In this guide
What can you do when you want to dress well, but money’s tight? With the cost of everything going up right now, refreshing your wardrobe might seem unaffordable. But actually there’s a lot you can do to achieve fashion on a budget.
Here are our top tips for low-budget sartorial style, from pre-loved to renting and swapping to smart shopping.
We cover:
- What instagram influencers can I get inspiration from?
- Where can I rent clothes online?
- What are the best places to find second-hand clothing?
- How can I scour for clothing discounts?
- What are the best outlets for cheap clothes?
Related content: Cost of living crisis: everything you need to know
How can I be fashionable on a low budget?
Take your inspiration from A-listers and influencers who aren’t afraid to mix high street brands and high fashion.
Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton are often photographed wearing Zara, Boden, ASOS, and Reiss, while Alexa Chung wears M&S and Topshop, and Kelly Osbourne rocks H&M.
Influencers too are showing how you can be fashionable without spending a lot.
- Tess Montgomery is an influencer and model championing the capsule wardrobe, ethical fashion, and buying second hand clothing.
- Fashion stylist Monikh Dale buys discounted designer items outlets and then has them altered to fit, and also promotes dress rental.
- Stylist Emma Rose Thatcher showcases affordable outfits and makes pieces from Next, Debenhams and River Island look super expensive.
Below are tips on how to look great without spending a fortune.
1. Rent clothes online
When Carrie Johnson married the former Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, in a rented gown in May 2021, she got everyone talking about clothing rental and asking “should I rent my wedding dress?”.
To buy the stunning Christos Costarellos tulle gown she wore would have cost nearly £3,000. But Carrie rented it for £45 a day from MyWardrobe HQ.
Dress rental is a great way to keep your look fresh and try designers you couldn’t afford to buy for a fraction of the cost.
How do I rent clothes online? Have a look at these online rental services to hire clothing and even rent designer clothes:
2. Buy second-hand clothing
Cheap fashion doesn’t have to mean fast fashion. You can dress well on a budget without damaging the environment by buying good quality second-hand items.
When you wear vintage, you get a unique look that sets you apart from everyone wearing the same high-street brands, and you can pick up designer labels for a steal.
Where should you look for the best fashion finds?
Charity shops in the well-heeled parts of town are more likely to carry designer items. You could also scour car boot sales, pre-loved clothing stores and flea markets for bargains: London’s Portobello Road market is one of the most famous.
If you’d rather shop from the comfort of your own home, eBay and Facebook Marketplace are worth a look.
Clothing marketplace apps are also increasingly popular: check out Depop, Vinted, Twig, Poshmark and the pre-owned section of sites like ShopStyle.
Want to cut your costs in other ways? Read our guide to 20 simple ways to save money.
3. Try a clothes swap shop
To revamp your wardrobe in a way that’s cheap, fun and eco-friendly, try a clothes swap shop.
Vinted gives users the opportunity to both sell their second-hand clothing, as well as swap clothes with one another to help the environment.
For more tips on boosting your green credentials, check out How to save money by going green.
4. Swap with friends
Swap and socialise at the same by organising a clothes swap party with your friends. You could host a small gathering at home, or even find a cosy corner in a bar.
Invite friends who are either roughly the same size, or a good mix of sizes, so no-one feels left out if nothing fits.
Ask each friend to bring a handful of good quality pieces of second-hand clothing (accessories as well as clothes) and present them nicely on hangers.
Set aside a private area as a fitting room, add snacks, drinks and music, and let people trade their items.
You could donate anything that isn’t snapped up at the end.
5. Sell before you buy
Clear out and sell second hand clothes you no longer want to make room for new ones.
It makes sense to sell second hand designer clothes or more expensive pieces individually for the best price.
But, for high street items or budget clothes, bundle them and list on local selling sites like Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace.
Looking or more budgeting tips? Check out our video guide below.
Style on a budget
There are lots of ways to save money on clothing, and it’s definitely not about going wild in the aisles when the sales are on.
Choosing pieces carefully and owning fewer, more versatile items are a better route to fashion on a budget.
Create a capsule wardrobe
A capsule wardrobe is a small collection of classic clothing items in neutral colours that all work well together. It should contain a mix of basics along with a few standout luxury items or investment pieces.
Buy the best quality you can, so that items fit well and last a long time.
The idea is that you can mix and match them so you have a pared-down yet versatile wardrobe you can then accessorise with cheaper on-trend items, such as costume jewellery to give a pop of colour.
Instagram is full of inspiration and examples of how to create the perfect capsule wardrobe.
Keep an eye out for discounts
If you are buying new clothes, make sure you grab whatever discounts you can. Sign up to newsletters and loyalty schemes from your favourite brands get money off.
M&S, John Lewis, Urban Outfitters, Monsoon, and H&M are among those clothing retailers which offer reward schemes.
H&M lets you collect points when you make a purchase, bring your own bag, or recycle your unwanted clothes in store. You get a voucher for £5 off a £25 spend when you bring in a bag full of old clothes from anywhere, in any condition, to be recycled.
M&S gives you £5 off a £35 spend for a similar scheme, although it says donated clothes must be in resaleable condition, and at least one item must be from M&S.
To make sure you never miss a discount, install a browser extension, which will automatically search for and apply voucher codes to your basket every time you check out online.
Examples include:
Head to the outlets
Outlets are online or physical stores where brands sell off old, out of season, surplus stock or factory seconds that have minor flaws at big discounts.
You could make a day of it and head out to an outlet hub such as Bicester Village or Cheshire Oaks. But equally there are plenty of online options to explore.
ASOS, Mango, Adidas and Gap are among those brands that have their own online outlets, while eBay’s Brand Outlet features reduced items from Seasalt, Superdry, Whistles, Calvin Klein and many more.
The Outnet is the sister site to Net-a-Porter, selling designer clothes from previous seasons at hefty discounts. Here you’ll find labels like McQueen, Chloé, Frame, Rixo, Maje, and Rag & Bone.
For discounts on new shoes with cosmetic imperfections, or that are end of line or ex-display, check out Schuh Imperfects or Offcuts by Office.
Avoid the impulse
You can dress with style on a budget if you rent clothes, swap clothes, scour second hand fashion websites and grab discounts.
But the easiest way to save money on clothing is simply to buy less. Yes, you might be tempted by those high-waisted lurex flares, but impulse purchases tend to linger unworn in the back of your wardrobe for years to come.
Avoid buying on a whim, don’t indulge in “retail therapy”, and always have a clear plan so you won’t get side-tracked with things you don’t need.
The average Briton throws away more than 3kg of textiles each year.
Mindful shopping will save you money, keep your wardrobe uncluttered, and stop unwanted clothes ending up in landfill. But you’ll still look fashionable and fabulous.
Spending too much and need a financial detox? Read our guide here.
Important information
Some of the products promoted are from our affiliate partners from whom we receive compensation. While we aim to feature some of the best products available, we cannot review every product on the market.
