A fashion fix has its price...
The summer sales are now in full swing – which is an ideal opportunity for a wardrobe revamp. But while fashion tastes may vary, there’s a price to perfecting a particular look.
And fashion fans typically spend around £48 per month or £572 per year on clothing to keep up with their chosen trend, new research has found.
Whether it’s full-on designer glamour, the hipster vintage look, the activewear trend or hoarding the latest high-street finds, the costs all mount up.
In the UK, More than two-fifths (43%) identify with a particular fashion tribe, according to the survey by VoucherCodes.co.uk. The most popular tribe in the survey was found to be the “high-street hoarder”.
How much you spend on clothes depends on which tribe you belong to. VoucherCodes.co.uk quizzed more than 2,000 people and looked at the amounts they typically spend on clothing. Here’s how the average monthly costs add up for each tribe they looked at:
High-street hoarders: They shop at “affordable” fashion stores and wear current season clothing. £40.87
Classic and preppy: Men in this tribe wear stripy shirts and V-neck jumpers, while women wear tea dresses. Loafers complete the look. £42.38
Nineties grunge: Logo T-shirts, ripped jeans, fishnet tights and oldschool-branded sportswear are the hallmarks of this tribe. £34.01
Hipster gear: Vintage clothing, plaid shirts and skinny jeans are favoured by this tribe. £37.32
Activewear trend: No misshapen leggings that have gone baggy at the knees for this tribe. Perhaps inspired by fitness gurus on social media, it’s luxe leggings and yogawear, com-
pleted with the latest fashionable trainers. £66.14
Designer divas: They shell out the most each month, buying branded garments to complete their look. £164
Friends are a big influence in our clothing choices, with nearly one in five (18%) saying their peer group inspires them to identify with a particular trend.
Where you live may also have an impact, as 17% say the place they currently, or plan to, live in influences their style.
Meanwhile, 7% say their choices are inspired by their favourite fashion magazines, and 6% look to influencers on social media for fashion pointers.
Nearly a third (32%) have perfected a signature style they stick to as fashion fads come and go, while 6% overhaul their look each season.
A significant number change their appearance depending on what day of the week it is – with 20% opting for different looks at the weekend – perhaps for some, because their favoured look may not go down well at work.
Whatever look you favour, there are ways of trimming back the costs without compromising on style.
For designer divas, who typically face the biggest costs, signing up for alerts about sample sales held by high-end chains and designer stores could help to save a fortune.
Auction websites, charity shops, cashback websites and online discount codes can also be useful ways to get what you want at a cheaper price.
High-street hoarders should also consider totting up the cost of their monthly spending, to weigh up whether a few “investment” purchases may be more cost-effective than piling up on “bargain buys” which end up getting worn once or not at all.