Moms: Remaining Fashion Conscious on a Budget?

Kim · **Moms: Remaining Fashion Conscious on a Budget?**

I've always enjoyed clothes. They are probably my biggest spending weakness. I struggle with how to indulge my love of clothes and fashion and yet being frugal at the same time.

I'm sure would argue that clothes don't matter, but I tend to disagree. If you dress like a slob, what does that say about your self esteem? If you haven't updated your hairstyle in ten years, what are you saying to those who meet your for the first time? Don't get me wrong, I'm not condoning a superficial way of looking at your appearance. (I'm a mom and I have my share of sweatshirt days myself). While it's what inside that really matters, I think that how you present yourself is often a reflection of how you feel about yourself on the inside.

This is what I've learned:

Style over trends. Try to invest in pieces that will stand the test of time. Try to figure out what classic styles are a good reflection of what flatters your figure and your own sense of style.

Quality over Quantity. A few REALLY nice well-fitting pieces can go a long way. Sometimes it pays to invest in great fitting black pants that you'll have a long time, rather than several cheaper pairs.

Does anyone else have any thoughts on this?

03-26-2007, 11:06 AM

I LOVE clothes too!

I have had to cut back since having the girls, but shopping isn't much fun right now anyway. At least not until I lose the rest of this baby weight.

My staples like jeans, dress clothes, and shoes are all higher end because I do wear them more.

Stuff that is faddy I buy inexpensively because who knows how long it's going to stay in style.

mama-abroad · 03-26-2007, 02:14 PM

Kim, I agree with you on the quality-over-quantity decision for clothes. I prefer to have a few nice pieces that are classic and suit my personal style. And living in Europe I find that I dress up much more than in the NW, where I come from (Portland is all about jeans, fleece, and goretex!) The problem is that many of these nice clothes also require dry cleaning! My nice black pants, for instance, all require dry cleaning. My son, however, is a spitter-upper. So all those nice clothes are on the back burner for awhile! I probably can't wear most of them anyway b/c I still have baby weight to lose.

In the meantime I have bought a few stylish but cheap pieces from a Swedish chain here called H&M. They're pretty cheaply made and only last a season, but they look good for awhile and I don't care if ds spits up all over them. cotton has become my new best friend!

aleise02 · **Understand**

Right now, my dh and I have no children. But, we are on a budget. I LOVE CLOTHES.... and I LOVE HIGH FASHION. But something people tend not the belive is that you can look high fashion and buy NEW clothes and stick to a budget. What I do is buy off season. I dress up for work and I have gotten suits... at stores like BOn-TOn or Boscovs for like 65% off. They are high end fashionable suits, I care about my appearance becuase somewhat of who I am is expressed through my fashion and my looks.... I am not (like KIm also said) saying that looks ARE EVERYTHING to me when talking to someone else.... it is just importnat to me to look good!!! I do always update my hair, but I have been able to find a friend to take me on as a customer... and she does highlights and cut for about 35$ I do my nails on my own and have become quite skilled...... I just think that looks are part of who I am.

Jellylou · 03-26-2007, 03:33 PM

When I quit work this year I actually had to buy casual clothes!
I enjoy looking nice too. I also agree that your appearance is a reflection of how you feel on the inside ...it's about presentation and how you wish others to treat you as well.

When it came to work clothes I would spend the most on my slacks and skirts and then less money on tops because they seem to be the trendier piece that will go out of style the soonest.

When it comes to casual clothes, I am still searching for a middle ground. Since I am a new SAHM we don't have tons of money to spend so I have been buying most of my clothes from Old Navy, Kohl's, J.C.Penny, and even a few items from Target.

So far I am really happy with what I have been buying from J.C. Penny's.

I also like shoes. I usually find a couple of really cute shoes that will last the whole season, then wear them out!

I have never really shopped at consignment stores because I have not had much luck with them.

stacia · 03-26-2007, 06:32 PM

I don't spend much on clothes for myself, but I used to be quite the fashionista before kids. Now I buy way too many clothes for my kids, they look cute in everything! I normally buy nice clothes on sale/clearance from Kohls and Macy's for me, they have the best sales.

Nadino · 03-26-2007, 09:11 PM

I used to really be fashion conscious but pregnancy and changes in my weight have discouraged me. My husband always looks pulled together and I just feel frumpy.

I've been really thinking about what I can do to make a change and I've been observing other people whose style I admire. I realize that like Kim said quality over quantity must be the key. Through a bit of observation I realized even people I admire who seemingly have unlimited clothes budgets wear lots of repeats. They just spend slightly more for quality and it shows. They also buy pieces that mix with other items in their wardrobe.

I asked one friend who always look pulled together about her strategy. She shops for knock-off's on the trendy things she likes in the magazines and takes really good care of her clothes. She spends more on the basics. If something fits really well she'll buy it in more than one color. On the weekend she plans what to wear for every day of the week in advance and cleans and irons everything.

I'm going to put a little more planning into my wardrobe. I'm 5 months preganant so I'm not about to go out and spend a ton but even I can be inspired to take a little more care in my appearance.. Tonight I went through some maternity clothes in storage and found some really nice pieces I had forgotten about. They are in the wash and will be pressed and ready to go by bedtime.

Meghan&Noah'sMom · 04-03-2007, 07:37 AM

I think your outward appearance says a lot about a person. I think you said it best Kim- how you present yourself on the outside reflects how you feel on the inside.

Personally I don't see anything wrong with spending money on myself for clothing I like/love. Life has taught me that it's better to spend money on quality over quanity so I won't bat an eye at spending $55 for a pair of Capris from Ann Taylor Loft if I know they'll last for a couple of years. I LOVE clothes! I LOVE shopping! I went to school for Fashion Merchandising and Design. So a large part of who I am comes from my clothing choices.

I do get flak from friends who think it's selfish of me, but they are also the ones who take the martyr role in parenting and feel that being a good parent means not doing things for yourself. I tend to disagree. By no means am I superficial, not even close, but I LOVE an afternoon shopping and going out to lunch with a good friend!

I think if you take care of yourself, treating yourself well, enjoying the things that make you "you", then you will in turn (1) be a happier person/mom and (2) you'll automatically spend less because you've done what you really wanted to do in the first place so you won't be looking to fill a void.

sweethearrtofdc · 04-03-2007, 08:56 AM

I love shoes. I don't do Payless, Walmart, Target shoes. That is my one demand in life LOL... dh knew about my shoe habit before we got married and he lives with it now.. I am not high fashion, I don't do all the dressy clothes, I like my jeans and tshirts, capris and shorts in the summer are mostly denim too. So I make up for it in shoes.. I also only buy name brand shoes for my kids cause they seem to last longer, the cheaper brands tend to tear up or look really yucky within a month.. so I end up spending more than I would have originally..

CAgirl · 04-03-2007, 09:52 AM

I really love clothes, too! It is probably one of my few $$$ weaknesses. Since being a SAHM, I have really tried to get by with less. I stay fashionable, but within reason. I wait to see how long a new fashion fad will really last before jumping in and buying something. I also really shop the discount stores...Marshalls, Ross, TJ Maxx...I have several $90+ jeans that I paid less than $25 for. I also take really good care of my clothes, so that they last...I rarely put my clothes in the dryer...use mild soap, etc.