Do you love keeping up with the latest clothes trends? Are you all about expressing your unique personality through the clothes you wear? Are you always on the lookout for the perfect party outfit or smartest work look? Shopping for clothes is a fun pastime, but unfortunately it can come with a large price tag!

Looking good doesn’t have to cost a fortune. With a little time and a few techniques, you can become a savvy shopper and easily afford the trendy items you’ve had your eye on. Follow these 5 tips to help you afford trendy clothes.

Check Out Flash Sale Sites

Flash sale sites are a fantastic way to save money on designer clothing. Sites like HauteLook, Zulily, Gilt and NoMoreRack offer deep discounts on high quality clothing items. There’s one catch: The sales last only a short time, typically a few hours.

To make the most of flash sale sites, it’s best to shop them with purpose. Avoid the temptation to subscribe to daily emails – seeing all those discounts in your inbox will only encourage you to overspend, which is what you’re trying to avoid! Instead, shop flash sale sites for specific items or brands that you know you want and love.

Keep an eye on your favorite designers on social media too. They’ll often post advance notice of upcoming flash sales.

Browse Offseason Pieces

In-season designs cost more than offseason pieces. If you can shop off season, you can save yourself a lot of money on trendy clothes. Stores typically offer the best deals at the end of a season, when they need to clear stock to make room for the next season’s pieces.

The trick to successful off season shopping is to buy classic pieces. Before making a purchase, stop and ask whether it will still be on trend when it comes into season again. A classic little black dress will look great year after year, while the latest gimmicky trend will be forgotten by next season, so choose carefully.

Get used to buying your swimwear in October and your warm winter clothes in March, and you’ll save yourself a lot of money.

Look For Bargains Online

The internet is a treasure trove for bargain hunters. There are countless deals to be had, if you decide to shop online. Just be sure to shop on sites that offer free shipping, and if you can look for retailers that accept coupon codes.

Using coupon codes is a great way to save a bundle on clothes. You can use websites such as Mamma.com to find coupons on all your favorite online clothing retailers!

Click here to browse their site.

Try Second Hand

Second hand is a fantastic option if you want trendy clothes at bargain prices. Second hand doesn’t have to mean heavily worn or low quality clothes. Shop around and you’ll be surprised what you can find.

EBay is a good place to start, but don’t forget about local classified ads, thrift stores, and consignment stores. Finding high quality clothes in your size can take a bit of time, but the rewards are worth it.

Make shopping for second hand bargains even easier by going into your favorite stores and trying on a few pieces to get a good sense of what size you take, as each brand differs. That way when you find second hand bargains, you’re more likely to land something that fits perfectly.

Swap Or Borrow

Buying isn’t the only way to deck yourself out in gorgeous trendy clothes. Why not organize a clothes swap party with a few of your friends? Lay on some drinks and nibbles and encourage everyone to bring along some favorite pieces that they no longer wear. It helps to set some ground rules such as brand names only, and a minimum number of pieces to bring.

You can also rent designer clothes for special occasions, for much less than you would pay for them. Sites like Bag Borrow or Steal or Rent The Runway offer a wide range of gorgeous designer pieces for rent, and many of them offer coupons or promo codes at sign up for even better savings.

Looking good doesn’t have to break the bank. With a little patience and these tips and tricks under your belt, you can afford designer looks on a high street budget.