Paying more for your clothes doesn’t mean that you will look any better in them. You can get a fabulous look without spending a boat load of money. From funky design digs to the season’s best accessories, this economy crisis doesn’t have to stop you from looking your best.

Here are some tips for shopping with your budget in mind. It doesn’t mean that you can’t have the best clothes, you may just need to adjust how you shop a bit to make sure that you’re not blowing the bank in the name of “fashion”. These little strategies for saving, cost-cutting, and getting the most for your money could help you to build your wardrobe without going broke:

Shop at the mall…but ONLY in the clearance or ultimate sale sections. This takes a bit of discipline because you have to pass so much cool stuff along the way. But, you could actually save lots of money going right to the mall and buying your clothes there. Stores usually put the clearance section all the way in the back of the store or off to the side. Don’t get side-tracked by the other stuff. Just keep walking until you see those 50-70% off signs.

Every “sale” is not for saving. Cost-compare during the year to find out if the new “sale” price is really a bargain. Sometimes, they will put the word sale on something that has been priced up to the suggested retail price. That’s no deal. Know what you are doing when you go to buy so that you don’t get bamboozled into spending more on so-called “sale” stuff.

Know your stuff. That is, you need to know what you currently have at home so that you can figure out what you need or what could work with something else. Otherwise, you could end up with 2 of something or not the thing that you absolutely need. Even if you have a chance to buy for cheap, you could end up wasting money by not being aware of your personal “inventory”.

When you have identified a true sales opportunity at your local retailer, maximize the savings by using coupons that they offer, joining their insiders or “email” list so that you can be the first in the know when there is a huge bargain break going on. You will be able to buy for cheap all year and you will also be able to save even more just for giving them your email address.

Look for freebies online through sites like Craigslist or Freecycle. How cool is it to be able to get a tons of free clothes that you and your friends could potentially share. People often post their stuff and you just have to make the effort to go to get it. However, always be safe and be sure that you travel with a couple of friends to retrieve the items. Another option is to do a clothing trade with your best buds. Everybody has to get rid of stuff or simply wants to get rid of stuff at some point. Trade and save money while bulking up your own clothing collection;

Don’t let this economy crisis keep you from being in full fashionable form. Just do what you can to shop smart and always look for opportunities to save. Brand name items are great to own, but they feel better to your budget when you don’t spend too much to get them. So, buy for cheap, get for free, and dress your best for a whole lot less!