Tired of wearing the “same ole same ole”? Found yourself in a bit of a wardrobe rut and can’t seem to figure out what to do about it? Here are five ways to get that low or even NO-cost wardrobe refresh you need to keep on lookin good and keep some coins in your pockets!
Shop Your Closet
If you catch yourself rotating the same few items week-in, week-out (GUILTY), sometimes, all you gotta do to switch things up a bit (especially if you’re on a budget!) is to see what’s already buried in your closet. I’m always surprised every few months by something I forgot about! You may even be able to put the older stuff together with the new to create some fresh looks! If we just do some digging and think outta the box a little, imagine all the outfits we can create and the money we’d save! I challenge YOU to go in your closet & create just ONE “new” look with the stuff you already own! Think you can do it?!
Host a Clothing Swap
After going through your closet and finding some gems that you loved but just forgot about, you you’re bound to find some things that you know will never fit again or that you just don’t feel the same way you used to about ’em. (you know, the whole Marie Kondo “sparking joy” thing? That.) This is a great way time to invite some girlfriends over to swap some goodies! Even though you may not love a certain item anymore, someone else just might!
Make it a fun evening with lite bites — or a full-on meal if you’re up to it — beverages and maybe evens some games! Not only will you be able to finally purge your closet of unwanted/no longer needed pieces, but you’ll also hopefully gain a few new-to-you items to refresh your wardrobe… which is how I snagged these amazing pants and bracelets!
Vest – gifted/second-hand (similar) | Top – Ambiance (similar) | Pants – Banana Republic | Sneakers – Nike | Ring – H&M (similar) | Tights – Forever 21 (similar here)
Wear Pieces Differently Than You Normally Would
Do you ever get into the habit of wearing the same items the same way every time you put ’em on? Yup, me too! For example, you may have bought, let’s say, a top, a bottom and shoes at the same time to wear as an outfit. But you may find yourself always wearing those exact pieces together. This is why it’s important to select and buy versatile separates to help maximize our outfit choices, but we’ll deal with that in another post!
All it takes is a bit of imagination and you can breathe new life into something you already have. Normally, I’d wear this mustard/golden top with a black skirt or a pair of jeans. Nothing wrong with that, but look how much it POPS when paired with these blue + white patterned pants, colorful sneakers and faux fur vest! Put your creativity to work and the possibilities are endless!
Now that we’ve talked about refreshing your wardrobe without spending a dime, let’s discuss a couple low-cost wardrobe refresh methods that won’t break your pockets!
Go Thrifting
Thrifting is something I started out of necessity back when I lost my job in 2013. I wanted to stay fly but was now working with a tight budget. I was first introduced to thrifting by watching videos by Keisha G on YouTube (and bought like 2 things from her favorite spot) but it wasn’t until attending a thrift event at Buy the Bag that I thought I could really get into it. Now, I’m hooked!
At my go-to spot, I can go in with a 20 and walk out with a bunch! I got this beautiful blue coat for… wait for it… THREE BUCKS!! The trick is, I got it (and two other coats) at the end of the season. Yup, thrift shops have end-of-season sales to make room for new stuff too! A more detailed “thrift like a pro” post coming to you soon!
Go to Closet & Garage Sales
Over the years, I’ve had a couple friends clear their closets of unwanted items with closets sales. I’ve gotten some of my most favorite items from ’em for the low-low, like this mustard button-down! During the same sale, I snagged a sweater of the same color and three skirts, one of which is faux leather. The great thing is, they’re pieces that I can mix and match with so many of my existing clothes so I’ll be set for a while.
And don’t rule out garage sales! People move all the time and that’s usually when folks realize how much stuff they have but don’t need. If you can thrift, you can do a garage sale. Stuff is often dirt cheap cuz everything must go!
So, no, ya girl isn’t ballin’ (do people still say that?!) but I manage to keep looking like a human thanks to these little tricks.
Which of these have YOU tried? If none, which are you likely to try first? Let’s chat below!
