Unless you have a bottomless bank account and seven closets you’ve probably had to consider a budget when shopping for clothes. This can be even trickier with alternative fashions as some items can get costly, especially if you are concerned with fit and quality, and want something unique.
So how do you make the most of your clothing dollar? Versatility is the first word in maximizing your wardrobe. Select pieces that can be easily dressed-up or accessorized to suit a variety of situations. A well-fitted dress with flattering lines is a great investment as you can pair it with elaborate jewelry for evening or with a cardigan/jacket for work.
Separates such as skirts and blouses that can be easily paired with many other pieces are also a great choice. A frilly skirt like our “Impetuous” is a perfect example, in soft cotton it can be worn with a printed t-shirt for a comfortable day look, a blouse for work, or with a decadent Victorian bodice for a fancy dolly look. Alternately a fancy blouse like our “Aristocracy” looks great with simple trousers for work or worn with a petticoat and dolly shaped dress!
When selecting clothing always consider construction and fit. Is it made well? Can you care for it at home? How something is made is important as you don’t want to replace is 6 months later ideally. Fit is important as even inexpensive pieces can blend in with more costly ones if the fit is perfect.
🙂
-Taeden
Gloomth & the Cult of Melancholy 
Alternative fashion can really get costly when you’re what they would call a 3 XL (you guys are generous at having me at a 2 XL, in some places I have seen I would be up to 5 XL) but in normal clothing typically wear an XL, or if you have unusual proportions, and even more, both. Being considered “plus size” is one thing, but being short as well, and then you can practically find nothing without custom ordering it.
Then people just tell me to lose weight. First of all, I can’t. I am large, not fat. I am able to see the outline of my ribs right now. Plus size girls who are not fat do exist.
Oh I definitely empathize with this comment! Height is a problem at the other end of the spectrum too, I’m 5’8 which means pants are pretty much too-short from every mainstream brand. I’m also fairly busty so if I buy something to fit my chest I usually have to take the waist in or else it looks wretched. Thankfully I can sew 😉 but it would sure be frustrating running to a tailor every time!
Yeah, there’s a whole other essay in there on the way people react to women who don’t fit “typical” expectations of beauty etc. As if we’re all just not doing something right if we don’t look like a model.