Designer fashion on a budget

The economic downturn isn't just affecting house sales, it's affecting our shopping habits too. If you don't have the time for a Gok Wan DIY fashion fix, then follow our advice on how to find discount designer fashion. And, as Gok says, ‘Get show-stopping style without the heart-stopping prices.'

Swap don't shop

 

Any fans of the BBC's Saturday morning cult classic Multi-Coloured Swap Shop will be pleased to hear that the early eighties swapping phenomenon is back. The economic recession together with the increasing demand for ethical sustainable fashion has brought about a fabulous new trend for exchanging designer gear. Keith Chegwin eat your heart out!

 

What's Mine is Yours

 

Fashion stylist and personal shopper Judy Berger set-up What's Mine is Yours four years ago. The website for ‘like-minded style addicts with an eco conscience' now has over 13 000 regular users. ‘Swapping has definitely increased because of the credit crunch,' says Berger, ‘We used to have 10 swaps per day but since January we've had over 60.' Customers can swap, buy or sell both designer and vintage items online, and gain access to the ASK JUDY section where personal shoppers and fashion stylists give helpful advice and style tips. Berger admits to being a super-swapper herself  ‘It's addictive. I now swap my swaps - friends say they never see me in the same dress twice.'
www.whatsmineisyours.com

 

Visa Swap

 

Visa Swap is a collaboration between the credit card company, Visa, and TRAID (Textile Recycling for Aid and International Development). The annual event  -sorry you've just missed one - encourages swappers to donate clothes in exchange for points on a ‘credit card.'  When the swap shop opens customers get to spend their points on other people's clothes. All left over clothes are given to TRAID for resale in their shops. Only gorgeous clothes in good condition are accepted, not just any old pants. This year's face of Visa Swap, Lindsay Lohan, donated an Issa dress, two pairs of Jimmy Choos and a Miu Miu bag.
www.visaswap.com

 

Have a ‘swish' party

 

Why not organise your own clothes swap party or ‘swish'? ‘The art of swishing encourages friends to get together to swap clothes and party at the same time' says the website www.swishing.org, launched by Futerra, a ‘sustainability communications agency.' The site explains the rules of swishing - everyone must bring at least one item they're proud to hand on to someone else - and offers advice on how to arrange a party, including a downloadable invitation to send to friends. Should the man of the house want to try his hand at swapping, the brother website Cadge-It, encourages lads to exchange unwanted gadgets over a few beers. www.cadge-it.org

 

Visit designer discount outlets

 

OK, so this may not seem like a belt-tightening exercise, but it does make perfect fashion sense. In a recession it's best to forget short-term cheap solutions - there is a reason why that polyester dress is only £12 - and embrace investment buying instead. By thinking about cost per wear (the number of times an item is worn divided by the cost) and spending as much as you can afford, rather than snagging a bargain, there'll be no compromise on style or quality. So, take the long-term approach and only buy clothes that will last more than one season.

 

Bicester Village

 

There are plenty of discount outlets across the UK selling luxury designer goods at vastly reduced prices. One of our favourites, Bicester Village, plans to open 30 new shops by spring 2009 - including Matthew Williamson, Radley and Theory - bringing the total number of stores to over 130. With up to 60% discount, free parking and a Carluccio's for some shopped-out respite, we think it's the perfect crunch-proof day out. Just be sure to take a carload of friends and save on the petrol. www.bicestervillage.com

 

McArthurGlen

 

And just to prove that investment buying is the future of fashion, whilst high street sales are on the wane, designer outlet McArthurGlen has noticed a 3% rise in sales over the last six months. There are seven outlets across the UK, offering up to 70% discount (it just gets better and better) on a whole host of designers, from Armani to Burberry. www.mcarthurglen.com

 

TK Maxx

 

Get ready to rummage. With over 231 stores in the UK including a new shop opening on High Street Kensington at the end of August, TK Maxx is the largest off-price retailer in the world. If this all sounds a bit overwhelming, just sign-up for the email newsletter which alerts customers of special deliveries - such as cult jeans or ‘it' bags - and, elbows at the ready, make a quick swoop to grab that designer bargain.
www.tkmaxx.com

 

Buy vintage

 
Don't go into the local charity shop expecting to come out looking like Julia Roberts in vintage Valentino, or Kate Moss in anything from hip vintage boutique Rellik. Ladies, that ain't gonna happen. Now that second-hand has become vintage, and vintage prices have sky rocketed it's becoming increasingly difficult to find quality merchandise, let alone a bargain. So it's worth joining the ranks of the fashion cognoscenti - stylists, designers and celebrities - at a vintage fashion fair near you.

 

Frock Me!

 
The award for best name goes to Frock Me! whose vintage fashion fairs are held several times a year in London and Brighton. Dealers sell vintage fashion and accessories alongside modern designer clothing, and there's even a ‘pre-war' tea room selling fairy cakes and scones, all on vintage china, of course.
www.frockmevintagefashion.com

 

Anita's Vintage

 
The eponymous Anita's Vintage Fashion Fairs (named after founder, Anita Bott) are a cornucopia of vintage fashion, textiles and accessories dating from the 1800s to the 1980s. So popular, they're now taking place once a month in London, and have been featured in Vogue's ‘Guide to the Greatest Shops off the Beaten Track.' Watch out for Anita's new website where customers will be able to buy and sell vintage online.
www.anitasvintagefashionfairs.com

 

Affordable Vintage

 
Readers in the north will be pleased to hear about the Affordable Vintage Fashion Fair - events selling retro clothes and accessories are regularly held at venues in Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham and Manchester.
www.vintagefair.co.uk

 

Recycle, re-use

 
Princess Anne hit the headlines recently for wearing an outfit she wore to Charles and Di's in 1981 to a family wedding this summer - at the grand old age of 27, that floral wrap dress is older than Kate Middleton! Whilst recycling old clothes is another eco-friendly option, we're not recommending hanging on to a wardrobe full of ancient tat - let's face it the Princess Royal probably has quite a lot of space at her palatial pad.

 
Knowing what to keep is imperative. Classic pieces - a tuxedo, straight-leg jeans, a white shirt - will stand the test of time and can be updated with new accessories. And, it pays to do your homework before embarking on a wardrobe workout. Key trends for autumn include, tartan, lace and you guessed it, black. So, reacquaint yourself with all those items languishing at the back of the wardrobe, make like Anne and bring out something old!

 

For some fantastic fashion all under £100, check out these great designer buys