Shop Online

Many department stores have online shopping sites that you can take advantage of. In addition to the convenience of online shopping; no falling in lines, no rummaging through racks, no travelling expenses and hassles. Online stores offer its clients many 'freebies' such as free shipping, gift wrapping and even free discount codes.

Another option is the ex chain store clothing online companies. Clothes from these online stores come from cancelled orders, surplus stocks and over makes of chain stores, which are then sold at cheap prices by the ex chain store online company to its clients. In fact, these clothes are designer fashion albeit at a lower price!

Online auctions are another affordable way to be fashionable. In fact, you can purchase designer clothes with their tags still on them! Just be sure to check out the terms and conditions on the sale, as well as the description of the products.

Attend Sample Sales

To truly get your hands on designer clothes, go to sample sales. Basically, these are selling events where reputable designers like Neiman Marcus and Sak's Fifth Avenue dispose of their clothing for very low prices.

The clothes include samples of merchandise in the designer's line, clothes with minor flaws and clothes that were overproduced from the current and past seasons. Therefore you will be fashionable and up to the trends without splashing your money!

Just make sure to check for the imperfections, as you will need to have them repaired yourself. You have to mentally figure out if the cost of repairs will be worth the final product.

Watch Out for Store Sales

Department stores provide discounts on clothes when the new season comes in, which makes it a very good time to shop. Always be on the lookout for sales that offer big discounts like clearance sales; you can find great buys mixed in among those out-of-season clothes.

Remember don't be embarrassed either about shopping in department stores when you previously shopped in exclusive boutiques of the same label! The dresses are the same, only the environment changes.

Use Discount Coupons

Don't be embarrassed to use your discount coupons. Not only will you be able to save money on designer clothes but you will also be able to take advantage of an economic benefit in these recessionary times.

Learn to Sew

The clothes you see in runways can actually be replicated by your sewing machine. In the first place, that's how those expensive clothes made their start.

You can copy the styles and colours albeit change it a little to suit your body and your preferences and there you have your exact match.

Indeed, when it comes to being fashionable, you need not splash your money. It just takes ingenuity, some discount coupons, patience and not to mention an eye for timeless style.