Frugal is the new black

In an uncertain economy, it’s necessary to rethink how you spend money ... and that carries over to fashion. There’s no reason to completely forgo shopping and style. “Frugal is the new black,” said Kathryn Finney, who started the website thebudgetfashionista.com five years ago. Here, three penny-wise experts discuss how to keep up your wardrobe for less.

The Budget Fashionista

www.thebudgetfashionista.com

Originally from Minneapolis, Kathryn Finney runs a national fashion website and wrote the popular guidebook “How to Be a Budget Fashionista: The Ultimate Guide to Looking Fabulous for Less,” now in its sixth printing.

This is a time to really avoid shopping. If you’re going to buy, get the best that you can, not the cheapest. Look at adding only one or two pieces a year.

Go through everything that you own and look for items you can sell or alter cheaply. Take your boots to the cobbler instead of buying new ones.

Buy things in dark, neutral fabrics. You can wear a pair of black pants three days a week. A black or brown suit is a great investment. Gray is harder.

You’re only supposed to dry-clean suits twice a year. Otherwise, use Febreze fabric refresher (or a generic version) for in between.

The Cheap Chick

cheapbutnoteasy.net

Erin Schneider recently spent a year buying nothing that cost more than $20. She is currently challenging herself not to buy anything unless she can think of three good reasons to do so. The Shoreview resident documents her frugality on her website.

Send out mass e-mails to friends if you’re looking for something specific, such as shoes for a date or a shirt to wear with a suit. You can do clothing swaps, too bring all of the stuff you don’t want, everyone tries on everything and whoever looks the best keeps it.

At Target, once the last digit hits “4,” that’s as low as it’s going to go, as in $2.24 for a T-shirt. At Old Navy, it’s “8.”

I’m lucky because I wear size 6 1/2 shoes. You can also look at bigger kids’ sizes. I’ve bought Saucony running shoes at DSW for $80, but I found kids’ Saucony shoes at Marshall’s for $24.

I got two pairs of (new) pants at Fashion Bug for just $27.18, in part by signing up for their credit card. However, I paid off the balance on the spot. You should always do that with store cards.

Thrifty Hipster

www.thriftyhipster.com

Websites such as modcloth.com have great pieces for a quick vintage fix, if you don’t have time to peruse through racks. The store Everyday People Clothing Exchange [2912 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls., 612-824-3112, everydaypeopleclothing.com] has previously owned clothes that are affordable. With the ’80s and early ’90s grunge look making a comeback, it is the ideal place for people who would like to save a buck or just want something unique.

Try to save money in other areas, such as at bars and clubs. If your budget for clothes and going out used to be $300 and is now $200, save 50 percent by going to happy hour! There are lots of great places that have two-for-ones or 50 percent off drinks and appetizers. Try Fuji Ya (two locations, see www.fujiyasushi.com for details), where they have $3 beers and wines, $4 to $6 sakes and awesome rolls for $3 to $6, including some of the $15 rolls from their normal menu. It’s a killer deal.

Take clothes to a local designer to be screen-printed. If you own a pair of Levi’s that are super comfy, for example, they can feel new again with a brand-new design.