How To Dress Well Even When You're Broke + Suede Fringe Jacket

Hello, long time no talk! I’ve been putting off writing this post because I had no idea what I was going to write about. Then it hit me– How to dress well even when you’re broke. As a young recent grad in New York just starting out in my career, I have to adhere to a very strict budget.

While budgeting has never been my strong suit, it’s a necessary evil. One of the things I struggled with initially, was looking stylish when I couldn’t go shopping as often as I would like. These are a few of the tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way that will keep you looking stylish for less.

Check Out Thrift Stores and Consignment Shops

When I was in college, I worked at Plato’s Closet. I really enjoyed working there because I was able to get tons of designer clothes for ridiculously low prices. Good times. Now that I’m living in New York, there are so many amazing thrift stores to check out. Even if you’re not living in a big city, the patience it takes to comb through the racks to find the perfect item definitely pays off.

Utilize Poshmark

Poshmark is an app that allows you to buy and sell gently used clothes straight from your phone. I’ve been a loyal Poshmark user since 2012 and it’s a great source to find chic designer clothes for excellent prices. Conversely, I also love to sell items I no longer wear on Poshmark. I try to keep a one in one out rule. meaning that if I buy a new piece of clothing, one existing item I no longer wear must be removed from my closet. I prefer to sell my items on Poshmark rather than taking them to a consignment shop because you have control over the price you sell the item for. If you want to try out Poshmark, sign up here. Be sure to use my sign up code HBVIX to get $5 towards your first purchase!

Try A Subscription Box

I’m sure we’ve all heard of beauty subscription boxes like Ipsy and Birchbox, but there are also some pretty incredible subscription boxes in the fashion world. I recently discovered Rocksbox and it’s actually life changing. Rocksbox allows you to rent unlimited designer jewelry from brands like Kendra Scott and for only $19 a month. They pair you up with a personal stylist who handpicks three items just for you based on a survey of your style. Once you get the jewelry you can keep it as long as you want. Once you’re ready to try out some new items you just send back what you have in their pre-paid mailing envelope. I’ve been using it for a little over a month and it’s a great way to cut down on costs while still keeping your look fresh and current. If you want to give Rocksbox a try, you can use my offer code TheKelleyDollxoxo to get your first month of Rocksbox for free!

About The Look

Suede Fringe Jacket: Forever 21 $69.99
Oversized Tank Top: Oak NYC (Purchased from a consignment shop for $19)
Ripped Knee Jeans: American Eagle (Purchased on Poshmark for only $3)
Studded Ankle Strap Heels: Necessary Clothing $25 (Dupe for Valentino Rockstud Ankle Strap Sandal)
Aviator Sunglasses: Forever 21 $5

I am so excited to show this outfit to you because it’s super affordable without compromising on style. This little gem of a jacket has been on heavy rotation lately. I found this gorgeous suede fringe jacket at Forever 21 and it was love at first sight. I’ve styled it so many ways, so the versatility of this piece has done wonders for my cost per wear theory. Good thing, because $70 is a lot more than I would like to spend on an item from Forever 21. Although I will admit that the quality is great. It’s genuine leather!

Another reason that I’m really feeling myself in this outfit *Can you tell?* is that all of these items are things I’ve already had in my closet. As a fashion blogger, I know sometimes we feel the pressure to constantly run out and buy something new to keep up with the trends. I love finding new ways to wear items I already own.

You guys may have noticed a marked difference in the quality of these photos compared to the ones I usually share on my blog. That’s because I’ve teamed up with Arkeem, an incredible photographer based here in NYC. Check out his Instagram.