organizing your closet

8 Cheap Ways to Update a Wardrobe You Hate

Anna Newell Jones — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 10:36:40 +0000

If you hate your wardrobe, are sick of everything you own, and want to go shopping already, hold up! Here are eight cheap ways to update a wardrobe you hate. (See also: 10 Steps to Update Your Look on a Budget)

1. Get Rid of Everything You Feel “Meh” About

Those pants that were a great deal but pinch your ankles in a slightly strange way — get them out of your closet, and stop feeling bad that you’re not wearing them! You know that shirt that you bought from your favorite store that you really want to work but makes you look like you’re built like a lumberjack? Yep, take it out of your closet too!

You don’t have to keep clothes just because you bought got a great deal on them. If in your gut you feel like, “I really should be wearing that more...” stop putting yourself through that agony, and let yourself get rid of it. It takes a lot of time to organize and maintain things; the less you have, the more time you give yourself.

If you’re not quite ready to part with those pieces that you really want to work, put them in a storage container for a season or two, and then see how you feel about them when you see them again. Still not ready to part? Let them sit a little longer. It will get easier, and before long you’ll be waving goodbye to those ill-fitting items that were such a good deal.

Wearing things that you don’t feel your best in is a sure way to get depressed about your wardrobe quickly. When you get rid of those “meh” clothes, then you’ll be left with only the clothes that you do feel great in. Suddenly, your wardrobe in looking better and you’re feeling better about yourself too, and all without a single penny being spent!

2. Trade Clothes With Your Friends

You know that pile of clothes you created from the first tip? While those pants might pinch your ankles in the weirdest way, they could fit your friend perfectly. You can host a large-scale formal clothing swap or just get some of your friends together one night and see who wants to trade what. This isn’t just a tip for the ladies; guys can swap too! Bonus idea — have everyone bring a dessert so you don’t have to foot the bill for the food.

3. Go to Buy-Sell-Trade Stores

If your friends don’t want to trade clothes with you, then seek out your city’s buy-sell-trade shops. I love Buffalo Exchange and Scout: Dry Goods and Trade. If the store chooses to buy the items you bring in, they will give you either money (yay!) or store credit, and you can pick out something new-to-you that you truly like.

Anything that you can’t get rid of after the second or third trips, donate to the thrift store. Be sure to get a receipt so you can get a tax benefit at the end of the year.

4. Use Scarves

Before I was a frugal lady I used to hate this idea. I always thought, “I’m not 70, okay?! I’m not going to wear scarves!” Turns out I was completely wrong.

Scarves are easy to come by. They’re available in a wide variety of patterns, colors, and textures; and they're crazy versatile. You can wrap them around your head, tie them to your bag, use them as a belt, and tie them around your neck. (You can check out more scarf styling ideas on my website.)

Scarves have a way of making things look just a little bit fancier. Three cheers for scarves!

5. Accessorize

You can find really cheap accessories all over the place, and they can be used with a ton of different outfits to give your look a different vibe.

6. Re-Dye Your Clothes

Hit up the hobby store for a couple of packets of dye and bring new life to those old clothes. When clothes get faded from too many washes, it’s easy to feel like they look wacky, worn-out, and old (and it’s usually because they do!). You can re-dye your clothes the same color they originally were (I do this a lot with black cotton pants), or you can completely change the look of the item by experimenting and dyeing the item a new color (although you do have to be open-minded and ready for it to not turn out well, just in case).

7. Upcycle Your Clothes

This one might take a little practice, but check out some books from the library to get ideas about how to make the clothes you hate something you would love to wear again. Then pull out the sewing machine (or try one of these no-sew ways to update your wardrobe), and let your inner fashion designer loose.

8. Enlist a Stylish Friend

Some people just have a knack for putting together great outfits. We all know at least one of these people! Ask them to check out your wardrobe and help you come up with some new combinations. Having a different set of eyes look at your closet and brainstorm new looks with you might just be all it takes to start feeling a lot better about your wardrobe.

How do you cheaply change up your style when you’re feeling bored with your wardrobe?

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This article is from Anna Newell Jones of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Guide to Better Style: The Curated Closet

Kentin Waits — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:00:12 +0000

The older I get, the simpler and more refined I try to make my personal style. As a result, I’ve started to view my wardrobe as a collection to be curated instead of a just a closet to be stuffed. I’ve slowly begun to weed out clothes that don’t work, finally give up on looks that just don’t suit me, and gravitate toward timeless pieces and true classics. (See also: Wardrobe Staples Every Man Should Own)

Even better, I think my new wardrobe revelation is saving me money. Once I started to view my closet as a customized multi-season “store” that I create for myself, I began to avoid impulse purchases, items that weren’t in-line with my needs, and looks that I knew wouldn’t stand the test of time.

If you’re gearing up for spring cleaning, here are some tips on how to create a closet that’s more like a store and less like a mess.

Clip Looks You Like for Each Season

Vision boards aren’t just for winning the lottery or scoring a beach house. Clipping looks you like from magazines or saving images online will help inform the buying decisions you make as your curate your collection.

Purge

Cleanse your clothing palette by getting rid of what you don’t need and won’t wear. Be honest with yourself and donate, sell, or swap items that you haven’t worn in six or eight months. The purge will clarify the great pieces you have and bring into sharp focus the items you need.

Organize

Organizing your closet showcases your clothes, gives you some mental space to get creative, and helps avoid losing key pieces or wasting money buying duplicates. People have different methods for closet organization. Some arrange clothes by season, some by color, and some by item or by outfit. Whatever way you choose, arrange your space for ease-of-use with an eye toward maintenance. What organization method can you live with? What’s going to give you the best chance of staying organized?

See What’s Missing

Once you’ve removed the clutter and organized your closet, it’s time to take a critical look at what’s left and what’s missing. Maybe there’s a great pair of boots you’ve never worn because you don’t have the right boot-cut jeans. Maybe you have a beautiful vintage camel-hair coat but just can’t find the right sweater to go with it. Tag or separate these orphaned pieces so you can begin to consciously fill in the holes in your wardrobe. Refer to your vision board and pay special attention to versatility as you shop for those jeans or that new sweater — what else can it be worn with? What color, pattern, or fabric will work best with other things you already own? Don’t be in a rush to fill the gaps in your wardrobe. Sometimes the very best items come at unexpected moments — at garage sales, thrift stores, or during big sales. Have a little faith in clothing kismet.

Make a List

Creating a closet that’s truly a collection means no impulse-buying. Stay true to your look and the vision you’ve created for yourself; it’ll save you money in the long run. Whether you’re buying a whole new outfit or adding essential piece, make sure each purchase serves a purpose.

Refine

Reworking your closet is all about rethinking your clothing philosophy. It takes some time to get it right. Refine as you go. Continue to purge old stuff that doesn’t work, tailor what doesn’t fit, and add versatile new pieces — all with a curatorial eye.

Over time, your closet will cause less panic and begin to showcase a truer and more conscious style. With a better idea of what you have, what you need, and the looks you love; you can target your shopping — spending less and enjoying what you buy more.

Do you already buy with a curator’s eye? What are the best finds or biggest bargains that have helped make your collection?

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This article is from Kentin Waits of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: