FashBlog.com

By Christina VanGinkel

Dressing in fashionable, new clothes has many advantages beyond fashion aesthetics itself. Whether you are a student, a stay at home parent, a working class person, a retiree, or any other class that I may be missing, dressing fashionably can be a boost for your self-confidence. New clothes also most likely fit well, as you just purchased them, so you are not going through your day tugging and pulling at ill-fitting clothes. Fashionable, new clothes just make the wearer feel good. So what is one to do if they cannot afford fashionable clothing, fresh off the racks constantly? Shop outlets, shop Ebay, shop gently used clothing stores.

When I use the word new, take the thought out of your head that it has to be brand new, and instead think new to you. Also, check out magazines, pay attention to what others are wearing, and then find a level somewhere in between that is your own style. Never feel as if you must dress to match those around you. A person who is most likely considered fashionable, dresses well, but with a twist to their outfits that is all their own. A friend of mine always looks as if she just walked out of the store with a brand new outfit on, yet I know that she never, ever buys brand new, unless it is coming off a clearance rack.

Think accessories when you are thinking fashion. And keep in mind that a few new accessories can go a long ways towards reviving an old, tired wardrobe. If you have an outfit that is on the basic side, but you love it for its comfort, dress it up with a fresh pair of shoes, a new jacket, and a few pieces of jewelry that are fitting to the style you are trying to create. If you love an outfit you see for sale, but cannot afford it, no matter how you look at the scenario, consider what it is you do love about the outfit so much. Is it the color, the cut, the overall style? Try to recreate what it is with a few accessories and some items that are already in your closet, or by combining part of it new, part of from an outlet such as Ebay.

Ebay and other online stores have opened the door to many of us for finding new, used and clearance priced clothing that we may otherwise have had no way to find. I live outside of town, and it always seems by the time I get to a sale the best buys are gone. Now, I can shop at my leisure, from the comfort of my home, and nearly any day or night, no matter the day of the week, I can find a clothing bargain. Oftentimes you can find new or newly new clothing for a small fraction of what you would pay for brand new off a store's rack. Do not overlook that Ebay is a great way for you to sell through too. If you just had to have a pair of slacks, (or whatever item of clothing begged you to bring it home!) even though they were out of your budget, only to find out after you wore them once or twice, that they really are not your style, don't just let them hang in the back of your closet. Sell them on Ebay, and recoup at least part of you loss. Then, take your profits and buy something that is more to your liking.