How to be warm, trendy & not broke this winter
The season starts to change, and all of a sudden, I get the itch to invest in huge bright orange scarves and expensive boots.
Unlike summer, where a ten dollar sundress and thongs will probably get you through most of the week, winter is a season that requires a lot of clothes, making it that bit harder to look trendy.
So winter is upon us, and you’re wondering if you could avoid a credit card repayment and buy some warm clothes instead. Personal finance writer Jean Chatzky, with NBC, says no. If your finances are stretched, new clothes cannot be on the agenda.
So how can you be trendy this winter if all new clothes are vetoed? Set yourself a challenge, that you won’t buy any new clothes, only refashion and renew your old ones.
Staple gung-ho
Separate your wardrobe into items that you bought because they were trendy, and items you bought because they look great and can work with a lot of different outfits. The latter should be dominating your wardrobe, because as often as people tell you that faux-leopard print will stay in forever, that usually proves not to be the case. Good staple items can be worn in a variety of situations, dressed up or down, and will save you a lot of money that could otherwise be spent on the one-wear-then-consign-to-oblivion variety of clothing. There’s no need to buy new clothes, just work out which items can be combined well and base your outfits around them.
Expenditure? $0
Brighten up your day
Winter is dreary, but don’t let the skies affect how your dress in the morning. Making sure that you’ve got one bright item of clothing on (or bright red lipstick if you’re feeling sultry) will enhance your outfit and your mood. People often seem to buy new clothes to try and improve their outfits, whereas all that is really needed is a bit of creativity and bravery. Go through your wardrobe and find a couple of bright scarves/ shoes/ earrings. It doesn’t matter what it is. Just add it to the black and grey outfit you were every day, and you’ll feel like you are wearing an entirely new set of clothes.
Expenditure? $0
Refit
If there’s a shirt you love but haven’t worn in years because of an opening seam, why not set aside a day to mend your clothes? It’s not too hard, and there’s tonnes of stuff online to guide you through it if you don’t know how. Shorten your skirts, and wear them with woollen stockings.
Expenditure? Potentially $1, if you don’t already own thread.
Retro
Leggings are the buzzword this winter, ladies of the 80s rejoice! The wilder the better. I know personal finance writers always say to throw (or sell) anything you haven’t worn in a year, but how many of us follow that advice? Bust out the classics, and incorporate them into your weekly wardrobe. Wear leggings, not stockings. Pile on scarves and hats. With a warm coat and shoes without holes (wet feet in autumn rains are never pleasant), the world is your oyster to accessorise. With creativity and a bit of a wardrobe audit, it’s entirely possible to dress beautifully this winter without spending a dime.
How do you prepare your wardrobe for winter without blowing the budget?
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