M U S E M AGA Z I N E
Real World Fashion on a Real World Budget BY M E GA N T S E
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niversity students no doubt spend countless dollars on frivolous things. A majority of students like to party every now and then, and with the idea of partying comes the notion of “going out clothes.” There are certain unspoken standards that both boys and girls are expected to adhere to when going out; girls are held to especially rigid standards and are routinely compelled to wear slinky tank tops and the shortest of miniskirts out on the town. A lot of students (especially girls) fail to realize that the amount of money they spend on scanty clothes could be put towards something more worthwhile. Building a professional wardrobe is an investment in itself, because classic work pieces tend to be more expensive than casual clothes. So why the rush into starting to invest in professional clothing? Having gone through numerous job interviews over the past couple of years, I have learned that you can never look too put-together when it comes to making a good first impression. Plus, it is always better to show up overdressed than underdressed in any professional situation. I absolutely love to shop and am the worst when it comes to trying on items
18 FAS H I O N
just “for fun.” I struggle to justify to myself that something is not worth buying. In order to dress well while saving money, I follow these four steps: 1. CUT BACK ON EXTRANEOUS AND IMPULSIVE EXPENSES. This rule does not apply directly to investing in professional clothes, but instead helps me save money on a daily basis. Expensive items may set you back a large sum of money immediately, but it is the little things that sneakily add up, too. Packing a lunch for school or brewing coffee at home instead of buying it when out are good ways of avoiding needless daily expenditures. In the midst of a shopping trip, stop and think before buying trendy clothing items. In the wise words of Marie Kondo, hold the piece in your hands and ask yourself, “Does this item bring me joy?” If the answer is no, it is pretty obvious that the item is not worth the investment. Instead, start borrowing items from friends, or even resort to DIY clothing projects such as silk screening, ironing on cute patches, and embedding studs onto old shirts to revamp them. Not only do you save money yourself, but you also help your friends save, too!
