This time of year is one when many of us have many social occasions to attend, whether office events, catching up with friends, Christmas family gatherings, or others.
All of these occasions may have you feeling that you have nothing to wear. If so, read below for some ways to refresh your winter wardrobe.
Start By Understanding What You Have
The first thing you need to do is go through your closet carefully. It’s vital to be very clear on what you already own so you can see where there are gaps in your needs. Get out all of your items and go through them one by one. It pays to take this chance to declutter by trying on pieces you’re unsure about and making a pile of goods to sell, donate, recycle, repair, or bin if needed.
Once you’ve pared your current closet items back to those things that fit you well, you like, wear, and are in good condition, make a list of the types of items you’re missing and need to stock up on this winter.
Avoid Spending Too Much Money on Trends
It’s nice to keep an eye on the current trends this season, so you can stock up on some new pieces and refresh your wardrobe appropriately. However, don’t go crazy investing in items that are likely to only be popular for a short time. It’s often best to minimize the amount you outlay on trendy pieces and instead focus on purchasing evergreen fashion goods that will never go out of style. For example, long-lasting pieces we all need are stylish women’s jeans or men’s trousers, blazers, winter coats, and sturdy boots.
To have a little fun updating your winter wardrobe, though, you might like to test out some trends in a more affordable way by searching lower-cost stores for similar designs to those that come from big-name designers. Or, keep an eye out for pieces from the more affordable designers you already know and love.
You might even want to focus your purchases on trends in accessories, which are typically more affordable than things like sweaters, coats, and pants. You might opt for trend-related scarves, hats, bags, shoes, jewelry, etc.
Focus on Neutral-Colored Clothing
Another tip is to pick out more neutral-colored clothing when shopping for new goods to add to your winter wardrobe selection. When you select pieces in shades such as black, tan, camel, white, cream, gray, and other not-too-out-there hues, you’re much more likely to get a lot of wear out of them.
You can wear these pieces in a mix-and-match way, they should go with plenty of things you already have in your closet, and you’re more likely to be able to utilize them next winter and beyond, too.
Be Open to Secondhand Items
If you’re on a budget, you might also like to refresh your collection of clothing and accessories by being open to wearing secondhand pieces. For example, you could set up a swap day or night with a bunch of close friends and exchange items between you, so everyone ends up with some new additions to their wardrobe.
Alternatively, shop at opportunity stores, garage sales, and online for great secondhand buys. You could also consider renting the latest designer winter pieces from eCommerce sites that rent popular gear for a few days or weeks at a time.
Create a Plan for Shopping
Another way to ensure you spend your money wisely and come home with appropriate winter gear is to create a plan for shopping before you start checking out online shops or going to the mall or other stores. Make a list of the pieces you feel you need, noting the best colors to go with what you already own and the sizes you’ve purchased from particular brands before.
Check Refund and Return Policies
Finally, don’t forget to carefully check all the terms and conditions on return policies at the stores where you shop. Don’t just assume that all places will offer a 30-day refund on change-of-mind wares, especially those on sale. Many boutiques, department stores, and e-tailers have strict no-refund policies on sale items unless they’re faulty or damaged. They might not allow returns of any type or only offer credit or exchanges for discounted pieces.
As such, don’t lay money before you’ve checked the fine print. This way, if you get home and realize you’ve made a big mistake with the style, color, or fit of an item, once you see it in a different light or the buzz of shopping wears off, you don’t have to regret your purchases.
Take your time updating your wardrobe this winter; remember, it’s not a race. It’s better to refresh your closet with one or two key pieces you’ll wear for a long time than lots of things you’ll get sick of quickly or that simply won’t last long.
Try not to buy clothing and other goods when you’re in a big rush, either or when you’re unsure, but the deal seems too good to be true.
