How to update your winter wardrobe without breaking the bank

Autumn will soon give way to winter, and it really is time to get your wardrobe winter-ready. As you start to get out all your knitwear and winter coats it can all feel quite depressing, and the idea of a completely updated winter wardrobe is an exciting one. Until you think about the cost!

So in this article we share a few hints and tips on how to update your winter wardrobe. We’ll look at what you actually need in your wardrobe and where to find those items at the best prices. We hope that this will help you to create the perfect winter wardrobe for you, and save money in the process!

What clothes do you need in your winter wardrobe?

One of the first secrets to a fabulous winter wardrobe is to keep it simple. You will already be familiar with the concept of a “capsule wardrobe”. The idea of a capsule wardrobe is that you have a small collection of clothes that manages to include everything that you are likely to need to wear for any occasion. As part of this, most items in your capsule wardrobe need to be able to be worn with most other items, so that you should be able to put together several different combinations of outfits from the same few items. 

The specifics of a capsule wardrobe depend on your personality and lifestyle. But here’s a list of the kind of items that you may want to include in your capsule winter wardrobe:

Suggested capsule wardrobe items for winter include:

• Coats : wool coat, puffer coat, blazer;
• Knitwear : long-sleeved sweater, tank top, stylish cardigan;
• Tops : long-sleeved shirt, smart T-shirt;
• Bottoms : a decent pair of jeans, fitted trousers, midi or maxi skirt;
• Dress : a knitted dress, party dress;
• Footwear : Knee high or ankle boots, chunky shoes;
• Accessories : Hats, scarves, bags etc.

If you had just one quality item of each of the above, you would be well set up for most of what winter has to offer. But where do you start creating this kind of smart winter capsule wardrobe if what you currently have is a jumble of items, none of which really seem to match with anything else?

How to declutter what you already have

The first step to updating your winter wardrobe is to work out what you already have that is worth keeping. Yes, it’s time for a declutter!

So as you get out all your existing winter clothes, it’s time to be ruthless and get rid of any item that you don’t really wear. For example all those clothes that either don’t really fit, or you no longer like. However, take time to do this thoroughly. Try everything on and make an honest assessment. Perhaps there are things that don’t really fit, or you no longer like. But it’s worth taking time to try things on and make an honest assessment. You may come across something that you haven’t worn for a while, but could work well if you teamed it up with something new.

Your overall aim is to keep anything that could become a useful component of your new capsule wardrobe, but get rid of anything that is taking up space but doesn’t need to be there. It may also be possible to make a bit of money when doing this : if you have good quality things to get rid of you can try selling on sites such as eBay, Depop or Vinted to bring in a bit of spare cash.

How to work out what you still need

Once you have sorted out what you already have, it’s time to start building your winter capsule wardrobe. Consider some of the items on our list above and also think about any occasions last winter when a particular item of clothing would have been really useful but you didn’t have it. Also have a look at current fashion trends to see if there are one or two statement pieces that you would like to include.

When doing your planning it can be helpful to mentally run through all the kinds of situations you are likely to be in over the next few weeks and months. For example, work, relaxed days at home, different types of social events, days out, weekends away etc. Then try to visualise what you would ideally like to be wearing in each of those situations. This process should help you to narrow down the additional items you most need in your capsule wardrobe.

Next, make a shopping list of items that you need, in some kind of priority order. You won’t be able to get everything at once, so you need to work out which are the most important. And as you do start to add items to your wardrobe, it’s a really good idea to try them on with everything else that you have. Just one item can make a huge difference if it works with several other items you already have.

How to save money on updating your wardrobe

It’s all very well having your ideal shopping list, but how do you save money on the items you want to buy? It would be incredibly expensive to buy everything new, but fortunately there are various alternative sources of good quality clothes. So you may want to focus on buying one key item at full price – for example a winter coat, pair of boots or good quality sweater – then find other items from alternative sources.

Here are a few ideas on alternative sources for winter clothes:

• Charity shops

Local charity shops can have some lovely high-quality clothing on sale for a fraction of the price it would be brand new. The trick is to pick one or two shops and go in very regularly as stock changes frequently. Not only is it a great way to save money, but you are also supporting a good cause and reducing your carbon footprint by re-using existing clothing.

• Online selling sites

There are many online sites where you can take a stand against fast fashion and pick up great bargains in second hand clothing. For example s eBay, Depop, Vinted, Preloved and HEWI (Hardly Ever Worn It). To get the most out of these sites, use the search and filter options to narrow down exactly what you are looking for. If you are patient, it will come your way.

• Bundles and job lots

Another clever option on some online sites is to include the word “bundle” or “job lot” in your search. This can return details of listings containing several items which a seller does not have time to list individually. A good quality bundle means you save money even if you don’t want every single item in the bundle. You can always take these to a charity shop or pass them onto friends. See our next option!

• Swap shops

A fun way to update your wardrobe is to swap items with friends or family. All you need to do is get together and each bring a few unwanted items to see if anyone else wants them. This could be a great way of refreshing your wardrobe and also helping each other to declutter.

• Reinventing what you have

Last but not least, always consider making changes to something you already have and love, but for some reason is not currently wearable. For example if you have a favourite item that doesn’t quite fit any more, or is looking a bit dated, there may be things that you can do to rescue it.

Here are a few examples to consider:

• Too long : Take up the hem.
• Too short : Add trim to the bottom.
• Too tight : Add another fastener with a longer loop.
• Too loose : Wear with a belt.
• Boring sleeves : Remove them to make a sleeveless top.
• Gaping at front : Either add a press stud or wear a cami underneath. 

We hope that the ideas in this article inspire you to save money as you update your winter wardrobe this year. 

For more ways to save money on everyday aspects of family living, check back here soon with us at Loans 2 Go.