By Deej Walit

Being a fashionista does not necessarily mean splurging on designer clothes, shoes, and accessories. Designer labels can be pretty pricey so not everyone can afford them. But just because you don’t have the money to buy such expensive brands doesn’t mean you can’t be stylish. A true fashionista has a keen eye for awesome and stylish pieces regardless of the tag price. You can be a fashionista on a budget.

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So how do you actually shop for fashionable items despite the lack of huge budget? Here are some fabulous tips:

Remember – it’s not what you wear but how you wear it. It’s all about confidence, finding balance, and knowing what looks good on you. Take supermodel Adriana Lima for example. Even if she wears a shapeless dress, she’d still know how to rock it even if it’s practically a trash bag. It’s because she’s confident, she’d know how to sell it, and she’d know how to carry herself. Now imagine someone wearing designer everything from head to toe, but everything’s in animal prints – zebra print beret, leopard print top, giraffe print trousers, and snake skin boots. Yes, she wears all designer and expensive items, but throwing on the entire zoo is not fashionable. In fact, it’s tacky and frankly, quite embarrassing.

Read clothing magazines for women for budget-friendly alternatives. There’ll never be a shortage in magazines online and in print. Browse through these magazines as there will always be stylists and fashion writers who are kind enough to show you how to put together a million-dollar-looking ensemble on a budget. They find budget-friendly stores and designers that design and sell pieces with styles similar with those featured in runway and fashion shows. Take note of their advice before heading out to shop.

Pay with cash and leave your credit or debit cards at home. The problem with carrying these plastics is that you never think twice about the price because you know well that in one swipe, a pricey piece of clothing or pair of shoes would be yours. If you bring cash however, you have no choice but to count your money and stick to your budget. Being fully aware of the consequences of going over your budget will stop you from overspending.

Go low for the trendy and invest in the classy. You’ve probably heard the golden rule that 70% of the clothes in your wardrobe must be in classic styles and 30% must be trendy. This is absolutely right. Since trendy pieces easily go out of style, it’s only right that you get them at low, low prices. Invest more on the classic pieces as they’ll never go out of style.

Pricey doesn’t equate to value for your money. Yes, you bought a $500 pair of Christian Louboutins, but are you sure you’re going to use them more than a couple of times? Being practical is the key to being a successful budget fashionista. How you spend your money and what you spend on will play a major role.

Author Bio

Deej Walit has been writing professionally for over 10 years now. She’s written feature articles and personality sketches for a fashion magazine, web content for various websites, and scripts for live events and TV shows. Currently, she’s one of the full time writers for PinAgency.