Here's How To Update Your Wardrobe On A Budget

For many of us, January heralds a new year state of mind, a time for a fresh start, turning a new page and opening the doors to a new wardrobe.

Well, here we are. It's January, we're back to work and the realities of everything we spent over the course of the past few months have hit us hard, forcing those resolutions to stop spending money to become not a choice but a necessity from which we will never recover. (Or will, but in like, two months.)

Yet the very thought of wearing your same-old black puffer coat, a chunky knit and jeans is enough to make anyone retire to bed for the rest of eternity. You want new clothes, you want a new style but between your overarching climate anxiety and the fact your bank account currently reads in minus figures means you're stuck in a rut.

@monikh

But the truth is making over your wardrobe doesn't have to cost you a tonne. While it may sometimes feel like you need every trend every season, we promise that a closet redo can be surprisingly easy (and budget-friendly). When you're feeling tired of your wardrobe, the secret is not to start from scratch but to orchestrate a wardrobe makeover by finding new ways to tweak what you already own.

Luckily for you (and us), we've found some pretty handy solutions, which we've rounded up below. Some will help you shop smarter, while others are styling tricks you can pull of with pieces you've had for years. Save this post to your browser so the next time you're feeling defeated, you'll see there's hope.

get rid of what you hate

It’s not uncommon to hold on to items that no longer fit you in the hope that they will again one day. It’s also not uncommon to buy something in a size too small as an incentive to lose weight or because it’s in the sale and they don’t have your usual size. And, it's also not uncommon to keep pieces that we know don’t suit us. If a piece of clothing doesn’t make you feel confident and comfortable, it has no place in your life. It's time to sell or donate it.

REORGANISE YOUR WARDROBE

It sounds obvious, but it's easy to forget what's sitting in our wardrobes – and, for many of us, there will be great pieces hidden away that haven't seen the light of day for years. So, instead of going out and buying something new, make sure that you have a very clear idea of what is in your wardrobe already.

STOP IMPULSE BUYING

When we get that feeling of hating everything in our wardrobes and feel like we have nothing to wear, more often than not, we go on a big shopping spree and end up spending huge amounts of money on exactly trend-led items or 'it was on sale' pieces that end up sitting in our wardrobes forever, never being worn. Don’t do this. Instead, keep an eye out all-year-round for pieces that you love and make a note of the things that you are lacking when you realise it. Allowing yourself to buy one really nice piece every month, rather than having two huge shopping sprees a year will likely result in much better thought-out decisions and, as a result, a far more wearable wardrobe.

@lucywilliams02

ATTEND A SWAP SHOP

One great way of keeping your wardrobe feeling fresh is to swap pieces with friends. Operate a one-in, one-out policy by getting rid of something that you haven't worn in months and trading it for a piece your friend has got bored of wearing (but you have always had an eye on). Whether you host a clothes swap party with a big group or just have a deal with one friend, trading clothes is a great way of having an exciting wardrobe without spending any money or doing any further damage to the environment.

FIND A DECENT TAILOR

Every stylish woman's best-kept secret? A tailor. No matter if your clothing is fast fashion or couture, having it fit your body can make or break the look. Also, finding a tailor who really understands clothing will be able to look at that 'boring black dress' and be able to transform it into a blouse, a skirt, a cute co-ord, you name it.

Give rental fashion a try

No matter how hard we try to give up shopping forever, there's always going to be a wedding, a birthday party or special event to attend. While we encourage you to re-wear dresses that have been hanging in your wardrobe for your years, after it's sixth outing...it can feel a little stale. Rather than turn to the high street and buy something you know, the sales assistant knows and we know you'll never wear again, give rental fashion a go. Thanks to a growth in awareness about sustainability, it has never been easier to rent clothes, with huge growth in the number of fashion-rental companies available.

@meganellaby

Update your Instagram

Where is the one place you can go to for constant fashion inspiration? Instagram. By now, you're likely to be following a plethora of fashion-cool-girls and while they're ideal for finding the next 'it' item, they too can feel repetitive. The small downward arrow beside their name will give you a whole host of suggestions of accounts just like them meaning you'll have instantly refreshed not only your feed but your wardrobe too.

ACCESSORIES

Groundbreaking, we know but accessories really are the best way to fall back in love with your wardrobe. Sometimes it's the smallest changes that make all the difference. Swap in dainty jewellery, wear a headscarf or try wearing a belt for how it looks, not the function.

HAVE An 'IF ALL ELSE fAILS' OUTFIT

Inevitably, you'll wake up one morning feeling like you hate everything you own. This is when having a master list of easy looks on hand makes all the difference. For me, it's a band t-shirt and jeans. Simple? Yes. Stylish? Also yes. Discover the one outfit that makes you feel your most comfortable and most confident and stock up.

Main image by @kaiagerber

READ: If You Invested In This Trend Last Year, You're Already Winning 2020