Being well dressed on a budget: how do you do it?

Dear users, dear designers,
if you don’t have a lot of money but still want to be well dressed, how can you manage that?

Indem man in s

By browsing through thrift stores—you can often find good clothes there for very little money—or by buying fabric during the summer or winter sales, because that’s when you can often get high-quality fabrics at bargain prices and, if you know how, sew your own clothes.

Best regards, Inge

If you can’t sew, things get a bit more complicated. Apart from thrift stores, there aren’t that many options. Actually, it makes more sense to invest in good quality, because those items simply last longer than the cheap, hastily sewn ones. But that does cost money, so you have to be able to afford it—even if you only buy a few pieces. So keep an eye out for special promotions, clearance sales, and the like—you can save quite a bit that way.

I shop at the Red Cross thrift store.

Flea markets, eBay classifieds, and Kleiderkreisel are also options. Or keep an eye out for swap meets in the newspaper—that way, you can also get rid of things that no longer fit or appeal to you.
Best regards, Marita 

I love my online swap group. I’ve been able to snag some really nice, high-quality items there many times. I knit everything made of wool myself, and I usually get the wool from the swap group, too.

That way, I can trade my own nice clothes—the ones I don’t wear anymore or that no longer fit—for others. It’s been working great for many years now.

I also love browsing the Diakonie stores. During the summer sales, I snagged two brand-new shirts again—brand-name items. The shelves there are absolutely packed, and you can always find something great. Sustainability is also important to me, which is why I check out the Diakonie store regularly. 

I donate a lot to the thrift store or sell items to momox fashion. I also shop there sometimes. I make everything out of wool myself—including gifts for relatives and friends—and I’m even starting to get “orders” now 🤣

I’m the type who prefers to buy higher-quality items less often.
Unfortunately, I can’t sew, but I do weave, felt, knit, and crochet a large part of my wardrobe myself.

I like to freshen up my clothes with Simplicol fabric dye. You can do it in the washing machine, and it’s super easy. It works best with black cotton clothes. As you know, black can fade a bit—it sometimes turns a grayish-greenish color. Just dye it with Simplicol Black, and everything looks brand new. 

Thanks for your tips and opinions so far. Would you like to share more on this topic?