IDENTIFY YOUR OWN PERSONAL STYLE

It is good to develop your own sense of fashion style so that you have that sense of charisma which gives you an 'expensive' look. You may know yourself which colours and styles suit you. If your friends are honest and give you feedback you can enrol their help in developing a sense of what looks right on you. If your friends aren't always a help in this way then look for more subtle clues when you meet people. You will find that people just seem a lot more favourable towards you when your style is 'you'. Your clothes need to accentuate your personality.

ACCENTUATE YOUR STRENGTHS

If you have beautiful hair and skin then achieving style on a budget is not hard. You just need to highlight these strengths with modest use of cosmetics or hair accessories. Magazines tend to be full of articles about maximising your potential by wearing the right type of clothes for your shape. For example if you are big-busted then avoid wrap-around dresses.

SHOP AROUND FOR BARGAINS

Once you recognise what suits you then shop around for bargains both in apparel and accessories. Ebay and auction sites offer many bargains and there is a huge range of jewellery, bags and clothes. Shoes should really only be purchased new in a shop because you need to feel comfortable in your footwear to achieve a sense of style. But you can shop around at jumble-sales, discount outlets and warehouses for practically everything else. Take care to buy the right size.

PERSONALISE OUTFITS

If you are good on a sewing-machine you can add various personalised features such as cuffs or extra pockets to your clothes. But nearly anyone can take some unusual buttons from a second-hand outfit and add them to something standard that has been have grabbed for a bragain.

SET A THEME

When you are wearing an outfit then try to set a theme which runs through the outfit. This makes your appearance look really special. For example, if you like buterflies, then you could attach a butterfly brooch to a plain blouse. Then you could wear a butterfly hair-pin in your hair. Then without overdoing it with the buterflies, consider using a neck-scarf of the same colour too. Always try to match your handbag with your shoes too.

CONSIDER RENTING HAND-BAGS AND SPECIAL OUTFITS

If you really want ot achieve a highly glamorous look, it is now possible to hire handbags and outfits for a certain length of time. though this may seem expensive, it is a fraction of the cost of buying an expensive handbag and then hardly using it.

ALWAYS LOOK CLEAN AND TIDY

Last but not least, always make sure your clothese are clean and neatly pressed. Never ever wear anything with a blemish or stain on. Consider taking wipes out with you in your handbag just in case you do spill something on your clothes. Always keep your shoes clean and well-heeled.