Revamp Your Wardrobe Without Breaking the Bank
Revamp Your Wardrobe Without Breaking the Bank
The feeling of having ‘nothing to wear’ can sometimes feel like an existential crisis. You look at beautiful photos, draw inspiration from others’ styles, and then glance at your own wardrobe—only to feel dissatisfied. New clothes mean new expenses, and considering how often you might want to refresh your wardrobe, these costs can seriously impact your budget. We turned to Maria Polnikova, the creator of the popular lifestyle community HONEY, for advice. She shared several simple ways to breathe new life into your wardrobe without overspending.
Understanding the Problem
This feeling can strike suddenly. Yesterday, everything seemed fine, but today, after watching ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ or spending too much time on HONEY, you might find yourself in tears, looking for an excuse to stay home. It’s common to feel like your clothes are inadequate compared to others’. However, remember that this is often just psychology—your clothes are just as new to others as theirs are to you. Still, clothing significantly impacts self-esteem, so it’s essential to take some steps to address this.
Steps to Refresh Your Wardrobe
1. Stay Calm
First, don’t panic. Avoid rushing to sales or thrift stores. Impulse buys often turn out to be unsuitable. Instead, take a moment to define your new style.
2. Find Inspiration
Look to the past for inspiration. Styles of icons like Audrey Hepburn, Coco Chanel, and Jane Birkin are timeless. After watching ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s,’ you might feel like wearing dresses, trench coats, and flat shoes. Or, after seeing ‘Coco Before Chanel,’ you might want to don a Breton stripe shirt. Beauty lies in simplicity. You might already own similar pieces.
3. Organize Your Wardrobe
Use a stylist’s trick: take out all your clothes and shoes, mix and match them, and take photos of the outfits. This way, you’ll always have several ready-to-wear sets. This process can be time-consuming, so it’s best to do it on a weekend with an inspiring movie playing in the background.
4. Share with Friends
Your friends might also be looking for new clothes. Consider swapping a few items. It’s more enjoyable to wear something borrowed from a friend. Just agree on whether you’ll return the items. It’s hard to relax in borrowed clothes if you’re worried about returning them. I often borrow clothes from my mom, items she wore when she was my age. These clothes have a different energy and evoke special feelings. Plus, you’re unlikely to meet someone else wearing the same dress, which is wonderful.
5. Old is Gold
Clothes are a part of you; they influence your character and create your story. That old sweater, for example, might hold many memories. Are you really ready to part with it? Or that ‘Star Wars’ t-shirt? I’m sure it still looks cool. Just look at your old clothes from a different angle, and you might be surprised by the result.
In the next article, we’ll discuss stylish items you can borrow from your boyfriend and why not all internet advice suits you.
