Ask the Readers: How Do You Build a Wardrobe on a Budget?
Published on - December 3rd, 2010 (Modified on - December 4th, 2010) (by J.D. Roth) If you were building your wardrobe from scratch, how would you do it? Would you prioritize quality? Would you emphasize cost? Or is there some happy balance between the two? That’s what GRS reader author J.D. wants to know. He writes:
I’m a 40-something guy who’s lost 40-something pounds over the past year. This is a good thing. But now my old clothes don’t fit. As a frugal fellow, this creates something of a dilemma. How do I re-build my wardrobe while keeping an eye on costs?
For most of my adult life, I’ve dressed in what I’d call Modern Slob. Or maybe Geek Casual. My wardrobe comprised jeans, t-shirts, and sweatshirts, most of which were purchased at Costco and local thrift stores.
Now that I’m slimmer, I’m more interested in dressing well. That is, I want to look nice, and not like I don’t give a hoot. I don’t need to buy a suit, but I’d like to learn how to buy affordable clothing in classic fashions. I don’t know where to start.
First, I’ll stop referring to myself in third person. (It’s like a bad Seinfeld episode or something.) Next, I’ll elaborate on my concerns.
I really do have something of a wardrobe crisis. Downstairs in the living room, I have a pile of clothes that no longer fit. I’m gradually giving these away to friends and family (and will donate the rest to charity), but meanwhile there’s little left to wear. I don’t need to rebuild my wardrobe to the size it was before my wardrobe project, but I do want to have some essentials on hand. Right now, I have no dress shirts that fit. And no dress pants. And no turtlenecks. And no jeans.
I could go on a shopping spree at the local mall, I suppose, but that’s so not me (and on so many levels). I’ve tried to buy some new clothes at Costco, but I don’t like the fit and fashions they offer right now. That leaves me with the thrift stores, but these are an imperfect solution. I’m truly puzzled about how to build a wardrobe on a budget.
Affordable fashion?
Lately, out of curiosity, I’ve been reading magazines like GQ and Esquire. I haven’t done this in 20 years. (And once this spell passes, it’ll probably be another 20 years before I pick them up again.) While entertaining, there are a couple of problems with modern fashion mags:
- I have zero interest in buying “fashionable” clothing. I abhor the idea of owning something that’s hip today but which may be unwearable five years from now. I’m drawn to what Alan Flusser calls “permanent fashion“. (And the casual end of that.)
- I’m not willing to pay big bucks for clothes. I cringe when I read things like: “Yes, you could buy a cashmere sweater for $90, but why would you? Top quality costs ten times as much, but it’s worth it.” Not to me, it isn’t. No sweater is worth $900. Remember, I’m accustomed to buying sweaters for $9 at Goodwill.
Surely there’s a balance to be had. There must be fine clothes available at reasonable prices, especially for folks like me who don’t give a whit about labels. I just want quality. (And although it pains my frugal nature, I’m willing to admit that maybe paying a little more for quality is worth it.)
Does quality trump cost?
For example, I recently bought an Icebreaker merino wool t-shirt on sale at REI for $45. I felt guilty about this for days (because it’s three times what I’d usually spend on a t-shirt), but then I wore it during our trip to Europe. I loved it. The shirt felt great, but best of all, it never stank — even after I wore it for a week straight. (No joke.) If that t-shirt holds up to wear, it’ll be worth $45 in my book, and I’ll no longer feel guilty about buying it.
But I’m not willing to spend $45 each on a drawer full of t-shirts. That’s crazy, right? Plus, I’m not ready to rule out thrift stores. I can buy great stuff there for cheap. Just last week, for example, I went thrift-store shopping with Kris and her sister. I was giddy to find one of my favorite shirts — one that I’ve purged because it’s too large — in size medium. For five bucks. (Then I found two more from the same company that I picked up, too.) And just yesterday, I bought a nice-looking pair of name-brand corduroy pants for $6 at another thrift store.
If thrift stores are so great, why don’t I use them exclusively? Well, they’re a great way to supplement the clothes you already have, but it’s tough to use them to build a wardrobe from scratch. Their selection is…random. And there’s no co-ordination between styles.
Help me help myself
So, dear readers, I need your help. Tell me: How do you find affordable clothing? If you were building a wardrobe from scratch, where would you start? Is it feasible to do this just using thrift stores? Are you willing to pay more for quality? How much more?
Finally, can you recommend any websites about dressing well? (I’m especially interesting in learning how to dress well on a budget.) Or maybe I should forget about looking nice and just go back to being a modern slob!
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Look at this excellent blog post:
http://www.wardrobeoxygen.com/2010/08/what-every-man-needs-in-his-wardrobe.html
I think the main point is to think of all the different ‘clothing occasions’ you need clothes for and go shopping with a rough list.
DON’T be tempted by bargains; you will save money in the long run by buying one item you really like (and will over and over again) rather than buying something you half-like when a few months later you’ll feel like it’s ‘just not right’ and go and buy another, similar item. I’ve learnt this the hard way and I’ve actually spent half of what I used to spend on clothes this year by doubling what I normally spend on one item – I still have more than enough clothes, I’ve spent less, and I LIKE my clothes more than I ever did before.
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J.D.
I’m sure my life would love for readers to answer this question for myself as well. I’m 25 years old and have always been athletic, so my wardrobe is full of jersey shorts and cut off T-shirts.
She would like me to dress more professional, or at least wear a nice shirt with jeans. I understand her point, but I just can’t get over the cost of clothing! I’m 6’8″ and lean, so I can’t just walk into a clothes store and pick up a shirt from the rack.
Readers: Do any of you know where to find long sleeve dress shirts online at a reasonable price?
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Buy stuff out of season. Buy classic items in a few colors that you love which will enable you to mix and match. Try not to rush to build your wardrobe all at once.January is a good month for sales. Get on the email lists of some high-quality stores and you’ll get advance notice of their sales and coupons. Try not to rush to build your wardrobe all at once. Make a list of what you need and then when you go shopping, you can be very specific in what you look at.
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Finding good men’s clothes at thrift store is hard around here. But I still keep an eye out. Our current favorite store is Kohl’s. They sell hip/one-year-fashionable clothes as well as the basics. It seems that everything goes on sale at least once a season. So, when I’m looking for another pair of pants, or dress shirts I watch the Kohl’s sales. Good luck.
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Lands’ End
Sign up for their e-mails; with judicious couponing it’s possible to get their items down to the price of Old Navy’s. Given their extremely high quality and “return at any time for any reason” guarantee, it’s a very good value. I am HARD on my clothes because I work in an industrial environment but still have to dress professionally, and I need to wash my clothes every day. Lands’ End long sleeve t-shirts which, with couponing, I can get for $8.50 each, look amazing even after a year and a half of this kind of abuse.
I also love that they can take returns at any Sears store; it means I never have to pay return shipping.
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The Art of Manliness did a series of articles about how to dress including lists of what items to include in your wardrobe as well as a few cost saving tips. There were even more tips in the comments. http://www.artofmanliness.com
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One of the challenges of buying clothes on budget (compared to buying food, etc… on a budget) is that it is incredibly hard to find STAPLES (examples: white/blue dress shirts, navy/gray suits, gray dress pants, khaki chinos) on sale. Most of the clothes which make it to the sales rack are weird sizes or not standard colors/patterns, if you want quality staples you will either be searching forever on sales racks or thrift stores, or you will have to pay full retail price. Classic clothes never go on sale. It is amazing to me how difficult it is to find certain classic pieces (e.g. a navy sport coat, and a gray suit in 40) – on sale or even not on sale – I spent over one year looking for these items in several different major metropolitan areas before giving up and just getting in custom tailored – the clothing industry is very different from other industries I think.
One possible strategy is to buy the best quality staples you can (possibly paying full retail price) and then purchasing cheaper accessories to accentuate them.
One interesting way to get things like shirts, suits, & pants on a budget is to have them custom tailored in places like Hong Kong or Thailand, Vietnam, etc. There are online fronts for some of these, or you can just go to these places, but do your research first because 99% of them are junk, 1% of them are excellent.
The best web site for men’s style is StyleForum. It shoots for the classic timeless style which JD is probably looking for. It’s not really budget oriented, and guys there will be spending $500+ for a pair of shoes or $1000+ for suits, BUT ones which will last for 10 years or 20 years so cheaper in the long run than just buying junk $100 pieces which will last only a year. They also have a section for buying & selling where there are a lot of deals.
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poor J.D…!
you’re living (almost) every man’s nightmare!
Yes. Quality costs. And in most cases it’s worth it. But, nowadays quality is accessible to almost everyone, too. I can’t offer advice on where to shop because I live in Europe but I could add my two pence.
Start with:
- A couple of jeans. Dark ones so they can be worn somewhere “better” as well. Endless choices out there but the mid range like Levis are a good choice because they last.
- A white dress shirt. No need to be pricey just to look that way
- A striped shirt in fashionable yet classic colors like blue or brown
- Black or dark grey or dark brown dress pants. Again no need to be expensive (given they are worn rarely) just to fit properly and complement your new body (bravo!)
- Light blouses with long sleeves in various basic colors like black, white, navy, grey etc. No need to be expensive
- A cardigan or a vest. I know that this is not very “american” but it really takes a blah outfit into another level. No need to be expensive but I’d advice to skip the really cheap ones as they tend to shag. They go extremelly well with
- At least one slim fit blazer. This needs to be well made and fit you perfectly so please invest in a couple of those in different styles and you’ll be always well-dressed even with a t-shirt and jeans
- Scarves and hats are really inexpensive and they can transform an outfit in 5”
- Polos, imo, are a very smart way to look well-dressed when all you want to wear is a t-shirt but you should’t really…
My advice is to buy just the very basics and then wait for the sales to buy anything more expensive like shoes, coats, jackets, sweaters etc
And have fun with it! Now you can!
This is a great blog that shows everyday outfits worn by ordinary ppl:
http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/
And this is a great stylist that lives in Seattle and she’s worth every penny you pay her to assemble a wardrobe for you:
http://youlookfab.com/blog/
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I’m not sure where you’re based, but I’d like you to meet my friend Emmi at http://amansworldco.com & http://casualstylemanifesto.com.
She’s a men’s fashion consultant & I know from personal experience that she can work within many different budgets – even yours, I’m sure.
Good luck.
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I second Land’ End, and add LL Bean for basics. Even if you’re not into their overall look, you can pick up classics on sale off-season–jeans, dress shirts, sweaters. Buy in colors that you like (or in neutrals) and use the thrift store finds for personality. Clothes from both stores wear like iron, and both have fabulous return policies. @LifeandmyFinances, they also have extended sizes online, so you might find help there.
I just lost about 50 pounds (and have more to go), so I’m going the super-minimalist thrift store route with my wardrobe right now, but I’m looking forward to the day when I get to the size I’m going to stay and can get back to wearing more quality clothing.
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Lands End clearance on the web often has women’s staples for very good prices, and they last forever. Once you know your size in Lands End, you never have to try on anything, because their sizes are so consistent. I am a big thrifter and often get really lucky, but when I need a particular piece for a particular reason, I always hit LE. Right now they are running a promotion for 40% off on item plus free shipping. For the last several weeks it’s been 20% off a whole order plus free shipping. My credit card gets me about $200 in LE gift cards every year, so that’s what I use when we can’t thrift winter boots or coats for the kids or some very specific item for me.
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I went through something similar as you did. This past year I lost 30 lbs on my 5’4 frame and nothing fit me. What I found to replace my wardrobe frugally was shopping at Old Navy (surprisingly). I have walked away from classic casual pieces i.e. won’t run out of style in 5 years.
I buy from the clearance area, which many things are incredibly marked down in the first place, and they always have email coupons which you can take off 30% of purchases, and can be used on top of already sale items. For example there was this vest I loved when it was a new arrival ($50), but I found it in the clearance section marked down to $10, and then I got 30% off of that with my coupon.
Slowly, with these deals and coupons, I’ve been able to replace my wardrobe for a really low cost. It just takes some patience to sift through the clearance racks.
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I completely second commenter #3 about Lands End and Sears. Love it – for me and my husband. Buy classic colors, patterns and styles. Watch for post-season sales – like short-sleeve collared golf shirts in July when all the fall clothes are coming in. Long-sleeve button down shirts will be clearanced when the spring/summer styles are coming in. I missed out on the July clearance sales this year. My husband’s golf shirts are worn out and there were no deals to be had on those in September. Shop ahead for your preferences then wait until they go on sale. One year we did Black Friday midnight shopping at the Jos A Banks outlet to get khakis for $15. Bought every pair in my husband’s size. 5 years later I think he has finally worn them all out. Lastly, don’t be afraid to buy one or two pieces at regular price if you really need them. For example, if you can find quality clearanced shirts but no pants that fit – go ahead and buy a couple of pairs of pants at regular price. Then watch for sales to fill in. And one more lastly, don’t forget the old 80/20 adage. Most people wear only 20% of their clothes 80% of the time.
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What a fun challenge! I like to dress well and have success doing so on a budget. My online resources are female-centric, but I’ve helped my husband graduate from middle school jeans and Tevas over the past 10 years, so I have experience with menswear, too. First, make a short list of the occasions that comprise a typical month, such as working at home vs. in an office setting. Work presentations, social dinners, theater subscription, religious services, etc, to really determine your needs. Then, jot down (or make a Google spreadsheet) a 3-tiered list of wardrobe needs/wants: what do you absolutely need now? Maybe you need a pair of comfy shoes that look professional, 2 pairs of jeans, and 2 button down shirts to get started? Then, what are intermediary needs? A winter jacket that can be worn with jeans, cords, and dress pants? Sweater hoodie and t-shirts for working at home? You’ll have to save for these items and budget for them each month. Lastly,
list pie in the sky items. You said you don’t need a suit, but many men do. Maybe your pie in the sky is simply more of what you wear all the time.
Next, determine how much you are willing to spend. You can get quality staples at many price points. I believe that you should not get your staples from thrift stores, but use them to fill in gaps. Many will disagree… I would look at Old Navy, Lands End, L.L. Bean, the Gap sale rack, and Target for
your staple items. In general, you don’t need a lit of clothes, but you do need clothes that work together. At minimum, I recommend:
-2 jeans
-2 cords
-1 pr dress pants
-1 white button down
-1 button down (something nice but not memorable like a small blue and
black plaid)
- lots of t shirts
-a mid weight sweater (merino?) in grey, black or brown
-belt and comfy dress shoes in brown or black
-a sweater or sweatshirt hoody that you can wear with pj bottoms at home or cords/jeans out
-sneaks
-coat–parka or peacoat
good luck!
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I suffer the same dilema when I moved countries. I had to reduce all of my clothes to fit the weight restrictions of my luggage. I knew I would be throwing most of it out so I went trough everything and sorted things into clothes that I still liked Vs clothes that I would never where or haven worn in 6+ months.
I took some time to read up on what clothes look good for my body type. The book was called the Science of Sexy. I had originally bought it for my cousin for her birthday as she’s the fashionista in the family. I learned what I needed to know for myself and started to put it into practice.
I created a list of clothing that I needed and a second list of what clothes I wanted to replace. I bought the first set of clothing from shops who fashions I liked during the Boxing Week sale. I managed to pick up a full wardrobe on $200 (5 different style t-shirts, 5 long sleeve shirts, 2 work blouses, a couple of pairs of dress pants). For an additional $100, I picked up 5 pairs of jeans and a new fall jacket as last years coat was in dire need of replacing.
I had set aside a budget for extra clothes money for when I arrived in the new country, but quickly learned that my budget would buy me a shoe if i was lucky. This past years winter sale I bought 2 sweaters and a winter jacket and a pair of winter boots with my budget which was roughly $400.
At this point, I replace articles of clothing a piece at a time as I can afford to replace them. This year, with a min wage income, I focus on paying my rent and keeping up to date with my bills. I was promised a fair salary next year, so I’m making myself a list…
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Hi JD! I’m pretty new to GRS – I’ve been reading for about a month now.
I came across this blog a long time ago: http://putthison.com/
It’s a great blog full of practical advice for men that want to start dressing like adults. I followed it for awhile even though it focuses on men’s fashion only… I still hold out hope that they’ll start covering women’s fashion.
Hope it helps!
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I work in a professional environment, and hate the idea of having both a work wardrobe and a weekend wardrobe, so I purposely buy pieces that can do both, and are versatile enough to go with a pair of jeans. I refuse to buy styles that aren’t timeless, and for this, I’ve found that one of my best resources is the Banana Republic Factory Store. Gap Inc often runs Give and Get sales, which you can find out about through signing up on their website for sales and deals, and these coupons are usable at the outlet stores, as well as the regular ones. I can often get very nice quality sweaters for less than $25, and dress shirts for $20 or less. If you’re looking for a timeless wardrobe that fits well, I would suggest trying there.
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I love shopping at outlets, especially Van Huesen and Bass outlets. They frequently have amazing sales, so I buy shirts for me or my husband in the $5-15 range. Based on our previous wardrobes of Old Navy, Target, and Walmart, the outlets have much better quality and classic yet modern styling.
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Wow, calliope (#6)’s advice is super.
Related question: Anybody know a good place to shop for a tiny guy? I’m 5’8, 125lbs with 28″ waist, so many mainstream clothing stores don’t carry sizes small enough for me.
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Have you looked at some consignment stores? They’re not “Thrift” stores, but you can often find nice clothes for much less, including the elusive “classics”. Consignment stores generally are more organized with a less random selection. Also the sales staff tends to be more knowledgeable regarding fashion than thrift store staff. As far as websites go, The Sartorialist often features mens styles for inspiration.
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I’m a big fan of Lands End (and LLBean sometimes). I recently finished grad school and had to build a business casual wardrobe and nearly all my shirts are from Lands End. You can find great deals in their sale section (and I’d recommend waiting until just after Christmas for more sales) and their quality is high, prices moderate.
@LifeandMyFinances I’m 6’6″ and Lands End, LLBean (and sometimes Gap/Old Navy/Banana Republic, Mens Wearhouse, J Crew) carry tall sizes that fit me well. Check them out. I won’t buy a non-tall size any more.
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What about bonanzle, ecrater, and even eBay? I did a quick search and some of the prices are similar to Goodwill’s prices. Of course the downside is that you can’t try the clothes on and most sales are final, but for the steep discount on brand name clothes, it might be worth it to take a chance.
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Check out Amazon and ebay too. Amazon has great prices on clothes. For harder to find specific things, I set up a search on ebay and I receive an email alert when something is listed. If the sizing is vague, I ask the seller for more precise measurements. They ususally are happy to oblige.
I love Ali’s ideas on writing down your needs for the month and prioritizing. You’d be making a clothing snowball that way.
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J.Crew all the way. In fact, they’re having a huge sale right now. My friend got two nice sweaters for $80 including tax and I got a perfect fleece-lined flannel for $60 on sale from $100.
Really, J.Crew’s style is classic American male teetering on nautical. They do make items in more modern cuts, but you can always find the classic cut items as well. The quality is usually excellent; I’ve got a sweater from there that I’ve had for ten years. I also really love their Favorite Washed shirt, which goes on sale quite frequently.
Of course, they do have a lot of items on the pricier side but their basics are very affordable.
And J.D., once you decide you really want to spend some money to look good (and manly), check out Filson. Being from Oregon, I bet Filson is right up your alley.
Ultimately, if you want style, comfort, and quality, you have to spend a little cash. It’s unavoidable. For jeans you can stick with Levis, which aren’t that costly. But then again, if you’re worried about quality and durability, you’ll want to look into selvedge denim; made on the old looms used to make classic Levis, this denim will last you years as opposed to the modern stuff that falls apart in a few months.
For me, I’m willing to spend good money on high quality and durable clothes. Not $900 for a sweater, but I would do $100 if the sweater was perfect and I knew I’d wear it a long time.
Good luck!
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The only issue with buying out of season for someone like JD is that he’s losing weight. So if he would have bought his winter clothes for this year last year, he would have wasted his money. I say use the tips here and spring for quality staple items to get started and keep looking at thrift stores and sales to add to it. I don’t think you’ll be sorry as long as you don’t go overboard.
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RE #12 Tiny Guy: Lucky You! You can shop in the boy’s department. Same quality, much cheaper: Lands End, LL Bean, Brooks Brothers.
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Lands End is a great suggestion for sturdy basics. If you can hold out until there are after-Christmas sales at the mall, I think you’ll get pieces that are standard gifts like sweaters and dress shirts for very reasonable prices. The hunting and gathering skills you honed by thrifting would help you tear through the racks at a secondary retailer like TJ Maxx/Marshalls; Nordstrom Rack and Loehmanns are other options if they’re in your area. I also think your need to start from scratch warrants a trip to a good outlet mall, particularly one with shops like Gap/Banana Republic/LL Bean/Eddie Bauer.
As for developing a more professional style, I laughed at the concept of the book “Casual Power” but in the end admitted it had a surprisingly good suggestions.
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I’m very petite and somewhat style-challenged, so shopping is tough for me. I take along a trusted friend who has a good “eye” for clothes, but whom I also trust not to dress me like a teenager! We start by looking through my closet to make a specific list of what I need, then plan which stores to try. We always *start* at the thrift stores because you just never know what you’ll find there. Sometimes we hit thrift gold, and sometimes not. Then we move on to “real” stores, starting with discounters like Marshalls, Ross, & TJ Maxx. My friend has a knack for flipping rapidly through the racks full of cheap and weird clothes at those kinds of stores and pulling out the good stuff that’s mixed in. Only then do we move on to full-price department stores.
I also order clothes from Land’s End, LL Bean, & JC Penney. Catalog shopping is a good choice for classic styles that you don’t need to try on- you just order based on your measurements. Seek out “free shipping” deals so that there is little risk if you do end up sending something back.
And to build up a wardrobe quickly, remember that there is no shame in buying several of the same item in different colors if you really like it- just try not to wear them on consecutive days!
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Outlet malls and rewards cards! There is one particular store I love for both work clothes and casual clothes (Eddie Bauer, to be precise). The catalog is expensive, but the outlet store is at least 40% off those prices. I have a rewards card (free!), as well, and recently got a $40 reward certificate in the mail, good for 2 months on ANYTHING in the store. Stores that have loyalty programs like this can really pay off.
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I have a few pieces of advice, after building a designer wardrobe on a budget for years.
1. Do not buy things just because they are cheap! I have bought too many pieces of clothes that sat in my closet because they were $200 market down to $20 and I never wore them.
2. Be patient. Building a wardrobe takes time. If you want quality clothes at good prices, keep shopping at quality stores. Bloomingdale’s has some of the best sales and clearance rack items anywhere, you just have to catch it at the right time. This means you have to keep going back. Also, see #1.
3. Lands End Canvas. I agree with other readers, but this new line looks like J. Crew at half the price. They also have a lot of good sales.
4. Sometimes you have to pay full price for quality items. I buy polos from Brooks Brothers. They never fade and the cut of them is flattering.
5. Buy classic items. Brooks Brothers and J. Crew and many of the other preppy stores have clothes that never go out of style. They do have some fashion forward items, but most of them are classic.
I hope this helps. I have built a designer wardrobe over 10 years that I am proud of. It took lots of patience. I have never paid full price for anything. I think it is silly. Even if you are considering paying full price, wait a couple of weeks. All stores have sales every couple of weeks.
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I read a blog called Wardrobe oxygen. It’s mostly for women but she has some info for men as well. She also alerts people through twitter about sales. I also think that old navy is one of the best places for men to start with basics.
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I am killer at winding up at the store when there are sales – I don’t think I’ve bought any clothes that weren’t on sale. My mom’s better, though. She waits patiently for coupons and discounts to Land’s End and L.L. Bean, then stacks them on free-shipping days or with gift cards she’s received through credit card promotions or other purchases as freebies. And there’s still nothing wrong with thrift stores – there’s usually a treasure hanging out in the racks.
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I would start with a list. What do you NEED? You mentioned a dress shirt. This time of year that is probably important. I know you hate the mall, but if you really are in NEED – you will most likely find what you want in stores. Look for who is having sales and has coupons in their circulars. Good thing is this time of year everyone is having a sale. Take your fist full of coupons and head to the mall on a Monday – Thursday (don’t go on the weekend this time of year for obvious reasons) Look for deals, but more importantly look for quality items that fit you and you like. Just pick up 1 dress shirt, 1 jeans, 1 belt…or whatever it is on your list.
Then you’ll have the basic/immediate needs for your wardrobe. That gets you over the hump and you can then be more casual about your shopping – hitting thrift shops of other casual stores as they become part of your regular routine. Eventually you’ll have a respectable wardrobe without having spent an arm and leg.
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@ #1 Try JcPenney’s Stafford brand dress shirts. My husband is very tall and thin so he gets the fitted kind. The best part about the super shirts is that they are pretty much wrinkle free. They come in X-tall too so I think you could have some luck finding your size in the actual store. If you have a store near you, you can find a good deal in their clearance section – sometimes under $10!
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First, plan what you’d like your wardrobe to look like, and think about what colors you like. My husband is self-employed in the arts (so appearance is somewhat important, but he’s kind of outdoorsy), and generally wears the following:
1. Always blue jeans from October to May. (He buys these from LL Bean mostly, because they’re inexpensive he can order odd sizes from them. He’s short and slender.) He has several pairs of shorts for the summer.
2. Ankle-height dark brown boots (such as Keen or Doc Martens), or sneakers (his fave are Simple). If he needs hot-weather shoes, he has a pair of Keen sandals.
3. He wears one of the following two styles of “tops” – a casual button down top (likely from REI), or a henley-style top (maybe from REI, Target, or Sears). In either case, he wears an undershirt every day, lighter-weight in the summer, heavier-weight in the winter. Almost all of his tops (including undershirts) are brown, olive green, or charcoal grey. Everything goes together pretty well without looking too matchy. (He wears white undershirts in the summer.)
4. Accessories. He always wears a belt, and has a nice (but inexpensive) Timex with a leather band, and he does buy good looking glasses. He will go out of his way to find a pair that looks really current but doesn’t break the bank.
Again recommending Land’s End and some Sears items. The Land’s End items at Sears are usually quite reasonably priced, and good quality, and their sale rack has some unbelievable bargains. Because folks can return Land’s End items at Sears, I would start stalking their sale racks right after xmas and into January.
Good luck!
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I would definitely go for quality – something well made in a timeless style. If you want to minimize your clothing angst, you can pick a wardrobe where every piece goes with every other piece (usually this means limiting your color selection) And definitely pick pieces that fit well and look great on you.
I found the recent NYT article on living with 6 items of clothing over 30 days (and the various related websites and group projects) quite eye-opening. (here’s a link to the slideshow) http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/07/21/fashion/20100722-sixitems.html?ref=fashion
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I have to second the votes for Marshalls, TJ Maxx and similar discount stores. To build a wardrobe you do need to haunt them a bit since stock turns over in an unpredictable way. You also need to go in a general idea of what you are looking for, not too specific. Say, a “dressy sweater” not a “gray merino wool sweater made by X company”. It’s like shopping at an upscale thrift store in that regard.
Another place to look are consignment stores. The clothes there are being consigned rather than donated so will cost more but are generally higher quality since they have to fit the store’s requirements. Sometimes the clothes are more seasonal, too, and have designer or high quality labels.
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I am a girlie girl and although I hate things like skirts and dresses, I still like to be fashionable. But I never buy anything that is not on sale. I also subscribe to Groupon and its clones, because sometimes a good deal comes along (this summer, there was a great deal with the Gap and I took the opportunity to stock up on jeans). I subscribe to store emails to be notified of sales and comparison shop online (I try to stick to stores where I know sizes fit the same), as well.
And when shopping online, I try to always use Mr. Rebates, as well as use my debit card, which also gets me cash back for certain purchases.
But when I’m physically shopping, I prefer places like T.J. Maxx, Ross Outlet and Marshall’s. You can still get quality clothing without paying full price for it.
One thing I learned in my limited time traveling in Europe. Always buy things that go with other things in your closet. Do not buy outfits, but buy pieces. And accessorize. You can wear the same outfit two days in a row, but make it look completely different with costume jewelry, scarves, shoes, bags, etc.
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I was in the same position as you were last year. I gave everything away. To rebuild my wardrobe I did the following…
Everyday Clothes
* Found 3 pairs of neutral colored Chino (classic cut) pants that fit really well. I found these for less than $20 a pair.
* I got 3 “everyday” long sleeve cotton dress shirts, and three cotton polo shirts. I found these on sale at a fathers day sell. The whole lot cost less than $100. All of the shirts are interchangeable with my pants.
* I spent more on under clothes because they take the most abuse and are next to my skin. I got all merino wool underclothes (3 shirts, 3 boxer briefs, and 3 pairs socks) Ibex is usually where I get these items.
Workout Clothes
* I got two sets of running shorts and shirts from Target on clearance. These get washed and lined dried immediately after I wear them.
Lounging Clothes
* I get free t-shirts all the time for volunteering at events and such. I was amazed at how many of these you can end up with.
I think the key is to go middle of the road on most of the clothes, and try to buy off-season that is when the best sales take place. Hope this helps.
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Two suggestions: first, spending extra money on anything made of leather is a good idea. So whereas a $9 belt at Costco sounds great, a $50 belt at Nordstrom will last longer and won’t “crack” like cheaper belts do. Same goes for leather shoes. I think that’s the most important place to spend the extra cash.
Second, don’t buy white undershirts. Buy grey undershirts, in crew-neck and v-neck varieties. Grey undershirts won’t “show” under a white dress shirt, but they can still be worn at the gym or to sleep in. I buy mine at the Gap because the collars don’t curl (they keep getting more expensive, so I wait for a sale), but Hanes makes them now, too.
Just my small suggestions.
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Ask around (or check Craigslist, etc.) and try to find someone who’s moving, changing careers, or closet-purging for other reasons. When I needed to build up a business wardrobe in a hurry, I found someone who was moving to Europe and needed to eliminate about 90% of her huge wardrobe. I spent an afternoon trying on everything — including many styles which I’d never have picked out in a store but discovered looked GREAT on me — and walked away with five complete outfits plus numerous separates for under $300. With minor alterations, $500.
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NO TURTLENECKS! Be glad you can no longer wear yours. Death to the men’s turtleneck!
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Whatever you get JD, I hope you make a short video of you in all your new outfits so we can check out the slimmed down version. Be sure to include many pouting male model poses!
I think it would be cool for you to keep all the receipts and then track how long each piece lasts. Also knowing how much you spent is a good way to maintain your weight. If you gain too much weight, and have to buy more clothes sooner than you anticipated, your return on investment is diminished.
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I’m a girl, so I don’t think my solution of hitting the Ann Taylor outlet for staples and dropping several hundred dollars on staples during one of their big seasonal sales is going to work for you.
But the big after Christmas clothing sale is coming up… if you know what you want, it’s worth trying to time that.
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Make a list of the things you need and carry it with you so you can take advantage if you see a good deal. Sign up for emails from stores where you like the styles (set up a separate gmail account just for coupons if you don’t want them cluttering your inbox). And find an outlet mall! About once a year my wife and I head up to the outlets. We get to spend a day together and we get great deals!
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Would also highly recommend Land’s End and Old Navy.
I would also say that a man needs a suit or blazer/dress slacks for weddings and funerals.
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I have no useful suggestions (I need to do this myself, and have no idea how), but I read the headline and thought you were talking about building a physical wardrobe. I was expecting a discussion of wood types and construction techniques.
I don’t know why – the real article is much more consistent with GRS than my imaginary one. Maybe my brain is on strike.
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Holy cats!
I didn’t expect this much of a response to this question. You guys are awesome. Thank you.
First, @slackerjo (#43): I’m not going to make a video of my new wardrobe, but I did post some photos of my weight-loss at my personal site the other day.
I love the idea of developing a list. Right now my list only contains two items: a black turtleneck and a white dress shirt. But the list is only short because those are the things I feel like I need at the moment.
Somebody brought up that it’s tough for me to buy clothes while I’m still losing weight. This is true, and I do hope to lose ten more pounds. Pants, especially, might be too big if I buy them now. However, I feel like shirts are okay to purchase.
I have lots more to say about this subject, but it’s not all worth including in the post. For example, I absolutely love wool. Wool is my favorite fabric, and I’m willing to pay more for it. All the same, I like to find it on sale.
I have a great wool sweater, for example, that I’ve been wearing a lot this winter. (It’s probably merino wool — I’m not sure.) It’s lightweight, feels nice, and looks good too. Best of all, I bought it for $3 at a local church rummage sale. The problem? It’s moth-eaten. The cuffs are like swiss cheese. I still wear the thing (especially under other clothes), but now that I’m trying to go beyond Modern Slob, I’m more self-conscious about it.
Also, as I’ve mentioned in a couple of other posts, I’m addicted to REI. This isn’t a good thing. In fact, I’m having to consciously steer clear of there, just as I used to steer clear of comic book stores. I like REI’s outdoorsy styles, but I admit they’re not appropriate for everywhere (and everywhen).
Really, I guess I’m looking to build the foundation of a wardrobe with quality pieces that aren’t extravagantly expensive. I want the basics to be solid. After that, I’m willing to fill in gaps with the thrift store.
Is this a sound plan? Help
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As a long time reader of GQ, and Details magazine, as well as someone who is passionate about saving and living the life of frugality…I have faced similar dilemmas. My suggestion above all else would be to buy a few staple items that may be of higher price and higher quality, and build out from there. What I mean is this, I recently had a body transformation just like you, and I ALSO used to dress strictly in Salvation Army-bought clothing…but I realized that if I were to buy a couple staple items that I wear frequently, I can build from there. So I went out and bought 3 pairs of khakis, 3 pairs of darker pants, and 2 nice pairs of jeans. From there, I got a couple slim fit oxfords, and a few short sleeved polos. I bought the pants from Express because I love the way they fit, and they seem to hold up MUCH better than pants I get elsewhere. They WERE a little more expensive than I normally like to spend, but the company often has enticing promos where you can get the pants for somewhere in the neighborhood of $35. For the shirts, I focused on getting shirts that fit me well, rather than just focusing on the pricetag. Van Huesen makes a line of modern fit shirts that can be had for ~$15, and hold up quite well. After you have purchased what I would consider “basic wardrobe staples” you can go from there expanding out. For instance, I spent a lot on pants, but I saved money on getting slightly cheaper shirts, so I can now afford some sweaters to match. I think you have to look at a wardrobe almost like you would look at an investment portfolio. You start with some staples (ETF’s, Bonds) and then you can build on top of that with other investments (or clothing) that you want. Best of luck!
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I had a similar problem this past year — I dropped 20 pounds, which is a lot on a woman my size. Alas, my tailored look went out the window!
Many of my recovery strategies have already been mentioned in the excellent comments above, but there is one thing I’d like to add: try to avoid “make do” shopping. I made the mistake of picking up items because “they’ll do for now.” It wasn’t long before I learned it was better to save my money for something that made me feel and look good.
It’s frustrating when you have to replace a lot of clothes at once, but aside from essentials (like underwear and a warm coat) things aren’t really as urgent as they seem. When you’re rebuilding your wardrobe, you realize you don’t need as much as you think.
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