Dressing to go out during a recession is easier than it seems.
You probably won’t be able to afford the designer gear necessary to enjoy a dirty martini at the Monkey Bar, but for less than the price of a new Kenneth Cole belt, you can cultivate an arty look that’ll get you past the velvet ropes at Lotus.
Here’s our Ivy League intern Jeremy Powers – before and after.
Wall Street chic
Boss Hugo Boss jacket, $1,000
Ermenegildo Zegna shirt, $250
Giorgio Armani tie, $100
Barneys New York slacks, $200
Gucci loafers, $395
Kenneth Cole belt, $40
TOTAL: $1,985
Recession cool
Secondhand Levis from Salvation Army, $8.99
Vintage jacket from Salvation Army, $6.99
T-shirt from Salvation Army, $2.99
Terry cloth flip-flops from Gap Spa, $9.99
Amber-tinted frameless glasses from Strawberry, $8
Bed-head – free!
TOTAL: $36.96