How do you find out and buy what is fashionable on a budget?

[porridgeisbae]

I fancy having a few outfits that are 'in.'

How do you find out what it is fashionable and where do you get it (on as low a budget as possible.)

I know some people do well with Shein and Primark but I wouldn't know what was in/what to choose.

For context I like things with shape/quite fitted but not ridiculously so. Knee length or below for skirts/dresses. I hardly ever wear trousers.

Fashion magazines I guess, shop windows, what people wear in newspapers? I just buy what I like unless it's an investment piece then I will research it

As above, shops, magazines and people watching. When I like something I compliment it and the wearer will often tell me where they bought it from. If you are on a budget Vinted is great. I hope this helps.

Surely you buy what clothes that catch your eye in the shops or on line and that you like, rather than something that you are told is in fashion?

Most shops sell what's in fashion, it depends on if they're aiming at teens, 20s or the rest of us. See what attracts you.

Surely you buy what clothes that catch your eye in the shops or on line and that you like, rather than something that you are told is in fashion?

I always have (usually charity shop) but I thought it might be fun to have a few trendy things.

You could look at shops online and choose the new in/trending category to see if there’s anything you like.

Instagram and Pinterest are your friends for inspiration

@Tiddlywinkly what sort of search terms do you use to see the latest trends? Can you recommend any particular Instagram accounts?

How do you find out what it is fashionable

Grazia magazine, for mainstream fashion.

where do you get it (on as low a budget as possible.)

E5P.

@IndianSummer78 Excellent, thanks.

@IndianSummer78 Do you just look at the Grazia site, and if so which bits? Or do you buy the magazine each time?

@porridgeisbae I buy the magazine. I like reading the articles. I look at all the pics for inspiration, not just the fashion pages. I like to see what people are wearing.

If you don't like reading magazines I recently bought a Red beauty box which came with a free digital magazine subscription, which I don't bother with, but they email me fashion articles that are basically just product placement. I click those links sometimes just to see what they're saying is in fashion out of curiosity. So if you have around £80 spare and want a box full of skincare and makeup you could do that. Or perhaps investigate if those articles are available without purchasing anything.

E5P is like a jumble sale, the search function is good if you're not too specific, otherwise it won't show items because your keywords aren't in the same order. It won't be up-to-the-minute fashion because they don't make clothes, they buy other company's cast offs destined for landfill so it's all last season's colour etc but as you don't want haute couture and are just dipping a toe in I think it'll be perfect for you. Depends on your age and where you live too, by the time London's teens to 20s are bored of "it", my towns 30-40s are only just discovering "it". The only downside is that unless there's a logo visible on the item you don't know what brand you're getting until it arrives. It could be something expensive or it could be bargain basement. Because it's all different brands sizing can be variable too, check to see if the model has sized up or down and how tight it is on her (and whether she's sized up because there's none available in her size). The reviews, where people have bothered to leave them, are often helpful.

Excellent, thanks.