Denver Thrifts

These tips will make your clothes much more versatile. [Photo by Lauren Schmidt]

By Lauren Schmidt

Method 1 – Accessorize

Our first way to vitalize your plain outfits is through accessorizing, but not just with a necklace. There are so many kinds of accessories from hats to belts to bags, and combining them is a super quick and easy way to spruce up something bland.

Add these easy-to-thrift accessories to elevate your outfit. [Photos by Lauren Schmidt]

Something as simple as a plain black tee and jeans can become an elevated outfit with a few simple additions. We added a lace bralette and some cream bloomers for texture, both of which are super common to find in many thrift stores. An interesting belt gives the bottom half something to draw the eye, and we matched its western vibe with some silver stone and cord jewelry.

Method 2 – Experiment with Styles

Another easy way to pull new outfits from the closet you already have is by putting pieces together that you might assume don’t fit. My favorite way to do this is by mixing masculine and feminine pieces in equal measure to create unexpected combinations.

Playing with gendered styles can have great results. [Photos by Lauren Schmidt]

Here a very feminine white skirt and gray tee becomes an embellished outfit by using this technique. Switching the gray tee for a band shirt creates one of those masculine elements, combined with the platform boots and a leather bag. For the feminine, switch the plain white skirt for lace, add frilly socks and some baby pink beaded jewelry.

Method 3 – Vary the Textures

Our last trick is another example of using unexpected combinations, this time through texture. Mixing different materials throughout an outfit gives it lots to catch the eye and looks more complex than wearing simple ‘soft’ textures. Using similar colors makes this even easier to achieve.

Mixing fabrics doesn’t have to be overwhelming if you keep the color palette. [Photos by Lauren Schmidt]

In this example, we mixed lace, knit, fur, and denim to create a dynamic outfit that still doesn’t feel too overwhelming to the eye. This is done by drawing out colors from the knit and replicating them in the other elements. The red and green from the left sleeve of the knit are repeated by the lace top and furry bag, and the denim brings a neutral element that keeps the balance.

Avoiding overconsumption is a critical step in making your habits more sustainable; 92 million tons of clothing ends up in landfills each year, and much of this is due to cycling things out of our closets too soon. So next time you feel that urge to splurge, try one of these tips to revitalize an old piece instead!

Check out some more inspiration below! ⤵︎