Frugal Chic: The Lifestyle Trend Redefining Consumption
Frugal chic is a fast-growing online trend. Discover its key principles - and why it feels closer to a philosophy: conscious choices, emotional distance from consumption, and long-term thinking.
In a city covered in snow - for over two weeks now, lingering on the streets and quietly enchanting Warsaw - I’ve been noticing more and more mentions online of a fashion-lifestyle trend: frugal chic. I’ll admit, I’m not someone who typically follows trends, but this one caught my attention.
Mainly because I recognised in it some values that have been with me in recent years - shaped by observing the world and focusing on what truly matters to me, rather than what external voices (read: social media) try to convince me I should want. Someone simply named and framed something that, for me, has been forming quietly in the background - and that made me curious to look closer.
If you see yourself as very elegant, classy and tasteful, but at the same time financially savvy and money-minded, you may just be frugal chic.
Because frugal chic feels less like a fleeting aesthetic and more like a thoughtful response to a reality shaped by social media - approached on one’s own terms.
So what exactly is frugal chic about? A trend - or more of a life philosophy (if I can call it that)?
Frugal chic aesthetic - Mia McGrath
The term gained popularity in late 2025 thanks to Mia McGrath - “a London-based girly in her mid 20s who is building financial freedom while not sacrificing style”, as she describes herself on TikTok.
In her videos, Mia openly admits she’s obsessed with saving money. And honestly? Hearing young people talk enthusiastically about saving - not spending - and thinking long-term rather than impulsively feels refreshing.
“If you see yourself as very elegant, classy and tasteful, but at the same time financially savvy and money-minded, you may just be frugal chic”, she says - before sharing five ways to align with the idea.
Five principles of frugal chic
(1) Build a uniform
Brands built on overconsumption won’t like this one. Frugal chic rejects the constant pressure to buy - and with it, impulsive shopping, marketing’s closest ally. That feeling of “I have nothing to wear” often has little to do with reality and more to do with overstimulation.
... the idea is to develop a personal uniform: a wardrobe rooted in your own style, not in shifting trends.
Mia encourages becoming a “chronic outfit repeater” - and seeing it as clarity rather than limitation. Instead of constantly thinking about what to wear, the idea is to develop a personal uniform: a wardrobe rooted in your own style, not in shifting trends. Step by step, you build a collection of timeless, high-quality pieces that work together, represent you, and last for years. At the same time, you gradually let go of items that no longer serve you - thoughtfully, not all at once. The point is to stop emotional shopping.
I’ve been practicing this approach myself over the last few years. Before buying something, I ask: Do I truly need it? Does the price match the quality? Will it fit my style long-term? This mindset has saved me from a lot of unnecessary purchases. And even if one or two items didn’t work out, it’s still nothing compared to how I used to shop - without a clear point of view.
