Most of us are tempted to go out shopping every time the seasons change, to refresh our wardrobe for the new weather patterns. But that can be a pretty costly exercise.
It turns out, you don’t have to break the bank to keep your wardrobe fresh. There are ways to stay up with current trends without amassing a small fortune in debt.
It does require a bit of creativity – a good thing for those already inclined towards thinking outside the box. If you are going to really stretch the dollar to get a unique, fresh look that keeps up with all the latest trends, you’ll also require a bit of patience, networking, luck, and even skill, or at least the willingness to teach yourself a new ability.
That being said, approach the following suggestions with an open mind and you might be surprised at how much can be done with clothes you assumed were simply out-dated, over the hill, or otherwise unusable. Without further ado, let’s see how to have fun with your armoire of old clothes while looking great at the same time.
Find fashionable and generous like-minded friends
Have you got a few of those friends who always have the hottest threads and most expansive wardrobe in town? Often fashionistas are hoarders and would never part with any of their clothes – but perhaps they don’t mind lending their wares? Or, if you are friends with folks who perfectly happy to swap clothes with you, this too can be a great relationship to help change and update your wardrobe.
The sweet spot for creating an economy of tradeable clothes with your friends is finding people whose fashion sense you admire, but who are also open-minded towards temporarily or permanently trading different items. Keep in mind, respecting your friends clothes while borrowing it is a must! This can be a lot of fun as long as neither you nor your buddies are overly attached to any particular item.
Iron-on patches, brooches and mending
This one requires a bit more dedication, but the results are a fully customised piece of clothing!
Brooches, colourful patches, emblems of your favourite bands, and buttons of various sorts and sizes are fun ways to spice things up on that tired-looking jacket of yours. Show off some personality and your favourite band at the same time.
This is actually not as hard as it might seem at first. Ironing on adhesive patches is relatively easy, and even the most basic sewing skills can take you a long way. Still, the ceiling is high: get good enough and you can magically create your own clothes using fabric and textiles of your choosing. The sky’s the limit with this one.
Tidy up, sort it out
This may sound simple, but oftentimes, we forget some of the stuff we have at the bottom of the pile of clothes in the corner of our closet. The simple act of tidying up can go a long way. Get rid of, trade or hold a market stall for items you absolutely don’t want to wear. This clears up room in your closet, and might even earn you a bit of dough to buy something. Don’t be afraid to be discerning; there’s nothing wrong with wearing what you really like more often.
Accessorise
The single easiest way to spruce up an old look is to simply combine it with new accessories. A secret that isn’t hard to pull off is the best kind. Whether it be scarves, hats, glasses, rings, bracelets, earrings, cummerbunds, accessories can be put to use to create a surprisingly new style from what you are used to. Experiment and see what you come up with.
Look for inspiration
Having a few unconventional fashionista role models can help you decide how to mix and match styles. There are plenty out there who broke the sartorial rules and made fashion history. Check out the styles of Patricia Field who was the stylist on Sex and the City and created those iconic, ground breaking looks for Carrie Bradshaw. Also look at former US Vogue creative director Grace Coddington; modern muse Alexa Chung who fuses boho vintage with modern glam; and of course Iris Apfel, New York’s most famous eclectic woman of style.
These are just a few suggestions, but the possibilities are limitless. Don’t be afraid to break the rules, mixing and matching, and most of all, having fun!