Dressing Well On A Budget | Affordable Men’s Fashion Tips

Despite what you may think, dressing stylishly and well doesn’t have to involve a lot of money. We’ve talked time and again about how achieving style has everything to do with choosing the right items for a timeless essential wardrobe and nothing to do with how much you pay for something. Whether it’s the right budget-friendly denim and chinos, or affordable accessories that add a bit of personality, you can dress well on a budget, no matter what it is. Another bonus: women care more about how you dress, not what you spend on clothing, trust us.

So, with that, here are a few simple ways that you can dress well on a budget.

 

The Right Fit

It doesn’t matter how much you spend on clothes if they don’t fit they’ll look like crap! A well-fitting $75 bomber will look way better than an ill-fitting $2000 suit. If you handle this part properly, you’ve done 80% of the hard work. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with Fit Guides for nearly every wardrobe item in your closet.

 

Nail The Details

Small tweaks like well-chosen accessories (watch, pocket square, a tie bar, or watch band) will elevate an average look to a new level. These items can all be super affordable and when put together with a well-chosen, well-fitting outfit they’re really going to take your style to the next level with a bare minimum of investment.

 

The Right Shoes

There’s no quicker way to ruin a solid, stylish outfit than with a bad pair of shoes. Plus, it’s a fact women will notice your shoes and regardless of how much you spend, they should be clean, in good shape, and timeless in style. Don’t forget to consider the right shoe choice for the situation you’re dressing for. A shoe that’s too casual or overly-dressy with the wrong outfit is just as bad as shoes that are in terrible shape.

 

Dress for the situation

Dressing out of touch for the situation just makes you look like you’re trying too hard or you’ve got no taste, and neither one is something you want to impart to an observer. Whether you spent a lot or a little, if you’re overdressing for a barbeque or underdressing for a work event or wedding, nobody is going to care about your budget, they’re only going to notice how out of place you look.

Do Women Care How Much You Spend On Clothes?

One of the most common comments we see and hear time and again is “Women only care about men who spend a lot on clothing.” Now we believe that style is made up of a lot more things than just the clothes you wear and we talk a lot about how to build a stylish essential wardrobe on any budget. But, it is a fair question to ask.

So do women care how much you spend on clothes? Tune in and find out what we think!

Style and money are unrelated

Fit, and to a lesser extent, materials, denotes how “rich” you can look. You can be wearing a $5k suit but if it fits poorly and isn’t properly tailored, you’re still going to look like crap. But if you’re wearing a $500 suit that’s tailored perfectly and fits your body type well, you’re going to look like a million bucks. Dressing well in clothes that fit you isn’t expensive. Dressing poorly in designer clothing is very expensive and a complete waste of time and money, not to mention, no women will care if your suit is expensive if you look like a mess in it. Since we’re talking about fit, we’ve got Fit Guides for everything, so don’t forget to check ’em out!

Designer Doesn’t Always Mean Good

Covering yourself in designer labels to show how much you spend on clothes actually just shows a lack of class and tact. Wearing a $500 Gucci T-shirt is silly for two reasons: one, they’re knocked off so easily that often people assume it’s fake anyway, and two, did you really just pay $500 for a $2 shirt with a Gucci logo screen printed on it? To women, it makes you look like more of a sucker and its incredibly off-putting. Looking good is about the details and subtlety – women pick up on these more than most men know. 

Dress Within Your Means

We mention it a lot around here but it bears repeating, style is achievable at literally any budget. If you’re spending more than what your means allow on your clothing, that’s an instant alarm to a woman. It shows you’re either insecure or irresponsible financially. Either way, very unattractive. Be honest about your budget and stick with what works for it, it’s a much, much better look. Don’t believe us? We’ve got recommendations for budget-friendly denim, chinos, and more.

Dress For The Situation

If you’re wearing expensive clothing, but it’s inappropriate for the situation, women will be repelled. Wearing your brash, iced-out Hublot watch to a black-tie affair is just gauche. Flashy shows of money like this are inappropriate and they send up red flags like “insecure”, “ignorant”, “tacky”. Subtlety and class are infinitely more important to women, even when they don’t know it. EVERY woman, regardless of who they are, would jump James Bond’s bones because he’s subtle, confident, and elegant in his style. Remember that. 

The Verdict: Absolutely Not

Take it from a woman (and an incredibly accomplished one at that), the right women care about so many things that aren’t money and how much of it you spend (or pretend to spend) on your clothing. Style is about so much more than just what you wear and women know this. Style can be achieved no matter what your budget is, even if it’s zero, so don’t forget that!

 

How Much Should You Spend On Clothes?

As we always discuss, the right mix of items in your Essential Wardrobe is key in giving you the foundation to dress stylishly no matter what the occasion or your age range.  The great news is, it doesn’t matter what your budget is, you can build a stylish wardrobe no matter much you have to spend. 

Yeah, we know, many people often complain that you “need a lot of money to dress well” but that’s just not true.  It does take some proper strategy to know where and how to spend your hard-earned money though, and that’s where we come in. Figuring out where to save and splurge on items is a question we get asked all the time so in this edition of 2 Minute Tuesday we’re giving you our advice on how much money you should spend on clothes!

 

How Much Of Your Budget Should You Spend On Clothes?

Good news, this is simple: it doesn’t matter! Figure out what you’re comfortable with, no matter how much you have, and stick to that.  There are stylish options for everyone and every budget.

 

What To Invest In?

Both of us agree that dress shoes / boots and outerwear (jackets, peacoats, bombers) are the two places that it’s worth it to invest in.  Quality items in these categories will give you many years of wear and style.  Ashley also believes that if you dress up every day, or very frequently, it makes sense to invest in quality suits and blazers.

 

What To Go Cheap On?

Outside of the previously mentioned items, both of us agree that you can go much more budget-friendly on t-shirts, jeans, chino pants, and button-ups.  These items are easily replaced at any price point and will look sharp no matter how much you spend, provided you’re shopping smartly.

How and When Should Men Wear A Tie?

Ties are a fundamental accessory in a man’s essential wardrobe, they can add personality, elegance, and formality to many types of looks, no matter what your personal style is. Rules about style and formality, in both work and social settings, are changing so quickly that it can be tough to know when you should and shouldn’t wear a tie.

So, in this episode of 2 Minute Tuesday we’re discussing when and how men should wear a tie! For a full breakdown on our favorite ties and specific tips, make sure you check out our tie article!

 

With What?

A key thing to remember about ties starts with what you should be wearing them with. Dressier looks like suits and sport coats are definitely options you can and should wear a tie with. For more of a hybrid look, try wearing a tie with a bomber jacket, it can give your casual look a cool dressy vibe. One word of warning though, you don’t want to wear just a tie on its own without a jacket, it just doesn’t look right.

 

With What Types of Dress Codes?

When to wear a tie can also be determined by the dress code or how formal your place of work happens to be. Dress codes like “Formal”, “Cocktail Attire” or “Cocktail Party” often call for a suit and a tie. Business casual tends to lean slightly more casual but a tie can be appropriate given the right scenario. One tip we love, try a knit tie in those less-dressy situations, they’re not as dressy as a silk tie and will give your look a cool vibe.

If you aren’t totally sure about dress codes, ultimately you want to go with the crowd and let that dictate when a tie is appropriate. Always being stylish and a bit more dressed up is a great thing most of the time. But, you don’t want to be significantly overdressing for occasions or workplaces that don’t call for it. It can seem like you’re trying too hard or attempting to stand out, and not in a good way.

Are Subscription Boxes Worth It?

Subscription boxes are everywhere these days and we always get a ton of inquiries about clothing and grooming versions. We definitely have some opinions on how good they are and whether or not they are worth your time and money.

So, in this episode of 2 Minute Tuesday we’re discussing whether or not subscription boxes are worth it!

 

The Answer: Nope, Not Worth It

Believe us, we see a ton of these, and they just aren’t worth your time or money (with one small caveat below).

Why?

There are a bunch of different types out there but ultimately the amount of stuff you get just is too much and not of good quality. Who needs new socks or skin cleanser every month? Nobody. We get that many of you are super busy, but we promise that the time you invest in learning how and what to shop for is well worth it. Since you’re reading this and watching our channel, your personal style is obviously a priority, and cultivating your own Essential Wardrobe is an important investment that’s worth your time.

That said, we do love and enjoy a bunch of the versions with consumables like snacks, coffee, wine, charcuterie, etc. Those are great as it allows you to try new things and ideally the items don’t pile up and go to waste.

How To Build A Wardrobe?

Building a wardrobe doesn’t have to be an overwhelming or daunting task, but it does take some strategy, especially when you’re planning out the right purchases. In this episode of 2 Minute Tuesday we’re answering a viewer question about how to build a wardrobe.

Should you purchase by outfit? Or buy items piece by piece? What’s the right way to expand your wardrobe and keep it stylish? We’ve got all the answers you need right here.

 

Start With Versatile Essential Pieces

The right way to build your wardrobe is by starting with individual, versatile basics that you can mix and match for a variety of different outfits. A common mistake a lot of guys make is to just buy an entire outfit or two right off the mannequin. While that might look great together, you’re not necessarily going to be able to break apart and combine that one outfit or two for other situations. Plus, you can’t just wear that one outfit or two for every scenario.

As we discuss in our Essential Wardrobe series, building a foundation with items that are timeless gives you flexibility to meet any situation and the confidence to know you’re always going to look stylish, now matter where you’re going. Items like dark wash jeans, chinos, basic dress shirts and oxfords, basic t-shirts and polos, versatile outerwear, and blazers are going to allow you to put together looks that are not only stylish but uncomplicated.

After Your Have A Foundation, Add Along The Way

Once you have build a solid, foundational wardrobe you can then start adding in those special pieces like a statement shirt or leather bomber jacket, additional colors and patterns, or one-off items. You can feel free to start adding in some more personality and seasonal items with confidence because you’re always going to have that solid base to fall back on.

 

Is Men’s Streetwear Attractive?

Streetwear can be a pretty divisive topic these days, it can look good but also can go really wrong.  While we always believe it’s important to cultivate a stylish essential wardrobe, it’s definitely good to also experiment with new trends and styles, especially as you’re on your journey to discovering your own personal style.

In this episode of 2 Minute Tuesday we’re weighing in on whether or not streetwear for men is attractive.

So, is streetwear attractive?  In our opinion, yes!  But it comes with a few caveats.

For The Right Person

Can streetwear look good? Yes, definitely.  But it has to work with your existing style and confidence.  If you’re the type of guy who can experiment with different styles and pull it off with confidence, then go for it.  It definitely takes a certain amount of swag to make it work.  If not, it can look fake and like you’re trying too hard.

Don’t Try Too Hard

Much like “Bad Boy Style”, streetwear is an overall look that can come off as really inauthentic if it doesn’t mesh well with your pre-existing overall look.  You can look like you’re wearing a costume and like you’re trying way too hard.  So, if you go for it, proceed with caution and give some consideration to when and where you’re adopting this vibe.

How Many Rings Should Men Wear?

Over-accessorizing is a common problem a lot of guys fall prey to.  While we definitely believe the right accessories can really elevate your look, it’s important to know how to do it right.  In this episode of 2 Minute Tuesday we’re answering a viewer question about rings.  Should a man wear them?  If so, how many are too many?

1 Ring Per Hand Max

Stick to this rule as the be-all, end-all of ring rules.  Any more than that and you’re going to look like you are trying too hard.

Skip The Thumb Ring

Thumb rings are a definite no-go, they just come off as tacky and cheesy.  Keep your rings to your forefinger, middle finger, and maybe your pinky.

 

Mixing Metals Is Ok

We’re not diehards about not mixing metal types with rings and watches, but it does look best if your rings are somewhat consistent with your watch or other accessories.