How To Update Your Fall/Winter Wardrobe On A Budget

Seasonal wardrobe overhaul? Sounds expensive. But it doesn’t have to be. Not if you’re smart about it. There’s no ignoring the overwhelming temptation to ease the pain of colder, darker days by maxing out your credit card on new shoes and jackets, but we’d advise you to stay strong, save your money for Christmas and do things our way instead.

Chances are you’ve got some solid stuff in your wardrobe already. Sometimes it’s just about looking at it with a fresh perspective. And for the pieces you really do need to buy, there are ways and means to do it without breaking the bank.

Below are a few of our favourite tips for updating your fall/winter wardrobe on a budget. From prioritising versatile staples to getting more miles out of your winter boots – here’s what you should know as we wave summer goodbye.

Run An Audit

Before you do anything else, dedicate an afternoon to conducting a full wardrobe audit. Pull it all out, lay it on the floor and be brutal. If it doesn’t get worn, it goes.

Any summer-specific garments can be stored away for next year, and you should aim to be left with a more manageable selection of core pieces that are easy to work outfits around.

You’ll probably end up finding things you’d forgotten about, or discovering things that can be repurposed for the new season. Trust us, it’s going to be much easier to get the cold-weather wardrobe dialled in if you’ve got a clean base to start with.

Accessories First

It might be tempting to go straight in and buy an expensive winter jacket or a pair of Goodyear-welted boots. And hey, if you need to then go for it.

However, a more sensible approach is to focus on the small stuff first. Beanies, scarves, socks – it’s surprising how much such seemingly small items can completely alter the feeling of a coat you’ve worn for years.

It’s a cost-effective way to breathe new life into the larger pieces you already own.

Swap, Don’t Shop

If you have friends of a similar size with the same fashion likes and dislikes, why not suggest swapping a few pieces? This is a great way to declutter and get new pieces without spending a penny.

You can also look online for local swap meets where you can go and exchange clothes with strangers.

Failing that, get on Vinted and sell the pieces you singled out during your wardrobe audit to finance new garments you actually want to wear.

Thrift The Big-Ticket Items

Vinted

There are certain big cold-weather purchases that are simply unavoidable. At some point, you’re going to have to invest in a parka, a wool overcoat or a pair of proper winter boots. But with brands continuing to hike prices to obscene levels, buying secondhand is usually a much better option, if not a complete no-brainer.

Granted, you’re probably not going to find a pristine Woolrich parka in your local branch of Oxfam, but there are plenty of places to find curated selections of pre-loved clothing that don’t require hours of fruitless rummaging.

A few of our favourites are Marrkt, Grailed and, if you’re willing to scroll through all the listings, Vinted.

Heavyweight Flannel

A proper heavyweight flannel is one of those rare staple pieces that can actually be picked up relatively cheaply. The key is to be smart about where you shop for one.

Forget SSENSE, Mr Porter and Mytheresa. Hit up the no-frills blue-collar workwear stores instead. OK, so it might not say ‘Our Legacy’ on the label, but will it still keep you warm and look good with everything from raw denim to soft tailoring? Of course it will.

Befriend A Cobbler

Those knackered old boots you’ve been using for the last few winters? They’re probably not actually as knackered as you think. Chances are, the uppers are completely salvageable and have many seasons of wear left in them.

Instead of binning them and buying a new pair, take them to your local cobbler first. It may be all that’s required is a simple resole and a new set of laces, which is almost certainly going to be significantly cheaper than forking out for a brand new pair.

…And A Tailor

Corneliani

Likewise, look for more ways to repurpose what you already own. Those jeans that have always felt a little loose around the waist? Tailor. The jacket you never wear because you don’t like the sleeve length? Tailor. Ill-fitting blazer? Tailor.

Use the new season as a kick up the backside to get fits dialled in and you’ll feel like you’ve got a whole new wardrobe for a fraction of the price.

Prioritise Versatility

When buying new, concentrate on pieces that you’ll get a lot of wear out of.

Change the way you think about purchases. Instead of going, ‘I like that, I’m going to buy it’. Ask yourself what you’ll wear it with. If you struggle to find an answer, leave it on the shelf.

The goal here is maximum wearability and compatibility with other items in your wardrobe, allowing you to achieve more while spending less.

Small-Scale Cashmere Knitwear

Cashmere is expensive. That’s a given. So instead of shelling out for an expensive overcoat or sweater made of the stuff, think smaller, so that you can still enjoy the texture without spending a lot of money.

A cashmere scarf, for example, can be worn with anything and everything, allowing you to get lots of wear out of something relatively small – an excellent cost-per-wear proposition.

All About That Base

Just because you’re going to be layering up doesn’t mean you can neglect the garments at the bottom of the stack. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and that goes double for your base layers.

Giving your outfits a strong foundation is a good way to boost your overall look on a budget. Go for heavyweight cotton or merino, and opt for nice trim fits that are easy to layer on top of.