It’s said that behind every well-dressed man is a woman of taste. Well, behind every woman-of-taste’s wardrobe is a plethora of shopping and styling tips, tricks and secrets that keep them looking polished.

The most stylish women that we look up to in our lives aren’t superhuman- they’re just a little more prepared and organized than us. They understand what’s important in fashion and know where it’s wise to save/spend their money. We’ve gathered some fashion secrets from the most fashionable ladies we know and want to share.

DON’T BUY DESIGNER JUST BECAUSE IT’S DESIGNER

Many, if not most, women in their early twenties want to start building a wardrobe that lasts longer. Not only is it way better for the environment to think long term when it comes to clothing; if you really love something, you’ll want to have it forever. Trust me, you rarely get bored of something you bought because you fell *in love* with it, or something that will always be a classic. Flashy handbags or shirts with the logo written all over them had a moment, but you don’t need to flaunt the designer patterns anymore. Anyone who shares the same passion for fashion will already know, and if they don’t they’ll wish they did. Quality, shapes and styles tell the tale. With that being said, don’t settle for fast fashion just because it’s cheap. Fashion is the second large of pollution in the world…second only to oil. Your pilled H&M t-shirt will end up in a landfill, not in a secondhand shop.

Use a tailor

Every well dressed person knows that fit is everything, and the true experts most likely have a trusty tailor in their contact list. “Ready-To-Wear” can often be quite the opposite. Dress puckering? Sleeves too long? Pants too tight? A tailor can fix that. Fast fashion made the need for tailors nearly disappear, as clothing has become so inexpensive that it seems wasteful spending money to fix something that could easily just be purchased again. Therefore, America now has wardrobes full of ill-fitting clothes— but not the fashionable women that we envy. They know to shop for quality over quantity, so the tailoring is actually worth it.

Become friends with salespeople

Retail employees always know the biggest sales and will save your size if they like you. I was in awe while shoe shopping with my friend Amanda, who, with a little flip of the hair and a lot of confidence, boldly asked the salesperson for his cellphone number and told him to text her when the pair of shoes she wanted came in. He was more than happy to do so, and just like that, she had the pair of shoes that others found difficult to get their hands on.

Shop “The Runway” at TJ Max

This section of TJ Maxx is a godsend. I have landed two coveted designer handbags here, in addition to piles of Vince cashmere sweaters for significantly lower prices. And by designer handbags I’m talking a Stella McCartney ‘Falabella’ bag and an Alexander Wang ‘Rocco’ bag, not Michael Kors. I’ve seen this section carry everything from Louboutin to Celine, and part of the fun is checking in every couple of weeks to see what’s in store. Pro tip: Mondays are when they get new shipments!

Splurge on accessories

Although it would be lovely to be able to stock your wardrobe with basics from Helmut Lang and Vince, nobody cares or notices that your white t-shirt cost $160. Instead, splurge in other areas that will truly make your outfit, like a statement handbag or designer scarves. I have an aunt whose collection of Hermes scarves would put The Real Housewives of New York to shame…it’s just her thing. Tie one of those around your neck, through your belt loop, in your hair, cinching your waist over a dress, etc., and it makes you look like a million bucks. There are so many ways to wear them and they add the perfect pop of color, especially for those who tend to keep most of their look neutral. You could be dressed in white jeans and a white tee from Old Navy and one of these scarves will make you look like the most stylish on the block.

GO THRIFTING/ VINTAGE SHOPPING

Of course, Hermes scarves are not in everyone’s budget yet, or at least not if we want to survive/ make rent/ eat dinner tonight;buuuuut gorgeous silk scarves can be found hiding in thrift shops, along with awesome jackets, jeans, and blouses. A friend, Tracy, in New York swears by thrifting and vintage shopping, and she has awesome style that is the epitome of Bohemian prep. The last time I stayed at her SoHo loft she packed us up in her convertible and drove us uptown to one of her favorite thrift shops. The time before that, she let us raid a vintage trunk filled with all of her last season clothes (I made out with an Opening Ceremony sweater and a DVF LBD). It’s a fun way to find some clothing treasures, especially if you make a point of traveling to different neighborhoods or boroughs to do so. Remember that if you find some gorgeous piece that doesn’t quite fit or needs some updating, a tailor will be your best friend!

Raid your relatives’ closets

One man’s trash is truly another man’s treasure. Your grandfather doesn’t have to be Keith Richards for you to find some wardrobe gold laying around. Even your parents may be clinging on to some great pieces of their past. My Granddad left behind a drawer full of handkerchiefs that must have been from the ’60’s or prior, and they are perfect for using as chic neck ties, tying around handbags for a little color or wearing in hair a la Amy Winehouse. My mum gave me a beige “The Who” band tee that Pete Townshend himself gave to her when she used to brush shoulders with them in London in ’78, and I’m dying to wear it with the perfect leather moto jacket or white jeans. They don’t make clothes like they used to. The quality was better, the stitching stronger, and they lasted longer. Good luck to our grandchildren who will have to weed through piles of “vintage” Forever 21 and H&M in the future before finding anything worth keeping.

fake it til (& after)you make it with zara

Zara is a stylish girl’s best friend when it comes to trying out trends. As the poster girl for the phrase “champagne taste on a beer budget,” I’m always appreciative when I get get a little bit of luxury for less. The Spanish mega-retailer has slightly higher price points than it’s fast fashion competitors, but because of that, they have more flexibility and are the most responsive to changing fashion trends. And trends DO change quickly, which is why it is perfectly acceptable to go high-street and not high-end. I am certainly not going to spend $100+ on designer joggers just because they are en vogue and Hailey Baldwin wore them, when next month they will be out and I’ll be stuck looking like MC Hammer. Lusting after those gorgeous but also kind-of-weird white ultra-pointy  Celine flats that Danielle Bernstein has been ‘gramming and snapping? Zara had nearly an exact replica for a price that wouldn’t wipe your bank account out like a tsunami. Bloggers, fashion editors and celebrities alike swear by Zara. Olivia Palermo has even worn it on the red carpet– if it’s good enough for her, it’s good enough for us.