I’m a mum & my six money-saving tips mean I can look stylish on a budget – the £2 buy essential for a frugal wardrobe
A MUM-OF-TWO has listed her favourite tips for looking stylish even on the tightest of budgets – and the one must-have buy for all wardrobes.
Long gone are the days where fashionistas had to fork out a fortune for red carpet-ready outfits – a browse in the charity store and you can walk home with a pair of shoes by the British designer Vivienne Westwood.
One person who certainly makes the most out of pre-loved gems is parent Emma Stretton, from Manchester.
But as well as checking out the latest bits landed in second-hand stores, Emma, better known to her fans as Emma Wears it All on Instagram, religiously follows other tips to slash the costs.
The money whizz, who’s partnered up with Little Loans, spoke to Fabulous and revealed how you can be a stylish babe on a tight budget.
“Fashion is one of my favourite things, but my clothes shopping habits meant I got into a lot of debt when I was younger.
”Now I try to be much savvier and make the most of the clothes I already have and spend as little as possible when I buy anything new,” said Emma.
Statement sunnies
Available in a range of styles from the flirty cat eye to the classic Aviator, sunglasses can instantly elevate any outfit, often pulling the look together.
”Sticking on a pair of sunglasses before I leave the house always makes me feel instantly cooler.”
Sunglasses tend to work with every outfit, said Emma, so choose one or two styles to invest in.
”Granted, the British weather doesn’t always involve sun, but you could try some pink-tinted glasses to still smash the look even on a grey day?” the style whizz joked.
On the lookout for a new pair of sunnies? You can explore the huge variety available on Shein, where they start from as little as £1.75.
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Pre-loved fashion
Budget-friendly and a more sustainable option for the environment, second-hand shopping has become one of the fastest growing trends in the world.
As big as Depop and eBay, which has now partnered up with Love Island star Tom Clare, is also a new kid on the scene – Vinted.
The platform now boasts thousands of users, one of whom is Emma.
”I’m obsessed with Vinted. I also like a charity shop trip but it’s hard to find the time with two young boys who don’t like being dragged around the shops.
”To find the best stuff, I generally have a look at online shops, see what is on trend or what I like, and then I’ll search for it on Vinted.”
She added: ”For example, I was going to a charity ball and saw a pink dress online I absolutely loved.
”I kept searching for ‘pink dress’ on Vinted until one was listed.
”It would have cost £80 if I’d bought it brand new but I got it for £25.”
Fabric scissors
Standing at 5’1” means Emma, like many shoppers, know what a mission it is to find garments that fit properly.
However, the savvy parent has come up with a crafty solution that has saves money in the long run.
”I bought a pair of fabric scissors from eBay and regularly use them to cut jeans and t-shirts.
”I could get them taken up, but it costs about £12 depending on the item.”
Emma said: ”I cut both my favourite pairs of jeans to make them shorter and have about ten t-shirts that I’ve chopped the bottom off to make into a cropped style.
”If you don’t mind a frayed hem then it saves so much money, not just on alterations but on having to buy more expensive petite styles.”
Start a mood board, save outfits you like and rummage through your wardrobe before buying new.”
Emma Stretton
Masculine meets feminine
”My favourite purchase at the moment is a pair of fluffy preloved heels I got for £6 but they’re very girly. I wore them with a mini dress but slicked my hair back to make it look a bit cooler.
”I’d also wear the same dress with chunky boots for a casual look that isn’t too soft.”
Similarly, the fashionista also owns a black boxy suit that looks a little masculine – so adding a sexy lace bra underneath adds a more feminine feel.
Pinterest inspo
Rather than spending hours browsing online on shopping sites, Emma prefers checking out what’s new on Pinterest.
This platform, she revealed to The Sun, inspires her with outfit combinations she can easily put together with garments already in her wardrobe.
She said: ”It’s easy to think we need new clothes and to spend money but you often just need new ideas.
”Start a mood board, save outfits you like and rummage through your wardrobe before buying new.”
Hemming tape
Whilst on the topic of DIY, Emma also recommended nabbing hemming tape – another alternative to costly visits to tailor shops.
“Hemming tape is amazing – I’ve even taken up a sequin dress with just a roll of it.
”Nearly all my skirts and trousers have been altered with hemming tape. It’s basically a roll of webbed tape that you place on the hem of a garment and then iron to hold in place.”
The best part? You can also easily remove the tape in case you’ve made a mistake – simply wet a piece of damp cloth and iron over the area where the web is.
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