Summer coming to a close is the exact reason why my blog hasn't been too active in the past few weeks. The favorite season for some is almost gone, at least for the students like me, and it actually pains me to think that I'll be going back to school in 10 days. I've been cramming summer reading, my AP art work, and the end-of-summer required dance classes into the last few weeks of summer, so I've had no time to even think of ideas for a new post, or even go outside the house to find inspiration. And on top of all of that, I have to start preparing for school. Not by going to Staples and buying school supplies (I am way past buying those things before school starts; remember, I'm going to be a senior), but by preparing in the fashion sense. I'm one of the few people at my school who actually cares about "dressing well" for school, but it's still a major problem for many of us. This is also an issue for college students because many of you would rather not show up to every class in your pajamas. With the stress of mentally preparing for school, preparing your wardrobe adds yet another stress factor. I'm one of those people who plan their outfits for the entire first week of school, and this can be tricky when I haven't even had the chance (or money) to shop. Instead of buying all the newest (and most expensive) clothes, figure out what the latest, and even better, still unknown trends are, and use your current wardrobe to satisfy these trends. There are a few staple items that are almost necessary to buy in this back to school preparation, but other than that, leave it to your seemingly outdated wardrobe and brain to create a new look, just in time for school.
Here are a few tips:
Try some DIY action. This is the oldest trick in the book when you want your old wardrobe to look newer than ever. This is especially good for warmer weather (aka the first few months of school), because it is way easier to transform cold weather items into warm weather ones rather than the other way around. Take your favorite (but outdated) pair of jeans and cut them to make a homemade pair of denim cut-offs, and even distress them yourself instead of paying way too much for a small (and destroyed) amount of denim. Cut a maxi skirt into a midi skirt because we all know that midis are taking over the skirt world. And midis are also perfect for those schools with strict dress codes -- they're definitely long enough, but they're still in style and few people who are still in school attempt to pull them off (For some reason, they think they'll look like a grandma, even if they compliment you on wearing them... I still don't get it.) DIY is the free alternative to spending money on more clothes to pile into your closet and letting old ones stay hidden in the back.
Mix and match old basics to cater to new trends. This is another old trick in the fashion book, and this is definitely one I use the most. Many people think I'm constantly shopping, but I really just know how to reuse items to make them look new. All it takes is wearing them in a different way than you did before, and this may sound tricky, but it is pretty simple. For example: last year, I always paired this black sweater with jeans and boots in the colder weather, but once it started to warm up, I began wearing the same black sweater with skirts and sandals (seen here) to both cater to the higher temperature and "light layers" trend. Then there's the new "all blue" trend, which can easily be satisfied by pairing your blue items together instead of buying a new outfit just for that trend. No one but you will truly recognize that what you're wearing isn't new if it's worn in a completely new way. Just research the new trends, and use your current wardrobe differently than you used to to have a brand new look just in time for school.
Try switching up your beauty/accessories routine. Just a simple change in your makeup or accessories will make you look like a brand new person, regardless of the clothes you wear. Buy a few new lipstick colors to transform your look, or completely stop wearing the eyeliner you wore every day last year. Stop wearing those outdated earrings, or start wearing a few bracelets with every outfit. Just the small things can make all the difference, and it is way easier and cheaper to change this than to buy a whole new wardrobe.
And finally, go out and buy the things you actually need. Sometimes, it's not possible to completely transform your look with the things you already have. Using the above tips will add a change, but getting a few new things will definitely help. However, it's best to splurge on unique items that you will use frequently. Shoes, backpacks, a few special dresses, but that's it. It's okay to save up for a new expensive pair of sneakers, especially when you don't even own a single pair of sneakers (like me!). I've wanted this pair of shoes for forever, and after saving up, this one item can completely alter my entire wardrobe. The same goes for bags or backpacks -- one look at your new and trendy bag will make people fall for your entire look. Anything like this UNIF backpack will do the trick, and it's definitely worth the money. Rather than spending all of your money on new clothes, spend some of it on the stuff that really matters.
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