Refresh Your Wardrobe Without Spending More

Updating your style doesn’t mean you have to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe. There are more affordable ways to revamp your style to reflect who you are today versus who you were a year ago or even six months ago. As you grow, you also evolve and your style preferences may not remain the same. There are no rules when it comes to style. You are free to wear what you want and feel your best every day. Find out our best tips to refresh your wardrobe without blowing your budget.

Assess Your Closet

If you haven’t cleaned out your closet in a long time, then this the best time to start. Lay all your clothes, shoes and accessories on your bed and pick up each piece and ask yourself if it brings you joy. If you hesitate or don’t love it anymore, put it aside in a donation, sell or discard pile. This method of decluttering your clothes is called Kon Mari, created by a Japanese professional organizer named Marie Kondo. Your closet should only hold things that you value and that bring you happiness. This also includes clothes that are worn down to the seams and clothes that no longer fit you comfortably.

After you clean out your closet and start putting away your things, you may discover old clothes that you forgot about or haven’t worn in a while. Now that you have only what you love and are excited to wear, you can incorporate them into your new wardrobe. You’ll feel like you’re wearing new clothes because you haven’t worn them in so long. This is a free and productive way to discover old favorites and pair them with your current wardrobe.

Sell/Donate Then Thrift

After you’re done sorting through your closet, you may find that you have quite a few things to either donate, sell or discard, depending on their state. Donating items that no longer fit or “spark joy” benefits your closet and those of others. If you have clothes that have holes and rips and have reached the end of their life, then you can put those in a trash bag and set aside for the curb. For clothes that are in newer or even have the price tags still on them, you can try to sell them at resale and consignment shops like Plato’s Closet, ThredUp, and Poshmark. Plato’s Closet will give you cash for any items they’re able to buy from you, which is always nice. When it comes to selling your things on popular apps like ThredUp and Poshmark, you’ll have to put in a little leg work and have patience while you wait for a sale to happen. If selling your things is not something you have time for or want to deal with, you can always donate your belongings to your local Goodwill, Salvation Army or another organization of your choosing.

Likewise, thrift shops are affordable places to find gently used and even new with tags clothes. You can find amazing deals on new to you clothes that will give your style a whole new look for a whole lot less. You may have to do a little searching and give yourself time to browse the racks, but it’s definitely a great option if you’re on a budget or want to find some vintage pieces.

Give Yourself a Budget

It’s important that you set a budget for your new wardrobe. By limiting yourself to a certain threshold, you’ll be making smarter buying decisions and will be less likely to buy something on a whim. This budget can be tracked however you’d like whether you choose to collect and keep receipts until you reach your budget or whether you’d like to withdraw cash and only use that cash for your new wardrobe. When you reach your budget, your shopping is done, and your new wardrobe is now complete.

Your style may or may not change, but when you feel like it’s time for a new you, you have more options than just spending hundreds on all new clothes. Decluttering and thrifting are affordable ways to make sure you’re not missing out on clothes you already own and can restyle within your current wardrobe. Have fun expressing yourself through as many wardrobe updates as you want.