The Zero Dollar Style Investment: Updating Your Look for Free

It's Spring!!!

It's time to start anew, to freshen up, to leap gleefully from the frumpy winter haze and into the brilliant light of style and . . .

. . . economic crisis.

No worries! You can give your look a boost with as little as zero dollars and zero cents. In fact, if anything, our nose-diving economy gives us a clever little gift: the gift of forced creativity.

So, here we go!

Rediscover the Forgotten

Remember that hideous necklace Great Aunt Verna gave you for Christmas seven years ago? The one you kept only so she could see you wear it when she visited? Take another look at it. Still ugly? It may be, but tastes change. it's worth another look.

Doesn't Match, You Say? Prove It.

I was convinced for two years that my absolutely favorite pair of pants only went with two of my tops, both of which were often out of commission, due to "dry clean only" instructions. This theory was shattered the day I paired them with something else for a quick dash out to the grocery store. I was only using them to clothe my body out of necessity, but when I caught sight of myself in the mirror, I discovered that those pants were capable of a variety of styles I had never even stopped to consider.

Try emptying out your closet and having fun. Combine things you think shouldn't go together. Most of the time you'll be absolutely right. But what a delight it is to be wrong!

Layers!

You're in luck! Layers are in style! And not only that, but layering has become a test of daring . . . women everywhere are layering unexpected colors, mismatched textures, cold over warm, warm over cold . . . it's an orgy of fashion experimentation! And the best part is, an extra layer can alter the entire vibe of an article of clothing, so you can get two or more looks out of one garment.

Join Forces

Friends are always a good avenue to style versatility. If you have a friend who's comfortable loaning clothes, don't be afraid to ask to borrow once and a while. And when you're ready to let a garment go, check in with the girls before you send it to Goodwill. What's old news to you may open up new possibilities for them, and in doing this, you will officially open the door to the sharing of retired garments.

Scissors and Needles

The internet and crafting literature are brimming with ideas for renovating clothing. There are even books like Generation T by Megan Nicolay that teach you how to create an entirely new look with a t-shirt and scissors.

If you're feeling really crazy, bust out your own design. I sometimes browse Outsapop Trashion's photostream (link below) for inspiration. She has a lot of creative ideas. Don't be afraid to take a risk or two. If you're not wearing those pants anyway, you haven't lost anything if your idea for a skirt doesn't pan out. And no fabric is ever really lost. If you can't make a full garment out of the material, you can always use it to embellish something else.

Let courage be your guide on this adventure of affordable wardrobe-updating. Dare yourself to think beyond convention . . . force unexpected combinations until your mind learns to naturally see new possibilities.

There is nothing more satisfying than walking around, knowing that your hotness was born from your own genius.