Reduce reuse restyle: styling pieces you already have in new ways.

Imagine a world where you have unlimited money, access to any clothes you want, a personal stylist, buying outfits straight off the mannequin, hand-tailored to your body, everything at your fingertips, no questions asked. I sometimes like to think about what that would be like. But then after a short time of living in my dream world where I ‘m the 6th Kardashian sister, I realize that I don't think it would be as good as it might seem. Sure, it would be easier than being a poor college student working a minimum wage job so you can sometimes go to target and buy some new barrettes, but it wouldn’t be nearly as exciting. I guess what I'm saying is one of my favorite parts of fashion (thrift shopping specifically) is the thrill of the hunt. And the ensuing puzzle of “how does this piece fit into my wardrobe and how many ways can I make it cute?”

Unfortunately, none of us are Kardashian sisters (unless a Kardashian is reading this in that case omg hi why are you here girl??), and because of that, I'm gonna give some of my best tips on how to fit old pieces into new fits so you don’t have to be constantly replenishing a perfectly good collection.

Layering

Everyone who I have talked to about styling interesting outfits knows I have one consistent piece of advice: layering. This is a hill I will die on. If you have a plain colored tee or turtleneck or sweatshirt, there are literally HUNDREDS of layering combinations that you can make if you have a few solid statement pieces and a couple of versatile accessories. I honestly think a closet that is 80% basics 20% statement pieces and accessories has the potential to be more successful than one that is chock full of crazy, virtually unwearable statement pieces. A good wardrobe needs a solid foundation. When layering, one should consider a few things; color/pattern combinations, silhouettes, and overall styles. All of these things will be detailed in their own post because they’re just that important.

Balance it out

Art is all about balance. Ask any artist. Any work of art has to have some semblance of balance. And asymmetrical balance is way more interesting to look at than symmetry. So think about your outfit like a beautiful amazing piece of art. If you have a basic tee or sweater on, balance it out with some interesting pants or a skirt with a print. If you decide to go a little bolder up top with a jacket or more accessories, feel free to keep it simple on the bottom with a pair of jeans. A lot of times on social media you see girls who it just seems have an endless amount of super unique and quirky pieces, but I have a simple response to that: sometimes less is more

Ditch the jeans once in a while

I know I just told you to wear jeans, but all I have to say about jeans is this; they don't have to be the default. One of the most simple ways to make it look like your outfit is more expensive, put together, original, funky and possibly vintage, if that's the look you’re going for, is to swap out your jeans for a pair of slacks, patterned or colored pants, pants with a new texture or a skirt. I also find that even just switching up the cut of your jeans could make an outfit more interesting. Like if you usually go for skinnies, try a wide leg or a flare. Sometimes people skip over the “casual pant” rack at thrift stores, but there are so many cheap options that can really add a lot.

Cut, tuck, and roll

One trend that I have been loving lately is transforming pieces you have had forever by doing one of three things; cutting the hem (especially on shirts, dresses or skirts) to modernize a piece or show more of your figure, tucking a top into some high rise bottoms, or rolling your pant leg or sleeve to make it a bit more form-fitting. These three things are so easy but can truly change the way something looks on you completely and take an outfit from an “eh I guess this works” to an “oh heck yeah I feel cute”. So when in doubt, explore all your options, cut tuck and roll.

Invest in shoes

I am all about living life in the cheapest way possible, thrifting every possible thing and not spending over 20 dollars on any singular thing. But the sad truth of styling is that there are some things that are super hard to score big on in thrift stores. One of those things is shoes. And shoes are SO crucial to an outfit’s overall look and vibe. So when you know your feet are fully grown, start your collection of versatile high-quality shoes and always feel a bit more “fancy upscale fashion lady”

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Ultimately, your closet isn’t what you have, it's what you make of what you have. Being fashionable isn’t about having enough money to buy overpriced stuff and flex on your friends. If I had to buy a new wardrobe every time my style shifted, I would probably be like 3,000 in the hole and bitter. Follow my tips and your closet will never put you 3,000 in the hole and make you bitter.