Is it possible to maintain a stylish look as a Nigerian without spending much money? Or to do so effortlessly? For most people, it presents a bit of a challenge, either way. However, it is quite possible to stay stylish on a budget in Nigeria, with a few tips and tricks. And considering the wonderful impact a stylish dress sense has on your self-esteem, you would want to invest in it. And while at it, get some fun out of it.
You may or may not be conscious of it. But good dressing actually impacts a positive feeling and a general ‘can-do’ attitude on other areas of your life. That is more reason you should learn to effortlessly stay stylish – especially as the lean economy of our time may demand it. Dressing stylishly is a form of self-expression; it reveals your creative edge, self-view, and personality. Hence we recommend you follow these next few tricks to stay stylish on a budget in Nigeria.
Stop Struggling to Follow Trends
The latest clothing, shoes, accessories and hairstyle might be appealing. But you can define your own fashion – you don’t have to follow trends created by other people.
While you are planning to buy the latest cloth or hairstyle or makeup – whatever, ask yourself a simple question. For how long will you be using this or that fashion piece? Will it last up to 3 to 5 years, for instance? If not, then you are simply wasting money.
Try buying yourself some statement clothing and accessories that can last, and stay in fashion for at least 3 years. And remember – fashion trends come and go, to reappear again (very likely). So don’t rush to buy clothes and accessories you will soon discard.
Be Inventive: Try Do-It-Yourself Fashion
There is nothing wrong with creating your own styles out of old clothes. It can be a fun way to stay stylish on a budget. You can turn seemingly old clothes around by dyeing them into a new color. Or you might cut and resew the cloth into another style. You might even add clothing embellishments to give a special look.
Vintage and Thrift Clothes: They Never Truly Go out of Fashion
You may be surprised to find unique and affordable clothing pieces, shoes, and accessories in thrift stores and markets around you. You should find and negotiate for the ones that are good enough, but will not burst your purse. Additionally, it helps you to save quite a lot of money, and still find items that suit your taste.
Learn to Mix and Match Outfits
Another way of showing off your creative edge in dressing is to experiment with mixing and matching your regular outfits. Try pairing different tops with trousers and skirts to see what they would look like. You might be pleasantly surprised with the results.
Maintain Wardrobe Basics: The Capsule Wardrobe
There should be certain shirts, jeans, trousers, jackets, and skirts that are standard features in your wardrobe. These are the foundational ‘members’ of your wardrobe that help you to successfully mix and match outfits.
Get yourself a collection of these wardrobe basics. They often do not go out of style. And ensure they are of good quality as well. You need to invest in these wardrobe basics.
Make Good Use of Accessories
Accessories can make an otherwise drab-looking or simple outfit look gorgeous and stylish. They have a place of their own in the wardrobe of style. So get yourself a collection of affordable accessories from discount, thrift and online stores to add glamor to your clothes.
Nice hats, bags, bangles, bracelets, jewelry, scarves and shoes can truly help you to stay stylish on a budget. You do not necessarily have to spend loads of cash on clothes. Just pair up your outfits with matching accessories.
Visit Online Shops
Online shops are often a good place to get quality and affordable deals on shoes, bags, clothing and accessories. You are also at liberty to compare prices from different online stores. Don’t forget to check customers’ reviews under each product.
Avoid Impulse Buying
Define your fashion goals, then learn to create a fashion budget according to those goals. Stick to the budget, no matter how tempting it gets to abandon it on the fly.
One regrettable outcome of buying items on impulse (especially fashion items in trend) is that they quickly lose appeal and value. Once the so-called trendy item goes out of fashion, you simply find out you cannot use it; or you no longer need it. Perhaps the quality was not even that outstanding to begin with.
So resist buying items on impulse, to avoid wasting your money on unsustainable and poor-quality fashion items in trend. Rather, be on the lookup for quality evergreen fashion pieces that stay smart and appealing, in and out of season.
