Building a personal style can be fun and fulfilling, but it can also be expensive! This hobby requires patience and devotion to finding pieces that feel right for you, and the urge to spend more money than is necessary to update your closet can be hard to resist.
Styling pieces you already have can feel repetitive, but trying different looks can help you break out of a fashion rut!
- Style Something You Never Reach For
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As someone who usually gets my clothes second-hand, I feel a rush when I find a unique piece that feels like it was made for me. I typically find a way to incorporate that new piece into an outfit, but in my daily wardrobe I barely reach for it.
Over the years, I’ve thrifted more pieces that fit this description than I’d like to admit. I’ve learned, though, that when I’m in a fashion rut, their unique style makes them perfect when I want something new.
For example, take this top. When I first saw it, I thought it looked like something Britney Spears might wear in a 2006 music video. That concept really caught my eye, and I bought it!
Most days, though, I’m not in a “Britney-Spears-music-video” mood. But when I realized I hadn’t worn it in a while, I was determined to make it fit me perfectly. So this is what I came up with!
Original photo by Sarah Schell At the time, I really loved pairing a black mini-skirt with just about anything. I’d also recently thrifted these winter boots, and adored the look of pairing them with knee-high socks.
For my top, I wore a dark green tank, which added the right amount of colour to the top half of my outfit. When I paired it with the Britney-esque top, it felt new to me yet fit my own style. To date, it’s one of my favourite outfits I’ve put together! I’d highly recommend trying out this method and seeing what you get.
- Statement Jewelry
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As soon as I started wearing statement jewelry, I haven’t been able to go back to wearing anything else. Dainty necklaces, for example, are perfect for a minimalistic look, but I’ve realized minimalistic jewelry isn’t my thing. Especially if my outfit leans on the simpler side, a statement necklace can help balance it out.
Original photo by Sarah Schell This cross necklace, for example, has become a staple for me. While it fits a more ‘gothic’ aesthetic, it’s definitely possible to find a statement necklace for any style.
Remember, statement jewelry can be any kind of jewelry! My favourite type is a necklace, but bracelets, rings, and earrings can fit this category. For bracelets, I’d recommend studded bracelets or bangles to spice up your look.
As for rings and earrings, they can be bold through colour or size. Having statement jewelry can add a lot to any outfit that may feel lacklustre. And having a few statement pieces to rotate through is always a plus!
- DIY— (you don’t have to be an expert)
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For a while, the thought of altering my clothes felt a bit daunting. I can sew, but I’m not very good at it. For many, changing a piece of clothing can feel too time-consuming, but there are easy ways to do it yourself!
Original photo by Sarah Schell When I thrifted this top, it was a polo shirt that was way too big on me. The design you see on the front was originally the back, which I wanted to change.
I altered this top by just taking a pair of scissors and going for it. I cut off the neckline and the sleeves, then wore the back as the front. To fix how big it was on me, I used a hair tie to tie it up at the back. To hide the hair tie, I wore a cardigan over it.
This DIY wasn’t done perfectly, but it worked! Since changing it, I’ve been wearing it a lot now that I’m happy with it.
- Mixing Patterns
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This one is controversial, but after watching Carrie Bradshaw pull it off so many times in Sex and the City, I decided to try it with my own style. To do that, I paired a polka-dot top with a midi skirt featuring a floral design.
Original photo by Sarah Schell I personally love wearing dark colours because they feel so right for me. What initially put me off mixing patterns was that I only saw it done in extremely bold outfits—not just in colour, but in the patterns themselves.
While it creates visual interest, the way I mixed patterns feels like it isn’t too loud for what I usually like wearing. Because of that, I’d recommend trying it out even if you’re skeptical.
To find more inspiration tailored to your personal look, I highly recommend checking out outfit inspiration on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Using your creativity instead of your money to upgrade your style is not only great for your financial health but also for the environment! I hope that these tips help you in implementing that creativity into your own style.