Spring brings warmer temperatures and the desire for a refresh. You naturally want to shed old layers and bring something new into your closet but buying clothes adds up fast. Even if purchasing a whole new wardrobe isn’t in the budget, you can still spruce up your clothing selection with these tips:
Host a Clothing Exchange
You and all of your friends likely have clothing that you are willing to part with in favor of new-to-you pieces, so get everyone together for a clothing swap. Encourage participants to clean out their closets and bring any clothes that no longer “spark joy” for them. Bonus: this is a nearly free social event to catch up with friends who may have been hibernating over the winter and meet new people.
Shop at a Second-Hand Store
If you have a high tolerance for sorting through clothing items to find that diamond in the rough, your efforts will be rewarded at the thrift store. Goodwill, Salvation Army, and local charity thrift stores have the best deals if you are willing to search. And isn’t that part of the fun anyway? For even deeper discounts, shop Goodwill’s “Color of the Week;” it offers 50%-75% off certain items. Participating Salvation Army stores offer half-off on Wednesdays.
If you want a more curated selection of clothes to choose from, consignment stores like Buffalo Exchange, Crossroads, and Style Encore are a better bet. Online second-hand resellers like the Poshmark, thredUP, and The RealReal are also good options for someone who knows exactly what brand and size they are searching for. Another upside: if you also have your own clothes that you’re ready to rehome, you can also sell or consign them with your favorite brick-and-mortar or online consignment shop.
Sign Up for a Clothing Subscription
If you love the thrill of adding new clothing items to your rotation every month but don’t have the budget or closet space to continue acquiring new items, a monthly clothing subscription could be perfect for you. Nuuly and Rent the Runway allow you to borrow a certain number of clothing items per month for a fixed monthly price. With one of these services, you can enjoy a few new pieces of clothing every month with the certainty of knowing that you won’t go over your clothing budget.
Peruse Your Local “Buy Nothing” Group
No price beats free! If you have a local “Buy Nothing” group, take advantage of it. Members often post specific clothing items they are looking to rehome. On occasion, you can bring home an even bigger haul by scoring a “traveling bag of clothes.” This is a large bag of clothes that gets passed around between members. People take what they want and add pieces from their clothes they no longer need. These are often collected by size and sometimes by a particular style of clothing such as business casual or athleisure.
Final Thoughts
If you feel the need for a spring wardrobe refresh, there are options for every budget. The key is to find one (or three) that work for you!
