Even if you haven’t been in school for years, there’s just something about fall that triggers the desire to make a fresh start. And by starting fresh, we mean buying a slew of new fall clothes to breathe life into your been-there-worn-that wardrobe. But these days, most of us don’t have the cold hard cash to go on a $5,000 “What Not To Wear”-like shopping spree. The good news? You can create fresh new outfits—without shelling out a dime—by shopping in your own closet.
Of course, it helps to have a professional stylist on hand to help you pull together some figure-flattering looks from your existing wardrobe (though a close friend or family member with a solid sense of style can help you, too). Did you know that people wear less than one-third of their wardrobe? OK, there’s no reason not to wear perfectly good clothes! If you use your wardrobe in it’s entirety and you might be surprised about just how stylish your closet actually is!
Step One: Clean It Out
It’s hard to know what you actually own when you can’t even see it. I like doing a major overhaul at the beginning of every season. Make time to go in and reassess what you have and what you should keep. Even if it’s hard to get rid of things, see if you can get rid of at least four or five items [every seasonal overhaul] so you don’t begin cluttering your closet again. To reward yourself, try consigning your items (this list might help) to make some extra cash to replace the items you no longer wear with a fresh set of usable garments.
Step Two: Try It All On
Chances are, you have a ton of clothing in your closet that you haven’t taken the time to mix and match with each other. By simply trying on all your tops with different bottoms, you can easily find new ways to wear your favorite old tee without spending any money. By trying every thing on you can also figure out easily if something doesn’t fit, feel right, and identify any damages that may need your attention. This step should be fun, so don’t get overwhelmed!
Step Three: Take Photos of Your Cute “New” Outfits
Since I don’t have the best of memory when it comes to which outfits I created that were just to die for, I like to remind myself by snapping a picture on my phone of any new outfit combo I might like to wear out sometime. By keeping these photos on your phone, it’s easy to access them when getting ready in the morning. Creating inspiration for yourself is fun and keeping track of your outfits just makes sense!
Now that you’ve nixed clothes that don’t do your beautiful body justice, you’ll have more room to see what you actually own and can start creating fresh new outfits.
