Saving money on clothes, and fashion in general can be such a big relief on your wallet. A few years ago i would buy SO much clothes, mostly cheap, so i could buy more. At one point i just had enough. We were living in an apartment, with limited spacing, and i would drag clothes to the basement with every season changing. I never used half of it and some things still had the tags on. The amount of money I spend was ridiculous. I had just taken up sewing again, i loved it, and this got me started on my “spend less on clothes” journey.
I started out big. No buying clothes for 1 whole year. I’m not saying you need to do the same, but i totally recommend it. I made a few rules; i could buy shoes, underwear, socks and jackets, but only if it was very necessary. I could go thrift shopping or i could sew my clothes but only from fabric i had already or thrifted fabric. It went great. Better than i could have imagined. The first few months was difficult, but after a while it got easy.
The only things i ended up buying was a bit of maternity clothes, as I got pregnant during that year. It was my second pregnancy, so I had some clothes from the last time. I bought 2 pairs of maternity jeans, 1 maternity dress and underwear.
If you are not keen on doing a whole year, here are some of my tips to spend less on clothes and become much more mindful about spending, and being sustainable in the proces.
9 Creative and Sustainable Ways to Save Money and Look Fabulous
1. Sew your own clothes
When looking to save money on fashion, consider sewing your clothes. By doing so, not only can you tailor your garments to fit your style preferences perfectly, you also have complete control over the design, fabric and fit, allowing you to create garments that perfectly suit your style and body shape.
Furthermore, the sense of accomplishment and pride that comes from wearing something you’ve created yourself is truly rewarding. Finally, sewing your own clothes can also save you money in the long run, as you can often create high-quality garments at a fraction of the cost of buying them from stores. Overall, sewing your own clothes can be a creative, fulfilling, and practical endeavor.
I have a real passion for sewing, and I really wish more people would give it a try. Even if it’s just hemming a pair of pants or patching up a hole in a shirt, sewing is incredibly fulfilling and offers endless possibilities. Creating statement pieces, summer dresses, and clothes for my kids brings me so much joy.
2. Visible mending
Visible mending is another great way to save money, as it allows you to repair clothing instead of discarding it.
Visible mending is a unique approach to repairing clothing and textiles that has gained popularity for its creative and sustainable nature. Instead of concealing a tear or hole, visible mending embraces the idea of repairing a decorative feature of the garment. This can be achieved through various techniques such as embroidery, patchwork, or decorative stitching, which not only mend the item but also add a personalized and artistic touch.
One of the key benefits of visible mending is its contribution to reducing textile waste. By repairing and enhancing damaged clothing items, visible mending promotes a more sustainable approach to fashion, allowing individuals to cherish and extend the life of their garments. Additionally, visible mending offers a creative outlet for self-expression, enabling individuals to infuse their personal style into the mending process and transform a flaw into a distinctive and visually appealing element of the clothing.
In essence, visible mending not only provides a practical solution for extending the lifespan of clothing but also serves as a form of artistic expression, a statement of sustainability, and a celebration of individuality.
I’m really into embroidery, especially adding adorable little cherries, strawberries, or bees to cover up a hole. I even like embroidering small designs on my clothes, even if they don’t have any flaws.
3. Thrift shopping
Thrift shopping, or shopping at secondhand stores, offers numerous benefits. Firstly, it provides an environmentally friendly approach to fashion, as it promotes the reuse of clothing and reduces the demand for new fast fashion items, thus lowering the overall carbon footprint of the fashion industry. By giving pre-owned clothing a second life, thrift shopping contributes to the reduction of textile waste and the conservation of resources.
In addition to its environmental impact, thrift shopping also offers the opportunity to find unique and one-of-a-kind pieces. Since the inventory of thrift stores is constantly changing and diverse, shoppers can come across items that are no longer available in traditional retail stores, allowing for a more individual and eclectic style.
Thrift shopping can also be budget-friendly, offering affordable options for those looking to expand their wardrobe or find specific items without breaking the bank. With the potential to discover high-quality, gently used clothing at a fraction of the original cost, thrift shopping provides a way to dress well without overspending.
Pro tip: If you’re interested in learning how to sew, consider looking for fabric at thrift stores. Some of my favorite dresses were made for just a few bucks using fabric from curtains, tablecloths, or bed linen.
4. Upcycling
Upcycling is a fantastic way to both reduce waste and give new life to old items. It involves taking used materials or products and repurposing them into something of higher quality or value. Upcycling not only helps to minimize the amount of waste sent to landfills but also encourages creativity and resourcefulness. By upcycling, we can transform items that are no longer useful into something beautiful and functional, thus extending their lifespan and reducing the need for new materials. It’s an environmentally friendly practice that allows us to express our creativity while contributing to sustainability.
I absolutely love upcycling men’s shirts. There are so many possibilities! It’s such a great way to create cute shirts for myself or outfits for my kids. And the best part is that a lot of the sewing work has already been done, and the quality of the fabric is often excellent. It’s a fantastic way to repurpose and be creative!
Pro tip: Keep an eye out for men’s shirts at the thrift store. There are so many affordable clothes just waiting to be upcycled!
5. Clothes swap parties
Consider attending or hosting clothes swap parties, where you can exchange clothing items with friends or family. This not only provides a fun and social way to refresh your wardrobe but also enables you to acquire ‘new’ pieces without spending a dime.
You can also consider borrowing clothes from your friends if you don’t have anything to swap. I find it especially helpful for bigger events like weddings, unless I decide to sew an outfit myself.
6. Buy classic and timeless pieces that won’t go out of style
Additionally, investing in classic and timeless pieces that won’t go out of style can save you money in the long run, as they can be worn for years to come.
Investing in classic and timeless pieces not only ensures that you have a versatile and enduring wardrobe but also allows for effortless mix-and-match possibilities. These timeless pieces often transcend seasonal trends, providing you with a sophisticated and polished look no matter the occasion or current fashion fads.
Additionally, classic pieces are often crafted with higher quality materials and superior workmanship, ensuring longevity and durability, making them a prudent choice for your wardrobe.
I must say that having classic and timeless pieces has been incredibly beneficial, and helped me out of numerous clothing crisis. A great pair of jeans, a high-quality t-shirt, and a well-fitted blazer are suitable for almost every occasion, whether it’s for work, school, birthdays, or a casual dinner with friends.
7. Unsubscribe e-mails and delete shopping apps
Unsubscribing from promotional emails can help declutter your inbox and reduce distractions. By unsubscribing from newsletters and promotional emails that you no longer find valuable, you can streamline your email communication and focus on important messages. Deleting shopping apps can also be beneficial as it can help curb impulse buying and reduce unnecessary spending. By removing shopping apps from your device, you can avoid constant temptations and make more deliberate purchasing decisions. This can contribute to better financial management and help you stay within your budget.
While some may advise you to subscribe to all of the promotional emails in order to access the best deals, I’m here to tell you that you don’t. In fact, not knowing about certain deals has actually helped me save a lot of money. I’ve found it liberating not to constantly check shopping apps and avoid being distracted by promotional emails.
8. Capsule wardrobe
Finally, embracing a capsule wardrobe consisting of essential, multifunctional pieces can streamline your fashion choices and save both money and closet space. Each item in a capsule wardrobe is carefully selected for its ability to coordinate with multiple other pieces, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective approach to fashion.
When creating a capsule wardrobe, it’s important to focus on versatile, high-quality items that can be mixed and matched to create a variety of outfits for different occasions. This may include classic pieces like a well-fitted pair of jeans, a tailored blazer, a little black dress, basic t-shirts, and comfortable yet stylish shoes.
By investing in timeless and well-made clothing, you can build a wardrobe that withstands trends and can be worn season after season. Additionally, by reducing the number of clothes in your closet and focusing on quality over quantity, you can make getting dressed in the morning simpler and more enjoyable.
Building a capsule wardrobe is also a great way to practice sustainability in fashion. By being intentional about your clothing purchases and focusing on versatile, long-lasting items, you can reduce waste and minimize the impact of fast fashion on the environment. Overall, a capsule wardrobe is all about curating a collection of essential, functional, and high-quality pieces that reflect your personal style while simplifying your daily dressing routine. And it saves you money. You win either way.
9. When in doubt, leave it out
I’m sure you’ve heard this one before, but it’s something I swear by. When I’m considering buying something, whether it’s shoes, clothes, or anything else, I need to be absolutely certain before making the purchase. If even the tiniest bit of doubt crosses my mind, I walk away from it. If I find that I can’t stop thinking about it, I give it a week before making a decision. More often than not, I end up forgetting about it completely, and it feels like saving money.
I hope some of these tips helped you in your journey towards mindful spending. Again I totally recommend going a year without shopping, it saves you tons of money, and you get a way more relaxed approach towards buying clothes. I buy clothes at time to time, but mostly classic and simple pieces, of good quality. I have items on my wishlist, sometimes I get some for my birthday or christmas, which gets me going for a while.
Let me know if these tips helped you or if you are going for a year or maybe just a month without spending money on clothes.
