Buy great fashion that doesn’t bankrupt you

Find the great fashion deals if you’re shopping after taking stock. Go for long-life buying new clothes that won’t bankrupt you, even if they seem a bargain.

Check out your wardrobe

Statistics say the average person owns 115 items of clothing, 30 of which have never been worn. Before buying, pull everything out; get to know those once-loved clothes. Will alterations or repairs revitalise your wardrobe?

Consider selling, giving away or donating stuff you don’t wear, making space for you to see, and appreciate, what’s left. Think about the things you wear most - colour, cut, silhouette, print and fabric. Focus on your personal style to cut down on future unworn purchases. Check out how fashion retailers’ websites style similar clothes for ideas how to combine them into “new” outfits.

"Preloved” or Secondhand

£140m worth of clothing ending up in landfill each year, so many environmentalists support buying secondhand.

Even if you don’t have a brilliant charity shop nearby, the market is booming online: there’s eBay, Vinted and Depop for high street clothes and Vestiaire Collective and The RealReal for designer.

Oxfam, the British Red Cross, Cancer Research and Barnado’s on Asos Marketplace are worth considering.

Shopping out of season can reduce competition and therefore price.

Sort out items to sell. Use the cash to buy new-to-you secondhand clothes. Sell first before buying!

Start swishing

Swishes – events in which you swap your old clothes for other people’s – are popping up all over the country.

Check out Eventbrite for those in your area –Beg Steal & Borrow in Manchester; A Stitch to Wear in Sutton, Surrey; Verte in London; We Wear the Trousers in Norwich and Shrub Coop in Edinburgh are just a few examples.

Renting

Searching carefully, rentals can be marvellous value for one-off events. For example, a £210 Reformation dress would be ideal for a wedding guest, and costs £25 for four days through Rotaro; a £1,980 red mesh Alexander McQueen number would be a memorable big bash for about £100 for four days via Hurr Collective.

Check out the small print – whether repairs, cleaning and delivery are included and if an item does not fit what the refund policy is. Many sites offer 10-20% off the first rental.

Sales outlets and deals

Many experts approach sales with caution. “Because fashion revolves around trends,” says Alexandra Stedman, the editor of The Frugality, “these are usually things brands need to shift, and almost never a longevity buy.” The exceptions, she says, are classic buys.

Outlet shops such as Adidas, Kurt Geiger Mango, and Office are proliferating online

Visit Bicester Village, where Prada and Loewe sell last season’s stock for a discounted price. It’s probably best to go looking for only one special thing, such as a handbag or winter coat, and with a clear idea of your budget.

It’s a good idea to find something you love at full price first, then try to find it at a discount. Price comparison sites such as PriceRunner.com or SuperSales.co.uk will tell you if you can get a better deal.

At MoneySavingExpert. a deals expert, recommends using free internet browser extension tools such as Honey or Pouch, that automatically apply voucher codes to your online basket.

Another trick, is to sign into your account on a site, put items in your basket then abandon the sale. Sometimes retailers will email you a discount code, over the next few days, to try to reel you back in. It sometimes works, but even if it doesn’t, it’ll give you time to think about whether you really want it.