So you want the real, honest truth on how to afford luxury, designer pieces on a budget or when you have no money? Here is the real truth nobody tells you – and how I did it.
I was 15 and broke when I started my first job in fashion, I was a stylist assistant ‘intern’ to a woman who owned a luxury fashion brand in London which specialised in fur & leather.
She did not pay me any money for this job, however, she agreed to pay me in 1 thing: clothes.
As my job involved a lot of pulling of clothes, styling models, to the point that the clothes almost became ‘disposable’, every month, my boss would give me a suitcase full of clothes as an incentive for working for her.
But this was my dream! So who was I to complain? I would lug suitcases home packed with clothes, shoes, and bags, some which I did sell, some I kept.
The pocket money I got from liquidating those clothes, I would use to buy more clothes to fuel my infatuation with luxury.
I’ll give you an example. My boss would give me suitcases filled with clothes from brands like Diane Von Furstenberg, Reformation, Abercrombie & Fitch, etc. And there were so many of them. They weren’t exactly ‘expensive’ brands (in comparison to the designer clothes we worked with in the showroom) but they were valuable enough for me to make a pretty penny out of them.
I made like £400 from selling everything in my suitcase that month. And at 15, this was enough money to splurge on trending designer clothes – and this is exactly how I would afford luxury on a budget.
How To Afford Luxury When You’re On A Budget
1. Know Your Style Goal – By Researching
Now, what I mean by this is, you need to know what your style is & what you need to shop for, rather than ‘browsing aimlessly’.
The thing with fashion, it’s ever-changing, ever-evolving, and you can end up being blown like the wind if you just follow trend after trend.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Who Are You?
- What Do You Want To Become?
- How Will Your Style Help You Portray This Version Of Yourself You Want To Become?
I’ll use myself as an example. At 16, I was a fashionable young girl who, who although was introverted, was very strong-minded & strong-willed (thanks to childhood trauma, story for another day) who loved emulating strong women (e.g, my mom, or even Jessica Pearson, a stylish but powerful owner of a successful law firm in New York, or even Rihanna, a successful yet powerful entertainer who loves to make her own rules).
These women all have one thing in common: they are bold. They are not afraid to speak up. They use fashion as a defence mechanism. And I saw myself in them.
As I worked in fashion, some of the IT girls at the time, in my industry included: Rihanna, Chiara Ferragni, Margaret Zhang, Bella Hadid & more, whose style reasonated with me, so I would save them to my moodboard & shop according to what I was inspired by.
For example, from my moodboard of street style images I saved on my Pinterest, I liked: statement coats.
So over the years, from saving & learning about shopping second hard, I added this YSL coat & this Fendi coat to my closet, based off my moodboard. Do you get my point?
So, now that you know the kind of woman you want to be, and how you want your style to emulate that, let’s fast forward to how to do this.
How To Research & Find Your Style:
I would spend hours on Pinterest curating street style inspiration that resonated with me: structured coats with shoulder pads or, tall platform boots or heels.
Then I look at my closet and decide on what exactly I need to add that will help me portray who I want to become. PS, it’s important that I could create 10 outfits with 1 piece of expensive clothing. That way cost per wear is high, lol.
2. Shop Secondhand – And These Are The Best Stores
The secondhand market is gold, because you can find designer pieces that are either brand new, or hardly worn, for a fraction of the price.
I’ll give you an example.
This time last year, the famous Stella McCartney platforms had come out, and they were the statement shoe of the season. Now this shoe had attributes that resonate with me & my style & what I want to portray:
- Platforms (gives height & makes me stand out)
- Made from durable material (means it would last long & not fall apart)
- Design (it’s a classic black & brown shoe – and it would go with everything. Jeans? You name it!)
The Stella McCartney Elyse platforms, at the time, retailed for £650. At that time of my life, it simply wasn’t something I could afford, unless I bankrupted myself.
I had done some research and rounded up the best designer outlets to find designer pieces on a budget. TKMaxx (also known as TJMaxx in the U.S.) was on the list. I went into the store to browse for a beach towel for a holiday with my family. I walked out with a £15 John Galliano beach towel, and Stella McCartney Elyse platforms, exactly the style I wanted, for £200. In like-new condition.
I saved £450! Fast forward 6 years later, this is still bonkers to me.
Over the years, I have made various luxury purchases from the brands below (not a paid ad, just my honest recommendations) and I have saved thousands each time. Here are the brands to shop for designer clothes if you are on a budget.
The Best, Trusted Stores To Shop Designer Clothes On A Budget
- Vestiaire Collective: Based in Paris, France, Vestiaire is one of my favourite places to shop 100% authentic luxury on a budget. One of my favourite pieces I bought from VC is my Gucci swarovski crystals which were originally £880, which I bought brand new for £350. And I’ve worn it probably 100 times, so it feels like it cost ‘£3.50 per wear’. Basically free. Girl math, eh? 😂
2. Hardly Ever Worn It (HEWI): Based in London, United Kingdom, is my second fave. Would you believe? I purchased VETEMENTS lighter socks boots from HEWI for £190, which was originally £1000! I saved £810, you could literally use that money for a holiday. HEWI have so many 100% authentic second-hand designer pieces at incredible prices!
3. TheRealReal: Although based in the US, the RealReal is a reowned online store for the best second hand designer items for a fraction of the price. If you’re based in US, great! However, if you’re outside the US, bear in mind any additional import taxes and custom duties that will be added on at checkout.
4. eBay: You’ve probably already heard about eBay, but it has truly blessed me with everything from Stuart Weitzman boots, to Bottega Veneta handbags for a bargain. You’d be surprised what people are reselling when they’re moving house or just clearing their closet. Just make sure to pass your item through eBay’s authenticity programme to ensure peace of mind, like I do.
3. Budgetting – Trust Me, It Works
When money is tight, luxury seems laughable, but I treat it like any other long-term goal. Some people budget for holidays or cars. And I budget for designer bags and leather boots… thank God for priorities, eh? 😂
Here’s what I do:
- I have a “luxury wishlist” fund. Even if I only put in £50 a week, it builds.
- I cut out small purchases I don’t care about (takeaway coffees, random Amazon junk) and put that money towards something timeless.
- I ask for contributions toward a luxury item instead of birthday gifts I won’t use. If you know, you know.
It’s slow, but it works. And it makes you appreciate what you own. Eventually, you’ll save up enough to reach your goal. In 2019, I did this with my first ever Chanel classic flap bag which I bought for just under £5,000. Back in the day before the crazy price increases!
4. Know Your Style—So You Don’t Waste Money
This one is sort of a given, but I thought I’d mention it. Some people might think just because it has a designer label on it, you should buy it, even though it doesn’t suit you.
This can be a dangerous way to approach buying luxury. So what I recommend is: know your style. Find out who you are, who your celebrity style inspo is, and what pieces make you feel good. For me, I enjoy timeless, tailored, and statement pieces that I’ll wear for years.
Think:
- Good wool coats.
- Leather handbags.
- A classic pair of loafers.
- Silk shirts that make me feel like a CEO even when I’m crying over emails.
When your wardrobe is curated, even one or two luxury items make everything else look elevated.
5. Renting Designer Clothes
Have you seen that Sex & The City Movie were Carrie hired an assistant, who was wearing a Louis Vuitton bag & Carrie asked how she could afford it? Jennifer Hudston, who played Carrie’s assistant said: “it’s rented!”
The fashion rental game is another goldmine, where you can experience luxury without comitting to paying the full price tag.
Platforms like HURR and By Rotation can allow you to wear Balmain, Gucci or even Chanel bags for a weekend/ an event, without owning a thing. It’s perfect for events or maybe if you wanted to see if you like an item, before comitting to paying the full price.
Remember that budgeting does work & you can definitely afford that luxury item on a budget, it might just take a while!
And that’s it guys! That’s how you can afford luxury on a budget, with a few points which helped me add incredible designer pieces into my closet without paying full price.
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