Dress For Less

Shopping on a Budget

Here at Fashion Club, we think it’s fun and smart to dress for less. Between shopping thrift stores, finding the best online bargains, and just staying in the know at your local boutique or mall, you’ll find it easy to dress for less!

Online Bargains

There are lots of sites that specialize in hot fashion trends at bargain rates. GoJane.com, Forever21.com, and Delias.com have great selections of dress for less styles. GirlProps.com often gets featured in Seventeen Magazine and People Style Watch, selling super cute rings for under $2! Also, get to know where to find the sales. JCrew.com has a sale section with great finds.

Basic Deals

There is no need to spend tons of cash on the basics. Why spend $20 on a designer brand tank when you can dress for less in a 3-pack of men’s Hanes tanks for $10 at your local drugstore? If you live in L.A., visit the FIDM Scholarship Store. You can often find basic tanks and tees for a fraction of the original cost.

Thrift Stores

Call it vintage; call it thrifting; call it saving money! Shopping for vintage finds is fun. The styles can be amazing and you can usually get some good deals. Sew some new buttons on that wool trench you bought for $20 at the thrift shop, and dress for less in custom style.

Rent, Don’t Buy

There’s no need to spend your entire savings on one outfit. But sometimes you really want to have something extra special for an extra special occasion. Find a prom dress for less by renting one at RentTheRunway.com. On Avelle.com you can rent handbags and jewelry by the week, month, or season. You can get a Louis Vuitton handbag or Chanel earrings for a little over $40 a week.

Luxury Loot

There’s no harm in looking for luxury deals. You never know when someone might ask you what’s on your wish list, and you want to be prepared. There are many sites that offer discounts on luxury brands, and membership is often free. Gilt Groupe will get help you to dress for less with offerings up to 60% off retail. HauteLook and RueLaLa have limited time sale offers with discounts of 50% to 75% off luxury brands.

Re-Purposed Fashion

You can also dress for less by making your clothes last for another season. That over-sized tank you wore all summer might work great over a turtleneck for a layered look in the fall. Throw on a belt, jeans, and boots and you’re ready for the football game!

Clothing Swap

The next time you clean out your closet, ask your friends to do the same. Once everyone in your inner circle is ready, do a clothing swap (with your parents’ permission, of course!). You and your friends can dress for less together!

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If you're obsessed with spotting the latest dress for less trends, learn how to turn your passion into a fast-paced career in the fashion industry. See which FIDM majors lead to a career as a Trend Analyst on FIDM.edu.