Many college students have one thing on their mind: saving money. Amidst the cost of rent, going out, groceries and tuition, it can be hard to find a break in your budget to spend on stylish clothes.
There’s a few ways students can find ways to dress well on a budget, from shopping at local thrift stores or with a goal and investing in quality staple pieces.
Local thrift stores
Aside from your typical Goodwill, St. Vincent de Paul or Plato’s Closet, Madison has a few unique thrift stores that bring some diversity to the fashion scene.
From the outside, Happy Hours would appear to be a regular house on Mifflin. Inside, it’s full of all sorts of secondhand items selected by the owner.
Re-Threads, located on State Street, is committed to eco-friendly and sustainable clothing and functions as a buy-sell store. Re-Threads has been known to stock name-brand clothing, like Gucci and Chanel, among other vintage and collectible brands.
Singlestich is a Madison thrift store that sells recycled vintage clothing. It’s great to achieve an edgy or streetwear look, with pieces ranging from graphic t-shirts, to denim and funky jackets. They also have vintage, recycled UW-Madison merch for students to wear on game day!
Shopping with a goal
Another way for students to stay stylish on a budget is to avoid fast-fashion trends. Social media often promotes the rapid cycling of clothing trends. To avoid this, students should create mood boards that emulate their own unique styles or ones that prove to be more versatile.
Mood boards can be helpful because they provide us with a clear vision. We’ve all walked into a clothing store before and walked out with more pieces than we needed or wanted. Having a clear list of clothing items and accessories before shopping can help you narrow your focus when you’re skimming the clothing racks. This way, you can say “no” to items you don’t love and ultimately save money.
Investing in good staples
One of the best hacks to dressing on a budget, especially as a busy college student, is to invest in good staple pieces. You only need a few versatile and functionable pieces to obtain several different outfits throughout your week.
For pants, it’s always good to have two or three good pairs of jeans. Mix up the styles and washes. This will ensure that you have a pair of jeans no matter the top, occasion or mood.
Neutral colored tops — black, white and gray — are key to maximizing your wardrobe. Whether it be loungewear, clothes for class or going-out tops, these colors are easy to mix and match.
While these may seem plain, the key to elevating any outfit is accessories. Accessories add character and personality to an otherwise simple outfit. Thrift stores are a great place to find affordable accessories like belts, jewelry, hats and bags.
