20 Tips for Saving Big on Your Fall and Winter Wardrobe

Is your fall or winter wardrobe needing a major update? With every new season comes holidays, weather changes, and trends — all of which can influence the way we dress. Fashion can be fun, but trying to keep up as each season comes and goes can be costly.

That's why we've created a guide to help you save on clothing while making shopping much more fun. Here are some tips for fall season clothes shopping to update your wardrobe without breaking the bank.

1. Follow Brands on Social Media

Following your favorite brands and stores on their social media platforms is an easy way to potentially save money down the line. Brands will often announce their latest sales on their social media accounts, whether that be on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. They may also do giveaways and contests that you can participate in!

2. Shop Out of Season

Need tips for winter wardrobe shopping? Consider buying pieces in summer. It's fun to buy items pre-season, but this is when they're usually at their most expensive. If you shop for your summer clothes in the winter and vice versa, you could score some great pieces at a big discount. It might feel odd buying a coat during the warmer months, but the savings will be well worth it.

3. Sign Up for Email Lists

You can save money online shopping by signing up for email lists. Many online stores will prompt you to join their email list the moment you click on their site. As an incentive, most stores offer some sort of discount, like 15 percent off your first order. These email lists are also a good way to learn about new deals and product launches, but you can also unsubscribe if you don't want them filling up your inbox.

4. Take Surveys

At the end of their receipts, some major retailers ask you to fill out a survey about your shopping experience. In return, they usually offer a small coupon for your next purchase. These surveys typically take a couple of minutes, so they're worth doing if it's for a store that you shop at frequently.

5. Do an Inventory of Your Wardrobe

It's important to have an understanding of what clothing you actually need to fill out your wardrobe. If you don't have a good idea of what you already own, you could end up with 25 T-shirts and only two pairs of jeans. To make the most of your budget, you should go through your wardrobe and identify what items of clothing you need the most (and which articles of clothing you have enough of).

6. Buy Versatile Accessories

What's the use in buying a purse if it only complements one or two of your outfits? An excellent way to save money on accessories is to buy versatile pieces that you can mix and match with a wide range of your own clothing. Not sure whether or not an accessory can be considered versatile? Neutral colors are usually safe choices that look good with most clothing.

7. Avoid Super Cheap Clothes

If something is too good to be true, it probably is. We all love to save money on clothes, but you should be wary of clothing that's priced really low. A shirt that only costs a few dollars, for example, is probably very poor quality and not made in an ethical way. Bad-quality clothing is a bad investment long-term. If a piece of clothing can only be worn for a month or two before falling apart, it's just not worth it.

8. Invest in Important Pieces

Try to reserve some of your budget for more essential items like coats, jeans, and anything else you hope to wear for many years to come. It's a wiser choice financially to spend more on clothing you plan on wearing regularly versus items you may only wear every few weeks. The clothes you wear regularly can get worn out faster, so you want them to be high-quality.

9. Track Big Sales

Most chain stores have big annual or semi-annual sales where they offer the lowest prices they'll have for the year. These are obviously great times to do the bulk of your shopping. If you're not sure when your favorite department or mall store has its annual or semi-annual sales, look online or ask an employee! You can then make a note of it so you'll be ready to save big next year.

10. Don't Worry About Brand Names

Why spend tons of money on brand-name clothing when there are inexpensive generic versions that look almost identical? The average person can't tell the difference between a brand-name piece and a knockoff anyway. There's nothing wrong with saving up for nice pieces, but it's always smarter to go with generic brands for clothing that's hardly visible, like socks, tank tops, and undershirts.

11. Look Around Stores

When you shop at larger higher-end boutiques, you'll probably notice their priciest items first. That's because they deliberately place them in the middle of the store to garner sales. If you want to find the clearance rack or just more affordable items in general, you may need to explore the corners of the shop.

12. Avoid "Dry Clean Only" Clothes

Clothes that need to be dry-cleaned come with extra long-term costs. Dry cleaning isn't terribly expensive, but the costs add up. If you want to save on clothing, you should check the tags of pieces before you buy them. If they're "dry clean only," you may want to leave them on the rack. A possible exception to this tip is if it's an article of clothing that you only plan on wearing once every couple of months.

13. Share With Friends

Do you have any friends who are around the same size as you? Sharing clothes with friends is a fun and simple way to save on fall shopping while essentially expanding your wardrobe. Before buying a dress that you'd only wear once for an event, check in with your friend to see if they'd have a similar garment they'd be willing to lend you.

14. Take Care of Your Clothes

It's natural for clothing to wear out over time. Thankfully, you can extend the life of your clothing by taking care of it properly, which can save you a lot of money in the long run. Avoid overstuffing drawers or leaving clothing in piles for too long. Also, remember to follow the laundry instructions on your clothing tags.

15. Check Out Thrift Shops

If you haven't been to a thrift shop, you're missing out! Thrift stores offer such a wide variety of garments, including everything from rare and quirky pieces to designer items. There's less variety in sizes and not everything will be your style, but these stores still offer great prices and a diverse selection of products.

16. Compare Prices In-Store and Online

When you find something you like in-store, take a moment to see if it's available in that store's online shop. There's a chance that the garment will be more affordable online, especially if you find other items you like and can qualify for free shipping. If you don't qualify for free shipping, however, you might be better off buying garments in person rather than online.

17. Don't Overspend on Trends

The thing about trends is that they almost always end. Some trends go on for a few years; others for a few months. To make the most of your money, avoid overspending on trends. When you do spend on trendy pieces, make sure they're items you actually like and would continue to wear in the future.

18. Find Free Coupons Online

One of the most effective ways to save on your fall wardrobe essentials is with free clothing coupons. There are websites, like DealDrop, that offer a massive catalog of clothing coupons and discount codes. The best part? They're 100 percent free. All you have to do is take a minute or two to search for coupons for whatever store you're shopping at.

19. Fix and Hem Your Clothing

You don't have to give up the clothing you love just because it has a flaw. Sometimes it's much more cost-effective long-term to bring your clothing in for repairs, whether that be to a tailor or a cobbler. You can also learn how to hem or how to fix a button to save yourself even more money.

20. Don't Buy Things Immediately

Before you buy anything, give yourself a few minutes to really think about it. Question why you want to buy it and how often you think you'll wear it. You should also consider the price and whether or not it's within your budget. If you're struggling to find answers to these questions, that might be a sign that you shouldn't buy the item.