I have been broke my whole 39 years in the SCA. I am not a costuming Laurel. I wear the bottom edge acceptable for a Peer. Laurel still fuss at me for not finishing my edges properly. I think anything pass 2 dollar a yard is too expensive. I have discovered that people in my time period early 13th century could not buy a lot of brocades and silks. The square of brocade that was use on Eleanor of Aquitaine's dress cost as much as the money gotten from all of England in a year. The wife of Count Simon of Monfort never owned a silk dress. The Count had silk garments, but he went to court. I use good colors and accent them with expensive items. Belts for example. Jeweled and decorated belts can be made and  then used over and over again. If I want to dress up I will made a fancy surcoat. I use jewelery. Early period people just put more jewelery on to dress up. You might spend a little but jewelery is a very good investment. Raymond the Quiet has very period jewelery. Go look at his web site if you want to see what it should look like. If you want ideas go talk to your local Laurels that have good clothes. Listen to their ideas for silk and wool and translate them to cheaper fabrics. Sometimes it is not the expense of the fabric ,but the texture, color and shape of the garment that makes it look good.
Mistress Willow de Wisp