This is a guest post by Carol Montrose.

Just because all of your money is being eaten up by tuition, books, and the other expenses of attending college doesn’t mean you can’t look your best during your tenure on campus. You may not be able to pay full price at department stores or purchase designer-label items off the rack, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to assemble a fantastic wardrobe for less. In addition, saving money when you acquire clothing can also be a means of saving the environment, helping you to look good and feel great in one fell swoop. So here are a few ways that even broke college students can look like a million bucks when they show up for class or interview for internships.

1.  Take stock of your closet. Although you will likely find items that you have outgrown, or those that are beyond salvaging, there are likely several pieces in your current wardrobe that are still totally usable. This is especially true of building blocks such as black (or neutral) slacks, oxford shirts, fitted jackets, and casual dresses, just for example. So before you bemoan your lack of options when it comes to things to wear, take stock and see if that’s really true or if there might be a few good pieces you can build on.
2. Find ways to reuse. Instead of giving up some pieces as a lost cause, why not see if you can manage to reuse them? Put on the hat of Andie from Pretty in Pink; she was a master of seeing the potential in out-of-date trends and turning old clothing into something new and fabulous. You, too, can embrace this ideal by finding ways to spruce up the pieces you already have. A worn blazer can be made new with corduroy patches on the elbows, new buttons, and a line of velvet ribbon around the collar and lapel. Or a frayed concert tee can become very now with some artful shredding down the back. There are all kinds of crafty ways to make the old new again, so don’t hesitate to see what you can do with scissors and a sewing machine.
3. Check out thrift stores. Second-hand stores will often present a whole host of items that you want nothing to do with, but if you’re willing to spend a little time searching you can come up with a few amazing finds at a fraction of the cost of retail. Whether you’re going for a retro vibe or you’re looking for the latest fashions, you’ll be surprised what you can unearth at area thrift stores.
4. Save on most, spend on some. Because you’re working on a limited budget, you’ll want to angle for savings on everything you buy from tees to jeans to jackets. For this reason, purchasing most items second-hand is a great option. But that doesn’t mean you can’t splurge a little on a couple of special pieces. And even here you can save by going to discount stores that collaborate with designers, like Kohl’s (Vera Wang) or Target (Zac Posen, Isaac Mizrahi, etc.). Of course, you might also consider greener options like organic clothing lines, some of which can be found online at greatly discounted prices.
5. Host a swap. You likely have a few items in your wardrobe that are nice, but simply don’t fit your style aesthetic. If you have friends in the same boat, why not host a swap before school starts so that everyone can head to campus with a few new (to them) duds without spending a dime? It’s both economical and eco-friendly.

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