HOW TO BUILD A WARDROBE ON A BUDGET

One of the chief goals of this style guide was to make the information in it relevant and accessible.
A lot of fashion advice, we found, isn't, simply because it focuses so much on the higher end of things.

It's great to talk about bespoke tailoring and designer fashions with people who can afford to buy
those on a regular basis, but the reality is that most guys can't. Some acknowledgement needs to be
made that there are men out there who want to look sharp, but who are dressing on a budget.
So if you like the idea of looking nicer, but aren't going to be ordering custom-tailored suits any time
soon, don't despair. Here are some of the best ways you can shop for menswear without breaking the
bank:

1. Know Your Local Thrift Store (and Love It)

Get over any prejudices you might have and embrace the concept of thrift-store shopping.

Some of your best deals are going to come from thrift stores, consignment shops, and similar secondhand markets. The selection is a craps shoot, but the prices are good enough to justify the extra time that costs you.

Get in the habit of visiting your local thrift store (or stores) whenever you happen to pass by. If you
never happen to, make a point of doing it every month or two anyway.

The results will be varied. Depending on your body type and size, you may have a wide selection that
gets picked over quickly, a limited selection that no one's competing for, or something somewhere in
between.


But every once in a while, no matter your size, you can expect to snag a really good bargain, and it's
those moments that make thrift store shopping worthwhile. Expect to have to spend a little more on
adjustments for most things you buy -- but when you've just found a $500+ suit going for twenty bucks, the extra ten or twenty for adjustments still totals up to a pretty good deal.

2. E-thrift -- But Cautiously

The internet is, in some ways, a thrift store the size of the world. If you're good at Googling and
willing to put some time into it, you can find almost anything for cheap.

Unfortunately, there's no way to try clothes on via the internet. You're stuck relying on product
descriptions, which can be incomplete or even falsified. And there's no way of knowing for sure until
the purchase arrives on your doorstep.

That means being a little cautious when you buy second-hand clothes online. Try to stick to websites
that you trust, or sellers with good reviews and reputations. See what other people are saying about a
source before using it for the first time.

If sites offer extra protections or return services for members, consider registering for the
membership. Ebay and Amazon are both examples of sites that give more generous return policies to
members than to unregistered users.

Expect to have to return or exchange about half of what you buy online, especially when you're first
starting to explore your options. Plan accordingly, and stick to websites that aren't "all sales final"
unless you're very sure of your purchase.

3. Track Sales and Coupons

Coupon-clipping is generally associated with grocery stores, but it's an option for clothing shoppers
as well.

These days, you can use websites to track sales and special offers from brands you like. Sites like
Dappered.com exist to highlight the best deals available every day.

You should also subscribe to the mailing lists of the brands or stores you like best. This will
inevitably result in some offers you aren't interested in, but it'll also expose you to some deals you do
want.

Deleting an extra e-mail or two each day isn't actually that big of a hassle. And it's well worth the
effort when you're also occasionally getting big discounts on items you were going to purchase
anyway -- or that you wanted to purchase, but couldn't because of the price.

4. Ask for Clothing Gifts

Take advantage of gift-giving holidays like Christmas to get the word out that you're into fine
menswear these days.

Relatives and friends are often grateful for a few gift ideas that you'll actually appreciate, so that
they're not guessing completely blind.

You're not likely to have many friends who are giving away custom-tailored suits (though if you do
you should definitely stay friends with them!), but you can let it be known that affordable accent
pieces like pocket squares, colored socks, and vintage or artistic belt buckles are right up your alley.
It's a double bonus: you get some new accent pieces for free, and you get some additions that you
wouldn't necessarily have thought to buy yourself. Some of them will not quite be to your taste --
that's always a risk with gifts -- but most of the time you'll get things that are at least functional. And
once in a while someone surprises you with something downright awesome.

5. Borrow from Relatives

If there are other men in your family about your size, check with them about borrowing clothes when
you really need them, or about getting some hand-me-downs.

This is usually a father-son sort of thing, but brothers, cousins, and nephews/uncles can help each
other out too, so long as they're about the same size.

Go with whatever arrangement comes naturally to your family. Borrow a suit for an interview if you
don't have one of your own, maybe, or take a vintage suit jacket that's seen better days out of
mothballs and wear it with jeans or corduroys as a funky sports jacket.

Whatever the other men in your family aren't using -- snag it and get it back into the rotation. It's doing everybody a favor.

6. Spend More, Less Frequently

Try to get into the mindset of investing in two or three serious clothing purchases each year, and not
much beyond that.

(If you've got the budget for more frequent purchases, of course, go for it. But men who need to save
for a few months between clothing investments should focus on two or three a year.)

Make these significant, high-quality purchases. Focus on the upgrades that will do your wardrobe the
most good, and spend to get the best quality you can afford.

Buying one or two really good items that are built to last will do you more good in the long term than
shopping every week or two for cheap junk. Your wardrobe will be a little less varied, but you'll get
more value for your dollar.

If you desperately need variety, get it with accent pieces. Things like pocket squares and unique belts
are a lot cheaper than jackets and trousers, and they do just as much to change up your look.

7. Adjustments Are Always Worth It

Finally, if you're doing a lot of second-hand shopping, remember that adjustments at a tailor's are
always worth it.

Always.

Spend the $10-20 per piece to get your wardrobe fitted to your body. Some adjustments will be very
small and cheap, while others will be more costly, but all of them are worth the extra investment.

It's the difference between wearing second-hand clothing and looking like you're wearing secondhand
clothing. Once the garments have been adjusted (and repaired, if needed), there's nothing to make people think they're anything less than the season's newest looks, hot off the shelves.

And that's a pretty big upgrade for a pretty low price.



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