Virily Editor
Reorganize your closet
Sometimes breathing new life into your wardrobe takes nothing more than a bit of organization. You can find items you forgot you even had, reconsider things you haven’t worn in a long time, and get fresh ideas for outfit combinations you never tried before.
Give your regulars a rest
We all have a couple outfits we really like and return to over and over again. Make it a point to take a break from your old reliables and give a little more love to some less-worn items. Not only is it a good way of shaking up the status quo, it may help inspire your creativity, too.
Get an outsider’s perspective
It’s easy to get stuck in a single way of thinking about things. You’d be surprised how much it helps just getting some fresh perspective. Ask a friend to look in your closet and put together some outfit ideas; they’ll probably come up with things you never would have thought of. Who knows how untapped potential you’ve been sitting on this whole time?
Renew rather than replace
If there’s an item you’re tired of or that is in bad condition, before throwing it see if you can find another use for it. Get crafty and modify it into a whole new piece of clothing, or integrate pieces of it into another item. Farm it for parts: buttons, zippers, graphics, etc. If something doesn’t fit, tailor it, if you can, instead of just replacing it.
Accessories can be magic
You don’t always need a whole new wardrobe to freshen up your look. Sometimes you just need to switch up your accessories. Try something you don’t normally wear, like hats or sunglasses. Trade in your chunky jewelry for something more subtle, or vice versa. Even little changes can alter the entire personality of an outfit.
Don’t go chasing trends
Two important things to remember about trends: 1. They’re expensive to keep up with. 2. They go out of fashion just as fast as they came in. Don’t be a trend-chaser. Be a trend-setter.
Everything old is new again
Another thing about trends: often, they’re cyclical. So keep track of all those pieces of clothing you have at the back of your closet that you can’t wear anymore. They may be outdated now, but a few years from now they may suddenly become “vintage” and “retro.”
Deep dive for discounts
Download ShopSavvy, Groupon, and other apps that help you compare prices and aggregate discounts. Clip and hoard Adidas coupons; even if you don’t need sneakers right now, that might change later. Check weekly circulars. Sign up for frequent shoppers’ cards. There are dozens of ways to save money. Try them all.
Go swapping, not shopping
Chances are, if you’re looking at your wardrobe and feeling bored with it, someone you know is feeling the same way about theirs. Join forces and you could end up trading clothing items back and forth, getting rid of your old gear and receiving fun new stuff without spending a dime. Even better, hold swapping parties with multiple friends and watch how excited people get over clothes you stopped liking months ago (it might even make you rethink what you’re willing to give away).
Avoid single-use items
It doesn’t matter how cute it is, if a piece of clothing, jewelry, or footwear will only ever work with one specific outfit or in one specific setting, don’t bother with it. Stick to items that have versatility. Anything less is a waste of money and closet space.
