Style on a budget

[sandinista]

Hey everyone.

OK, there's probebly one important aspect of my life i've been neglecting, & that's style & clothes.

I never really bothered with extravegant, expensive clothes as i was kind of an advocate against superficiallity & this whole 'male grooming' fad that is being forced upon us by the media. I was probebly so hung up on how men were being told to worry about clothes & hair products (taking away masculinity & turning men into pransy lady-boys) that i subconciously rebelled against this by dressing down.

I didn't really think this as a problem as i was doin' my own thing.. Until a girl i was pursuing basically told me she would'nt get with me because of my style & that she would be ashamed to be seen with me..

So... i think it's time i probebly invested in inproving my appearence. The problem is, i'm in university right now, & living in a shoe string.

Does anyone have any tips of how to look pretty snazzy with limited funds?

 

[L777]

Bump...I'm in the exact same situation

 

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Alright, I'm going to be the first one to say this at the top of my lungs...

STYLE MATTERS ! ! !

Style doesn't mean expensive either (unless you have tons of disposable income). Style depends on fit, coordination and continuity with your personality.

More and more "regular" department store are carrying designer knock offs and "effeciently priced" big name designs by big names like Levi's, Hilfiger, and Lauren. Stores like Sears, Target, Kohls and even Walmart are stepping up their merchandise to compete with JC Penny's, Dillard's, and in some instance Macy's. They have a LONG way to go to become direct competition but you'd be surprised by some of the things they have to offer.

Another idea is to go online and look for end of season clearance items. Yeah, you won't be able to wear your finds immediately but you could save a ton of money on next year's wardrobe. Another option is to visit outlet malls and find marked down clearance items. Some may be irregular but you could find designer items for a portion of their retail price.

I will add that you shouldn't cut corners on two items, shoes and watches. Again, you don't have to break the bank but these are the two items that women notice most often. It doesn't matter if the shoes are athletic, casual or business styled, they need to be kept clean and or polished. Also, replace frayed shoestrings before they break. Having a two or more pairs of shoes that you rotate wearing will keep you looking stylish and will prolong their life. As for watches I suggest having at least one sports watch for casual wear and one dress watch for late night activities.

 

[Scrumtulescence]

Shop at discount places. Marshalls/TJ Maxx have nice clothes for really cheap. Thrift clothing stores. Kohls and JC Penny have some nice looking clothes always at somewhat discount prices.

 

[BustedKnucks]

Men have been well-groomed in medie since the invention of Television, it's not a fad.

As long as you aren't going after girls who are extremely fixated on the brand names of the clothing you wear, you can buy affordable dress clothes at Khol's, Macy's, Bob's Stores and Marshalls. Buy cheap dress clothes there, make sure you iron them when you are going out with women, and accent your look with a nice gold watch.

 

[John_Galt]

Thrift stores aren't bad. Most of the stuff is crap, but if you dig, you can find something good and it'll probably only cost you $2.

 

[kyphan]

First off, figure out how you want to dress. It makes a huge difference in what you'll buy and where you will go to get it.

My "expertise" is in dressing well (re: not t-shirt and jeans). If you're looking to dress up a little, figure out what cut you like most and what fits you best: Italian, English, and American are the three most prominent countries when it comes to developed style.

American: Ralph Lauren Polo, Brooks Brothers, J Press, J Crew, Lands End. Often times referred to as Ivy League or Preppy, which are different styles of American clothing. Clothing tends to be a little baggier. Oxford cloth shirts most of the year, button down (collar), chinos (khakis, in any color), plain or slightly faded jeans, polos, loafers, blazers and boat shoes. This is very prominent on the east coast and often times in major cities, since many people with "old money" in their blood dress like this. Style quirks? All pants should have cuffs, belts should look bland and boring. If you want shoes that will last you as long as you take care of them, buy Allen Edmonds or Alden.

English: The in-between of Italian and American. Most brands are fairly unknown in America except in major cities - Turnbull & Asser, TM Lewin, Harvie & Hudson, Hilditch & Key, and the famous Saville Row tailors. The shirt patterns and love of chinos are there, but typically the clothing is a little slimmer fitting. American clothing is almost entirely based on English clothing. Style quirks? It looks exactly like American clothing made by Italians, except both styles take something from Saville Row. Shoes that will last - Crockett & Jones or Edward Green.

Italian: Slim fitting. All the "famous" names - Armani, Versace, Zegna, Brioni (Donald Trump's fav), Kiton, Borelli. Suits are built like football uniforms with a lot of padding on the shoulders. Good Italian clothing is expensive, since they do not compromise on style and quality, though the better known designers skimp on quality somewhat because they can. Style quirks? Pants that are always a tad long, extra flashy clothing, always cut to make the wearer look slimmer than he might be. Shoes that will last are typically a fortune, you are better looking for other European brands.

What to stay away from: most department stores. Believe it or not, most brands in stores from Macy's, JC Penney, etc, are made horribly and while they are cheap they are a waste of money (that's why I named brands above). Your best bet for inexpensive higher end clothing are discount chains (TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Syms, Century 21) or thrift stores in affluent areas. Outlets are only good if they're a chain and not a brand - such as Saks Off 5th, Barney's, or Filene's Basement - as brand outlets typically sell clothing made specifically for those stores (re: lower quality). Even higher-end second hand shops have considerable bargains at times, and Salvation Armys in affluent areas tend to have some incredible bargains if you know what you're looking at, especially if you wear common sizes. I'll put it this way - you can find shirts that retail for $100+ at a Salvation Army for $10 or less and high end suits for no more than $50, IF you go to the right ones.

Shoes are almost difficult - almost. Nordstrom has an amazing sale twice per year on men's clothing and they stock a few really nice brands. Major cities tend to have brand stores, so go try them out in store to find your size and then buy them off eBay at a HUGE discount. Outlet shoes are typically seconds, but are almost as good as those sold at retail. If you're looking to try on Italian shoes, put on your best outfit and find the most high-end store you can find. Dress like a slob in Neiman Marcus and they'll ignore you.

Last bit of advice - most cities and affluent areas have smaller men's clothing stores that are PHENOMENAL if you want advice and quality stuff. And yes, they have sales just like any other store.

 

[Themanthatcan]

All you have to do is find a celeb. or actor that you think has some style and copy his outfits.That's it, really.General style stores though-Old navy,american eage,hollister,abercrombie and fitch,aeropostle,polo.

 

[~attrACTION~]

^ I'm actually considering changing up my style over Christmas break.

My tip: Go to the store, any store where you like their clothes. I'd say try to find a "look" you like and then find out what store carries those brands. Go there, try on the clothes/shoes/accessories. See what fits. Get help from the sales people/ladies. Ask them for input or go with a friend. I don't have friends right now, so I go alone and ask the people that work there. You can even do this at thrift stores; seriously, people like giving their opinions on stuff - it's good practice for socializing too.

Then, get out of there and buy it on eBay.com! Or, Overstock.com

Like someone else mentioned, places like Ross/TJMaxx/Marshalls are all great for discounted brand-name deals.

:rockon:

 

[blinkwatt]

You should check out eBay,more specifically Express clothing,Guess and Gap for starters. I have bought tons of Abercrombie & Fitch clothes and let me save you money,they are overrated. The higher end Gap jeans(sell for $70+ in stores) are just as comfortable and durable and A & F's jeans($80-120). Now if you want to actually have your own unique style of clothing you may want to check out Grail clothing($$$$$),Diesel($$) and Salvage($$$$$$). Most people are too cheap to put out money for higher end clothing but let me tell you,my Grail clothing is soo comfortable and I receive compliments on them all the time(other guys tend to hate them). Now for shoes,drop Nike,Reebok and all those stupid Jordans,they are a waste of money. Just check out Ocean Pacific(for younger crowd) and Tommy Bahama(older/casual).

 

[BustedKnucks]

A & F is just a way to dress down and show you spent money on your gear.

In other words, it's for fake people.

 

[blinkwatt]

A & F is just a way to dress down and show you spent money on your gear.

In other words, it's for fake people.

I wouldn't say that. I have tons of A & F clothes around the house. They are durable,comfortable and if you have a nice body they show it off. If $ isn't a issue for you and you like their clothes does that make you a fake person?

 

[Scrumtulescence]

I wouldn't say that. I have tons of A & F clothes around the house. They are durable,comfortable and if you have a nice body they show it off. If $ isn't a issue for you and you like their close does that make you a fake person?

A&F is for highschoolers. There are much nicer clothes out there.

 

[Thomas94305]

2 suggestions:

1) I improved my wardrobe considerably without spending a dime.. How? I went through the closet, and donated all my old crap to Goodwill. If you have junky clothes sitting around, you tend to wear them. People noticed an immediate difference, and I had closet space.
2) You can go to a store with stuff in your genre, and ask the sales clerk to pick an outfit for you. Ask a woman, tell her what you are up to. Put the stuff on, and see what you think... Credit to StyleLife, Neil Strauss's boot camp. Be sure to tell her you would like a new look. Remember, you are not happy with your current wardrobe, so why buy stuff just like it?? This is also good practice for talking with a new woman about style.

 

[realsmoothie]

I'll say the same thing I always say... take a woman shopping with you. She'll know things about clothes fit you that you wouldn't figure out for decades.

 

[flyspy]

Magazines

Try reading GQ, they usually have some ppl writing in theere who decide what style actually is. Not to mention you can also learn more about actors and stuff which can be possible conversational pieces later.