on a budget

vince

Legendary Member
Joined
May 13, 2007
Posts
8,271
Media
1
Likes
1,677
Points
333
Location
Canada
Sexuality
69% Straight, 31% Gay
Gender
Male
No.

Although I guess I should ask you to define "budget". And "nicely"...
 

Russ311

Loved Member
Verified
Gold
Joined
Jun 22, 2011
Posts
1,845
Media
2
Likes
745
Points
248
Location
Michigan
Verification
View
Sexuality
69% Gay, 31% Straight
Gender
Male
Dressing-casul u can't beat Old Navy at all.
Dressing up-TJMaxx is the best, desinger stuff at cheap prices.

Shoes-For dress shoes a nice Doc Marten without the yellow stiching is what I go for.
 

NSX57

Sexy Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2009
Posts
76
Media
0
Likes
37
Points
163
Location
USA
Sexuality
69% Gay, 31% Straight
Gender
Male
Best idea to dress on a budget is to purchase off eBay. Can get some great deals on there, especially if you are familar with your size on the brand. Also lots of these stores now a days have sales once or twice a year where things go on clearance and can be had for 50% - 75% off. A few stores that come to mind are the Hollister/Abercrombie, Express, Banana Republic, Armani Exchange, etc. Like others said, you just have to determine your "budget" and then work from there.
 

JohnDoeXXXm

Legendary Member
Verified
Gold
Joined
Mar 12, 2007
Posts
2,246
Media
0
Likes
2,402
Points
443
Location
Houston, TX, USA
Verification
View
Sexuality
60% Straight, 40% Gay
Gender
Male
My recommendation is to follow one store style- and dress on clearance. Let me explain.

Find a store near you that you feel exemplifies your dressing style: like Old Navy, Gap, JC Penney, etc. These stores all have clothing buyers that dress for a specific client group.

Next, find a specific style at those stores: for me, it's knowing what type of dress pants and dress shirts are the most flattering to my body- again- most stores have their "athletic cut" or "fitted" vs loose, straight leg vs boot cut, etc.

Now that the hard work is done, all I have to do is walk in and go to the clearance rack. Lots of stores arrange their clearance by size- so I will go and check out the medium and large choices. I'll look for a color, pattern, or style that interests me- otherwise I don't consider the rest unless I'm specifically on a mission to purchase one single item (a new pair of sweatpants, a package of white athletic socks, etc.) If the shirt is from a store I have shopped from before, I will often recognize the tag and know that the garment *should* fit me without even trying it on- it's simply "this year's color" of a shirt I might already own. I like what I wear, and I feel confident and attractive in it.

I ALMOST ALWAYS try things on in the store (unless it's socks or underwear) because you can find irregularities, missing buttons, difficult zippers, etc. by trying things on. If I am at all INDIFFERENT about the item, I don't rationalize a reason to need to buy it- instead I enjoy the "savings" of NOT buying it. Bottom line is if you're not CRAZY about it in the store, you're not going to wear it any more when you get home and then it's just taking up valuable space in your closet.

When buying on clearance, if you DO find something wrong with an item, don't be afraid to ask for an extra discount because the worst that someone will say is "no." Never hurts to see if there is room to reasonably adjust - however you're more likely to get a YES if you are reasonably about what your expecting - a good rule of thumb would be the tailor fee to fix: "Can you give me an extra $2 off to match and replace this missing button?" That's $2 more in your pocket. I found a GAP leather jacket on clearance, went down to the tailor and asked how much it would cost to restitch 6" of seam that had opened on the shoulder. Then I went back to the store, and told the manager that it would cost $12 to repair- and she gave me the additional discount, because she knew what her potential cost would be to get that item out of her inventory. The jacket went directly from the GAP to the tailor, and was mine, almost brand new at 55% off a week later. Buy items off season (eg end of summer and after Christmas clearance) and put it away for next year--- but only do this with BASIC items- nothing trendy or flashy that might no longer be *in fashion* the next year. Don't buy something that's just barely large enough to wear next season- unless you have a younger brother or sister at home to take it in case you go up in size.

Last free tip for today: guys it's easier if you save up your money and buy a few pieces at the same time (like 2 pants and 3 shirts) that you KNOW you will wear together and are interchangable, instead of trying to remember what you have in your closet and matching a new sweater with a shabby pair of chinos. If you walk into a store and tell the sales clerk (male or female) that you want 3 outfits and that everything you are buying has to be on clearance- IT CAN BE DONE. You might also get a special discount out of the deal.
 
Last edited:

josty

Sexy Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2007
Posts
262
Media
7
Likes
29
Points
248
Sexuality
99% Straight, 1% Gay
Gender
Male
H&M and Express. H&M is cheap all the time, Express has amazing deals if you wait for the sales.
 

Blorkin

Experimental Member
Verified
Gold
Joined
Jun 29, 2009
Posts
203
Media
1
Likes
18
Points
263
Verification
View
Sexuality
69% Straight, 31% Gay
Gender
Male
I agree with josty about H&M. Even with sales express is still pricey. H&M is always cheep and if you go when they have a sale it is even better.
 

hungboy18

Sexy Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2010
Posts
211
Media
3
Likes
67
Points
63
Location
London
Sexuality
99% Gay, 1% Straight
Gender
Male
I wanted to write something helpful but I sorta lost track of reality and started writing about every expensive brand I love. H&M is great, it has really good looking shirts and winter jackets and coats, the jeans are ok, not too good but fairly priced.
 

cdog204

Legendary Member
Gold
Platinum Gold
Joined
May 6, 2007
Posts
709
Media
23
Likes
1,063
Points
573
Location
West Palm Beach, FL, USA
Gender
Male
For business attire, my tip is that you can find a decent-looking but inexpensive suits and shirts at a discount store like Syms or Century21, but splurge on nice ties, belts, cufflinks, and the like. Those items last forever and they are what people will notice.
 

colday

Expert Member
Verified
Gold
Joined
Oct 3, 2010
Posts
445
Media
16
Likes
132
Points
288
Location
Frankfort, KY
Verification
View
Sexuality
100% Gay, 0% Straight
Gender
Male
catch the sales at Kohl's if you have one close by, they also have shoes or go to a Shoe Carnival. I live on a very tight budget and that's what I do. I always get comments on how nice I look even when wearing jeans.
 

nudeyorker

Admired Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2006
Posts
22,742
Media
0
Likes
820
Points
208
Location
NYC/Honolulu
Sexuality
100% Gay, 0% Straight
Gender
Male
If you are willing to come to NY there are sample sales two or three times a year at the designer show rooms. You buy the sample... the draw back to this is you must be a sample size (which luckily I am) I am also lucky enough to know a few people in the fashion business that let me buy directly at wholesale price. The designers also have warehouse sales where they consolidate their overstocked or RTV (Returned to Vendor) items that they sell at unbeatable low prices.
If you don't have these contacts I know someone who buys fabulous clothes at designer consignment stores. If you can find one of these stores the clothes are gently worn and are a fraction of what they cost new. As I said I have a friend who has found some amazing things at these stores; I unfortunately have a phobia about wearing anyone else's clothing.
I also shop the end of season clearance sales at the nice stores... why pay full price when you can get it for 50-75 percent off.
If there is a outlet mall near you check it out. I once saw the tuxedo pumps that I paid $600.00 for a year later at an outlet store for $150.00.
 
Last edited: