New York Image Style Report

Being on a tight budget might mean you have to work a little harder for awesome style- but it’s likely to pay off and your results can outshine a top-to-toe designer ensemble. Think: eclectic, creative, innovative.

1. Get thrifty- trawl op shops, vintage boutiques and markets for one-off finds.  Not only will you save money, you can guarantee that you won’t be mincing in the corner when two other girls at the party have your same handbag.
2. Customize- everyone’s got a needle and thread! It’s easy to update old pieces with a few quick snips, a bit of hemming or by adding embellishments such as sequins or tassels. This is also good to do with op-shop finds that may have amazing patterns or detailing but an out-dated cut.
3.  Be inspired- if you are not confident in pulling together an outfit by yourself, look to some photos of celebrities or street style blogs such as The Sartorialist or Facehunter. You can get a good idea of what proportions work and which garments look good together, then go searching for inexpensive replicas.
4.  Rattle your chains - Even women who can afford unlimited designer clothes are shopping at chain stores nowadays (Kate Moss and her undying devotion to TopShop is the perfect example).  The quality and style-quotient of many chains have skyrocketed lately while the affordable prices have stayed the same. It is a good idea to buy all the current- but-unlikely-to-endure trends from les chains.
   
5.   Invest in classics- by the same token, if you want to buy designer, buy items that won’t date.  Cashmere sweaters, black shoulder bags, trenches, the fabled LBT, black Mercedes sedans to match … you know the usual.
6.  Dress for your body and yourself- at the end of the day, if you’re wearing something that fits you and that you love, you’re always going to look beautiful. OK, almost always.

The poster girl for budget fashion: Kate Moss in her TopShop campaign

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