SuFu fashion on a low budget. Help me build my college wardrobe.

[xghostsniperx]

I've mostly been a lurker over the years, but I recently registered here at SuFu.

Basically, I've got the look I want to shape. I know what clothes I like and I know what I don't like. Thing is, how do I revert my 8th-grade esque wardrobe full of Quiksilver, Nike, and Abercrombie into a more mature college street style with so little cash?

I guess the way I see it, my jeans fit and my shirts don't say Hollister all over them, so that's a step in the right direction. Here's where my wardrobe stands now:

I've got pants down. I have a five pairs of raw denim right now: Nudie, Skull, Sugarcane, Kicking Mule, and Crate. A couple pairs are broken in, and I'm saving a couple pairs for college. I'm looking to purchase a pair of chinos and a pair of regular pants (maybe Nudie Canvas pants).

I've got shoes down. I have two pairs of Onitsuka Tigers, white and black and a brown pair of Diesel shoes. Yea, they're sure as hell not the best, but they look good with what I'm wearing. I just can't afford the 10+ pairs of sneakers like some of you guys have.

I've got the basics in shirts and hoodies down. I have a ton of basic H&M, AA, and a few Apolis tees. I've got a few W+H hoodies. I could use a Cardigan or two, maybe.

For jackets, I have a couple from H&M that are actually quite nice. A cool M65 jacket, a casual black one, and a khaki colored jacket.

But now I have to figure out what I can buy to layer this stuff and make my wardrobe go from basic to something stand-out. I'm talking about staple pieces--stuff that takes a boring, basic outfit to something bigger. I mean, I realize that I could build a wardrobe off of H&M button-ups and t-shirts, but I'm looking to do more than that and I want to have something that truly lasts.

Any ideas? I realize this is rather vague, but after you get the basics down, where do you go with clothing?

[ChaseDizzy]

Low Budget? You seem fine with 5 pairs of raw in rotation, i only have one right now, and if you have a few W+H hoodies and other stuff, you're good

[apocalypse later]

Maybe sell some of that raw denim to get some money, then go spend it on some cool graphic tees, button-ups, or maybe a fitted cardigan. See if you can get a good black jacket somewhere too, they're really versitile.

[Kodak]

Stop buying W+H hoodies and you could have more of a wardrobe.

[goldengloves]

I was going to suggest selling some denim as well to fund other purchases. Uniqlo is one of my favorite budget places to shop. They have everything you could want to fill some gaps in your wardrobe. Button up shirts, cardigans, casual pants, blazers, etc. And the nice thing is that they are all very plain with no absurd labeling on them. If you aren't in NYC, then there are plenty of people who doing buying services on this site that you can go through.

Other than that, it sounds like you have a very good, casual wardrobe going. I would just suggest getting some more 'grown up' pieces such as a cardigan, button ups, and nice black and grey trouser. These will give you a little more to play around with in your wardrobe so you can mix some things up rather than just wearing a tee, hoodie, and jeans non stop.

As for shoes. I wouldn't skimp there, you can find some really nice oxford lace ups in black on sale at this time of the year and those can be dressed up and down.

Cheers.

[xghostsniperx]

I've bought only three W+H hoodies, and they cost me under $200 for the lot of three.

As for Uniqlo, I don't really live near NY. Yea, I could buy some of the supermarket, but isn't H&M pretty similar in terms of design and quality?

I think I will sell some of my denim. No reason to have that many pairs, you guys are right. Not to mention the fact that it'll take forever to break them in.

[mis]

I'd work on the shoe department, maybe a clean suit? wallet?

[Charlie Delta]

Accesorize!!!

No, but seriously, it seems you really shouldn't worry about the pieces you have.

It's up to you to do something with them.

You can buy as many nice clothes as you want but you can't buy style, you can learn it though.

[xghostsniperx]

I'm 18. I'm in the midwest, I'm going to a fairly nice college (Marquette). But honestly, there's no reason for a suit.

Maybe that info will help a bit. Really, all I'm looking for are staple pieces to work around my wardrobe that is currently all basics.

[Guest mwills]

Sounds like you have a good wardrobe going. I understand where your coming from wanting something standout. For me some nice henleys, V-necks, cardigans as you mentioned, and other simple but detailed pieces along those lines help switch it up from the everyday crewneck T. Right now I'm really loving all the Tsubi/Ksubi henleys, but maybe its just me haha. The fit is great, they're slim and long, nice soft and lightweight fabric. Well, I dont really know if thats your style, but for me pieces like that are definitely standout from the everyday T-shirt. Also, in my opinion, the smaller things make the outfit standout. For example, with jeans and a T-shirt the shirt and jeans must have a good fit (obviously you have plenty of nice shirts and denim so you're good here), but the shoes and accessories really can make the outfit standout. Some not so good shoes can really kill this kind of fit. I would say vans authentics are definitely a staple you should have in your wardrobe, they work great with alot of fits. Also, for me I like to throw in a necklace or slouchy beanie to mix it up a little bit. I am by no means a style expert, this is all my opinion based on what I like. Also, one of the biggest things is look at WAYWT and see what you like. There is no such thing as an original idea, take what you like and put your own spin on it.

[alterion]

just lurk in supermarket and in sales and when you see a nice deisgner piece you want for cheap - snap it up, look at waywt every dya and save the fits you like <--- helped me develop a style more than anything

[domdomdomdom]

Grab a pair of chucks or something. Costs you not very much and would look better than some diesels IMO.

[onemancult]

my suggestion is you stop thinking that you're going to get the look you want from buying more pieces, and concentrate on how and why you wear the things you do.

oh, and accessorize, accessorize, accessorize.

[RAISED BY WOLVES]

It's the shoes

Get rid of the three pairs of you have.

Sure, I know that's all you have, but so does everybody else. If you're going to have what everybody else has, might as well go to Zappos real quick where you will be able to snap up three pairs of vans (A slip on, a Chukka, and an Era) for under 150 bucks shipped free.

A lot of college kids have em these days, but their clean and classic instead of obnoxious and boring.

[doczein]

i'm with you on this one. i'm entering college next year as well, and i need something more than the aa tees, raw denim, and my black sk8-hi's.

i really want to get some cheap uniqlo wares, and as stated above, there are possibly people willing to proxy it to me. the problem is, how would i view a decent selection of uniqlo clothing so i'd be able to point out what i'd like to get?

[Spaghettini]

I'd recommend going to a few spots like Gap or Old Navy for simpler shit and have it tailored to fit you.

[goldengloves]

i'm with you on this one. i'm entering college next year as well, and i need something more than the aa tees, raw denim, and my black sk8-hi's.

i really want to get some cheap uniqlo wares, and as stated above, there are possibly people willing to proxy it to me. the problem is, how would i view a decent selection of uniqlo clothing so i'd be able to point out what i'd like to get?

Go here for the US site and view the Spring 07 looks

http://www.uniqlo.com/us/

Go here for the Japanese online web store for even more

http://store.uniqlo.com/L1/main.html

And now, there is a UK webstore (as mentioned in another thread)

http://www.uniqlo.co.uk/

[alterion]

indeed onisuka tigers only look good when playing tennis- fact

[wEstSidE]

People play tennis in Asics? Are you kidding me?

[xghostsniperx]

It's the shoes

Get rid of the three pairs of you have.

Sure, I know that's all you have, but so does everybody else. If you're going to have what everybody else has, might as well go to Zappos real quick where you will be able to snap up three pairs of vans (A slip on, a Chukka, and an Era) for under 150 bucks shipped free.

A lot of college kids have em these days, but their clean and classic instead of obnoxious and boring.

Hm, I thought that Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66s are a pretty classic shoe.

And I searched Zappos for slip-ons, chukkas, and eras, and they all have a pretty feminine vibe to them. I don't know, I guess one thing I've tried to stay away from while on SuFu is the skinny tapered jeans, the slip-on soccer mom looking shoes, and etc. Maybe I'm wrong, but I just can't wear shoes that are so similar to my mom's.

[wEstSidE]

Your mom wears sneakers?

[goldengloves]

Mom is stylin'.

[apocalypse later]

Funny how ridiculously different the views on things on SuFu versus SF are. On SF, Tigers (almost any style, Tai Chi, Mexico 66, whatever) are considered "safe" but "stylish" sneakers.

[DEPHT]

In my experience, spending more on one or two pieces is better than "spreading the cash" around. I mean, nice denim and a basics from Uniqlo, AA and H&M will get you very far. Maybe you could save up and get some nice pieces from Visvim or Hare to "stand out" like you said.

[xghostsniperx]

In my experience, spending more on one or two pieces is better than "spreading the cash" around. I mean, nice denim and a basics from Uniqlo, AA and H&M will get you very far. Maybe you could save up and get some nice pieces from Visvim or Hare to "stand out" like you said.

Sorry, this really doesn't make any sense. Do you mean nice denim and basics won't get me very far? Your post is puzzling.

[justinbaily21]

His post made perfect sense. I've only been puzzled by all of yours. He suggests (and rightfully so) that you should have one or two nice pairs of raw denim (check), basic pieces from Uniqlo, AA and H&M (Check) and that you should save up for some stand-outs when you can.

[yanni]

i live in new hampshire about an hour away from an H&M or American Apparel and I have no car to get there. how can i get h&m-esque basics off the internet or something? i have bought three american apparel jersey tees off ebay... great fit after they went in the dryer. aa tees, h&m jeans (been there once) and nikes do get kinda boring though.

[apocalypse later]

His post made perfect sense. I've only been puzzled by all of yours. He suggests (and rightfully so) that you should have one or two nice pairs of raw denim (check), basic pieces from Uniqlo, AA and H&M (Check) and that you should save up for some stand-outs when you can.

Well, when you look at it, he seems to be alluding to the fact that "spreading money around" is worse while saving up for a few nice pieces is the way to go. ...Whatever, it's useless to explain.

Anyways, I'd have to agree with him either way. I started buying a ton of H&M stuff, and then when I realized it didn't turn out too well after 3-4 washes, I started saving up for better articles.

Really though, it's too bad about H&M isn't it? They have nice cuts, they have interesting concepts, but they don't have quality.

[Fuuma]

I suggest getting a Thom Browne cardigan and some Carol Christian Poell sneakers...that way you'll have no money left to spend on getting 5 pairs of expensive raw denim when you're strapped for cash.

[ChaseDizzy]

And I searched Zappos for slip-ons, chukkas, and eras, and they all have a pretty feminine vibe to them. I don't know, I guess one thing I've tried to stay away from while on SuFu is the skinny tapered jeans, the slip-on soccer mom looking shoes, and etc. Maybe I'm wrong, but I just can't wear shoes that are so similar to my mom's.

Feminine? Ew, no.

But that's exactly it, if you don't like it, develop your own style