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?
I’m a very big fan of the consignment shops. I find beautiful designer clothing at very reasonable prices. Since the clothing is originally expensive when new, the previous owners tend to take very good care of thier things.
I love your site, Diana
I also look for these yearly sales. I have found some online stores that I have ordered from. nomorerack(high discounts) alloy and venus. But my most favorite shop in rue21 and forever 21
Hi all,
Maybe you can ask for a haircut that gives you versatility in terms of styling. This is what I plan to ask the next time I visit my hairdresser. I’d hate to be locked in one style due to a particular cut.
And that versatile cut you’re going for lets you go into guy mode? Sorry if this sounds confusing. I actually haven’t done this before. Just testing my idea.
Hi,
Here’s a tip I have learnt this year – if u are overweight (like I was) and want to do something about it, lose the weight BEFORE expanding your femme wardrobe, especially skirt-wise. Since start-july I have gone down at least 3 skirt sizes, and can fit into UK size 8 in some stores. Alas that means I have a lot of skirts I can’t wear any more, some of which I really liked.
Andrea
Hi,
There are good tips here… though being in UK the only store you mention we have is TK Maxx (assume it’s the same as TJ), but although they have good bargains I find the rails are just a huge mix of stuff thrown on the rails. In UK I find Primark have good-value and trendy clothes… and in the sales I get skirts there for £3 / $4.50 and tops for not much more.
As I have not come out I only shop in large stores where I fade into the mass of other shoppers, 8therwise I am too embarrassed. I love sales, my supermarket often has them and as it has self-checkouts where nobody looks at what I buy.
I also shop on ebay, but I always ask questions to get measurements – I just don’t understand why sellers don’t state waist measurements when brands vary so much. I got some nice stuff on ebay, including m&s shoes where sizing is reliable. All the clothes/shoes u see me wearing in this photo are from ebay.
Lucille so right about foundation, I bought brand on ebay ineve heard of and it was too runny and thin.
A good quality wig I’m sure is a great idea… but I just can’t figure out which style suits me after having bought 5 already and not really liking any of them.
Andrea
I remember when I started adding to my closet I found rummage an garage sales to help on the budget. I also look for clearance racks when I go to the stores which there seems to be one in the womens section at most stores …I also go to sales and look for the best deals…but now I look for what I can wear with 2 or 3 outfits instead of a day.
Love ya Amy
I have come to LOVE shopping in the United States!! Purses and shoes (in 11+ sizes and style) at bargain prices at DSW are amazing. You just can’t get anything like that here in Calgary. Same thing for clothing – I shop at Ross and TJMax mostly, and you can get good sales at Kohls. I buy next to nothing at home anymore.
I now buy my wigs online (at less than half the price of retail stores). I purchase at wigsalon.com and am looking at paulayoung.com possibly for my next one. I get my eyeglasses online at zennioptical.com.
I have now moved onto mineral makeup and buy, again on sale, at Ulta in the US.
I’ll be back in Arizona in just a few short weeks and can’t wait to renew my friendships with the girls in Tucson and Phoenix over the winter.
Your advice is spot on as usual Lucille – buy what fits and will be worn a number of times.
Happy Thanksgiving Lucille!
Wanda
About a year ago,my wife decided she did not want me as a husband any more,instead she wanted me as her girl freind.She then started me on Lucille’s flat to fem program.I started as a size”A”bra,and now I am wearing a size 42b,almost a “C”-!She likes to dress me as a woman,and go shopping and other things.I have close freinds that never even know it is me,dressed as a woman when around them-! !They think of me as a real woman.They do not known the difference.I first thought I could never be a real woman,but now I luv dressing and being thought of as living like this 24/7.
Thank you Lucille,for making me what I “Really”Luv being-!!
Luv,
Miss Pete.