Model: Kayh Anderson
In case you haven’t noticed, being a girl gets expensive – especially if you love to shop as much as I do!
It’s even worse if you have to maintain two separate wardrobes (one for your femme self and one for your guy self).
So how can you be feminine and fashionable – WITHOUT going broke?
Here are my top 5 ways to build a femme wardrobe on a budget:
1. Shop at Consignment Stores
While you can find cheap clothes galore at thrift stores like the Salvation Army or Goodwill, it means sifting through racks of ugly, decades-old clothes.
Instead, I suggest shopping at consignment stores. Consignment stores also offer second-hand clothing, but they are much more choosy about what they offer.
It’s a great way to find fashionable (often designer) clothes for a fraction of the original price.
2. Save Big During Sales
I LOVE a good sale – and I’m sure you do too. The trick is to know when to shop to get the best deals.
Retailers usually offer their best sales at specific times of year, including:
- Major holidays like Labor Day, Mother’s Day, or the 4th of July
- After Christmas
- The end of summer
Many stores also have their own schedule for semi-annual sales. For example, Victoria’s Secret holds their Semi-Annual Sale in the winter and summer. Get on your favorite stores’ email lists to be notified of sales.
3. Shop the Outlets
Outlet stores like TJ Maxx, Ross, Marshalls, and Kohls are great places to find bargains year round.
Here are my favorite online outlets:
6PM.com and Overstock.com carry plus size clothing and large-size women’s shoes, so they’re a great option for bigger girls.
4. Stop Wasting Money on Things You Don’t Wear
Spending money on things you’ll later regret is the ultimate waste.
My rule is not to buy anything (no matter how cheap) unless it:
- Fits perfectly
- Is the right color
- Works with at least 2 outfits you already own
- Is returnable
I like to wait a week to cut the tags off any clothes I purchase so I can make up my mind slowly and still be able to return things later.
5. Know When to Save and When to Splurge
While it’s important to save money, some things worth investing in include:
- Silicon breast forms
- A high quality wig
- Good foundation and concealer
These items can make or break your feminine image, so purchase the best quality you can afford.
Then look for bargains when it comes to things like: trendy fashion pieces, eye shadow, nail polish, panties, etc.
How do YOU manage your femme wardrobe budget? Do you have any money-saving tips to add to this list?
As always, I’d love to hear from you, so please share in the comments section below!
Love,
Lucille
P.S. If you liked this article, you will love my FREE Male to Female Transformation Mini Course.
transformation tips?
Pics from 8-30-13.
I only buy at Ross, K Mart, Wal*Mart, and Target. Once in a while if I find something I really like in Fashion Bug or Marshalls.
What I really need is a Tardis, just for my clothes. On July 3, 2007 my Tday, I had no female clothes. I am sure that my total number of dresses is over 100, skirts over 50, blouses over 30, Rings – sometimes I wear 14 at a time. Bracelets – I must have 20.
Wigs, I only have two in the $100 range, both Zsa Zsa Gabor, the rest I bought only at Smith’s Food & Drug where I work but not for Smith’s, at an individual cost of no more than $7.00. The one in this pic cost me $3.99 plus tax. I have 22 wigs at last count.
I am a natural redhead but since Jan 1 2012 have only been blonde at work, and since September Platinum Blonde. I now only wear red very rarely, as I truly feel like a blonde woman.
The only male clothes I have left are a couple pair of shorts and a work coverall, and a few unisex shirts that were my favorites.
Great common sense tips, I know first hand how much money I wasted before a couple of my girl friends sat me down for a heart to heart chat.
From experience I can also add a couple of suggestions. First dress appopriately as a woman complete with makeup when you go shopping and by all means take a girl friend with you to help you find your style. A girl needs the right foundation garments to properly size her clothing. It is amazing how freeing it is to make a friend who is genetic female with whom you can share your thoughts and feelings.
Second and equally important is never to buy from a store where you can’t first try on their clothing. You can’t imagine how much money I wasted on clothing I ended up dropping in the Good will bin.
And third don’t allow your emotions to rule the day. All in all over the years I have wasted more money by allowing my emotions to get the best of me and trying to purge. There were times that I allowed my emotions to get the best of me and purged myself of all by belonging. Trust me girls these feeling won’t go away and you will soon find yourself back at the mall doling out even more cash to replace everything. This is where having a girl friend you can share your feeling with helps. You can just as easily give her you belongings to hold while you test the waters.
I think that the advice you have given on how to bring the cost down of female transformation is bang-on. I have been known to purchase pairs of opaque tights and knickers from PoundSave. As always, inspirational.
Hello everyone..
Yes, I pretty much follow that formula.
Sometimes I splurge for a must have item..well, back to shopping.
Stay beautiful,
Wanita
Great advice girls ! I have learned to mitch and match and makes for so many more outfits.
Have a lovely thanksgiving to you all
Much peace
Charlotte
Great advice, as always. I generally follow the same rules, but sometimes, ya just gotta have that nail color or lipstick.
At 82 I go for a minimal wardrobe – so chemises, thongs, ankle socks, no bras., tee shirts and very short skirts. And, if you believe that then I have lost my faith in you.
Others elsewhere have really mentioned the true basic and that is to buy the best you can afford in a skirt, dress, jacket! Then, as suggested, a top of a slightly cheaper quality will not wreck the ensemble.So many girls seem to think that they must have a wardrobe full of undies – who sees them? (Perhaps I should not ask!)Again, good quality and well fitting so as to make sure that the top layers look good and that they are a joy to wear. (This idea of many knicks might come from what Mums used to say, ‘make sure of clean knickers in case you are involved in an accident!’ If that was the case I do not think anyone would be examining underwear for ‘skid marks’!
I do have a perfume which I like and that does tend to be a little expensive. Make up – I am lucky at my age that I do not need a lot so stick to Boots No.7.
Think before you buy – is the fit, colour, quality (will it look like a dish rag after the first wash?) price right for your pocket? If not, think again
I buy most of my lingerie of off ebay. I can buy Chantelle bra’s and Wacoal bra’s at a fraction of the cost. Most of the times you can find the matching panties to go along with your bra’s.