How to change my style on a budget?

[Hereforthechange]

i feel like mentally I’m in a place where I want to change my style.
It has changed over the years starting with patterns and slogans and colours and everything basically mismatched almost to the more toned down one what I have now, just jeans and T-shirts basically.
i always liked the minimal style, the earthy tones , just quite simple pieces but never really had that for myself and now I feel like I’m ready to overhaul my wardrobe.

The question is - how to do it on a strict budget? Life has not been easy on us like for a lot of people and budget for new clothes/ shoes basically has been non existent, unless something is not wearable anymore and you need a new piece.

I feel like I want to thrown everything out now but have no budget really to replace everything? Any tips how to slowly build your wardrobe from scratch when the money is tight?

Perhaps you could alter some of your existing clothes? Can you alter them to create new, or use the existing fabric to restyle? Upcycle! Also, I’ve used Vinted a lot recently, great second hand clothing often never worn and perfectly cheap.

Sell all your stuff on Vinted and use the proceeds to replace
With stuff from Vinted

I’d start as close to home as possible. Do you have any sister(s), cousins, close friends of roughly your size, with whom you might trade favours for the odd item of clothing? I’ve been known to pass on clothes that don’t fit or don’t suit to members of my family, and in turn they might lend me something I only need as a one off.

Separately, it would be worthwhile letting anyone relevant know that vouchers for a particular clothing shop would be the most welcome Christmas / birthday gift.

Beyond that - I don’t know what to say about charity shops. They clothed me very stylishly as a student decades ago, but you need to be lucky in your location, and have the time to sift. Hard to say if online pre-owned sites are more worthwhile - but obviously you can try both. Plenty of people nowadays seem to buy everything on Vinted, and don’t feel the need to look elsewhere.

Some supermarkets can be good. Look for simple shapes and natural fibres. I know someone who has been very enthusiastic about Sainsbury’s organic cotton t shirts. Don’t know if they still stock them.

TK Maxx, especially the more expensive Gold Label section, can be wondrously rewarding, if you understand what to ignore. But not always.

If you can stand the multiple emails it’s worth getting on the mailing lists of shops you’d like to buy from - so you’ll know when their sales are, are ‘get your eye in’ as regards new shapes and proportions. (Even minimalist style evolves over time.)

I do think a little knowledge - about fabrics, clothing production, laundry methods, ironing and storage - can help a lot in maintaining a stylish wardrobe, whatever your budget.

I’ve just done the same, buying from Vinted I’ve replaced 70% of my wardrobe with really good quality clothes over the last few months and only spent £300. I checked every day while watching tv and filtered the brands I was after for most recently added.

Have you checked out the DIY designer on you tube. Easy hacks and ways to alter, repurpose or make your own clothes and you don’t have to be an expert. Some are no sew projects. Just a thought.