3 Easy Ways To Get Celebrity Style On A Non-Celebrity Budget

I know some people have the attitude that clothes are clothes, and any desire to look pretty is shallow, vain, and wrong. Clothes are meant to keep you warm, cover your body, and that's it. Other people I know who have a hard time clothing shopping just have the attitude of "Whatever, if it fits it fits." But I've learned in the past few years that an important part of self care, for me and many others, is dressing in a way that makes you happy and feel good about yourself. Because clothes definitely can influence how you feel about yourself. For some people t-shirts and sweatpants are what make them feel comfortable in their own skin and happy, but other people have more discerning tastes and that is ok. If your taste, for example, is one that is more upscale, here are some ways sent in by a reader that you can dress according to your taste without breaking the bank.

Serena Williams, Beyoncé, Meghan Markle and Rihanna - some of Hollywood’s leading fashion icons. Every outfit they wear when they step out is instantly adored and recreated by followers across the globe. Celebrities have been influencing fashion for decades, and while they can be great fashion muses, the eye-watering price tag that comes with recreating their style is not always an option for the everyday person. The average American family spends $1,700 on clothing each year - 3.5 percent of their household spending. That’s a far cry from celebrity habits like Britney Spear’s $16,000 monthly clothing bill. But replicating celebrity style does not always have to break the bank. Whether you choose to make a DIY T-shirt at home or hit up a thrift store, dressing like your favorite celebrity on a budget just needs a bit of creativity.

Stick With The Style - But Ditch The Label

An easy way to get celebrity style on a budget is to keep the concept but forget the designer label. Too often, consumers focus on the designer or brand that a celebrity is wearing, instead of the cut, color or styling of their outfit - which is what helps it to become a trending fashion. For instance, at the Golden Globe Awards, Lupita Nyong’o was admired for her platform heels and low-cut dress. If you want a more budget-friendly option, this platform shoe by Aldo costs only $56.

Similarly, if you want to replicate Gigi Hadid’s style with a pair of mom jeans, try American Eagle’s mom jeans, which retail at just $39. In fact, you may also be able to replicate the style of dress by going shopping in your closet. Using pieces that are cut in the same style, such as asymmetrical hemlines or fur-lined denim jackets, you can dress like a celebrity for nothing at all.

Get Your Scouting Hat On At The Thrift Store Or Second-Hand Websites

Thrift stores are an undiscovered treasure trove of pre-loved fashion - without the hefty price tags. In fact, by 2029, ThredUp estimates that the second hand fashion market will triple in value to $80 billion. In some second-hand stores, you can save as much as 80 percent off retail prices. Thrift stores aren't limited to clothing either. They can be a great place to find vintage furniture or unique jewelry pieces, and you can even find the perfect wedding jewelry if you look carefully. So whether you're lusting after an engagement rings of the stars or want to imitate their daily style, you can do it for much less.

Better yet, you no longer have to go searching for second-hand stores all across town. Now, many thrift stores are online, and shipping to your home by the next day. If you are into vintage celebrity fashion, websites like ThredUp and Vestiaire Collective carry over 35,000 different brands from countries like Singapore, France and Australia.

Rent It When You Want It

The average woman now has at least 30 outfits in her wardrobe. In 1930, that number was just nine. In fact, a large percentage of women have clothing they haven’t worn in months or years just sitting in their closets. More people are making purchasing decisions based on wants and not needs, which means we often wear an outfit once or twice before moving on to something else - just like another celebrity’s style of the day.

Fashion rental websites and platforms give you access to designer fashion for a fraction of the cost. Some of them, like Rent The Runway and Glam Corner, allow you to rent celebrity-inspired clothing and accessories when you need them for as little as $30. If you want to trial designer clothing regularly, there are also monthly subscription clothing rental websites like Gwynnie Bee. From $49 per month, you can get a monthly subscription box that is specially curated with one to 10 pieces each month. Shipping and returns are free.

Don’t forget you can also upcycle your own clothing to imitate trending celebrity fashion. So that plain white T-shirt you have sitting in your closet? Grab a bottle of clothing dye and some string to create your own tie-dyed T-shirt, and hop on the tie-dye fashion trend. Being stylish and trendy doesn't always have to cost as much as a celebrity spends. Put your own stamp on it, and don’t be afraid to get creative.