by Jocelyn Guevara

Created on: June 13, 2008   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

Acquiring a nice wardrobe on a small budget sounds much more difficult than it honestly is. The first thing to keep in mind is to never turn your nose up at a store just because it is an outlet. The second thing to remember is that nice stores, such as Kohl's, Mervyn's, Sears, etc. often have clearances that make even the most expensive clothing affordable. When trying a new brand of clothing, only buy one item in that brand. This is so that, if the quality is poor, you will not be throwing away money for junk. It is also important to always try the clothing on before making your purchase.

A wardrobe is not always nice because of how trendy it is. what is more important is how you wear it. Set your own trends. If the color of a shirt brings out the color of your eyes and looks good on you, purchase it even if it's not something most people would wear. The biggest rules when choosing an outfit are:

I. It should match.
II. It should go well with your eyes, hair, and complexion.
III. It should fit nicely...not too tight and not too baggy.
IV. It should look classy...not gaudy, sloppy, or trampy.
V. It should be of a decent quality. Having a zipper break in the middle of a business meeting is not exactly every man's dream.
VI. It should be affordable. Spending $50 extra on a piece of clothing just because of a logo on it is just extravagant.

Stores I recommend are:

Beall's Outlet
Ross Dress for Less
Kohl's
Mervyn's
Burlington Coat Factory
Cato
TJ Maxx
Old Navy
Sears
Stein Mart
Last Chance
Target
Wal-Mart

Stores I would not recommend are:

JcPenney's
Dillard's
Family Dollar

The stores I recommended often have deals for under five dollars, their clothes usually fit nicely, are of a good quality, and look classy. Never be afraid to shop at a second-hand store. Second-hand stores often have nice and even brand new clothing for much less than you would pay at the store it originally came from.

Buy some clothes that are easy to match with just about anything, and some clothes that have louder patterns. This way, you will always have clothes to mix and match, and you will always have an outfit to wear that expresses your mood. Make sure that any clothing you buy is flattering to your shape and size. The key to a nice wardrobe is 50% clothing; 50% attitude. No one should wear clothing that is boring or brings down their mood.

Learn more about this author, Jocelyn Guevara.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.