Change your appearance and change what you do with your time -
and your
life will change. You are more in control than you think.
- Unknown
Whether by natural instinct or social conditioning, the average woman is self-conscious of her appearance. Before she even opens her mouth, a woman knows that she is being judged by not only the design but also the appearance of her clothes.
For the young female just starting out on her odyssey through the professional world, money may be too scarce for her to simply through out her old wardrobe of t-shirts and jeans for blouses and slacks. There are ways, however, to look fabulous while also being frugal.
The tips that will be featured in the coming portion of this post are blended snip-its from the website GoGirlFinance.com. A number of them are economic tactics that I have used myself; and, thus, they are courses of action that I trust.
Establish Spending Room
In a previous post, I mentioned the budget setup known as the '50/20/30 Plan.' To review: some financial aficionados suggest that, first, a paycheck should be divided in half. The first 50 percent should be used on 'fixed expenses,' which are described as the expenses that are consistent each month -rent, utilities, etc. From there, the second half of the paycheck should be divided as follows: 20% for savings and 30% for free-spending.
While the plan's setup is only a recommendation, it does offer a sense of security: it provides a way of maintaining personal needs (like shelter and food) while also funding wants (like entertainment and fashion).
Sell Old Clothes
Some consignment shops will offer either money or [store] credit in exchange for old, well-kept clothing. While a number of such stores have a policy about accepting only popular brands (Gap, Abercrombie, etcetera), a few consignment shops are willing to accept anything.
Borrowing and Trading
In the beginning, sometimes it may prove necessary to borrow and/or trade clothes with a close friend or relative.
A former roommate of mine shared in a kind of trade circle with a few of her most intimate friends: Every month, my roommate would bring home a trash bag full of clothes and go through each article one by one. If she decided to keep a piece of clothing, she would put a replacement article (an old shirt or pair of jeans) into the bag before passing it on. Whatever is left in the bag, after it has been gone through by the last person in the circuit, is then donated.
(NOTE: Should you decide to seek a loan in clothes, please be sure to follow borrowing etiquette.)
Identify the Essentials
When rebuilding a wardrobe from (almost) scratch, it would prove beneficial to identify what pieces of clothing you need to purchase immediately.
If you are a young [female] professional in need of a workplace-friendly wardrobe, consider the following list:
- a black dress
- a knee-length skirt
- a white blouse
- a well-designed bra
- a black blazer
- a trench coat
- a black handbag
- quality blue jeans [one pair]
- black dress pants
- black mid-heel shoes
- black flat-heeled shoes
- "Transform Your Wardrobe" by Nicola Conville
- "Wardrobe Staples Women Must Have Among Their Clothing Items" by Jill Martin and Pierre A. Lehu
- "What Is Professional Business Attire for Women?" by Geneveive Ang
Develop Shopping Smarts
When it comes to being a savvy fashionista, quality needs to override quantity. To explain: Your clothes should be considered an investment. Cheap clothing can often become frayed or deformed after a few tumbles through the wash. And rather than wear something that is faded and torn, a woman will often go out and buy a replacement. Over time, the constant replacement of poorly made clothing can add up to more -over time -than the cost of a better, well-designed version of each article.
Good Cleaning Methods
When it comes to acquiring and wearing quality-style clothing, a new style of cleaning may need to be developed. Adding onto what was said previously: Your clothes should not only be considered an investment, they should also be treated as such. Because of the material, these clothes may have to be treated by hand-washing or dry-cleaning. Be sure to look at the tag of each item for a better idea of how to keep each piece in ideal condition.
Quality Wardrobe Advantages
Having a quality wardrobe can have a positive impact on a person's psyche. Wearing an outfit that consists of well-maintained and well-tailored clothing can build and exude confidence within an individual. Likewise, poorly kept and inappropriately fitted clothes can increase a person's insecurities.
Develop Your Style
While a quality wardrobe should have invoke a sense of elegance and respectability, it should also carry a bit of the wearer's personality.
Remember: look good, save money, and have fun!
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