Men's LifeStyle Blog

Dressing sharp not only makes you feel good, but it also gives a great first impression when you are meeting with clients or just out networking. But, what do you do if you are on a budget and don’t have the money to drop on a huge shopping spree?

We asked several business owners and entrepreneurs to share their best tips for those that wanted to step up their wardrobe on a budget. Take their advice and you can grow your closet without putting a major dent in your wallet.

1. Quality over quantity.

“I like the idea of a modified capsule wardrobe. Get a few really great pieces that you can mix and match. Find a style the defines you and stick with it. And of course everyone needs on great suit. Just as James Bond.” – Shawn Freeman, Founder and CEO of TWT Group

2. Have one go-to outfit.

“Make sure you have at least one outfit that you are extremely comfortable in. Then with all others keep it simple and don’t be afraid to mix it up a bit. Use the one outfit when it’s most important for you.” – Marc Webb, Founder of Real PDL Help

3. Shop store closings.

“Match the spirit of your clients but not their budget. Shop sales and store closings to find good looking pieces without the premium price tag. Imitate the look of your clients, but never forget to have something that makes it represent you.“ – Sean Christman, Founder of Slamdot

4. Use a personal stylist.

“Invest in services where they have a professional stylist to select different types of wardrobe items for you. Many of these services allow you to keep what you like and send back what you don’t. This way you’ll have someone who is on the cutting edge of trends offering you their advice.” – Joseph W. Belluck of Belluck & Fox, LLP

5. Look for sales.

“Shop for sales. It’s sort of silly to pay full price for anything anymore if you are savvy enough to shop for bargains. Whether it be shopping for coupon codes before checking out or understanding when a e-com site runs specials – deals are available.” – Shawn Schulze of HomeArea.com

6. Maintain a few basic colorways.

“Opt for a few solid basic colors rather than loud and unique prints. Number one, they work for more situations, and second, you can wear them more often in the rotation. If you have some loud or unique clothes people will notice if you were them often opposed to wearing neutral colors.” – Tom Munroe, CEO of RugStudio

7. Stack gift cards.

“Ask for gift cards to your favorite retailers for your birthday and holidays. People are always asking what they can get, well don’t be shy and let them know where you buy your work clothes. This is a great way to continue to add new pieces to your wardrobe on a budget.” – Andrew Tran, Founder of Therapy

8. Check consignment shops.

“Find out when the sales are on the most recent releases and go that day. You can also find some pretty good stuff at consignment stores if you have the time to pick through everything. I stick with the sales and make sure I go on the day they start.” – Ben Walker, Founder of Transcription Outsourcing, LLC

9. Keep your eyes open for buy two get one free deals.

“Look for the buy two get one free suit specials. You will see that a lot of the big box stores will do this a couple times a year, and it’s a great way to really add to your work attire and not break the bank. Keep your eyes on local newspaper ads, as they tend to announce sales there.” – April Gillmore, CEO of ClickFirst Marketing

10. Shop during major holidays.

“Always look for sales during the major holidays. Dress clothes and suits are often heavily discounted around major holiday weekends. I have seen sales as high as 70% off, so if you take advantage of these you can really add to your wardrobe and not take a beating in the wallet.” – Christopher Dziak, CEO of Pure Nootropics

11. Know your needs.

“Determine your needs. Someone that wears a suit daily will want to find some affordable options so they have a nice selection for their rotation, but someone that just needs a suit for a few times a year can go for something that will make an impression because they just need one.” – Ari Evans of AAA Handbags

12. Check Marshalls

“Look at discount stores like Marshalls, as they often have name brand fashion at highly reduced prices. This is a great place to pick up dress shirts, ties and even suits for a fraction of their retail price. Most of these stores receive multiple shipments a week, so check in often.” – Jim Epton of Dom Huga Ltd

13. Ask a fashionable friend for help.

“Pick someone that you think has great style and that you are comfortable talking with. Unless you spend a ton of time looking in the mirror, they have probably spent more time looking at you and can offer assistance.” – Matthew Kolb of All High Schools

It’ll soon be time for holiday parties, starting with Halloween, then Thanksgiving, and culminating on New Year’s Eve. There’s no sense in waiting until the last minute to be prepared to host a rocking party, one that guests will be talking about through the rest of the winter. Getting ideas together and making some definite plans now will help prevent the kind of party glitches that turn parties with possibilities into wet blanket affairs. Even if it’s just a new way to open a bottle of wine or serve up appetizers, something new at a party always gives the guests the message that they’re specially welcome and ‘let the good times roll!’

2018 has seen some very innovative trends and ideas for waking up a party and keeping it lively. Here are just a few of them:

Hire a mixologist

In today’s gig economy, it’s relatively easy and inexpensive to rent a bartender for the evening. This frees up the host to circulate among his or her guests to keep up the conversations and help everyone feel welcome and comfortable. A good host keeps an eye on the party, feels its pulse, and knows when it’s time to start a party game or bring out a fresh set of cheese sticks. No need for the host to be stuck pouring drinks all night and never being able to join in with the fun and frolic. A hired bartender is a professional who will see to it that everyone gets just the right kind of drink they want – whether strong or mild – and can be a real asset when it comes to handling anyone who might have had a little bit too much to drink and becomes obstreperous. Besides, a hired bartender is a great way to let guests know that this is going to be a serious party, not just a few rounds of beer pong or a game of Monopoly.

Cater to the foodies

Themed snacks are a big trend this year. With North Korea constantly in the news, smart party hosts are putting together Korean barbeque buffets for their hungry guests. It’s a relatively inexpensive way to let guests grill their own meats and veggies (not to mention kimchi) whenever they want. Small and safe Korean ‘hot pots’ can be rented for a minimal fee and set up with chopsticks and condiments with a wide variety of oriental fare, such as mushrooms, teriyaki bacon strips, Thai eggplant strips, and so on.

Be a green host

It’s surprising how many people today are determined to lessen their own carbon footprint and to help recycle more and nurture landfills less. For appetizers and grilled items, use biodegradable bamboo skewers instead of plastic. The same goes for straws and utensils. Stay away from plastic and invest in biodegradable straws for drinks and utensils for snacking. When the prices are compared it really doesn’t cost that much more to use paper plates and napkins made from recycled fibers, and which can be disposed of in a mulch pile instead of the garbage can. Such consideration of guest’s feelings is a major factor in making parties more pleasant and sociable in the long run.

Here’s a conversation for your next Uber ride, the sharing economy.

As defined by Investopedia, the sharing economy is “an economic model often defined as a peer-to-peer (P2P) based activity of acquiring, providing or sharing access to goods and services that are facilitated by a community based online platform.” It is the reason why you may now access a ride at the touch of a button and score the perfect vacation rental at a fraction of the price.

Sharing Advantages

Thanks to Airbnb and Uber, the sharing economy is projected to grow from $14 billion back in 2014 to $335 billion by the year 2025. Leveraging underused assets, such as private vehicles and homes, the sharing economy has created a space for mutual benefit, delivering cost advantage to its users and economic gain to its sellers. The online platform is community-based, and the advantages return back to the community as well, in a convenient two-way exchange. In recent years, the sharing economy has evolved and taken on many forms.

• Talent-Sharing-Several sites now act as career-matching agents, connecting freelance workers to companies looking to outsource and find new talent. From dog walkers and babysitters to writers, freelancing sites have garnered more and more opportunities across diverse communities.

• Peer-to-Peer Lending-Individuals may now lend money out to others and receive loans at a fraction of the cost compared to traditional lending platforms.

• Style Sharing-Can’t find anything to wear? Fashionistas can now sell or rent out the clothes they no longer want and find new looks on the same platform.

Owning Experiences Over Things

It all comes down to big data. The advent of the Internet has made it easier for us to find each other, to extend our assets to the larger community, and to find individuals to benefit. While the American dream was once a vision of a white picket fence surrounding the perfect home, it has now become a vision of collaboration and mutual gains, experiences over owned things. Millennials are certainly the biggest culprits. Honoring cultural experiences, travel, concerts, and social events over all else, the millennial generation has redefined happiness, finding meaning in shared experiences, and fulfillment in convenience rather than ownership. Among the millennial population, 78% percent would prefer to spend their hard earned cash on a social experience to an owned asset. Clearly, our comfort zones are evolving. While preceding generations found comfort in ownership and physical forms of status, the emerging generations are fulfilling comfort in connection. Seeking experiences outside of themselves and the things that they own, millennials are trailblazing the sharing economy, discovering deeper connections along the way. And what’s a better way to connect than to travel?

Cutting-Edge Translation and AI

Offering the world’s first mobile two-way translation device, Langogo is a sign of the times and a crystal ball for what’s to come. “I expect that you’ll see people talking with each other with Langogo when you travel cross-border in the next two years,” declares Ryan Zhang, Founder of Langogo AI. Langogo connects users to over sixty languages, with accurate translations and voice recognition. Although it isn’t just a translator, it’s an AI companion too. Euri, Langogo’s ultimate AI travel buddy is always there to assist users and act as a tour guide on their journey, wherever it may take them. Combing with a global network, the device allows users to access Wi-Fi hotspots and connect anywhere on the go while saving battery life so they can go even further.

Translating the Shared Economy

Much like Uber, Bird, and other leaders in the sharing economy, Langogo is dedicated to the convenience and the experience of its consumers. The device will soon be available to rent at hotels, airports and other convenient locations to encourage conversations that extend across the globe. “We want to start with lowering language barriers, so that we can connect with local people, experience their cultures, and understand people who live on the same planet with us,” says Zhang. That’s what the shared economy is all about, and with the help of Langogo, we are all speaking the same language.