Trendy Gay Hipster: A Poor Man’s Guide to Dressing Fabulous for Less!

I've been getting great feedback on Trendy Gay Hipster from a lot of you wonderful readers, and I highly appreciate all of your questions, suggestions, and comments thus far. A few of you boys have asked “When are you going to write an article for the men who shop on a budget?”

Believe me, as a guy who lives for the clearance racks and big sales like it’s an all-you-can-eat buffet, I can definitely relate!

On multiple occasions during my shopping excursions, I’ve stumbled upon that one pair of designer jeans and those amazing pair of brown wingtip shoes that would go sooo well with just about everything in my wardrobe. I would obsessively gaze over them with the temptation to purchase them for my own —that is until I notice the $189.99 price tag, which kills all my desire to actually buy them.

Definitely not a budget designer...

For the average Joe who adores fashion, it can often be difficult to stay on top of current trends when on a tight budget. Let’s face it – a lot of us can’t go out and splurge our hard-earned cash on new clothes very often. It’s not like everyday is Christmas! Although, it would be pretty nice to wake up every morning to a new outfit from Santa.

But since most of us have bills to pay, mouths to feed, and debt to pay off, fashion is usually one of the last things to spend money on when you have other finances to worry about. Of course, for those of us who love fashion, the thought of not being able to indulge in our sartorial pleasures is quite depressing.

Nevertheless, with a smart shopping sense and a keen eye for deals, being able to afford a new set of clothes despite your meager budget is surely doable. To all of the boys who are still shaking out the last bits of their piggybanks, here are a few tips to shop without spending an arm and a leg.

You got it from Kmart? I totally thought you bought it from Abercrombie!

You’d be surprised with the kind of trickery you can pull off by buying certain garments from less expensive stores like Kmart or Sears. Higher end retail stores will charge at least $20 or more for a basic colored t-shirt or graphic tee, which can quickly become expensive.

Remember, with those really pricey t-shirts, you’re often only paying for the brand, not necessarily for the best quality. If you’re looking to stock up on some t-shirts for the upcoming season, why not just pay for the shirts that will have you spending under 9 bucks or less?

In the past, I’ve found some great graphic tees at low-end stores give my everyday outfits a little more hipness. And by stylizing the cheaper the shirts with, say, a cardigan sweater or a pair of slim fitted jeans, your overall look has already become trendy. And by not paying for that $25 t-shirt at the Gap, you’re already saving a couple of dollars. What a great opportunity to put those extra bucks towards other great apparel!

And if your friends ask where you bought that cute shirt, go ahead and fib and say you got it from a really hip exclusive boutique. Nobody has to know where you shop.

And to the men who are frightened to step into a Kmart, exhale in relief, stores like H&M sell basic tees for $5 or less.

Clearance racks are not your enemy, but your friend

Whenever you’re window-shopping, once you’ve entered a store, head to the back and find the clearance racks. Many stores will knock off their prices to a ridiculously low amount, especially at the end of the season.

It’s not the hand-me-down clothing that’s being put on clearance either, but often the garments that were once quite expensive and are now suddenly very affordable. For example, I recently bought a name brand leather jacket, once priced at $500, sold at clearance for $99, which is a steal for a leather jacket.

Another thing I recommend with clearance sales is not to be afraid to shop for clothing that is out-of-season. So, you might find sweaters on clearance in the middle of June. For many of us North Americans around this time of year, you won’t find someone working a sweater during 82-degree weather — it’s way too warm for that! However, those sweaters will be great for the fall and winter seasons, so get them while they’re being sold at clearance.

It never hurts to add to your ever-changing closet, even if it’s not the appropriate time to wear what you buy just then.

A thrift store can be a playground for the true fashionista. I’ve personally found some timeless gems that bring my outfits to a different level of cool without putting myself in the poorhouse. Clothing of the vintage persuasion is a current trend for men’s fashion, and can easily be found at your local thrift stores. Even better, these items are often one of a kind so you don’t have to worry about hitting the clubs and seeing two other guys wearing the exact same thing.

Do I really want this? Or am I just buying it just to buy it?

We’ve all done this: when you’re in line to pay for the clothes that you’ve already picked out, and then at the last minute, you have doubts. “Does this actually make me look stupid? Why did I pick it up in the first place anyway. But I really like the color. Should I just get it anyways?”

Odds are if you are having doubts at the checkout counter, you’ll probably have doubts about it when you actually wear it. If you’re not sure of what you’re buying, reconsider it or continue shopping around for something else that you’ll love. You’re on a budget, and it doesn’t help by wasting your hard-earned money on clothes that you don’t enjoy.

And remember, it’s not like the store will be out of business in the next day or even the next month. If you decide not to buy something, and find yourself still thinking about it a week later, then maybe you can reconsider and go back to check it out again.