8 Smart Tips To Style Clothes You Already Have

It’s rare to meet someone who doesn’t have a wardrobe bursting full with clothes these days. From budget stores up and down the high street to the delicious temptation of next-day delivery in online stores, buying clothes at low prices is easy these days. But how to styles clothes you already have? Wouldn’t that be a preferable option as well?

With a strive for a bit more modest dressing, and with movements like ‘minimalism’ and ‘shop small’ coming in, many of us have to reassess how much we buy and, more importantly, how much we already own. I’m no saint, my wardrobe is bursting at the seams, and some of it hasn’t been touched in years – gasp, I know.

1. Color Group Matching

Deciding outfits based on color groups and complementary colors is a tip in every article, but that’s because it’s an important one.

The same goes for those who love black and whites. Grab any color you own (even if it’s just accessories), and see if you can create a more colorful look. This may be out of the norm for you if you’re a strict black and white fan, but knowing different combinations can keep your outfits mixed up and might encourage you to try some new styles.

Key tips for color group matching:

• Try tonal outfits. If you have clothes hanging around that are the same color but not quite the same shade, throw them together and see what effect they have. Different tones of the same color often add depth to an outfit and look great.
• When mixing colors, also mix textures. If the colors you’re combining are more muted, having different textures (knits, leather, denim) adds even more interest to the outfit.
• Knowing your color combinations is key! Complementary colors are your best friend. Also, look up your hair, eye, and skin tone type to see which shades suit your natural features – this can add an extra pop to your outfits.

2. Layers, Layers, Layers!

When Marilyn Monroe sang “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend,” she was wrong – in fact, layering is a girl’s best friend. Layering is often thought of as a winter trope. While this is true (ideal for adding warmth), layering can also be cool in summer if you get the fabric combinations correct.

Layering can be reminiscent of the Parisian chic movement – girls that look like they’ve just rolled out of bed yet are so put together at the same time – iconic.

When starting to experiment with the clothes you already have, a good starting point is to look at proportion. This is essential to layering as the different lengths will show from under each other. Subtle touches, like rolling up a jumper’s sleeves to reveal an undershirt with a cropped jacket, combine together to create a detailed look. Yet, you’ve not bought anything new – it’s all your usual clothes in a different format.

A good rule of thumb for learning to layer is to stick to one bulky item. This could be a winter coat, a chunky scarf, or a thick jumper. Going for chunky, everything could create a strange silhouette, so best keep the fabrics’ weights varied.

Remember that with layering, you might not find your ideal layered outfit first try, but that’s the fun of experimenting!

3. Play With Styling

Using shoes, accessories, and bags to make old clothes look new is a secret tool many of us use.

Shoes are not to be overlooked here. We can all become too comfortable wearing the same pair of shoes, knowing that they’ll work with most outfits and are comfy to wear. But, I’m willing to bet you have at least three other pairs waiting in the wings of your wardrobe, waiting for their time to shine.

Try some of your favorite outfits on and start trying on your shoes with them. Even if the shoes don’t match the outfit in your head, try them on anyway. You might be surprised, those heels might look good with those casual trousers and voila! You have a new smart-casual look without buying anything new.

4. Mix The Seasons

We all have our winter clothes and our summer clothes, but what happens if you wear them in the opposite seasons?

Obviously, you shouldn’t be wearing a winter coat if it’s warm outside. Still, when you look closer at your seasonal clothes, they often have darker or lighter colors

Taking some of the more adaptable pieces from each season and matching them with the other can breathe some new life into your style. Why keep a ‘winter’ t-shirt locked up all year when it’s perfectly fine to wear in summer? Plus, if you do opt for different colors in different seasons, this tip can help create some new colorways for your outfits.

Styling clothes from different seasons is a great way to style clothes you already own. It often feels like you’ve found something new without having to buy something too!

5. Use Formal For Informal

Often we have our formal clothes and our informal clothes, and we put them into two boxes in our head, and that’s where they stay. But, what if you were to wear the more formal clothes in the day?

When we buy more fancy garments for events, often we wear them less and only on special occasions to keep them feeling special. But if you want to create new outfits without buying more, taking these formal clothes into your everyday wear can be very effective.

Formal clothes tend to be more ‘fancy’ or statement pieces, so taking these into streetwear/daywear outfits can help elevate the look. This is also a great confidence booster since you know you look good in formal wear, so sprinkling elements of this into your casual wear is an instant mood improver.

An excellent example of this is a formal top. Mixing this with an everyday pair of jeans and then casual trainers and a jacket keeps the outfit casual, but as the top is more considered, it brings the whole look together. You can also try wearing jumpsuits and dresses with everyday trainers for this relaxed-glam look. Evening gowns, not so much, though.

While wearing formal clothes in the day can work, it’s harder to do it the other way and bring informal clothes into your evening wear. Parties and events tend to have stricter dress codes than everyday life, so jeans and slouchy t-shirt outfits might be best kept at home!

6. Play With Statements

If you are a lover of the ‘statement piece,’ this is a good tip for you. Take those statements and pair them with everything you own. This will sound silly, but it’s similar to other tips on this list.

Again, color and texture can play a role here, as mixing a statement with dark colors can create a refined look, whereas matching a statement piece with a bright outfit can feel more dramatic. It depends on your style, personality, and what you feel comfortable with at the end of the day.

7. Up-Cycling Tired Pieces

This is one for all the creative folk out there. If you have clothes lying around that haven’t been worn for a while, grab them now. Maybe you’re bored of them, perhaps they need fixing –  whatever the reason, it can be fixed up and reworked into your wardrobe.

Don’t just think about clothes here. Scarves can be resewn into little tops, and tops can even be cut apart and sewn up into simple yet on-trend tote bags. With an old garment and a sewing machine, you can really do anything.

This idea may sound a little bit too ‘homemade arts and craft’ to some but look at Instagram and other top fashion platforms. Locally made or sustainable fashion brands are slowly creeping into the mainstream – believe it or not, up-cycling is the next big thing!

8. Break Your Own Rules

Fashion has rules, but at the same time, it doesn’t. Confusing right? Well, if we all really observe how we dress from day to day, we subconsciously have our own styling rules.

At the end of the day, style and fashion are meant to be expressive and fun. Why keep yourself tied up in little boxes? Go ahead and break your own rules. Wear that printed top with the striped trousers, why not. Try the bright coat with the bright dress. What’s the worst that can happen from trying these combinations together? You never know. You may end up liking the results.

Enjoy Your New Outfits

Hopefully, you’ve found some inspiration from these tips that’s made you go back and examine your wardrobe with a new mindset. Trying these methods out will give you some new outfits without having to buy any new clothes. Nothing feels better than a unique style!