Ladies, we know we’ve all said it. “I DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO WEAR!” Wahhhhh and boohoo! No matter how full our closets are, we feel like we don’t have “just the right thing” or “the perfect” outfit. I’m here to tell you- it’s possible to find that perfect ensemble among the jungle of a closet you already own! Follow my five easy steps to finding a perfect outfit in clothes you already own without spending a dime!
Today’s outfit was inspired by SundayFunday. That’s right- I said it. Sunday Funday. You can’t get too dressed up on a Sunday in the Midwest without everyone looking at your funny. . . (we’re not in NYC- I WISH!) and I still like to add a little pizazz (jazz hands!!!) to my get-up. Here I felt the all black basics made for a good casual base. I added a POP of color with my handbag, lipsick and some freaky-deaky with my leopard wedges. I mean, let’s get real. How can you go wrong with a bit of leopard? I will SOOOOO be one of those old ladies with the double lined lips and a leopard everything. I feel like I can never get enough!. In fact, I have a “leopard” section in my closet. Thank you Peg Bundy for your fashion influence on my early childhood.
Ok, ladies. So how can you build new outfit from your existing closet? Here are 5 steps to help you create some new ensembles from what you already own and guidelines to keep in mind when shopping:
To start: CLEAN OUT YOUR CLOSET REGULARLY. While this may sound contrary to the whole point of this post, it is crucial to keep your closet “clean” and up to date. This doesn’t necessarily mean throw out everything you own every new season to make room for more! NO NO NO! Clean out your closet by asking yourself these following questions:
- Will I ever wear this again? (Is this hideous?) If it makes you want to vomit, or confuses your boyfriend, you should probably advance that sucker to the “give-away” pile.
- Does this still fit me? Have you gained or lost weight? Are you a bit larger than your 19 year-old self? Let’s stick that in the pile too. You can’t wear Abercrombie forever, chica.
- Is there any possibility that this may come back into style again? (High waisted flares! yes they are back in style, but it’s been 40 years. . . so if you are 65 and reading this- KUDOS to you Grandma and ROCK those jeans like you’ve never rocked them before!)
If it is a classic piece, such as a plain cardigan, dark pair of skinny jeans, or plain pair of black pumps, chances are- you should keep it.
And: When shopping; gravitate towards classic pieces. While it’s “ok” to go for that trendy maxi skirt or crop top- keep in mind- that won’t be the style forever!
Now, let’s get down to your closet!
- LOOK FOR BASICS YOU ALREADY OWN. A good pair of dark jeans, leggings, a dark tee, blouse or tank can go a long way. My absolute go-to items are basic tees, tanks and cardigans from Forever 21. I wear them under everything and they run from $3-10! A good basic palette can be the canvas for something fabulous!
2. LOOK FOR CURRENT TRENDS IN THE DEPTHS OF YOUR CLOSET. For example- I am loving the floral and fringe trends. I already have several fringe and floral pieces in my closet, from YEARS ago! Pair these with something basic to update the look. I love using accessories or accent pieces to “make” the outfit.
- JAZZ IT UP WITH A GOOD PAIR OF SHOES. Not all shoes have to be expensive gals! Do you have something bright? Do you have something funky? Add this to your basic outfit to liven it up! I just ordered a pair of FABULOUS fringed booties from “JustFab” where you can get amazing deals from- not paid to say this- I just happen to drool over the selection several times a week! Justfab.com is a great place to start if you DO happen to have a need to re-start your shoe collection.
On another note- classic shoes that can last forever are abundantly in style right now: Chuck Taylor’s, Moccassins, and cowgirl boots will always rock my world! I also love a good solid BLACK and/or Nude pump. These go with ABSOLUTELY anything. Can you say “INVESTMENT”?!?!?
- ACCESSORIZE! Ladies, we all have a few good accessories. Think of a specific look you’d like to go for and build it with accessories! Head bands, bracelets, necklaces to scarves- options here are endless. Again- this goes back to the basics you might own. Wear something simple and jazz it up with a scarf and hat! A tank with a jean jacket and a head band. Mix and match. Try something new!
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CREATE YOUR OWN “LOOKBOOK”. Yes, girls. I know we’re all busy. However, creating a look book can give you quick and easy outfit ideas on the spur of the moment. Not sure what to wear? Refer to your pinterest! I know we all build boards on pinterest, but how often do we look at them? Utilize your style board girls! Save ideas you think you might be able to put together yourself! There’s nothing wrong with looking to other ladies for outfit-spiration! Most of the time the looks I save are composed of pieces I already have!
Remember- buy simple with a few trendy items! Your basic items will last you longer and your trendy items will add that “pop!” you want!
This particular outfit was dug deep, deep, out of the closet. Ok, not so deep. These jeans I’ve had forever, the purse for a few months and is now on sale from target, and the sweater from Charlotte Russe from who knows when. The point of this whole post is to show you that- yes! You can look cute without spending any money on a new outfit.
Ok. Confession. The wedges are relatively new, but I bought them with a gift card, so that’s like FREE. Right? I can’t resist a sale on something with leopard print. (Insert embarrassed face here.) Outfit details below.
- Jeans: Forever 21, (old) Similar: Shop Bop, Here.
- Purse: Target, on sale now, here.
- Tank: $3.80 (I own every color!) Here.
- Wedges: Jessica Simpson “Westy”. I can’t find anywhere online, but they were recently purchased at Nordstrom rack.
- Sweater, Charlotte Russe: Also, I coudn’t find anything comparable. Who cares? cardigans are a dime a dozen! I love Forever 21 and old navy for these staple pieces!
- BUT— the point of this post was to show you, you don’t always need something new when you can make what you already have fabulous!
Show me what outfit you’ve built from your closet girls! and hashtag: #bighairandfoodiefare
xo Kelli