Here Are Tips To Save Money Building Your Capsule Work Wardrobe
Whether you work in corporate America, retail, or anywhere in between, you probably toy between wanting to invest a large sum of your hard-earned dollars in a capsule work wardrobe or sticking to a low budget on your clothes so you can spend more elsewhere.
The good news is there are many ways to create a quality capsule wardrobe for work without breaking the bank. “Putting together a capsule wardrobe can help you stay focused on the pieces that look good, transition with each season, and go together so you never feel like you have nothing to wear,” said Andrea Woroch, a consumer-savings expert, writer, and frequent on-air contributor “This can help you stop thinking about your next clothing purchase and use your money more wisely on other investments.”
To help you be more efficient when purchasing your workwear wardrobe, we tapped Woroch to break down money-saving fashion tips for your capsule wardrobe:
1. Focus on quality over quantity.
With most things, especially clothing, quality is more important than quantity. “While spending more doesn’t seem to save you money, investing in high-quality clothing will in the long run because the garments will last longer, meaning you don’t have to replace them as often,” Woroch said. “For this shopping strategy, though, stick with high-quality, timeless pieces that won’t go out of style, and that can be worn through the changing seasons, such as a black blazer cardigan or black boots. When you break down the cost per wear, you will see how much of a great deal it is to spend more on quality pieces that last and are always in style.”
2. Shop secondhand.
When shopping for clothes, you’ll be able to find quality items at lower prices than if you bought them brand new. Woroch agrees, “You can find quality brand clothing for a fraction of regular retail by shopping secondhand. Head to a local consignment store or shop online through sites specializing in fashion resales, like Poshmark, Thredup, or Tradesy.”
She also recommends using resources like Beni, a secondhand sales platform that, when downloaded, offers alerts to find clothing for less at a resale site. “This takes the work out of hunting for deals. Keep in mind, selling items you no longer wear is a great way to earn some money back to put towards like-new pieces to stretch your budget even further,” she added.
3. Apply coupons and cash back
Don’t overlook the discount popups or cash-back options. “Signing up for a store’s newsletter or text alerts can get you 10 to 20% off your first order,” Woroch said. “You can also find coupons and earn cash back through deal aggregators like CouponCabin.com — if you’re spending hundreds on wardrobe essentials, that cash back can add up fast, and you can use it to help pay off your purchase.”
4. Scope out discount shops.
“You don’t have to sacrifice quality when it comes to savings, either,” Woroch said. “Instead, head to a discounter like TJMaxx or Nordstrom Rack to find name brands at up to 60% savings. These stores get surplus clothing or last year’s styles for dramatic discounts and pass those savings on to shoppers. To save more, look for clearance deals for even more savings. For instance, Nordstrom Rack often hosts a “Clear the Rack” event where you can get 25 percent off all clearance clothing. Through these sales events, I’ve scored many quality blouses for just a few bucks for my video segments.”
