As one of the many stars of hit television series Modern Family, Ariel Winter gets her fair share of attention, but the publicity also gives her a platform to speak out on topics that can impact others. That’s why Ariel Winter’s breast reduction surgery and subsequent interview about the procedure are so notable. In an interview with Glamour, the 17-year-old actress opened up about the procedure and how she’s extremely happy (Ariel Winter even said she’s excited to try on gowns for the Emmys this year!). She deserves major kudos for her honesty and desire to let other women know that the choice is personal and should be based on what you need.

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Outside of Winter’s discussion of how she made the decision to have the reduction, she also discussed the way it impacted her fashion. When asked about dressing for formal events, Winter says, ”It was really hard. There was so little that I could wear that was age-appropriate. I’d have to wear the dress that was super tight and form-fitted everywhere because if I didn’t, it didn’t look good. I didn’t really have an option other than to wear fitted clothes. Everyone would [say], ”Why is she dressing so mature? That’s so inappropriate for her age!” I understood what they were saying. It’s not like I wanted to pick out those inappropriate dresses, it’s just that I didn’t really have another choice, or I was going to get ridiculed. It’s hard when you’re a teenage girl and you already have a lot of ridicule and then you pile on more, and it’s kind of…it just gets too much.”

Now, however, since Winter’s body has changed, she’s excited for the upcoming Emmy’s and what that means for her wardrobe! She explains, ”It will be my first [public] appearance, but I don’t know. I’m just excited to try on all the dresses! Now I can wear all styles of dresses and all styles of things! I don’t always have to pick the tightest, most form-fitting dress I can find. I can pick something else and still feel good about myself. I couldn’t do that before. I’m excited to finally actually feel confident and not just appear confident.”

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If you’re a student shopping for a school uniform — or if you’re part of the 28% of parents surveyed by the National Retail Federation who said your child will be wearing a school uniform this year — follow these strategies to cut down your costs on this season’s preppy new clothes.

Shop sales

You’ve seen the big red sale signs filling store windows for weeks now. We all know that there are back-to-school retail sales for office supplies, dorm room furniture, backpacks, tech essentials and a host of other school essentials. But there are also store sales specific to school uniforms.

Check for discounts on uniforms from big-name retailers and department stores. AtOld Navy, for example, school uniform apparel for girls starts at just $4. At Target, shoppers can buy polos for $5 and bottoms for $10, plus take advantage of savings of 25% on other select uniform styles.

Buy used

To guarantee you’ll get a good price (even in the absence of sale events), opt for used clothes. You can find used uniforms at secondhand stores and even eBay. Additionally, keep an eye out for uniform exchange events. Your child’s school may host such a day at the beginning of the school year to give you the opportunity to sell, buy or trade clothes.

Reuse

Unlike books, you don’t need to have a new school uniform each year. If your son or daughter still has tops or bottoms left over from last year, see if they’re in good enough condition to be worn again for another year. Similarly, be sure to keep any new items you buy in good condition so they’ll be able to last for a while.

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If you don’t have any old uniforms at home, try asking a friend or neighbor if they do. You’ll likely find that older students who have already graduated may be looking to free up their closet space and unload their supply of school wears.

Be strategic about sizing

If you know your child will be wearing school uniforms for years to come, you may want to consider buying a slightly larger size — one your child can grow into and continue to wear both now and well into the future.

Another thing to keep in mind: If you buy moderately now, you can always fill in with additional articles of clothing later as needed.

Set a budget

No, we don’t mean just setting a budget for how much you’re willing to spend (although that’s important, too). You should also set an allowance for how many uniforms (pairs of pants, shirts, skirts, etc.) that you’ll need.

Try to be realistic. For example, if you do laundry midweek, you may not need to buy a different shirt for each day of the school week. This can cut down on the amount of items you need to purchase.

Use coupons

Before you make any school uniform purchases, always conduct a quick search to see if you can find any relevant coupons or coupon codes. If you know ahead of time which retailer you’ll be buying uniforms from, try signing up for their email mailing list so you’ll get any promotions sent directly to your inbox as soon as they’re announced.

Use these deal-finding strategies as a way to set your child apart this school year. Wearing a uniform may make it difficult to stand out fashion-wise from the rest of the school, but shopping smart can save your family from spending as much as everyone else.

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