Feel Like You’re in a Wardrobe Rut? Here’s How to Start Fresh for the New Year!

The holidays have come and gone, and now it’s time for a fresh new year. With the new year often comes fresh starts, and if you find yourself looking at your clothing with distaste, this article is for you! Feel like you’re in a wardrobe rut? Here’s how to start fresh for the new year.

Look for inspiration:

Does anyone need an actual excuse to browse Pinterest? I didn’t think so. Find inspiration for what you like and what you want to portray with your style. Are you starting a new job where you have to opt for more business friendly clothing? Are you trying to take a more laid back and casual approach to clothing this year?

Whatever it is you want your clothing and style to say, search for images which represent that to you. Make yourself a style inspiration board, either online or a physical one. This is a great excuse to get a little crafty on a chilly day and clip some images from magazines. The best way to cultivate a style that you’re proud of is to start with something that inspires you.

Before spending any money, go shopping in your own closet:

This sounds a little crazy because sometimes the reason you want something is because you have nothing like it, however I think that if you take a moment to scour your closet to create the outfit in your head, (or on your inspiration board) you’ll be surprised at how good the outcome is! Often we forget about items we own because we tend to gravitate towards our favorite pieces over and over again. The beauty of this is that when you do find that long lost blouse or pair of pants, it’s like a special treat!

In a perfect world where money didn’t matter, I would buy every clothing item that my little heart desired, but the reality is that I have a budget, and as I draw inspiration from around me, I often have to go shopping in my own closet to create the outfit in my head. Thus, I present you the challenge to draw inspiration from others and shop in your own closet.

Mix and match items that you wouldn’t normally put together:

This isn’t to make you look silly in your clothing, but this is to challenge yourself to create new outfits with what you have. Take the outfit I’m wearing for example: While I often pair my leather jacket with a white blouse, I decided to style it with my velvet maxi skirt instead of opting for my usual skinny jeans. It creates a new outfit and a new look without buying anything. Pull together pieces that you already wear, but style them differently for a fresh take on your current wardrobe.

Mix edgy and feminine pieces for a stylish juxtaposition, and layer your summer items over winter favorites to get more use out of them. For example, try layering your vest or sleeveless trench over a sweater to give yourself a cool winter look.

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It’s easy to fall out of love with your wardrobe when everything around you is talking about starting fresh for the new year. Do you feel like you’re in a wardrobe rut? Here’s how to start fresh for the new year without breaking the bank and buying everything new. Style your clothing in a new way to give it a new feel and look. You’ll be able to get that new and different feeling by searching in your closet to put new outfits together. Look for what inspires you and use that as your starting point. Happy hunting!