Quote:
Originally Posted by centaur532
You don't have to spend to look good, you just have to know how to wear it well.
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Ditto that. A well fitted, flattering outfit is going to look better than a designer outfit that doesn't fit well any day of the week, IMHO.
I'd take your time shopping. If you're unsure of your own judgement, take a friend who looks well put together. I also find that Ross and Marshalls are great places to scout out bargains.
You might also try the clearance racks of more expensive stores, especially the online clearance racks, which often have better bargains than in-store ones do. (I have this crazy little Anthropologie addiction, and I swear by their onine clearance racks. It's the only way I can afford it, and even then it's a splurge.) In general, online stores tend to have pretty permissive return policies. Some even let you return in store so you don't have to pay the shipping back. The bargains are there, you just have to start early and be persistent.
Honestly, though, I'd just buy in a price range I can afford. If well fitted clothes you can afford aren't good enough for them, the organization isn't worth joining. Do you really want to go broke on clothes for recruitment and then find that you're feeling like you have to keep up with the Joneses for the rest of your active years? I spent most of my college years on a Target budget, and I know I personally would have felt really out of place in a chapter where Prada and Tiffany were considered vital for survival.