Looking great is easy when you have unlimited resources.
However, most of us live within limited means where every kobo is accounted for.

So how do you build a wardrobe that serves both your professional and personal needs without breaking the bank?

What can the average guy do to look sharp without investing too much in clothing?

Here are 5 of my favorite tips for upgrading your style and your wardrobe on a budget.


1. Know your "Second-Hand" Market


Second-hand, charity, consignment, and other used clothing stores can be a gold mine for sharp-looking menswear. If you’re patient and thorough, you can find everything from a conservative-looking business suit to trendy party clothes.

The odds of walking out with something that fits and looks good on any one trip are vanishingly small. It takes multiple trips and an open mind to start building a wardrobe from second hand stores.

Ideally, you should get to know these vendors, calling in to know when 'new' stuff arrives, they are relatively cheap and could be as valuable as brand new clothing


2. Know Your Shoe Restoration Options


A nice pair of leather shoes is an instant upgrade to any outfit. Even a guy in blue jeans and a plain white T-shirt looks like a respectable man if he’s got some nice black leather shoes or boots and a matching belt on.

Trouble is, good leather shoes are also one of the most expensive wardrobe items out there (and cheap ones just don’t have the same authority).

The solution? Second-hand shoes, plus a good knowledge of re-crafting and restoration specialists.. Advanced repairs aren’t cheap, but they’re still a bargain compared to buying new. For the price of a cheap pair of shoes, you could end up with something much nicer and sturdier



3. Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance

Do the little things. They matter.

Shoes get polished. Frayed cuffs get hemmed. Little rips get stitched up or patched before they turn into big rips. Make it a habit to brush your suit jacket after wearing.

This doesn’t build your wardrobe or expand your style, of course, but it keeps your wardrobe from shrinking while you’re on the lookout for new pieces.

4. Raid the Family Closets


Clothes handed down from father to son are as traditional as it gets. If you don’t have a father with a suitable build (or wardrobe), check around with brothers, uncles, cousins — any male relative in about your size.

Of course, you do have to be careful. Once word gets out that you’re a dab hand with a needle, they’ll probably want you to start working on their clothes, too. But that’s not a bad trade if you’re getting a good supply of lightly-worn pieces for your own wardrobe.


5. Find a Skilled Tailor

Just like shoe repairs, a professional tailor’s adjustments can turn lightly-used clothing into something resembling a brand new garment fitted just for you.

The trick is finding someone who is good at it.

Look for experienced outfits and take the time to build a rapport with the tailors you find. The extra time is worth it in the long run.