When I was a girl, dresses, skirts and sweater sets were the rule in school attire. We did not have the money for much -- I babysat and picked berries for clothes money. I bought one Janzen sweater set as a basis for my wardrobe and then went to the remnant counter and bought material for skirts, blouses and dresses that coordinated. I made the dresses, blouses and skirts to go with the sweaters -- similar to what was commercially available but with some embellishment. My wardrobe budget generally was less than $25 for the school year, but it looked like I spent a fortune. When I was complemented on my clothes and asked where they could buy something similar, I honestly replied that they were one of a kind.