“I’d love advice on how to find boss fashion on a budget. Where are the best places to find cheap essential pieces for your wardrobe?”

Anna

When we think of boss — and so boss fashion — we think of power, control, and authority. But I think the best way to achieve a fantastic wardrobe, and especially in a cheap way, is to relinquish this control. Don’t go into the charity shop with expectations of a chocolate brown, single-breasted blazer. Let whatever fate throws at you on the clothes racks surprise you and take hold of you, your desires and your imaginations. The way to find essentials is to slowly, patiently, and haphazardly collect things you love.

“The way to find essentials is to slowly, patiently, and haphazardly collect things you love”

My collection of essential jewellery consists of a bracelet I found in a stuffed drawer at home, a silver chain my grandmother gifted me that I haven’t taken off in years, a beaded necklace made by a lady from Hong Kong in Market Square (shoutout Peacock Pearls & Jewellery), my watch ring from Shoreditch, and a ring from a friend with a stone that happens to match my bracelet exactly. Whenever I go shopping I search for a feeling, and only buy something (especially when it’s slightly pricey) if I am obsessed, if I know it will haunt me if I don’t. Just step into any charity shop whenever you have time — literally any! I went into the EACH near Aldi the other day and found a butterfly-buckled belt for £3 — and you never know, you could find the next love of your life.

To make things more practical, as a frail international from a warmer climate, my puffer jacket is an absolute essential that I splashed out on: it’s warm, oversized (to allow more layers), waterproof, hooded, and reversible with fantastic prints on both sides to spice up any outfit. I have an aversion to only wearing block colours, so prints are essential to every one of my outfits. Fashion and function: what more could I need?

Eva

Unfortunately, I don’t believe in any set of ‘essentials’ in fashion. The things which I first imagine as essential become hardly used, and the items I thought were purely frivolous I wear religiously. I think then it’s more important to be open minded. If you already know the kind of things you wear a lot or your specific ‘essentials’, then keep an eye out for new similar iterations, and if not, keep experimenting.

“When an impulse buy becomes a wardrobe staple, all shame melts away”

I recently bought a deep brown 100% wool coat from Cancer Research at the Grafton Centre. They have a whole section of vintage garments and among the rack I spotted the new love of my life. The floor-length beauty is now donned in every possible situation and has reached ‘essential’ status. At only £20, I couldn’t walk out without it and felt very guilty about the impulse buy, but when an impulse buy becomes a wardrobe staple, all shame melts away. Conclusion: go to charity shops, keep an open mind and impulse buy to find your staples that make it all worth it. Eventually, these impulse buys will become calculated shopping for ‘essentials’.

Mimaansa

I’d have to agree with both Anna and Eva that ‘essential’ items of clothing could really just mean whatever you’d like it to. When I first read your question, a simple T-shirt came to mind, because, regardless of colour, size, texture or print, to me a T-shirt can be worn along with pretty much anything — I guess therefore a T-shirt would be ‘essential’ in the practical sense. However, after thinking more about the items in my wardrobe, and the pieces I rely on, I kept coming back to my favourite: oversized jumpers! For me, my jumpers are essential for different reasons — I’m almost always cold, I appreciate soft and loose fitting items, and I prefer being in the most comfortable clothes possible.

While we all have our own ideas of what boss fashion means, and how that might look, day-to-day I think for me, I feel my best when I wear something that I feel most comfy in, which makes me feel confident, and that in its own way is boss! I advise you to think about which clothes in your wardrobe you always go to grab first, or the items you feel your best in, and go from there. Maybe those straight-legged trousers that always fit perfectly are your go to, so perhaps look out for a similar pair in a different material or colour? When it comes to finding affordable items, my go-to are charity shops dotted around Cambridge (there are countless on Mill Road!). Whatever your comfort clothing item may be, I’m sure if you keep your eyes peeled you’ll find other fantastic and affordable bits like it! Happy shopping!

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