I know people who legit haven’t bought new clothes in years. Why? Because they think there are better things they can spend their money on. These people don’t know how to shop, clearly.
We called upon some very well-dressed to people to find out how the hell they look so damn good without maxing out the credit card, because look, it’s a mystery as old as time. Everyone knows that one person who looks so good 24/7, you wonder if they wipe their bum with $50 notes. Turns out it’s quite easy to be on their level without sending money down the shitter. Keep reading to see how you too can look mint.
CHRIS LEWIS
Chris Lewis, an Advertising & Partnerships manager / chic-central human, is real about not being able to afford shit straight up, and has a strategy to get around it.
“If I am broke AF I tend to check out what’s on sale at General Pants Co.. Also, god bless Afterpay on The Iconic… It’s literally saved my life, espesh three-hour delivery for random nights out after work/Tinder dates/I feel ugly days.” You heard it here first.
“If I’m going to drop cash it’ll be on jeans. When you can’t be effed with the guesswork or are just hung as shit, PayPal’s Bae searches the net on your behalf.”
If you have no idea what this PayPal Bae business is, don’t worry, it’s a new addition. Think of when you go shopping by yourself and have no one to tell you whether or not the piece looks any good. Bae’s your virtual pal (or bae, if you will) that’ll step in and tell you what’s hot and what’s so definitely not.
LISA HYDE
Lisa Hyde, founder of sunnies brand Shevoke, reckons once you’ve got your staples down pat, it’s all about going ham on the affordable, trend-based pieces that’ll take you from basic to worth looking at. Essentially, budget items are almost imperative.
“Don’t be scared to invest in key wardrobe pieces, a classic handbag, a beautiful LBD and the perfect pair of jeans – after you have those sorted you will find you can easily build on these with budget-friendly pieces that add a fresh and current feeling to your outfits, and are specific to whats happening seasonally.”
Basically, spend big on the staples, then save on the stuff that’ll be old news in a few months time.
MELISSA MASON
Mel’s our Senior Style Editor and while she’s all about driving a million k’s outta Sydney to hit up country op-shops for vintage finds, she’s also a compulsive online shopper (comes with the territory, I guess) and loves a pre-sleep deep lurk on Instagram.
“I like to own things no one else’ll be wearing, so my trick is to stalk my favourite style influencers and see the brands they’ve tagged. They’re often niche Aussie and o/s labels which means they’re usually more affordable, but just as expertly designed.”
Her other secret? Pre-loved sale sites.
“eBay and my Facebook sale groups are a bloody godsend for picking up designer pieces at an affordable price. I’m definitely a vintage girl, so I’d rather own a 70’s designer handbag than the latest Gucci creation, and you can shop around the globe on there. That being said, there’s also amazing current designer bargains, because hey – sometimes we buy shit and change our mind after the returns policy has ended. Better to sell it for a lower price than keep it and never use it.”
She’s also a chronic “check-with-everyone-for-approval” type, so she’s been frothing on PayPal Bae, too.
“I have been known to text a dress to 10 friends as a sort of crowd-sourcing approval test, so I was super into the idea of a virtual “pal” who could give me some feedback when I’ve overdone it with my real-life mates.”
BRYCE MCINTOSH
Bryce McIntosh, Communication and Careers Manager at The Fashion Institute, reckons goin’ cheap is good at helping y’all look current.
“Affordable fashion makes it easier to track what other global cities (NYC, London, Japan, etc) are following without breaking the bank. You don’t have to wear brands (in particular high-end) to show off your personal style.”
ASOS and Zara are his go-tos. “Their product is constantly on trend and pretty good quality for the prices you’re paying. I’m constantly surprised at how quickly Zara manage to interpret trends from the runway and blast it through their stores.”
NAT BUCHANAN
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJxZvYDBCqY/?taken-by=natttybee
Nat Buchanan, actress/model/a walking, talking Macklemore tune, is a slave to secondhand and good, because it’s affordable, on-point and caters to her every-changing ~lewk~.
“My style is constantly evolving. I try to avoid the financial regret by shopping affordable pieces, as opposed to spending lots on something I may not be into next month. I also feel that if you style something right, you wont be able to tell what’s a budget piece and whats high-end. Save yo’ pennies!”
“I am a thrift shopper through and through, so op-shops/markets are my #1 choice for a unique bargain piece. However, I also love the ASOS sale section. They update their new arrivals all the time, and delivery is so quick.”
LISA CLARK
Lisa Clark, Freelance writer and all-round hot content creator, generally just feels more at home / sane when wearing affordable pieces. That, in turn, has her looking her best self.
“It is all about how you wear it and the confidence you have when rocking your outfit. For me comfort and the way clothes fit are everything because of my lifestyle I need easy to wear pieces that are also comfortable. I would rather rock a $40 tee and roll around with my dog in the park then have a $150 tee and freak out about getting it dirty or wrecked because I had spent so much.”
She recommends Storeroom Vintage and all her denim faves from GP: Ksubi, Rollas and Neuw.
If you feel like you need more help when trying to snap up a fine new piece for your wardrobe, try out PayPal‘s new bot, Bae – just like a regular bae, only much more helpful. Start getting advice from the chicest bot goin’ round here on Facebook and Facebook Messenger.
