Where to Buy Great Basics on a Budget

Everyone needs basics in their closet — you know, basic tees, jeans, shoes. The foundations of a wardrobe. If you’re on a budget these are my favorite places to find budget-friendly basics that aren’t a terrible quality. 

Where can you find affordable but good-quality basics? Let me tell you.

Let’s talk about affordable basics. We all need them, we all love them. The hard part is finding the right ones that are affordable but not completely garbage quality.

So I want to walk you through JEANS, TEES, OUTERWEAR, and SHOES, and where you can find quality versions of these basics for less.

outfit details

AMAZON TAN COAT | BLACK ABERCROMBIE BODYSUIT | GOOD AMERICAN JEANS | GOLDEN GOOSE SNEAKERS (similar more affordable pair here) | SIMILAR WOVEN BAG | LEOPARD BAG STRAP

Where to buy budget friendly t-shirts.

I’ve tried so many cheap t-shirts and they get holes, pill so quickly, or completely lose their shape in the wash. It’s annoying to spend your money on things that don’t hold up!

A few years ago I did a search to find the best white tee. In my search, I discovered Everlane’s tees. They’re great quality, hold up well over many washes, have lots of styles, and you can get them for $24-30, or $20 if you buy them in a bundle.

If you need something less expensive than that, Free Assembly at Walmart has great tees for only $12. I bought several last year and although they didn’t hold up QUITE as long (they got a little wonky after a few washes), they did last me the whole summer and you can’t beat the price.

Where to buy budget-friendly jeans.

I’ve became obsessed with American Eagle jeans a few years ago. My very favorite are their NEXT LEVEL JEGGINGS. They’re super stretchy, flattering, comfortable, and hold up well after tons of washes. I’ve had mine for years and they’re still in great shape.

They go on sale often, so don’t buy them full price!

Just as a reference, I wear a size 4 and typically wear a size 26 jeans.

I also have been really impressed with maurices jeans — they have really inclusive sizing, and the fit and quality are good for the price. They also go on sale quite a bit. I have this looser pair (which I’m wearing HERE) and THIS SKINNY PAIR. I love the gray color, but just a heads up that the ankles are VERY fitted. I ended up chopping the hems off so I could get them on and off more easily.  Once I did that, they fit great.

And Walmart’s Free Assembly jeans have been awesome too. I have THESE SKINNY JEANS and I’m really impressed by the quality for a pair under $30.

Where to buy budget-friendly outerwear.

There are lots of good places to buy outwear that isn’t crazy pricey.

One of my top resources for budget-friendly outerwear is Old Navy. It’s definitely not the highest quality, but they have lots of styles from lightweight denim jackets to puffer coats.

Also definitely check out Amazon. My favorite affordable peacoat, and my favorite puffer coat are both from Amazon.

Where to buy budget-friendly shoes.

Ok, let’s be honest. You can buy super inexpensive shoes at fast fashion places that are $20-30. But in my experience, nearly every one of these cheap shoes is wildly uncomfortable.

Good quality shoes just cost a little bit more, but they’ll hold up a lot longer and they’ll be more comfortable (typically – obviously this is not universally true for all low-high priced shoes).

If you’re on a budget, I’d recommend places like Nordstrom Rack, Target (they’ve majorly stepped up their game lately!), or Rack Room Shoes where you can get name-brand shoes for a discount. They’re typically last season’s shoes, and you can find great deals on them!

I hope that’s helpful as you shop for clothing on a budget!