How to Save Money on Name-brand Clothes

Without further ado, here are some of the best ways to get the most bang for your brand-hungry buck:

As any fashion-conscious person can tell you, certain accessories and articles of clothing can make or break an outfit. If you can find chic add-ons for a reasonable price, some pieces are worth a little extra cash. For example, although shirts and dresses tend to go out of style pretty quickly, items like handbags, shoes, jeans, belts and bras can be worn for multiple seasons. The changes in style to such items are more subtle to the untrained eye, so unless you're hanging around Vera Wang, it's not likely anyone's going to notice the difference. Skirts and coats are also a good investment, but length and cut often change from season to season, so be sure to monitor the trends to avoid looking dated. Classically-styled scarves, hats and jewelry are also smart additions to any wardrobe, as they're pretty much always fashionable.

The main perk of investing extra money in these wardrobe staples is that the quality of items made by reputable designers helps them last longer than an discount store version. Although it's certainly exciting when you score a name-brand label at a discount store, go into the purchase with your eyes wide open. It's well known that design houses often make one line of clothing and accessories for high-end stores and another, lower-quality set for discount retailers. Experts insist that the telltale sign often lies in the tag. Generally speaking, glued-on tags are the norm in discount stores, whereas the high-end versions will feature tags that have been stitched into the clothing. When it comes to shopping, the old adage, "you get what you pay for" is as accurate as it gets. So if you're longing for longevity, you might want to pay a bit more for the best product.

Next, let's learn how to outfit your little one in style.

Dressing up your kid is one of the best perks of parenthood. Unfortunately, many parents are so cash-strapped after dropping major bucks on car seats, diapers, formula and day care that shelling out more dough for designer baby and kids' clothes is not an option. As a result, consignment sales have become the go-to resource for parents seeking discounted designer children's clothes.

There are plenty of established consignment shops, but larger sales are often held several times a year in any given area. These sales are run by independent organizers and stocked with toys, clothes and equipment from parents looking to clean out their kids' closets. Of course, the stuff you pick up at these sales is generally used and last season at the very least, but they're required to be in great condition. Plus, some items actually still have the tags on, making them an even better bargain. To find a consignment sale in your area, keep an eye out for advertisements and flyers around town. Most stores don't have a big budgets for ads, but they do have a large selection.

Remember those online outlets we discussed earlier? Yep, they have them for children's duds, too. So before you head out to the mall, consider ordering some staples online, like shoes, socks, hats, coats and pants. Kids are easier to size than adults, so shopping online usually isn't a problem because they don't have to try everything on.

Off-season shopping is ideal for children because it's incredibly easy to buy things ahead of time. For example, if your son is in a 3T now, he's likely to be a 4T around the same time next year. So take a few minutes to peruse the discount racks and stock up for next season.

If you truly covet in-season designer duds for your child, consider supplementing your income with a part-time job at your favorite store. Most retailers offer significant discounts -- sometimes as much as 30 to 40 percent -- to employees. For a few hours of retail work per week, your child could be mistaken for a runway model (or just look extra cute)!

It's perfectly possible to stay in style and on budget. After all, it's the label that matters, not how much you paid for it!