How to Be Fashionable on a Budget: My Love of Fast Fashion
How fast fashion made it possible for me to explore so many style at a young age on a budget, but the keep in mind, there are ethical concerns
Coco Chanel once said “Fashion changes, but style endures,” and she was not lying. Every season trends come and go making a piece that was once totally trendy become a fashion fo-pa. While I can’t lie that this season’s Prada feather chiffon blouse has caught my eye, I’ve learned to invest in timeless pieces, ones that never go out of style.
In recent years I’ve become obsessed with fast fashion. Fast fashion is stores like H&M and Zara, with runway inspired pieces that are sold as a good price. I am well aware that these places are not always ethically right, but when you don’t want to send a thousand on a t-shirt, they are a great place to go.
With that said, for those of you wanting to look a million without spending a million, fast fashion is the place to go and once you figure it out, people won’t be able to tell the difference between couture and your catching new knit. So here’s some tips to help you make the most of your fast fashion shopping:
When buying at a fast fashion store, come with an idea about what you want or what you are looking for. I always read a trend report or do some snooping on Bella Hadid’s Instagram to see what the stylish are sporting. Once I have an idea about what I want, I will go into my closet to see what I need. I happen to have an overwhelming amount of sweaters, so it’s best to say that I will not need to add one. But, I’m having a blouse shortage, so that’s what I’ll keep my eye open for.
Once you know what you want, think about the season that your in. Right now, it’s the beginning of September, and it’s still humid and hot, so I need a good transition piece to get me into fall. Figuring out what you need makes it easier to shop, as you won’t get overwhelmed and spend on stuff that you already have and do not need.
Before you go into the store, you need to be ready to be disappointed. There’s time when I’ve walked in to H&M and wanted to buy the whole store, but there have also been times when even so much as a t-shirt looks too horrific to buy.
If you have success, you can walk out looking like a model, and if not, just try again another time. Like I mentioned before, trends come and go, so if that flannel v-neck ruined your appetite, come back next season and it will be over. Endurance is key in fast fashion, but as long as you keep your style, patience will become you and you’ll look like you just walked off the runway, as it should be.