If you’re a student like me, I know you know what it means to be “student-broke.” There’s nothing quite like it, only being able to work part time, yet having to juggle the cost of textbooks, rent… FOOD, all while trying to look like you’ve got your sh*t together. So what do you do when it’s officially patio season and your girlfriends have been hounding you to have a night out for weeks? Now, I don’t go out often but when I do decide to step out I treat it like a red carpet event, which means the outfit, the hair and the nails better be on point. Here are some of my go to tricks for looking expensive on a budget, so that i can splurge a little bit extra on the good rosé.

1. KISS my nails

If you don’t have the coins to spend on a salon manicure but you hate nail polish that chips after the first hour (really???), KISS nails are the answer. At $12.99 a pack, these trusted press-on nails come in gel and acrylic, with an assortment of colours. Don’t worry if you can’t find the colour you’re looking for, they’re also available in clear so you can match your own nail polish to the outfit of the night. The best part? They’re designed to grip nail polish like glue so that your perfect at-home manicure will be secure for at least three weeks.

2. Pop some tags

Sultry silk and satin dresses have been a classic summer staple since the 1930s, but trying to find a good quality one will run you at least $100… or will it? The first place I love to look for a cute, barely there, bias-cut is a dingy vintage shop; they usually have an overstock of slips in vibrant colours, prints and trims, like this score that I found at Duchess Vintage in Gastown for only $20! There is nothing more satisfying than knowing you won’t show up to the party in the same dress as that other girl.

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3. To Gel With It

A glam look is not complete without the perfect hair. My favourite effortless glam is a slicked back low ponytail with a side part. For extra hold, I love to apply Eco Styler’s Olive Oil hair gel to my freshly washed curls before slicking it down into a bun. I can stop there but to go the extra mile I wrap Outre X-pression’s Jerry Curl extensions around the bun and then fluff it out for the most natural look. The gel costs only $12 for a 4 month supply, and $8/pack of extensions lasts a week. Click here for a video tutorial.

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Who said you have to miss out on all the fun? Study hard, play hard. Cheers! For more thrifted styles, check out my instagram.