Frugality and fashion don’t go hand in hand, or do they? If you want to follow the hottest fashion but can’t afford, say the latest business suit from Louis Vuitton, don’t be dismayed. You can still stay up to date on latest fashion trends. The infectious joy of discovering a great bargain can make you run in circles around your favorite mall. And with brands like Levis coming up with innovative offers like allowing customers to pay for their overpriced purchases in monthly EMIs, all it takes to own the latest and the best in fashion is a little perseverance.

Keep abreast of the latest fashion

To get started, research the styles for the upcoming season. Browse through fashion magazines at a bookstore, check out international trends on Fashion TV and Trends channel or simply consult me! Fashion mostly first hits the cream of classes-the elites, so if you keep a track of what your favorite celeb is wearing on a Page 3 party, you are sure to know what’s hot and what’s not.

Sort out your wardrobe

One of the best ways of updating your wardrobe is to start by looking at what you already have. Begin by sorting through your clothes. If you have any pieces you haven’t worn in a couple of months or even more than a year due to various reasons, get rid of ‘em.

Try to push your limit- a li’l bit
Quality matters, and the extra bucks you spend on a higher priced garment or accessory, will pay for itself by looking better, wearing lesser and lasting longer than its modestly priced cousin. It makes much more sense to invest in a couple of quality pieces (that will last for ages) than spending your monies on a dozen inferior quality items that will become battle scarred in a matter of months and wearing, and it become an embarrassing to sport them in public.

Go rummaging

Once you are ready to purchase new items for your closet, head to a nearby thrift store or export surplus sale. You can also try eBay, which often has designer clothes for a discounted price, yet another way to follow fashion trends on a budget.

Shop at the End of the Season

Kick-start your year by looking out for clearance sales. Browse through the clearance racks at the end of the summer when the shopping windows scream sale and clearance discounts. Chances are, you’ll find a few great pieces for much less than the original cost.

Add a Few Quality Pieces at a time

A watch-dog like attitude over those hard to come by bargains will take far in the brand game. However, developing the hots for a pricy accessory from a brand that never seems to host bargain sales means that you will simply have to bite the costly bullet and purchase them, the day you cash in your pay cheque. By planning out your fashion splurges, you can invest in a couple of quality pieces in a month without burning a hole in your pocket.

While MensXP has dedicated a lot of energy, research and plain ol’ common sense in stocking up its fashion and grooming larder, there are several fashion rules that we see our readers breaking. Mentioned below are 8 easily avoidable fashion errors. Read on to see how many have you broken today:

1) Cartoon wear – Though I am as big a fan of Disney as the next person, wearing Disney ties or shirts, will make you plain tacky. While we are on the topic, you would be wise to maintain a healthy distance from those cheesy and loud belt buckles.

2) Mismatching belt colours: A common fashion faux pas that Indian’s make is wearing belts that don’t match the colour of their shoes. Especially if you’re wearing dress shoes, make sure that not just the colour but the finish of the belt matches your shoes. So if your shoes are shiny and black, your belt should also be shiny and black.

3) Un-tucked dress shirts – Whoever told you that dress shirts needn’t be tucked in, was plain wrong or was referring to short-shirts. Shirts (dressy or formal), if they cover your backside should be tucked in. So if you dislike tucking in your evening wear, get your dress shirts altered by a couple of inches.

4) Bulky pockets: Big bulging pockets are an eyesore. If you’re wallet is creating that unsightly boil like bulge, clear it of all the useless receipts and old business cards. If you feel you need to hold on to them, I’m sure you can think of some other place to keep them. Invest in a slimmer wallet or use money clips for cash to save place.

5) Wearing colours that don’t suit your skin tone: You will look a lot smarter if the colour of your clothes complement your skin tone. If you fair then go light colours like soft pastels and if you’re dark wear brighter shades.

6) Comb overs: We all know you’re losing your hair, so you aren’t fooling anyone by combing your hair over your bald patch. A little breeze is all it will take to literally blow your cover. So accept the fact and shave it all off.

7) The buttoned-up straight jacket look – Fasten the top button, if your jacket has two buttons. Close the top and middle button, if your jacket has three. The rule of the thumb is never to fasten the bottom button.

8) Too much deo: Agreed you’re scared that your over active sweat glands may drive away potential partners. But excess cologne too won’t get you very far. If your cologne tends to lose its strength throughout the day, simply reply.