You don’t have to spend a fortune to look like you have an expensive wardrobe. The key is to look “put together”. What does that mean? Well, I would say that you want a clean, wrinkle-free, well fitting and coordinated outfit. Well-fitting means that the clothes are fit to your body type. Coordinated means that the pieces look like they go together, this includes your clothing items as well as accessories.

I’ve always been an advocate for dressing the body that you have. This is absolutely key to looking your best. Clothes that fit will flatter your body no matter your size. Wearing an oversized piece of clothing will most likely not flatter you. You want to find clothing that fits properly. This may require that you visit a seamstress to get the best fit for your body type. Be open to different styles and try on a variety of style to find what works best for you.

Our bodies change over time. We can’t the same thing in our 30s that we wore in our 20s. Nevermind what happens when we get to our 40s! We need to try on different styles to see how they fit. We need to try on the items we have in our closet to see how they fit! We have to embrace the idea that our bodies will look different in the clothes we own over time. If we’re willing to be objective about this, we can try different styles and find what works best and flatters most.

Once we have the right pieces, how do we pull the outfit together? A coordinated outfit requires that we pull together a “look”. We need the clothing items to be paired with accessories that make an outfit. This is where your personal style has an impact. You want to use your accessories to style your “look”. Let’s say that you prefer a more classic preppy style. Perhaps you like to keep your outfits simple. You’ve chosen to wear a black midi wrap dress with nude pumps. This is simple and straightforward from a style perspective. But you could pair this with a turquoise statement earing, a bright orange clutch and colorful bracelets when heading to dinner with your friends. Or you could pair this with a pair of pearl earring and head off to work. Start with a simple base and add depending on your preferred style.

Finally I want to go back to clean and wrinkle-free for a moment. Sounds so simple and straightforward, right? I can’t tell you how many people I’ve seen in clothes that could use an iron and a trip to the cleaners. Please don’t think that maybe others won’t notice…. they will. Keep your clothes in good shape by following care instructions printed on the label. If you care for your clothes, they will last longer and look better.

This is how you can achieve a “put together” look - so that even a girl on a budget, can make a statement. How much you spend on the clothing items isn’t as important as how you look in them. Find items that work for you… for your body type, your style, and your budget!

See a few items below that won’t break your bank account and might contribute to your style goals!

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J. Crew Factory Cropped Jacket with Pom Poms

Joie Elline Floral Printed Short Sleeve Blouse