You might find a hidden gem that you had forgotten about.
The first piece of advice, while not terribly exciting in theory, is to simply do a clear-out of clothing you already own. Oftentimes after doing laundry, I’ve found myself lazily tossing an item of clothing to the back of the wardrobe, without so much of a thought about it after. So, look at what clothes are sitting at the back of your wardrobe, and you never know - you might find a hidden gem that you had forgotten about. A clear-out is also fantastic for finding clothing that you don't wear anymore to re-sell online and re-invest into new pieces of clothing.
Pairing different pieces of attire that you haven’t before could be a simple ingredient to elevate your outfits in a whole new way. Alongside this, you could upcycle your clothing to fit in with whatever the latest trend is by looking on Pinterest and seeing whether something you already own is similar enough to transform it to match that vibe. As a bonus to upcycling and DIY-ing your ‘new’ wardrobe, you could arrange this into being some quality time with friends as they may have clothing they want to adjust too, and potentially even exchange entirely.
You never know what you might find...
Some of you with more eccentric styles may not necessarily see the point of owning basics, but they can be quite game-changing when it comes to putting together outfits while still maintaining that element of whimsy. It’s useful to have timeless pieces in neutral colours, plain tops and jeans, as these items allow for seamless layering, particularly in the cold winter months. They can also help balance out more dramatic aspects of your outfit, like a muted jacket being paired with a patterned, colourful skirt. Think of it as somewhat of a safety net that you can fall back into when you’re suffering from a creativity block when it comes to planning new outfits.
The most obvious contender for shopping while maintaining your student budget is of course, second-hand. Alongside the popularity of perusing through charity shops and apps like Depop and Vinted, have a look at what eBay and Facebook Marketplace have on offer. Though in comparison they may be lacking against their competitors, you never know what you might find. It’s also good to not go in blind when you’re shopping and know what you’re looking for as this could end up with you spending more than you had anticipated.
So, those are just a couple of tips on how to breathe life into outfits you already own while on a student budget. Hopefully, this has given you some ideas on how to liven up your wardrobe without having to spend excessive amounts of money and enjoy getting creative!