How to dress well on a budget

While I absolutely adore clothes and enjoy buying pieces that make me look and feel good, I'm actually quite thrifty when it comes to where I spend my hard earned cash.

Knowing what pieces to select and with a few tricks of the trade, it's easy to create great style that doesn't break the bank.

Some of the best compliments I've received on my outfits were when I was wearing a cheaper item I picked up on the high street.

We need to remember that personal style is all about how you wear it - not what the label is or how much it cost. Dressing head to toe in designer pieces is also not practical for the majority of people, and it's fun to mix it up and play with different pieces.

So what's the secret to dressing well without breaking the bank? Here I share my top tricks and tips.

Build up your classic, timeless pieces

When you've got some great foundation items in your wardrobe, its easy to add budget friendly items, such as cheaper tees or accessories and still create great outfits.

A well fitted pair of jeans or pants, a beautiful sweater, blazer, trench coat and jacket are all timeless pieces that are worth spending a little bit more on so that you can spend less on other pieces.

Add on trend pieces when they go on sale

Trendy items aren't going to last beyond one or two seasons, so I don't want to fork out loads of money for them. Check our online sale sites, such as The Outnet or Saks Outlet to grab designer pieces for a fraction of the original retail price. Locally, keep your eye out for sales at sites such as The Iconic where you can find items discounted up to 70%.

Beware of warehouse sales

Now this might seem to counter my advice above, but whenever I've been to a warehouse sale, I've witnessed a frenzy like attitude to buying. Shoppers just seem to go a little crazy when in the presence of other shoppers all vying to get the last jacket, dress, pant etc. All logical reasoning goes out the window and before we know it, we're handing over our credit card for $500. 'But I got 15 items for that price' I can hear you say. The problem is, we haven't conciously considered or bought those items. My advice - seek out the sales of the brands you love, set a budget and stick to it.

Consider a variety of brands and stores

Once upon a time, I would never have thought to look at the likes of Target or Kmart for clothing. Challenge yourself to explore different brands with different price points, and try and keep an open mind. I waited for two years before I found the perfect leather jacket to invest in...and in the interim, I picked up a $50 Target leather jacket that I wore over and over again, before finally donating it.

Find a great tailor

I go on about this all time! I have an amazing lady that I see for all my clothing alterations, and she's worth every penny. Well-fitted clothes make all the difference. Before clothing was mass produced, it was made specific to an individuals body type and measurements. Now off the rack clothing is standard, but finding clothing produced from commercial size blocks that fits your body perfectly is next to impossible. Whether its a $50 jacket or a $500 jacket, when its tailored to your figure, you'll both look and feel like a million dollars.

Don't buy things on a whim.

When it comes to shopping, I'm all about planning. There's just no point buying things and spending money on items that feel good in the moment, but morph into retail regret only a few hours later. Think carefully about what you want to add to your wardrobe, make a list and find the perfect matches. If you see something that you really, really love that isn't on your list, leave it, and if you're still thinking about it one week later, go back and try it again. Often, you'll find you can live without it, and your bank balance will be much better off.

Set a monthly or seasonal budget

Having a set amount that you can spend really is the best way to make yourself accountable for each new item that you purchase. I find that a monthly or seasonal budget works best and helps you to keep track of just how much you are spending on clothing. Set an amount that is practical to your income while also giving you the freedom and joy to invest in you.

Swap party with friends

When I was living overseas and freelancing, I had a much tighter budget for clothes. Luckily, swap parties with friends helped keep my wardrobe fresh. Not only does it avoid throwing away clothes, but it's an easy way to experiment with different looks and styles.

At the end of the day, it's not the clothes, but how you wear it. It can be great to spend a little more on a luxury piece from time to time, but you don't need to invest thousands of dollars or spend a fortune to dress well. With a little shopping savvy and planning, you can still look a million dollars on any budget.

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Lucy Owens, founder of Style Rises, is a personal stylist, image consultant and mindset coach who loves bringing powerful personal style into the lives, businesses, brands, and careers of her high-achieving clients.

Deeply passionate about transforming women’s confidence through their closets, Lucy has fallen in love with watching women skyrocket their promotional appeal through reclaiming their power. As a certified image consultant who understands personal branding, power positioning, and has first-hand experience of working in the corporate world for luxury fashion and hospitality brands, Lucy has become an image advocate for women making an impact.

If you'd like to discuss how Lucy can resurrect your style confidence, get in touch