Tips for St yle Shopping on a
TEXT NATASHA BERNARD
ure, I enjoy stuffing my car trunk with bags of fabulous
shopping finds, but scoring awesome fashions without
breaking the bank brings even greater pleasure. Here are five
tips to help you build that fabulous wardrobe at a fraction of
cost.

SHOP OFF SEASON: Some of the best deals happen
when you scour the racks at your favorite stores off-season.

This means shopping for summer clothes in winter and vice
versa. Applying this basic shopping principle can save you
anywhere from 50-75 percent off the original price. Make sure
to seek out classic styles as they always remain on trend. The
only downside of shopping off-season is your options may be
limited. Often times, these racks have been rummaged through
before you have a chance to shop. Calling your favorite stores to
find out when they do their off-season mark downs could help
you get first dibs.

CONSIDER CONSIGNMENT SHOPPING: Consignment
shopping, or thrifting, is part of my fashion shopping routine.

I love shopping the consignment universe for fabulous vintage
and designer items at exceptional steals. While thrifting isn’t
for everyone, if you have patience and are willing to leave any
preconceived notions behind, you can walk away with unique,
budget-friendly fashion finds. Online consignment boutiques
like Thredup.com, Therealreal.com, Poshmark.com, Liketwice.

com and Threadflip.com have amazing deals and inventory.

SHOP RED FIRST: My first stop when I enter a store is the
clearance rack. I go straight to those racks seeking out price
tags with the red line going straight through the original prices.

Many times I fulfill my retail therapy right in the clearance
sections, making it easier for me to avoid the rest of the store
(and ultimately saving myself from unnecessary impulse
spending). 4. INVEST IN STAPLES: You always hear from the
fashion gurus, “Invest in staples!” and while it’s essential
for your wardrobe, it’s also great for your wallet. Investing
in staple must-haves provides more styling flexibility and
options in your wardrobe-building process. It also helps curb
future spending, because these staples make for more outfit
combinations with the items you already own. These
essentials include black, single-sole heels, the perfect black
blazer, a great pair of jeans, a LBD (little black dress), a midi
skirt (hitting right below the knee) and a classic black
Starting out with these staple basics gives you the
to mix-and-match, while creating the illusion of an expansive
wardrobe. 5. SHOP DISCOUNT DESIGNER STORES: If you love
bargain shopping like I do, you probably already know your
way around discount designer stores. But if not, you might
want to consider frequenting some of these discount retail
stores (in person or online) for your next shopping spree.

like TJMaxx, Bluefly.com, TheOutNet.com, Yoox.com,
Marcus Last Call and Marshalls are great bargain stores with
fabulous designer brands at exceptional prices.

The key to fashion shopping on a budget is to be patient, seek
different shopping resources and focus on the classics!
Natasha Bernard is a mom, wife and lover of fashionably fabulous style.