Written by Amy Jones in Tips & Advice on the 29th November 2024

Is it possible to look presentable, classic, and handsome in clothing bought on a budget? The short answer is yes. Although few have mastered the art of hunting for apparel that not only suits the ‘standards’, but also meets any financial caps. Let's face it, the economy is not in a great position for most locations, and people are spending less and less on luxury clothing. Yet the pull to stay fashionable and chic has not ended, so how can you keep with the curve all the while not breaking the bank? Luckily, we have some easy tips to share so you can find some of the best quality pieces available for less. Never feel disheartened that you can spend thousands of pounds on a pair of shoes. With our tips, you will find much better quality pieces that will last years longer than those throwing money away on disposable, poorly made pieces.

Mastering second-hand shopping 

Second-hand shopping should not be the enemy. For the average man who wants to be on top of their fashionable game, the charity shop might be the last thing on your mind. While you can spend hours and hours perusing your local charity shops, there is no strategy behind this. We are here to talk about strategy.

Online second-hand shopping 

Starting with arguably one of the easiest ways to score quality, affordable second-hand pieces, you can find hundreds of items for less online. Using apps such as Vinted, Ebay and Depop, hundreds of men sell them to make extra cash. Gentlemen need to take on board the thrifty tips that our female counterparts are using when shopping online. Here are just a few to have nailed: 

Specific keyword searches 

Keywords are your friend. By this we mean, that if you have particular brands, products, or materials you are looking for, be sure to mention them all in your searches. For example, if you are searching for a quality black blazer, a simple search for a black blazer will leave you scrolling for hours. Instead, be specific. Are you looking for a cotton blazer? A specific checkered pattern perhaps? Do you want a tailored or slim fit? Taking these elements as an example, your search should be a ‘cotton black checkered slim fit blazer’. Add as many keywords as possible, and you will save time finding the items you are particularly interested in. 

Make sure sellers are legitimate 

Once you have found ‘the one’ aka the garment you believe is in good quality at an affordable price, be sure that you are dealing with a legitimate seller. For example, if you find a piece that sounds too good to be true, the seller has no previous history/ reviews of selling, and their username is something along the lines of ‘user6722020’, we’d recommend you steer clear from the transaction. Perhaps this is biased, but the last thing you want is for the seller to send you the item that is falsely advertised, to which their account disappears from the site upon trying to get your money back.

Find sellers with your size/style 

Sometimes, you can find gems by following seller accounts that have a history of selling quality pieces from brands you love. Good quality pieces sell fast, especially when they are affordable. Apps such as Vinted allow you to follow sellers and get notifications when they upload items. For example, if you love brands such as Arne Clothing, Represent etc., and you come across a seller who is selling pieces from there at a great price, be sure to follow their account and stay up to date when they offload new items. 

Charity shopping in affluent areas 

Online second-hand shopping is not for everyone, so sometimes seeing the real deal guarantees the quality and fit you are looking for. One of the best hacks we have for in-person shopping is to visit charity shops in affluent areas. For example, if you have a town close to you that is known to have a wealthier demographic, be sure to visit the charity stores located in these areas. Let's face it, rich people have better things to do than sell their clothes online. Instead, they donate to organizations so someone else can benefit from their expensive taste. Do the rounds in a few towns, you will be surprised at the crazy quality and brands you will find. 

Go for compositions 

Compositions. A word that is becoming increasingly important for consumers today. People are tired of paying a fortune for clothing that is made from poor quality. Checking the composition of clothing is the best way to ensure you are investing in quality pieces, no matter the price. Although, you will be shocked at the amazing quality you will find for less. Fast fashion brands today mix all of their pieces with polyester. For example, a ‘knit’ sweater may be advertised as being wool, however, the actual composition may be 80% polyester, and only 20% wool. Polyester is a primary microplastic, meaning clothing made with this material sheds microfibres of plastic. It is also being mass produced which is extremely harmful for the environment, and overall an extremely poor quality to have incorporated into clothing. For this reason, always check the compositions of clothing to ensure you are investing in good quality pieces that will sustain. You will often find composition details inside the label of a clothing item, or you will find them listed on the product decision of a website.

The rule against polyester 

As a general rule of thumb, if you wish to make the most out of your budget shopping, be sure to opt for lower levels of polyester. For example, a pair of plus size jeans may be a mix of cotton and polyester to control wrinkles and shrinkage, but be sure to avoid 100% polyester. 

Wait for season sales 

The most obvious way to score high-quality garments for less is to keep an eye out for seasonal sales. Traditionally, the best time of the year to shop is Black Friday, with some of the best quality brands offering their biggest discounts. Remember though, an item that you weren't already going to buy is not saving. Have a wish list of items you have been wanting for a while, and brace yourself for the black Friday chaos. 

Consider renting for occasions 

Last but not least, for those special occasions that simply can’t be left to chance, consider renting your outfits. Of course, any true gent is aware of suit renting, but did you know you can rent just about anything these days? From designer sweaters to thobes, if you are not too precious about keeping outfits forever and need a quick fix, you can rent for as little as £20 a day. This may seem steep considering you can purchase a t-shirt for this cost, but when wearing a quality garment worth thousands, the rental price seems reasonable. Just be sure not to attend any boozy parties which may risk the items getting damaged!

Overall… 

Finding high-quality pieces for less is not impossible. The secret is to first of all have an understanding of what good quality is (compositions, style, fit), and implement your thriftiness there. Shop second-hand apps and refine your searches with keywords, follow users that sell pieces you love in your size, charity shops in affluent areas, and of course, follow your favourite brands to see when sales will be taking place.

Mastering second-hand shopping, Online second-hand shopping, Specific keyword searches, and Make sure sellers are legitimate.