Whether you are a full-fledged fashion blogger or a blogger who dabbles in fashion content, it can be expensive. I know firsthand that getting regular clothes for a blog can be very expensive. It's hard to maintain a great fashion blog, though, if you don't have a considerable amount of new clothing coming in. Today I wanted to shed some light on how to create fashion content without breaking the bank.

1. Be An Outfit Repeater (Or At Least An Item Repeater)

Sometimes you have to be like Lizzie McGuire and be an outfit repeater. Chances are, your audience won't be an outfit rememberer!

You can't be so quick to let the bomb AF pieces in your outfit go. So, if you like a jacket wear it again, if you like a pair of shoes wear them again, etc.

For new bloggers especially, your followers aren't paying your bills right now. There is no need to fill up a closet to impress anyone.

If you have a bustling closet already, that's fine, but you can get far sharing the same pieces.

There are many people out there looking for stylish yet minimalistic content. Your audience may love the fact that you always have new clothes on, but they also might not.

Figure out what works for you and the blog you want to build.

2. Invest In Some Great Staples

Staples are vital because you can add them to any outfit.

Invest in some amazing basics that way you don't have to buy the same things again and again.

This means investing in things like basic shirts, leggings/tights, jewelry, and other things you can use in various outfits.

These items add to the outfit, but they may not be the main show.

Once you have those pieces easily accessible, it becomes so much easier to create amazing looks.

3. Rent Some Of Your Clothes

If you've been following me, you know I've been trying out Gwynnie Bee this year.

I love the Gwynnie Bee service because I pay a flat fee of around $100 a month, and I can borrow clothes from their vast, ever-growing collection of clothing.

Did you know that Gwynnie Bee is for everyone? It started as a plus-size subscription, but you can get items for sizes 0-32 now.

What I love about Gwynnie Bee is that it's genuinely a renting company. They don't make you feel guilty about wearing the clothes or taking them about town. They actively encourage you to wear them, take pictures in them, and make them a part of your daily life. You also get unlimited exchanges throughout the month although getting new items back can be a tad bit slow. Overall, I think it's an excellent service.

There are other clothing rental services, but you do need to be careful. Many of those services are try before you buy over an actual rental service like Gwynnie Bee. With those services, you might have seven days to try on the clothes or send them back. If you don't send the items back in time, those companies will charge you for the pieces. Gwynnie Bee is different because you can keep the clothes as long as you like if you are paying for the service, send them back in exchange for new items, or buy them at a discount to keep them.

4. Stop Trying To Keep Up With The Jones'

There is always going to be another blogger who has a better wardrobe, deeper pockets, or they are more willing to make bad decisions.

You shouldn't try to keep up with those bloggers and the blog they are trying to run.

Do what you can with what you have. Be smart about your financial decisions.

Instead of trying to get the latest trends and putting yourself in debt, purchase only what is necessary and what you can.

5. Get Into Affiliate Marketing

If you love shopping and want to support your habit a bit, get into affiliate marketing.

Affiliate marketing is a way to grow your brand by recommending products.

You create a relationship with a brand or use a service like LikeToKnowIt. You link to the products you mention in a blog post or on social media with a unique to you, tracking link. Your followers click on those links to purchase those products. You make a commission based on their purchase (this is usually a percentage of their purchase, for fashion you can expect around 10%.)

Affiliate marketing is terrific because it allows you to monetize your influence even if you are a small blogger.

While you can join programs like LikeToKnowIt, I encourage you to find programs on your own and create a direct connection to the brand. These connections are crucial, and they can help you collaborate with new brands, produce stellar content, and make more money. I love programs like ShareASale and Impact for finding affiliate programs.

If you want to know if a brand has an affiliate program, they will usually link their program in their site footer.

6. Buy Secondhand

Another fantastic way to save money, especially on more luxury purchases is through buying secondhand.

There are so many amazing places to find secondhand these days.

You could look in a secondhand store, but there are a ton of great online marketplaces too.

Try looking at places like Poshmark, The RealReal, ThredUp, Fashionphile, or eBay.

The possibilities are endless, as long as you take the time to research.

Buying secondhand can be challenging because you never know what you are going to get. When you dig up those rare finds, though, you'll be happy you tried it.

7. Avoid Fast Fashion If You Can

I love testing out a few fast fashion sites, I even did a review of one of the biggest fast fashion sites SHEIN, and I am an affiliate for the company.

I think fast fashion can be a blessing and a curse. It's great for keeping up with the latest trends and adding something cute to your wardrobe.

On the other hand, those pieces won't last forever, can be damaging to the planet, and those companies usually aren't forthcoming about factory conditions.

Don't base your entire blog around these types of pieces, but don't beat yourself up if that's all you think you can afford.

8. Get On The Sales Bandwagon

You should never buy your clothes full price if you can help it.

Most fashion companies have massive sales or at least some sales.

Take advantage of that.

If you see a big sale day/weekend like Black Friday coming up, save a bit of money. Spend money to invest in pieces you know you can style again and again.

9. Work With Companies

Once you start to gain a following, reach out to companies with an excellent pitch.

Emailing a company that you've loved to do a review of their company, or style their pieces in a bigger story on your blog is a fantastic way to expand your wardrobe.

Work with companies you genuinely love. Can you see yourself wearing their clothes often?

You shouldn't be trying to get one hit wonder pieces here.

Can you see the clothes you select paired with other items that are already in your wardrobe?

Those courtesy pieces may become a staple in your wardrobe.

Conclusion

Creating fashion content isn't easy, but I hope these tips gave you some ideas on how to create this content without going broke.

Fashion blogging should be fun, not stressful, so let's start creating content we can admire.

 

What are your best tips for aspiring fashion bloggers?