Less Is More: Improve Your Style Without Spending A Penny
June 11, 2011 by Arash Mazinani
Filed under All Content, Gentlemen, Style Tips
I was recently reading an article about how to improve your style on another blog. It had some really great tips not just on improving on your style but on improving your life. However, one thing that concerned me was the emphasis on purchasing new items and shopping. While being a savvy shopper is certainly beneficial to improving your style, going out and spending money is not necessarily the answer to it either. The article in question focused on making commitments however small they maybe an example used was going out and buying one piece a week which would equate to 52 new pieces for the year.
But do you really need to buy a new item every week in order to improve your style?
Yes that is one way to go about it but I’d rather encourage you to work with what you already have and maybe updating your wardrobe with 1 or 2 key pieces. Especially considering most people are looking to cut back on their spending habits at the moment. If you have the money to burn and fancy an entire new wardrobe then sure go ahead and shop until you drop. But working with what you already have will force you to become more inventive with the outfits you put together.
I’ve occasionally seen outfit bloggers go on shopping bans to make themselves more creative rather than relying on a constant stream of new clothes.
You can spend time creating look books and browsing the web for inspiration. This will help you build your eye for good style. You can look into altering the clothes you already have to make sure what you already own fits you well. A wardrobe full of well fitted garments will instantly improve your overall look. Think outside the box a little as well, look to see if there is anything you have around the house or borrow pieces from relatives to accessorise your outfits. I used to raid my mum’s accessories and look for items that weren’t too feminine that I could use to jazz up an outfit. Whenever I did this I used to get lots of female compliments, so just think a little, get creative and have fun… improving your style doesn’t have to cost you at all.
Let me know what you think by commenting below
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How shocking- the idea that you can be more stylish if you commit to 1 purchase a week? I am a fashion addict but that is so wrong- committing to excess, committing to potential environmentally unfriendly waste – it’s an unrealistic thing for many too. To give this target as ‘advice’ that you ‘should’ do (commit has overtones) makes me feel very uneasy.
I always feel that when I have a wardrobe clear-out, maybe customise things and/or get rid of raggedy bits, I’m more stylish before I even buy anything more: because i’ve got what goes together fresh in my mind and everything I have is up to scratch.
I know that was the point that made me write the post so I’m glad you agree with me ha ha
I like the post very much Arash – whether you are a man who buys clothes because you need something to wear or because you are striving towards perfection it is always worth considering how well does a garment fit. Dress sharply and you will get noticed, also if you consider your purchases carefully you will find that its extremely interchangeable – less is more !! So as you say a few key purchases that make you feel great every time you wear them are so much better than the just okay items !!
Certainly thanks for commenting wearitwellguru
I’m really trying to be inventive right now, mostly because of money, but also because I don’t covet millions of things. I prefer to have few fantastic pieces and an endless array of clothing. That is why i intend to sell a lot of my clothing on my site. Style is about wearing anyhing in an inventive way, an inspirational way, a different way and doing all of that well.
I find a scarf with a good powerful print does wonders and updates any outfit fantastically.
Thanks for your comments Jessie, I agree it’s about finding a creative flair and seeing how many ways you can tweak and work an outfit.
I can afford buy new pieces all the time.. I am all about re using and changing a bit my style. Always works..and yes.. less is better!
lee x
Thanks for commenting Lee
Such a great post! I completely agree with you. We already have so much — why not work with what we’ve got?