The New Year is the perfect time for a wardrobe detox. The party season’s over, it might be a long time before your festive frocks seem like good value on a cost per wear basis. However, tightening the purse strings in January needn’t leave you in a fashion fix. If you’re counting your pennies – or your maxed out credit cards – it’s time to take a fresh look at how you can make the most of your wardrobe.
You may never again get round to wearing that fabulous frock, sky high heels or statement accessories so streamline your wardrobe instead.
By releasing the value locked in your wardrobe and reselling key pieces, you could start to pay off those credit card bills – and even make money to help fund your next shopping expedition.
The boutique
If you’re looking for a stylish new way to maximise your budget and cash in on fashion, take a trip to a second-hand boutiques.
The Dress Agency Directory lists boutique outlets around the UK that sell as-good-as-new fashions on behalf of its female clientele, many of whom confess they have never worn what they once thought was an absolute ‘must have’. One woman’s fashion faux pas can be another woman’s style success.
Sell your good-as new-fashions and you’ll earn commission on the sale price. This kind of boutique is springing up everywhere and benefit seller and customer alike.
The Wardrobe Therapist
If you are feeling brave, employ a Wardrobe Therapist to go through your cupboards for a structured wardrobe detox. They’ll advise you on what to keep, chuck, donate or sell with none of the guilt or sentiment you attach to particular pieces of clothing and footwear.
The benefit of a service like this is that, although it costs money, your therapist will explain which clothes suit your body shape and colouring so you shouldn’t make the same mistakes again and you’ll be able to make money back from your previous erroneous purchases.
Online swap shops and auctions
You can swap your unwanted clothing for items of a similar value on online swap shops or sell it on a auction site such as eBay, Shpock or gumtree to make a little money. You may not be guaranteed a high price, but if the bidding takes off and you have a few people interested you might get more than you bargained for and the possibility of getting a good sale makes it more exciting than some other options.
Wardrobe detox – Classified ads
Consider listing designer or special pieces of clothing in your local newspaper’s classifieds section. There are also plenty of online classified sites worth having a look at. If you have clothing all in one size, you may be able to sell your clothing items as a lot.
There are lots of people out there for whom your wardrobe detox is an inexpensive new look for themselves.
Make do and mend
If you’ve got good sewing skills you could try altering items which you don’t wear or which don’t fit you any more.
Alternatively, find a good seamstress who can carry out this work for you, it will cost a fraction of buying new and you’ll have a completely original piece of clothing to show off. You could even sell the resulting garment as a one-off piece and make some extra cash.
If you enjoyed Wardrobe detox – New Year relief from clutter, you’ll find more sustainable fashion ideas on our fashion and beauty channel.
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