I’ve never really known what my style was. I’m aware of certain pieces I’m drawn to and what I think I like overall, but I’ve never gotten creative with my outfits or pushed myself out of my comfort zone. In the last few months, I have started paying closer attention to what I’m wearing and what others wear. The clothing one wears reflects who they are on the inside. Fashion is not only a form of expression but self-love. To better understand why self-expression through personal style is so important, I suggest you read this lovely article written by Kaylee Dris from Her Campus UFL here.
However, it can be difficult at times to figure out your own personal style or even have the budget to do so. In a world that has an overwhelming and saturated fashion industry, the idea of transforming your style or wardrobe can seem daunting.
As I grow up, I find myself having more of an interest in fashion, but more specifically, my personal style. I want my clothes to showcase my personality and make me feel comfortable in my own skin — confident even! We all know the feeling of putting on a bangin’ outfit and feeling pretty, and I wanted to revamp my closet to give me more of an opportunity to do that. Here are some tips I’ve gathered to help you transform and build your wardrobe in order to reflect your current style without breaking the bank.
- Try on everything
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Pick a day to go through your wardrobe and try on everything. Purge items you no longer wear or that don’t feel like “you” anymore. Try on pieces in combinations that you usually wouldn’t and attempt to ignite new inspiration with the clothes you already have. You never know what outfits you might come up with when you are pairing items together that you previously haven’t. It’s a cost-effective way to get new looks and can influence you to be more creative!
- Build with basics
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Having a few basic pieces that you can build off of is imperative when transforming your wardrobe. Having solid color pieces in all aspects of your wardrobe is a great start because they are versatile. I mean think about how much you can wear with a basic white, black or gray tee, and that’s just the beginning! Collecting basics over time and experimenting with styling them can be one of the best ways to learn how to put outfits together and see what you like on your body before spending a bunch of money on a shopping spree (we’ve all been there). Having basics to choose from allows you to experiment with jackets and layering, dressing an item up or down depending on the occasion and testing out varying types of accessories to find out what style speaks most to you.
Besides being so versatile, one of the best things about basic items is that they are affordable and can be found at virtually any store. If you want cute, affordable and accessible options, I would visit your local Target as they have some of the best basics on a budget, ranging from crop tops, baggy tees, jeans and accessories. Here is a video by YouTuber @itsyuyan that I think perfectly showcases how basic pieces in your wardrobe can be used in many different ways to create trendy and customizable outfits titled, “CLOSET ESSENTIALS | how to build your wardrobe.”
- Customize your pieces
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Whether they are items from your current wardrobe or are thrifted pieces, there is so much power in customizing and DIYing your own clothes. There are many ways to change up what you might already have such as painting, sewing and the most popular, cropping. You’d be surprised how much fun you can have revamping outdated items in your closet or transforming a piece you thrifted. I highly recommend looking up “thrift flips” on YouTube and watching some videos for inspiration. It’s insane what you can create with a little imagination. Plus, it makes for unique and one-of-a-kind pieces!
I don’t know about you, but I’m a little timid to put myself out there in terms of fashion. I worry that I can’t pull off certain outfits, people will judge me or that I’m wasting my money on clothes I don’t need. However, I’ve noticed each time I step outside of my home in an outfit that I feel is cute, I gain a little more confidence and I think that’s key to recognize in this process. You don’t have to purge everything in your closet to transform your wardrobe. You don’t have to be 100% confident in everything you wear since it’s a growing and learning process. You should wear what makes you feel good and the most authentic version of yourself. Most importantly, you shouldn’t worry about what others think of you, especially about how you dress.
Hopefully, these tips have helped you brainstorm ways to revamp your closet and curate a new and improved wardrobe to reflect who you are. Also, here are some articles I found that discuss how to shop sustainably and ethically while on a budget:
5 Tips For Creating A Sustainable & Ethical Wardrobe On A College Budget
A Beginner’s Guide To Shopping Sustainably On A Budget
Now put on that fit, strut your stuff, spread kindness and positivity and do you. You got this!