How to Dress Like a Rockstar on a College Student's Budget

By Joely Friedman on September 23, 2013

Have you ever taken a stroll down the street and been mistaken for Beyonce? What about for Justin Timberlake? Or even for Selena Gomez? Unless you were blessed with the face of an angle I am going to guess that you have not. Sad isn’t it? Is it not a lifelong dream that we all share to have somebody stop us and say, “Hey! Can I get your autograph Ms. Gaga?” Do not feel too down and out if this has never happened to you. I have the solutions to make this dream become a reality.

I am going to go out on a limb and say that the easiest and cheapest solution is most likely not to go out and have major plastic surgery. Instead, I am going to recommend three crucial much cheaper, healthier, and happier options to getting you to look so much like your favorite rockstar that you are mistaken for them on a daily basis.

1. Go Thrift Shopping

This is the most valuable piece of advice when it comes to dressing like a rockstar. In order to dress like a rockstar does, one must have the attire that a rockstar does. A true rockstar’s look usually does not come cheap. Just check out Rihanna’s clothing collection– Rihanna for River Island.

Photo from RihannaPhotos.org

If you like the outfit she is wearing in this picture, it would set you back at least one-hundred-thirty-five dollars. I do not know about you, but I certainly do not have that kind of money in my college budget to blow on one outfit.

Thrift shopping is an excellent form of shopping. It is the best way to shop when you are trying to spend as little money on clothes as humanly possible.

I use to look down upon thrifting. I viewed it as gross and dirty and I was under the illusion that the clothes have cooties and other terminal diseases sewn into them. But after five minutes into my first trip to the Plato’s Closet in Columbus Ohio, I was hooked. The store seemed to answer all of my prayers. There were endless rows of racks of adorable one-of-a-kind vintage shirts and t’s. I could not have counted the amount of stylish belts and purses and jackets I saw. I left the store with thirty-three new additions to my closet for the grand total of forty-seven dollars. It was divinity.

Just because you can not afford Rihanna’s exact outfit in that picture does not mean that you can not pull off being a mini Riri. Just take a trip to some of the thrift stores nearest you and I guarantee you that you will be able to recreate this chic outfit for a fraction of the price.

2. Buy Scissors

This is the simplest piece of advice I can give you. You have no idea how much just owning scissors will allow you to expand your rockstar look.

If by chance you do happen to already own a pair of scissors, or if you wisely decide to splurge and invest in a pair, then spending ten dollars at Walmart for a pack of three men’s Hanes V-neck T-Shirts could be all that you need to aquire rockstar-esque shirts.

All you need to do is cut up these cheap shirts and make them into funky, hipster, retro, vintage looking works of art.

http://youtu.be/YJu6HKdrU4c

This video was made by LaurDIY. If you like her style then check out her website for more simple projects to spice up your wardrobe.

http://youtu.be/C1XeWQsszyY

Salina Siu made this video. She has dozens of other videos showing how cut and weave your T-shirts.

The possibilities the scissors can provide are quite seriously endless. Go ahead and experiment or try to copy your favorite look.

3. Sunglasses

Our favorite rockstars have taught us that rain or shine, sun or snow, sunglasses complete any outfit. It is rare to see a candid photo taken of a rockstar where a pair of sunglasses are not making an appearance.

I would recommend either buying one awesome pair of shades that you could make your signature look, or buy a different pair for every outfit.

The problem with the latter choice is that the sunglasses that our beloved rockstars are rocking are usually well over your allocated budget for glasses, as well as probably a couple weeks worth of groceries and electricity.

In order to avoid starvation in exchange for looking cool, check out Sunglasses Love where you can find any shades your heart could possibly desire at no more than eleven dollars.

Photo by Moyan_Brenn_BACK_FROM_ICELAND on flickr.com

If you properly employ these three tactics, then in no time you will be looking fresher than ever while still having enough money to turn lights on in the evening.

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