If there’s one thing which most students know irrespective of what course they are in, it’s looking presentable and good enough to turn heads. Surprisingly, this has nothing to do with gender. Everyone who is in the course of studies loves to use that time to look their best to impress peers and foes alike.
It can get a bit challenging especially when your budget is tight as a student. Being a student is one of those times in our life where we are relatively stress-free- from the outside world and having lots of fun, being social, and meeting new people almost every day. Along with this, is securing good grades, many students also want to be fashionable every day as it gives them a great confidence boost.
Most people would love to discover the different tricks that can help them look presentable daily – without having to go hungry for weeks because being broke is the most common problem faced by many students who struggle even with their daily basic expenses. With this level of brokeness, how can you still look fashionable and not be viewed as a shabby person? Well, several ways require major Ingredients of thinking and having creative skills.
What do you want, i.e. what is your fashion sense?
This is a very valid question you need to ask yourself. There are times we go prancing across the mall, and we come across cheap, thrifty tops that have beautiful colours, and we feel drawn – but deep down, you know full well that they aren’t your style. There and then you must be careful not to fall into the “let me try it out” trap because you might end up not wearing it. And just because you can get a piece or pieces of clothes at a very low price does not mean you have to buy eight(8) of them. Often when we shop at cheap stores, we throw away all sense of (and cents) out the window because the prices are so low. This should not be done because most of those clothes will end up being stored in the wardrobe and never come to the limelight on your body. Discovering the intricacies of your taste would help you save money that you would have otherwise lost on buying clothes that are not your fit.
What do you have?
Now that you’ve taken time out to figure what suits you and what doesn’t, the next thing you would want to do before making any purchase is to check your wardrobe. Whether you are getting set to buy spring clothing or any other seasonal clothing, a thorough “weeding” of your wardrobe is the way to go. Why? This way, you easily discover clothes that no longer fit you or are a tad tight, and you can choose to get rid of them. This can be by giving them out, selling them, or throwing them off if they are too old and beyond salvaging. Furthermore, this little exercise would give you an exact idea of what you need and save you the stress of having an overflowing wardrobe and nothing sensible to wear.
Wishful Wardrobe:
This means buying clothing for the life you wish you lived and not the one you do. This is the biggest way to waste money. During shopping, we ‘ooh’ and ‘aww’ over something in the store and buy it simply because it is pretty. it’s very easy to get carried away especially when shopping with friends and you all get excited regarding a clothing piece that you know is well “off your path”. Impulsive shopping has a way of gulping one’s funds subtly. No matter how cute that piece of dress or item of fashion is, if it’s not what you need, do not buy it, always focus on the things you need and save yourself the stress of coping with insufficient funds later on due to a wishful wardrobe.
Do-it-yourself Ideas:
Ripped jeans selling too high a price? Don’t seem to find your size of crop tops? There are many DIY ideas online that guide you on how to transform what you already have into simple yet stylish pieces. And they save you money altogether while helping you make a fashion statement. These DIYs can be found on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook( now Meta), and any other platform that people come together and share ideas. You see, you can be broke and still look fashionable.
Second-hand stores( Thrift stores)
Not all the best clothes are found in designer boutiques. There are second-hand shops that are very decent with a great inventory of clothes that can be worn and amplified for that dream look you need. Having made a note of what you need, your next step would be searching out good options for a second-hand store. Do not limit your search to just one. Choose a day and take a stroll through them. This would save you time for the day you are ready to do the real shopping; you already know where to go and who has what you need. Besides, not all clothing found in second-hand stores is used. Some stores are known to sell remnants of batches for a specific season at very reduced prices. You could get lucky and land yourself a very quality piece for a cheap price.
Accessories that fit:
Do you know that accessories such as necklaces, earrings, wristwatches, brooches can change that style you have been rocking repeatedly? Well, now you know!! So, to change the look of that particular style you have been rocking repeatedly, you can add any of the accessories to it.
All that this is pointing to is that you can be broke and still rock or wear clothes that look fashionable. This is because being expensive and looking expensive are two different things. The most fashionable person in your clique might necessary not be the richest person. So, not having enough money is not a reason for you not to look good. Having a poor fashion sense or dressing shabbily because you are broke can block your way to several opportunities in life. So, this article ends with the popular saying “the way you are dressed is the way you will be addressed”.
AASA PRESS UI 