Guilty of Wearing Things Once? 5 Tips To Style Your Wardrobe in Different Ways

I'm sure I'm not alone when it comes to buying a new dress for a special event, wearing and feeling great in it but completely forgetting about it until I have a wardrobe clear out. This got me thinking and it seems that the "wear it once" trend is on the rise; are we really that terrified to be seen in the same outfit more than once? Nowadays, social media is the main culprit for the rise of this trend and being "tagged" wearing the same dress twice is even considered a faux pas. Deep down, we all know this is ridiculous – it’s a trend based on an illusion and staging, signifying nothing. Even celebs don’t toss out a designer coat or pair of jeans after its first wear!

The concept of wearing something only once is very disappointing, not to mention wasteful. What kind of fashion bloggers are we if we abide to this nonsense rule? Wearing a piece once indicates lack of style, confidence and misses the point of what fashion is all about. Sustainable fashion and style is about loving clothes and being able to feel comfortable and wear them over and over again. I've come to learn that sometimes, nothing beats a trusted old something, albeit restyled to look fresh and new. This proves that yes, a dress you wore to that wedding can be worn again, perhaps to a different wedding or a completely different occasion, and to show you how to do this, I've teamed up with Debenhams to bring you 5 tips on how to get more use out of those gorgeous items in your wardrobe!

LAYER UP

Not only are layers your best friends when it comes to transitioning to spring, when restyling a piece they add a new dimension to the outfit making it up to the date and modern. A dress I wore to that summer wedding, thanks to a cardigan or a jacket, can now be worn during spring for a garden party or a picnic, keeping me warm and comfy.

ACCESSORIES

This is an obvious one, but you'd be surprised on how many people would not even try changing things up for a new look. Adding a piece (or two, or three) of jewellery can instantly give that new vibe we are looking for. Swap out your earrings, add a necklace and you are good to go!

SHOES

Again, swapping your heels for flats (or vice-versa) goes a long way! In my first look, heels make me feel elegant and mature (aka ready to conquer the world), whilst flats give a cute and down to earth vibe and provide me with comfort for a fun day in the sun.

COLOURS

New colour combinations are perfect for creating a new outfit with the same main piece. For this look I wish I had a few blue cobalt items; that shade looks seriously amazing with orange, but rather than buying something new, I went with what was already in my closet. Putting together colours that are opposites or are further away from each other on the colour wheel is a good way to mix and match pieces and making colour pop! It allows you to create a lot more combinations than you would have thought of before.

HAIR & MAKE-UP

Straight or curly, tied back or braided, you name it; hairstyle changing is easy, cost-free and fun! On that note, changing lipstick and going from a heavy to a lighter make-up look also makes things more interesting and distinct!

Dress*: Coast (here) // Necklace*: Debenhams // Heels: New Look (here) 
Flats: Melissa (similar here) // Clutch: New Look (similar here)

Learning to "work my closet" is fun and helps me get more use out of things without having to buy more clothes! Blogging has shown me that it is possible to wear a piece twice, five, or even ten different ways and that is what fashion stands for! I hope these tips help you find more versatility in your wardrobes and that you don't become a victim of the "wear it once" trend!

What do you think of my outfits? Do you wear pieces more than once? Let me know below beauties!

Thanks for reading and have a nice week ahead!

xoxo

*Contains PR Samples. All opinions are my own (disclaimer here).