Wardrobe planning for change
Does your body not cooperate? On a weight loss journey? Having a baby? Had a body change of some type? Or maybe a lifestyle change that needs an entirely different wardrobe?
How can you do this frugally? You have to plan. Many people feel frugal if they buy everything on sale, on clearance, brand spanking new at the store. You can actually buy everything BRAND SPANKING NEW and be frugal. If you have a plan. No, DO NOT buy cheap fashion. It won't last and therefore it is not cheap.
If you are like me, you may have favorite brands. Favorite colors, favorite styles. This is helpful. A good solid wardrobe beginning is to get a core of four. Two bottoms and two tops that all match in color. My core of four is a basic caramel brown. Many people will start with black or navy. I have two pairs of corduroy pants, one dressier than the other, and two sweaters. It is my winter core. The cords were new. One of the sweaters I have had for years, brand new and not on sale, the other was a recent thrift store find. Because it's a color I enjoy, I have the next four, two cardigans, a tshirt and sweater dress.
I learned my method from TheVivienneFiles.com, a blog. She is worth searching out due to all the colors and inspirations she has used through the years. Despite her love of black, she does a thorough search for other color choices for those of us who are washed out in black.
What I found as I lost weight, is that I could have a couple of pair of jeans, some t-shirts that fit, and just a core of colorful clothes and always have something appropriate to wear. When I lose weight, I focused on accessories. Scarves, shoes, boots etc. They still fit, as you progress. If you are pregnant, if everything goes with everything else, a very small wardrobe can get keep you clothed as you get ready for the big event.
For keeping in budget, plan small and get exactly what you want. Get the best you can afford. Consider cost per wear. For a pair of jeans, which I wear most days, I will pay more usually than for the velvet holiday dress. I wear jeans a hundred days of the year. The dress I may wear a dozen times each year, but I get classic beautiful dresses that I may wear for ten years, if I have stopped losing weight, or found a classic style that will "follow me down". I use this phrase to describe an item that is easily taken in, or has a lot of drape so that it can be belted or it looks great loosely fitted.
That leads to alterations. If you are changing fast, buy very few items, and if possible, things that can be taken in. If you aren't capable of altering your own clothing, find a tailor for your favorite items, get simple styles that can be belted or pulled in in some way, find less expensive alternatives.
Next post I will describe finding your wardrobe.