10 Ideas to Help You Love Your Wardrobe and Stop Buying Clothes New

I can’t explain the joy my small, curated wardrobe gives me. A bigger wardrobe should really mean more choice and more excitement, but if you’ve ever stared blankly at a stuffed closet then you know that’s very often not the reality. My little seasonal capsule wardrobe, on the other hand, is reliably wonderful, saving me from the fatigue of deciding what to wear and helping every day to feel a little lighter.

It wasn’t always this way – I too had a spell under the lure of fast fashion and spent many years feeling guilty at the obscene amount of money I spent on clothes. If you’re looking for a way out, I hope today’s post will give you the inspiration to reduce, or even stop, buying new clothes.

1. Edit your emails

Far from being a productive experience, opening my inbox these days can often feel like being bombarded with adverts. Between invitations to shop sales and take advantage of special offers, there are thousands of voices telling us to buy clothes. Simply unsubscribing from newsletters can make a huge difference to how much you’re tempted to buy.

It doesn’t stop at email either. Editing your social media follows can also be a great way to remove the voices pushing you to buy more clothes and instead hear from those who encourage you to make the most of what you have.

2. Buy quality 

So it’s a little strange to have the second tip in this list be about buying clothes, but one of the first steps in buying less has to be to buy intentionally. Sadly, fast fashion is not built to last. To make it cheap, it’s often poorly constructed from fabrics that aren’t particularly hardwearing. By contrast, there are hundreds of brands taking a slower approach to creating clothing, with the result of beautiful, long-lasting items. 

This is one of the areas where shopping with small brands comes into its own – handmade pieces that someone has lovingly created are much more likely to stay the course. And while these brands tend to be more expensive, in the long run the cost-per-wear will be much better, because you can get years, even decades of wear out of an item. If cost is important for you, then you can always shop secondhand, including vintage clothing which is often better made than its modern counterparts. Which brings me on to…

3. Shop secondhand

Such is the volume of clothing available in the world today that it is possible to buy just about anything secondhand. While we may have limits on what we’re happy to wear used (underwear, perhaps!) the everyday items that make up our wardrobe can often be found in excellent condition for a fraction of the price. 

All the usual places are wonderful for finding secondhand gems – eBay, Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, even car boot sales and vintage kilo sales. When buying, check the item thoroughly for holes and imperfections. While I don’t necessarily think these should stop you from buying something (on which more later…) it’s worth knowing what you’re buying.

Don’t forget that secondhand also includes vintage items, which are beautiful, unique and often longer lasting than new clothing. Look for vintage shops that curate items similar to your taste.

4. Create capsule wardrobes

Approximately once a week I can be found rearranging my living room decor late into the night, simply because I’m bored of it! If you’re a magpie for new-ness like me, then one reason for buying clothes may well be the desire for continual change in your wardrobe. 

I’ve found one of the most wonderful ways to help yourself here is to create seasonal capsule wardrobes. I have pre-planned days at the end of each season where I know I will be able to consider buying a few select pieces. And this helps me no end as I try to abstain from spending mid-season. What’s more, when it comes to switching up my capsule for the coming season, it feels like Christmas Day as I sort through the pieces I had stored away. There will be much-loved pieces that had slipped my mind, and the excitement of wearing these rediscoveries outstrips anything I could buy new!

5. Learn to accessorise

Similarly, those struggling with the desire for the new will find the right accessories can make an outfit feel completely fresh. Classic options include bold, chunky necklaces, statement earrings or beautiful shoes. Again, small makers are your friend here, like my lovely friend Nicole at The Fruit Moth who makes beautiful hair accessories and vintage-style collars. A collar can completely transform a dress or shirt, helping you to wear a few select pieces without them becoming boring.

6. Care for your clothes well

If there’s one thing my mother instilled in me, beautiful woman that she is, it’s that clothing lasts longer if you care for it well. I’ve always been prone to throwing clothes on the floor at the end of the day, washing them on whatever setting takes my fancy, and treating them a little like they don’t matter. 

Sadly the slapdash approach to wardrobe care means your pieces just won’t last as long, and once-loved items will have to be mended or thrown away before their time. I used to think that proper care would be time-consuming, but a few small changes have made all the difference to the longevity of my favourite pieces. 

• I hang everything up at the end of the day (or fold in the drawer, as required!)
• I make sure I follow the care instructions on the label, including avoiding the tumble dryer where stated – very important!
• I try to mend or reinforce things quickly when they start to show signs of wear. I don’t always manage this one, but when I miss the boat and find myself darning a huge hole I’m reminded why it pays to catch things early!

7. Learn how to mend

And speaking of mending, this is one of the foundations for me of a long-lasting beautiful wardrobe. I know the idea of mending things can seem quite scary at first, but the beauty of it is that you don’t need to do a particularly neat job. The trend towards authentic, visible mending means that your work can become a treasure in itself. And as with any craft, practice makes perfect, so you can only get better at it!

I find mending comes in handy for items you already own, but also for pieces of clothing you buy secondhand. Jumpers with moth holes, dresses with tears and trousers with worn knees can only be made new in a matter of hours (minutes, if you’re a pro!) Not only will this save you money, but it will often put beautiful, unique pieces in reach.

8. Alter things that don’t fit

I’m sure that everyone has a piece in their wardrobe that they love, except for one or two minor annoyances. It may be a waistline that’s slightly too loose, sleeves that are too short, or the perennial frustration for those who, like me, are on the shorter side – too much length. Indeed I think it’s fair to say that (for mothers at least!), our bodies change as we age, and once loved pieces can fall out of favour. 

It turns out that many minor alterations are easily achievable with some basic sewing skills. Hemming trousers takes barely an hour, and can be done with a glass of wine and Netflix for company. Though if needlework eludes you then there’s always the option of paying a local seamstress to alter your pieces. It’s surprising how affordable it can be to have a piece transformed into your perfect item.

9. Get comfortable repeating outfits

Thanks to wonderful advocates like Kate Middleton, outfit repeating has become somewhat mainstream. Where we might have felt embarrassed to wear an outfit multiple times, it’s becoming more acceptable to make the most of what you wear. If you’re still struggling to re-wear, accessories are your friend, as is the seasonal change-up that allows you an opportunity to bring in some fresh pieces. This is one of those things where the more we all do it, the easier it will feel.

10. Rent rather than buy

And finally, if you’re searching for something you know you will only get a few wears out of, consider renting rather than buying. The perfect solution for special events, travel and one-off occasions, renting can provide a way to source items you need for a short period, or that you can’t afford to buy outright.

Renting can be a great release valve for pent-up temptation to shop, providing the rush of receiving something new (to you, at least!) without the long-term commitment. Similarly, it’s a great way to trial a big purchase before you commit, helping you to avoid purchases you regret, and to buy with intention.