Looking good on a budget

Condor Properties impart some style tips for skint students.

Does opening your wardrobe depress you? Does your dishevelled appearance look more soup queue than chic? Don’t worry, these are perennial problems for students – after all you have more important things to spend money on (booze, baked beans, accommodation) than clothes.

However, it’s a popular misconception that style comes at a price. Condor Properties explain how to look good for less...

Start at the top

You could be dressed in a tailored suit from Saville Row or a posh frock by Vivienne Westwood, but if you’ve got a greasy mop that doubles up as a nesting site for birds then you’re going to look like a plonker – the first rule of hair is to keep it clean.

The second rule is to get a decent haircut. This is not easy on a meagre budget, but some of the sleek high street hairdressers offer discounts for students and even bigger cuts (excuse the pun) if you volunteer to be a model for their trainee stylists.

Lads – if a posh trim sounds detrimental to your booze budget invest in a pair of clippers and discover the virtues of the French crop. It’s smart, cheap and easy to do yourself, although offers little room for expressing individuality.

Look down

Rock star turned fashion guru, Liam Gallagher once said: “There’s no point having a good haircut if you’ve got a s**t pair of shoes on.” And quite right – decent footwear is the cornerstone of every good outfit. Trouble is shoes are often the single most expensive items in your wardrobe. Our advice?

Play the long game: Office, Schu, House of Fraser and the like sell designer shoes and have at least two major sales every year. When you see a pair you like, wait for the inevitable discounts at the end of the season.
Trawl charity shops in posh post codes: They don’t call rich people well-heeled for nothing and you’ll be amazed what these wealthy folk throw out. Look through charity shops in salubrious neighbourhoods and you’ll find an Aladdin’s Cave of cheap designer shoes and boots.
Spend as much as you can afford. You get what you pay for, particularly with shoes, so it makes no sense buying a pair that will only last one term; spend the extra cash, it’ll save you money in the long term.

Buy a decent jacket

Together with fancy footwear, a suave spread will carry the rest of your outfit. Like shoes, you’ll find some quality jackets in the sales or on the shelves of charity shops. However, ebay and vintage clothes shops are the places to look for leather, velvet and some more unusual apparel.

The rest

If you’ve acquired decent footwear and a sleek jacket or two, the rest of your wardrobe will pretty much sort itself out. Maintain some individual style by continuing your shoestring shopping spree in vintage stores, charity shops and on line. Alternatively make the most of student discounts offered at some of the high street retailers.