Building a Wardrobe on a Mom Budget

The kids have done a number on my wardrobe. On one hand, they’ve destroyed it directly – the 2-year-old sees a silk shirt and immediately feels compelled to rub a ketchup-drenched chin all over it. On the other, by finishing their leftover ice cream cones and downing margaritas to cope with the insanity, I’ve been indirectly pushed by them into the next dress size. 

So, with autumn just around the corner, I need a few new pieces to get me from work to playtime. However, since Dave Ramsey’s incessant yelling has been burned into my brain and guilted me from breaking out the credit card, I’m trying to limit my spending to no more than $25 per item of clothing (With exceptions. I’ll talk about my squealing girl crush on a certain Limited jacket later). So here are a few rules that have worked well for me in the past.

Never, ever, ever pay full retail price. While I may not be all Extreme Couponer when grocery shopping, I definitely am when it comes to clothes. In addition to having an email account dedicated to coupons from every store I may set foot in, I follow deal-tracking experts like @STLMommy1 on Twitter, check sites like RetailMeNot.com before shopping online, and have accounts with Ideeli and Groupon. I’ve even found great deals at fabulous locally-owned boutiques, such as a recent “$50 voucher for $25” deadline deal at What to Wear in Edwardsville. 

However, it’s important that your clothing budget dictates your coupon use and not the other way around. Think only about what you need for fall, and then coordinate sales with coupons to find the best deals. It’s way too easy to be tempted by something just because it’sonlyonsaletodayOMGthepressure! In fact, Debra Bass of the Post-Dispatch recently penned a great blog post on flash deal overkill and how she’s beginning to grow immune to them. Remember – staying in control of your finances is always fashionable. 

Three things to never skimp on – bras, jeans and shoes. I’ll be the first to admit it – since having kids, my perky twenty-something knockers have descended and now rest on my hip bones. I don’t see the point in spending good money on a dress only to trip over my boobs since the cheapie bra I bought doesn’t have the Jetson-era engineered underwire and uplift to keep the ladies in place. Gretchen Wilson sang that she can find quality bras “on a Wal-Mart shelf half price.” My 34-year-old chest is here to tell you no, no you can’t.    

Jeans are another area to spend a little more on, especially if you wear them to work. A good, structured pair in a darker wash looks chic and can make even a simple t-shirt look sophisticated. They also have the construction needed to balance out problem areas, such as rounding my very wide and very flat rear-end, or “prairie booty,” as the husband calls it. 

Finally – shoes. I love a stiletto more than anything, but buy a cheap pair to wear for an eight-hour workday, and your feet will end up kicking your butt.  The Today Show recently ran a piece on stylish – yet comfortable – shoes that are cute and reasonably priced. They aren’t Christian Louboutin, but you don’t have to spend a fortune on red soles to avoid actual red soles. 

On the other hand, pull a switcheroo when you can. Last week, I talked about how much I loved the Nanette Lepore Have a Fling  dress, especially since lace is one of the big trends for the fall. But I can’t justify feeding my kids SpaghettiOs at every meal to cover the $348 price tag. Instead, with the inspiration burned in my brain, I went on a hunt for something similar, and at H&M, found a yummy smoky lavender lace dress for $34.95 as well as this little number in black or white. They don’t have the same quality and prestige as Nanette, but since trends come and go, there’s no buyer’s remorse in purchasing something fun for the season. 

Bask in your budgeting. I would love to drop a month’s salary in Nordstrom, but for work clothes and accessories, my shopping mecca is JC Penney. “But Nicole, that’s an ‘old lady’ store,” you may be saying. Yes, if you hang with Alfred Dunner, but I’ve found great looks in the MNG by Mango and I Heart Ronson lines. In fact, in my going-out days, my most coveted and most complemented shirt was from – gasp – Worthington! Plus, it’s difficult to pass up their frequent $10 off coupons. 

For dresses? My weakness is the Merona collection from Target. I probably own 10 of their dresses and never paid more than $20 a piece. Many of them have a great Mad Men vibe I love, and I have never been disappointed with the quality. Plus, Target partners with great designers throughout the year, and on September 13, its line from Missoni hits store racks. 

I love resale and vintage stores as well, but since I’m 5’8” and haven’t fit into a size six since Prince was a symbol, it can be difficult finding clothes that fit. But with a little hunting, I have found some great pieces. 

Learn how to sew. Ok, my fingers could hardly type that without pointing at me and calling me a hypocrite. The truth is, I can’t sew at all – my husband actually sews on my buttons and hems my pants. However, for those of you who actually own a needle and thread, with a little pinning and tucking, you can turn a two-sizes-too-big bargain into the perfect-fitting ensemble or a thrift store treasure into a one-of-a-kind piece. For inspiration, check out Marisa at New Dress a Day. The rest of us find reliable, affordable tailors who can turn off-the-rack finds into looks that seem to have been custom designed for our figures. 

Stock up on inexpensive layering pieces. With autumn approaching, outfitting the kids means your clothing budget is nil. To extend sleeveless t-shirts and dresses a few more months, simply buy a couple of blazers and cardigans, and you can skip on shopping until the November chill sets in. For instance, a denim jacket is perfect with breezy cotton dresses, and I particularly love this sage green faux leather bomber jacket from The Limited. The weight and shade are not only great for transitioning into fall, but the color is even suitable for next spring – plus I have coupons! For more great tips on extending your summer wardrobe, check out this article from What Not to Wear’s Stacy London. 

So, my budget beauties and shopaholics, what are your tricks for looking great on a budget? And what fall trends are you excited about stocking up on this season? 

By Nicole Plegge, Lifestyle Blogger for SmartParenting