Ever since this post about Clara’s clothes, I’ve actually gotten a surprising amount of requests for a post about how I save money on my own clothes, what my staples are, and how I generally get by without spending a ton of my momdrobe – er, I mean wardrobe. And although I’m hardly a fashion plate (that idea makes me snort-laugh) I do love a deal, so here’s a rundown on how I save money when I’m shopping for myself along with some sneaky sale tricks I’ve learned along the way and a few general dressing rules that seem to work for me (slash keep me from buying stuff I’ll regret/never wear/stare angrily at in my closet).
And I’d love to hear from you guys when it comes to how you score deals and try to resist buying things you don’t need/wear – so please drop in on the comments with all of your wardrobe words of wisdom!
Tip #1: Just ask. About a year ago I found a dress with no price on it at Old Navy. I asked them how much it was and they said it was an online-only return that ended up in their store, and they could sell it to me for 50% off. Just like that, a $30 dress was $15 – plus I could stack another mailer coupon I received on top of that. So worth just asking about it, right? Note: Please pardon this crazy face. I do that sometimes. Gathering all of the pics of myself for this post was beyond awkward.
Tip #2: Organize your clothing coupons. I use this method, which helps me know what I have and use them before they expire. Definitely helps me save some loot.
Tip #3: Know the rules. Many stores have special deals that run for cardholders. For example, you can get 10% off every Tuesday when you use an Old Navy, Gap, or Banana Republic card – on top of any markdowns from other coupons, discounts in the store, etc. I recently spent around $25 at Old Navy to get $65 worth of stuff. How? Well, first I used something they call Super Cash (it’s like Old Navy bucks that they give you after you buy stuff to put towards your next purchase, so I had a $20-off voucher to use if my total was over $50) but I also was shopping on a Tuesday so I got an additional 10% off, plus I was buying one item that was an online-only return, so that was 50% off plus 10% off on top of that! In the end I saved $40 just stacking discounts, shopping on the right day, and remembering to use my Super Cash voucher before it expired.
Tip #4: Figure out your favorite haunts. That’ll help you learn their store/sale policies, and it’ll also save you time since you’ll get to know:
- what sizes work for you in those stores (for faster shopping/fewer returns)
- which cut of jeans you love/wear most (and which ones you don’t so you can avoid them)
- when their end of season sales will be (and what they might have there, based on what you found the previous year, etc)
We’re also huge fans of outlet shopping, so when we go to the beach (usually around Memorial Day and Labor Day) we hit up the outlets where it’s not unusual to get things for 50-70% off. If I were forced at gunpoint to make a list of my favorite haunts, they’d be:
- Gap (great for staples like jeans)
- Old Navy (I usually love their tops)
- Banana Republic (I troll their sale rack for tops, skirts, and dresses)
- Banana Republic Outlet (this is where I grab long-term quality items, like a black trench coat)
- J Crew Outlet (I got a great pair of teal skinny jeans there for $35 thanks to tons of sales)
- DSW (nearly all of my shoes come from there)
- TJ Maxx (they’re awesome for discounted designer bags that last forever)
Tip #5: Don’t water down your wardrobe. I like to look at it as an “overall closet average.” Say I have ten outfits I love love love in my closet. I’d call them all favorites and on a scale of 1-10 I’d score them all a ten. That makes my overall closet average a ten. Then say that I see a sweater I kind of like (let’s say I’d give it a seven). And it’s on sale, so it’s tempting. The way I completely resist grabbing that sweater – which I’m guaranteed to like less than everything else in my closet – is to think of my closet average. Right now my overall closet average is a ten. If I get that sweater and it’s a seven, it’ll bring my entire closet average down, and I can just picture myself choosing other things on my hanging bar over and over again since it wasn’t something that I love love loved from the start. That helps me hold out for things I really truly love and stops me from grabbing anything I probably won’t wear or appreciate as much. Everyone loves a good closet GPA, haha – and it keeps that dreaded closet-clutter at bay (you know, when you have a bunch of stuff, but feel like you have nothing to wear).
Tip #6: Know what works. I’m a whopping 5’2″ – and I have the opposite of a long model-esque neck (it’s short like the rest of me) so I’ve learned that I look best in a v-neck. Somehow it makes me look like I have more of a neck and lengthens me in general, so I’ve learned what works for me.
Knowing that helps, because when I see some high-necked sweater or a boat necked t-shirts, I save myself the time of trying them on (and hating them) and I save myself from any temptation to buy something because it’s a pretty color/print/fabric or has a certain alluring designer name (or seductive sale price) since I know I’ll completely regret the purchase if it doesn’t actually flatter my body type. Heck, even my favorite swim suit has a deep V.
And we can’t forget my purchased-48-hours-before-the-big-day wedding dress.
Tip #7: Think about what you can pair things with. This is sort of like decorating. I try not to grab something that won’t go with anything in my closet, because much like buying something that matches nothing in my house, it would necessitate buying lots of other things to go with it. One great trick I have is to remember a few of my favorite outfits or pairings. For example: a denim pencil skirt + black t-shirt + leopard heels. If I see a pretty red pencil skirt when I’m out, immediately in my head I can think about the black shirt & those leopard shoes and know that it could be subbed in for the denim skirt for a different look with a similar silhouette (which I know I already love).
I try not to be as boring as buying the same things in a bunch of different colors, but I also go back to tip #3 (know what works) and remember that I tend to love a few silhouettes since they’re easy for me to wear and work well with my body type (ex: pencil skirts that aren’t too long for my short legs, skinny jeans, v-neck shirts, etc). Here’s another example of how I might grab something that can work with a variety of things in my closet. Take this coral tank top, that I have under this brown jacket…
Here it is under a black blazer at Haven (thanks for the pic Rhoda!). Little staples like colored tank tops seem to be inexpensive and easy to layer, so they might be less specific than a big patterned sweater or something.
Here’s another one in dark plum. For a girl who wears a ton of black, colorful tanks are a nice low-cost way to add some color in without breaking out in hives. Ooh plum, look at me. I’m a rebel.
Tip #8. Pick quality for things you’ll wear all the time. It adds up to longevity. For example, I’m extremely cheap. But in the purse category, I usually buy one and wear it for 2-3 years. Sometimes even longer. So I’m happy to splurge if it means something will be better made and will last that whole time without looking all murky and disheveled. When I say splurge, I don’t mean $500, I mean something in the $120-180 range. I know, it probably sounds super high to some folks, but I actually think if you figure out your cost per wear on a cheap purse, it might surprise you.
For example, say over three years you buy/wear four $30 purses from Target. That actually works out to the exact same cost as getting one great Michael Kors or Cole Haan bag from TJ Maxx for $120 and wearing that for three solid years (something I’ve done for over a decade now, without any issue of things getting worn out or me getting sick of them- you just have to hold out for something you’re truly obsessed with and that love goes on and on). So I guess it goes back to my whole “don’t water things down” theory (tip #5). I just like to buy one great purse that I’m enamored with and wear the heck outta it. It usually takes me about a year to find “the bag” though, so I don’t rush into anything (a few years is a long enough commitment that I take it super seriously and refuse to settle). And then I take a cell phone pic of it and text it to my BFFs to celebrate my purse victory. Dork for life.
Another example of how I try to go for quality would be with coats. I got this trench for $80 at the Banana Republic Outlet (marked down from $150+) a few years ago, and have worn it like crazy. Spring and fall for at least two years now, and it’s still going strong (no ripped lining, buttons popping off, etc). I used to try getting cheaper jackets at places like Target & Old Navy, but learned that they didn’t last as long, which ended up being more money in the long run, so for things like bags and coats I try to go for quality (but I look for that item in an outlet or discount store like TJ Maxx to try to keep costs down).
Tip #9: Spice things up with accessories. Most of my formative learning-my-style years were spent in NYC (I lived there for six years, through college and those first-job years afterwards) so I definitely have an affinity for the “New York look” (lots of black, a big handbag, long lean jeans, blazers, black sunglasses) but I also have always loved to spice things up in two areas: jewelry and shoes. One of my first pair of fancy pointy toed shoes were a pair of pink Nine West heels that I loved with all of my heart. And I’d pair them with a black blazer and jeans for a little dash of color without feeling too matchy-matchy (which might happen if I paired them with a pink sweater of the exact same color). I also had a pair of lime green Roberto Cavalli sandals that I scored for cheap at Century 21 (an awesome outlet-ish store in downtown Manhattan with a ton of clothes & shoes that are marked waaay down). Still to this day I love wearing a navy or black top with jeans and bright red peep toe heels…
I also love bright earrings, so it’s not unusual to see me in a black shirt, jeans, and some big coral or emerald colored earrings. John got me these guys for Christmas and I love them.
Here’s more dangly earring evidence (this shot is from back in NYC when we first started dating).
And here’s Exhibit C, with even more earring action going on. It’s just a quick way to add some “I’m-trying-a-little” to my usually questionable mom uniform. Haha.
It might not be a perfect equation for everyone (big bold earrings + basic black shirt + skinny jeans + some sort of shoe that works for being a momma but still doesn’t look too frumpy & is occasionally a bright color or print) but that seems to be the sweet spot for me.
Tip #10: Don’t try to make everything the star. I think this is sort of a sister tip to the one above, and it’s also one of those tips that rings true for how we decorate our house. Much like you don’t want every item of furniture and accessory competing for attention (you want some to fall back while others are free to be the focal point), you probably don’t want everything on your body to be vying for attention. It’s why I love slipping on my favorite pair of skinny jeans and a plain black top, just so my big crazy earrings or bright shoes can be the stars.
Another way to interpret this could be that if you have an awesome printed dress, a nude shoe could be a nice way to play it up. And we’ve all heard the “you shouldn’t wear a big statement necklace with big statement earrings” rule, which definitely seems to ring true for me. The way this tip saves me money is if I have an event in mind and I know what dress I’ll be wearing and I’m searching for shoes or jewelry, I can pin down whether the dress will be the star, and if it will I’ll get shoes and jewelry that won’t compete (instead of coming home and trying everything on together and hating the outcome).
Tip #11: Do your own thang. Don’t follow any of my tips word for word since goodness knows I’ve read tons and tons of clothing advice that might ring true for someone else, but is laughably terrible advice for someone like me with my body type. So while I know it’s incredibly clichéd to tell you to embrace who you are and just wear what you like, but at the end of the day, it’s kind of the best advice of all.
And now since someone will ask for it, here’s a pic of me with my hair down. I do it sometimes, but not often, just because I’m a ponytail girl. It helps me keep the paint and the peanut butter and jelly outta my hair. Haha.
Now it’s your turn. Shower me with your tips and tricks when it comes to stocking your closet on the cheap. Where do you save and splurge? I’m sure it’s different for everyone, so I’d love to hear what works for you guys!
Sally says
Sherry, thank you so much for writing this post! I just loved the one you wrote about shopping for Clara. I’m having a baby in January, and it really helped me think about what I wanted to purchase for the little guy. Now this post is helping conceptualize ideas for maternity clothes. You’re the best!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, so glad!
xo,
s
Jenny says
Best advice I’ve heard in a long time! Love the closet GPA!
Bethany says
Really love this post Sherry. The closet gpa average advise sums up perfectly why you don’t need to needlessly spend money or waste closet space just because it is “on sale”. But that is exactly how the stores get us to spend money. I was at the mall last weekend, and it struck me that every single clothing rack had some kind of explosive sale tag hovering over it. Ya really gotta use your common sense out there~ its a minefield. Thanks again, honey!
Alice says
Ok – so I couldn’t resiste telling you how lovely your hair is down! OMG, you have that perfect, semi curly, just came back from the beach look! STUNNING!!
The GPA idea is brilliant. Another trick my mom taught me was don’t buy something on sale just because it’s on sale. She always said that before you buy it to ask yourself if you would be willing (in theory) to pay full price for it.
Wish we had better outlet shopping here in Canada, although we’ve been known to make a quick jump across the boarder to take advantage of JCrew Outlets :)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, you’re so sweet. Thanks for the hair down kindness, and for all the tips that everyone shared. Love it!
xo
s
Carissa says
I’m with you on the nice coats! I wear them year after year because they are quality and classic so they last through the years. I also splurge on pants that fit because I’d rather have two pair I wear all the time than four that sit in my closet and are worn only twice a year
PennySmith says
First of all-your stunning! :)
Second-OMG, my personality type could never have the same purse for THREE YEARS!! Wow! I didn’t know ANY girls did that! Ha! I was all proud of myself because I have been carrying the same Fossil purse for 8 months! And I have the next set from Marshall’s already in waiting. :) I thought I was weird/being frugal cuz I didn’t pick my purses for each DAY/outfit. :0) I give you credit! I get too bored (SQUIRREL!!) too easily. :/
Caroline says
Sherry, Thanks so much for the idea of the “closet average.” I didn’t think much about it when I read it, but then I went shopping the other day and it was there in my head the whole time. It works like a charm! It totally saved me from buying stuff I just like instead of holding out for what I love! Brilliant!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, so glad!!
xo,
s
leslismore says
as a mom of two and a full time preschool teacher, i am so with you on the bold earrings. when i’m in my “preschool uniform” of jeans, t-shirt, toms/danskos and cartigan, nothing takes it to the next level like a pair of earrings with a pop of color or some blingy-dangle to them.
i absolutely love thrift stores. they are my go to for those really unique, vintage or otherwise too-expensive-new brand name items. you do have to do a lot more hunting, but i love finding one really amazing thing, it can make my day. this week it was brand new pumas for my little girl for $5, originally $40.
for most of my other clothes shopping it’s hip second hand stores-which there are a lot of in portland, outlet malls, old navy, and every so often modcloth.com
Luke says
Is weird that I enjoyed reading this post, but as man don’t wear earrings or tank tops? My philosophies are pretty similar – just sub in ties for earrings, and watches for purses. My other big advice (which I’ve cribbed from What Not To Wear) is to dress the body you have, not the body you want to have.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- so funny! Love it.
xo
s
Lindsay says
Not sure if this has been mentioned yet, but your AAA card can give you discounts at certain stores. I am lucky to live a short drive away from two major factory outlet shopping areas, which is good because I am too cheap to shop at the real stores! If you have a AAA card you can get 10% off at Banana Republic Factory Store and Gap Outlet. The savings alone I have gotten have probably paid for the card…..never mind that it would be useful in the event of car problems!
Jessica says
This is one of my all time favorite posts you’ve done! Love. Question for you, Sherry- I know you are a fan of the Skinny jeans and I finally found a pair I love (I am short, too). How do you extend them into the winter? Continue to wear flats with them w/o socks, or do you move into wearing boots for winter, or bootcut jeans instead? Thanks for the advice.
YoungHouseLove says
I do flats like a ballet shoe if it’s not too bad out and sometimes do little boots with them (black wedge booties with some fur at the top by Cole Haan from TJ Maxx are cute in the middle of winter).
xo,
s
Laura says
Sherry – I almost forgot to tell you I found the perfect beach where jeans are welcome :) My family went to a beach in Maine where I had to wear jeans because I didn’t think to pack a bathing suit, or even shorts. I thought I was going to look like a weirdo but there were at least 10 other adults and children wearing pants or jeans! It was great haha.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I love that!
xo
s
Becky says
I normally don’t post (more of an internet spy than an interact-er) but we seem to have the same outlook on our closets/style – black, fun accessories and the outlets and sale racks.
I’m pregnant and am going to have to start looking for clothes soon – yikes! Do you have any tips for stores? I am willing to pay more for key items (jeans) but tops and things…I did hear Old Navy was good. I want to look stylish but we just finished remodeling our kitchen as well and don’t want to go overboard!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes I got one pair or maternity jeans from Old Navy and wore them like crazy. I also got stuff from Target (they have a nice maternity line) and mostly bought tops that weren’t maternity (just a size or two bigger). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Amy says
Just wanted to say that I did a little browsing in a few clothing stores after work today and bought NOTHING! I was tempted by summer sale items but after I gave each item the new litmus test, “would this deserve a 9/10 closet rating?” I gave everything on sale a pass.
I would love to have gotten something new today but am even happier to have purchased nothing mediocre! Thanks to you, Sherry:)
Helen says
I just had to tell you that I read your post last week and it really helped me when I went shopping last night! I used to ask myself “Will I get $10 worth of wear out of this shirt?” and I ended up with a lot of items that I got inexpensively but that I wasn’t thrilled with. I love how you explained about not watering down your wardrobe (Tip #5) – I’d rather have fewer clothes that I love! Last night I left the mall with 2 shirts I LOVED instead of several that were just ok. Thanks Sherry! You guys are awesome!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, that’s so sweet! So glad!
xo
s
angela says
I made a list of things I would like to have in my closet for the fall. Going to try to stick to it. I just scored a pair of Madden riding boots for $40… so they’ll end up being a “staple”
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh those sound awesome!
xo
s
Jenn says
ABSOLUTELY gorgeous! Your style is simple but still so chic! A+, lady!
Sylvia says
I hardly ever bother with jewelry at all (though I love scarves) and I stick with one pair of plain black shoes and one black bag.
It took me a while to work out but I actually really love having bright/patterned pants and skirts and sticking with neutral-type tops and singlets.
I like sale racks and shopping at target and opshops. I only ever buy jeans at target (australia) because one day I discovered that they fit me perfectly and I like to wear them out and buy them often in different colours/styles. The only things I spend a lot of money on are:
– shoes (I spend a lot of time walking)
– yup, that’s it.
I like to keep a list of things like coats, jackets, etc in my mind so that when I go into opshops and to sale racks I know what I need. It takes me a long time to buy them but I end up getting them cheap.
Sri says
Can I ask where you got that swimsuit?? It looks adorable!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks! It’s from Piperlime. I saw it in Real Simple and they said it was a good suit so I blindly bought it. Haha.
xo
s
Megan says
One of my friends told me this, so I am not taking the credit for it. If you have one of those slide necklaces and like to collect the sliders/pendants to go on it, always look at the dollar stores and shoe stores and craft stores. They sometimes have tacky pins or earrings or flowers for holidays throughout the year that actually look AWESOME as a slider. Just stick a piece of tape over the back so it won’t snag your shirt if it’s a pin and not a real slide. And when people ask you wear it came from, just say, “Oh this? it was a gift.” Yup, a gift to yourself. Here’s an example. http://www.eveallure.com/beach-style-green-shell-pendant-necklace-in-quality-alloy_p7523.html
YoungHouseLove says
Fun tips everyone! Thanks for sharing!
xo
s
Megan says
^^ and if you ever lose a big earring, save the other for this purpose as well.
Debbie says
I love reading everyone’s style and shopping tips. I work part time in a tech job. So I have a lot of polo shirt and khakis. I add necklaces (I stopped wearing earring when I had kids) and scarves to look a little more feminine. I love the wrinkle-free shirts from Land’s End. They have some great sales on their website and you can take it back at Sears. My pant are usually from Ann Taylor or their Loft store. Sometime there are better sales at the regular stores than at the outlet. Their jeans fit me great also. I don’t like their tops though. Old Navy is great for at home clothes. Make sure you subscribe to their emails. Half of my emails are ads from my favorite stores. I also subscribe to a deal website (slickdeals.net) for alerts on my favorite brands.
Jamie says
Great tips! Just wanted to throw some props out there for consignment, though. I live for my consignment store! And I do mean consignment, not thrift – the kind of store where I can get NWT or barely worn great brand and designer items for a fraction of their retail cost. Case in point – last month I scored a NWT J.Crew blouse at 70% off the consignment store price (which itself was 1/3 of the retail price). NWT J.Crew for under $10? Yes, please! To help with the closet overflow I keep my “consignment bags” handy. One stays in my closet at all times. Midway through a season if I haven’t worn a particular article, into the consignment bag it goes so I am ready to go with a drop off when its seasonally timely. Then, again, another cull through when I switch out my bins for the summer/fall and spring/summer. It’s the double whammy of scoring killer deals and earning back some money on the clothes I no longer wear that I love!
Meg says
Being in Australia, most of these don’t apply to me but my number one tip to any woman is find a red dress you look good in! People are often scared of red but the right shade and cut can make you look and feel fantastic!
Melanie says
I just wanted to say that your tip on not “watering down your wardrobe” has really changed the way I shop! I’ve been able to resist a lot of “meh” things I’ve found on sale recently by thinking about not bringing down my closet average. You’ve also inspired me to get rid of all the things I already own that are bringing down my average :) Thanks for the tip!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, you’re so sweet. So glad Melanie!
xo
s
Patty says
I didn’t go through all the comments, so someone may have already mentioned this, but that last picture with your hair down reminds me of your picture from when you met Eminem. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha!
xo
s
Nicole says
Sometimes, when i go into Old Navy, i’ll ask the sales lady/man when the next sale is. They ususally will tell you…and i NEVER buy anything at Old Navy/Gap/Banana for regular price. They all go on sale eventually.
Also, Target has a nice sale rack…and for baby clothes, i usually go to the flea market and buy…I think for kids clothes…since they technically don’t wear them that often—it’s worth buying second hand. I do however, buy my son new shoes—because i feel like he gets lots of wear out of them. Sometimes at the flea market, they have huge playpens filled with kids clothes marked for 4 for $1.00!! Can’t beat that!!!
Elizabeth says
Sherry, you’re “closet GPA” concept changed how I think about what I want to buy. Great idea.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Elizabeth!
xo
s
Sarah M. says
Another tip for stores like Old Navy, where their online prices are sometimes different from their in-store prices… Sometimes I get emails about their end of season clearance sales, and the prices are ridiculously cheap. I’m talking $5 for a nice sweater cheap. I don’t want to miss the sale, but I’m not sure what size I wear. Lucky for me, ON is just around the corner from work. I will take screen shots of the items I want, along with the prices, and take my ‘list’ up to the store on my lunch break, and try on the everything (and check the prices to see if it’s cheaper there, while I’m at it – usually for my ON, they’re still higher than online, including shipping). Then I can purchase on my phone or when I get back, and bam, saved a bunch of $$!
Steph says
Out of curiosity-do you have a rough estimate as far as how many pairs of pants/jeans, tops/sweaters you own? I’d like to go through my closet but I struggle with getting rid of too much but on the flip side, I do have too many sweaters/shirts, especially that I never wear or don’t fit me quite right. Wondering if you’ve found the ‘right’ number in your quest. Great post by the way. It’s so helpful.
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, well since I work from home I might need less things, but I have about 4 sweaters, 3 pairs of jeans, 2 other pairs of pants, 4 skirts, 3 dresses, and about 15 tops (2 blazers, 6 tees, 4 blouses, 3 button downs). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Steph says
That does help! I work as a nanny, so I essentially have the same work from home, need less mentality. I love your edited, no watered down, style! Although I live in Boston, so I need lots of sweaters! ;) When I look at those lists of ‘wardrobe essentials,’ I think most of them are very outdated, or only helpful if you work in the business world. If there’s one lesson I’ve learned, it’s to splurge on a good pair of jeans and wear them out!
Sharon says
I tend to go for quantity over quality. That’s the first no-no I tend to do. As far as only buying what you love, I often don’t know if I love it until after I’ve purchased it. For example, I recently bought a pair of maternity pants that I wasn’t 100% sure about when I purchased them. But, a few months later? I LOVE them! They are super comfy and still fit great. I have thought to myself numerous times that I’m so glad I went ahead and bought them.
Christina Marie says
I think it’s too funny that you take forever to find a purse because I’m the exact same way! My Hubby picks on me all the time but I think in the long run he appreciates it cause I don’t have 200 purses clogging up the closet…now shoes that’s a different story :)
YoungHouseLove says
Hahhhahaha!
xo
s