10 Frugal Fashion Hacks

Let’s face it, looking good can be very expensive. There’s makeup, skin care, clothes, bags, accessories, and shoes (lots and lots of shoes) to buy. And when those gorgeous pair of shoes you saved months for get a scratch it’s important to have an inexpensive way to fix them. These 10 inexpensive fashion hacks will save those pricey shoes as well as get you out of a bind when you are away from home.

1.) When the belt you are wearing breaks and there is no loop to hold it in place, double-sided tape works to keep it from flapping in the wind. This also works for holding hems in place on pant legs or skirts.

2.) If you have a zipper that just won’t stay up a key ring can save the day. Slide the key ring around into the zipper pull and then loop it onto the button before you button up your pants. It stays hidden once buttoned and no one knows you’ve hacked your zipper.

3.) We’ve all done this (probably multiple times a week); we put on a dark shirt after applying deodorant and white stains are inevitably left behind. Thankfully, a baby wipe will remove those pesky deodorant stains. They also work for removing makeup that has smudged onto the collar of your shirt.

4.) If you have a shirt or pair of pants that has some odors left behind after your last wearing but you don’t have time to wash or dry clean it, then your liquor cabinet is going to come in handy. Vodka spritzed onto the garment will remove the odors. Allow it to dry and you should be good to go. You might want to save the expensive vodka for evening cocktails though, the cheap stuff should work just fine.

5.) Do you have a sweater you love to wear every winter but hate that it sheds all over the place? Your freezer will take care of that! Place the sweater in a resealable plastic bag and freeze it overnight.

6.) Remember those expensive shoes that you saved for months to buy? If they have been scuffed up around the heel, a Sharpie marker can fix the scuffs. Color over top of the scuffs with a marker that closely matches the color and you won’t have to worry about the marks showing.

7.) Many years ago, my mom told me about the value of a bottle of clear nail polish. It will keep threads from pulling out of a button, stop snags and runs in tights and pantyhose, and even tighten a screw in your glasses. This is an item to always keep in your bag!

8.) Boots are so big right now in fashion. There’s a good chance you have multiple pairs in your closet. Maybe you have a great pair of leather sandals or it could be a leather jacket that you love. If there are water stains on your leather you may fear they are permanent. With some vinegar and a soft brush, you can clean those water stains away. Dilute white vinegar with equal parts of water, and softly scrub the stain with a soft toothbrush.

9.) Scuff marks on your nude, patent leather peep toe pumps can be an eyesore. Luckily, there’s a quick hack for light colored patent leather shoes. Wipe scuff marks off with petroleum jelly (aka. Vaseline) and a cotton swab.The scuff mark should wipe right off and leave no evidence behind.

10.) Got a great pair of shoes that are just a little bit too tight? You could try wood shoe stretchers but that costs money. Instead, add some water to zip top baggies (double bag them in case the water leaks) and place the bags into your shoes. Put the shoes in the freezer and as the water freezes, it will expand and stretch your shoes. This may need to be done a couple of times to get them to the size you want.

Fashion can be expensive, thankfully there are hacks that allow us to keep our fashion budget in check and focused on the important stuff, like those red 4 inch heels you have been eyeing.