 

Lindsay on The Complaining Cow Consumer Show

Lindsay Edwards – saving money & the planet with clothes chatting to me.

Other ways to save money

Various posts on saving money.

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