I'm a student myself so without having a steady income it's hard to go out and purchase everything you want, or everything you tell yourself you 'need'. I'm going to share with you a few tips on how to save your money, but still look good. These following tips are suitable for everyone (even for boys), money wise tactics that I have learnt because I myself went through a crazy shopping phase and it does get pretty addictive. 

 ○ Quality 

This is something that I had to learn by myself, mostly because I never would have listened to my parents when it came to fashion. The sooner you realise it's not the amount of stuff you have, but what matters is how good the quality of what you do have is. When you buy cheap items of clothing you get sucked into thinking you're not spending a lot but in reality you'll spend more money buying more cheap things than if you were to invest in something pricey. 

 ○ Sale 

Never just purchase something because it is on sale; the fact the price is significantly lower can cloud your judgement on whether you like something or not. Although you'd think always shopping on the sale rack would be good on your bank account it can have the opposite effect. It's pointless spending money on an item if you're hardly going to use it. You should only ever purchase something if you're 100% sure that you love it and will wear it. 

 ○ Investment 

It's always going to work out better if you invest in basics; this ensures that they will (hopefully) last for a long time. so don't go splashing out on staple items which will go out of fashion in a few months. Especially when you're on a budget, you need to prioritise what is a necessity and what isn't.

 ○ Splurge

If your account can take it then definitely splurge on an item; prior to this I recommend you plan wisely what it is that you want. You should research into it; read reviews, watch youtube videos on this item you want to purchase. When spending a lot of money on something whether it's a bag or shoes whatever it may be you want to know you're getting your money's worth. 

 ○ Sell

There are so many different ways that you can make money online now (to fund your future shopping). With choices from Depop to eBay you have different ways to advertise items you no longer want and can make money from it. After all the quote does say another man's trash is another man's treasure. 

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Whether you want to declutter your wardrobe down to the basics or just start from scratch, I am certain that this post will come in handy. When looking to build the basics in your wardrobe, the main thing is to think of how everything can work together before incorporating statement pieces and how an item can be dressed up or down is crucial.

Delving in the world of fashion is pretty daunting; clothing shops tend to have everything everywhere, so it's pretty hard to keep your head straight whilst trying to figure out what you really need to have. I am going to go through a few wardrobe staples you will need, so get your pen and paper ready!

○ The Basic White Tee
Kind of an obvious, this piece can be dressed up or down. I love this because it's an item that will never go out of style. Wear it with a figure hugging skirt or boyfriend jeans it's the perfect upper base for any style. It's one of those items that you really do need to have in your wardrobe. You can get different variations of the white tee; different cuts materials graphics but I prefer mine to be a plain crisp white cotton t-shirt. Of course, I'm talking about the white tee, but you can also get grey or black and the same would apply for that. 

○ The Little Black Dress
LBD's are suitable for any occasion; they can be worn in the office for work giving a classy, sophisticated vibe but they can also be transitioned into an evening out attire. Depending on the cut and fit of your LBD you can find an LBD for any occasion, a midi sleeveless figure-hugging LBD can be worn on nights out or as a day dress. It solely depends on your preference; once you find what you like the most grab it because it's a timeless classic piece that will most definitely come in handy.

○ The Ballet Flats
Ballet flats scream chic and comfort; you can still have a dressy outfit and finish it off with a cute pair of flats such as the Charlotte Olympia flats. You can also keep this super casual with a pair of loafer/moccasin style flats. I prefer my flats to be basic and usually stick to black or nude as these are colours I know I'll be able to incorporate in my wardrobe. So when you pick your flats make sure to keep the same thing in mind.


○ The Slip On Trainer
It's only recently that this trend has made it into people's essentials category. I personally used to associate slip on shoes with young children (you know avoiding the whole shoe lace situation) but now I am hooked onto my van slip ons. They are comfortable enough to walk miles in but still give your outfit that cool vibe. Black would make any outfit sleeker, but if you're feeling daring then a bold print would be a perfect way to make a statement without going OTT.


○ The Striped Top
This, for me especially, is a must have. There's just something about a striped top which just says I tried but not too hard. Add an effortless vibe to any outfit by simply throwing on a striped top. Black bottoms are perfect combined with it. Material matters with striped clothing items. If you're wearing bottoms such as boyfriend or skinny jeans then going for a structured top is ideal and if going for a more structured bottom then you can afford to go loose and casual on top as this balances an outfit. A subtle 'statement' item which still has the ability to mix well with everything in your wardrobe.


○ The Classic Tailored Pants
Every girl needs a basic pair of tailored trousers; the cut is down to personal preference but I don't think anyone would go wrong with a pair of high waisted slim leg pair. Dressed up or down they can be worn to work on weekdays paired with a blouse and flats/pumps or throw on a t-shirt for a laid-back style for weekends or days off.

○ The Courts
Although I have spoken about flats are staples there is no escaping the necessity of a good pair of heels. A neutral hue can take you from the office to club with no problem. In different styles and cuts, your wardrobe is never fully complete without a pair of courts you can wear to dress an outfit up or dress it down.


○ Denim Jeans
No matter what cut you prefer or colour (although I suggest classic denim colours for your basics) jeans are a must have in everyone's wardrobe. The foundation to any outfit, dress up or down, heels or flats whatever suits you and your personal style. My preference would be skinny, high waisted, high rise or boyfriend fit. Once you discover what cut and fit suits your body shape be sure to pick them up in black and white and blue, you'll be set in the jean department for a long time.

It's worth investing in basic items in your wardrobe as you will ideally want them to last you for a very long time. I prefer investing in expensive basics rather than splashing out on a statement top or coat that I will only wear for a short amount of time. There is a lot more that could be added onto the basics; such as a basic shopper black bag, structured city bag, leather jacket, but once you start with what I have suggested above you'll be set to continue building onto it all.

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