Firstly, this is just what I wore to uni today – I’ve been a little less colourful lately unfortunately, but please do note the one pop of colour I have – my new Ray-Ban Sunglasses! I guess I’m just being grumpy in this horrible, cold weather! My kind friends sent me over this black coat so today I got a chance to wear it, along with my favourite scarf from New Look which I got last Fashion week and being Northern, I haven’t found it cold enough to wear yet! Anyway, onto what this post is really about…making the most out of your wardrobe

Lately I’ve been thinking about what my ‘thing’ is and what I’m actually good at and a couple of days ago, I noticed that I’ve not been shopping since September 2012. Somehow, since becoming a student, I have broken my shopping addiction without even realizing and enjoyed Fashion by accumulating things. I’m not really a trend follower to start with, so I don’t really have that trigger in my brain that makes me rush out to the shop as soon as a big trend hits, but I do have that very female part of my brain that thinks shopping is the answer to everything… Which it may actually be, but sometimes, it’s just not an option.

I figured not-going-shopping was my thing and I’m pretty happy with how I dress, so I guess I’m pretty good at making do with what I’ve got. So if you’re a skint student like me, I hope that you can take something away from my little tips that have helped me survive these bleak shopping-less times!

1) If you’re going to survive without going shopping, you need to make sure that you have all the staples that are going to take you through season after season, e.g. tonal (black/white/nude) tees/tops that you can pair with anything, and if you want to take it up a notch, make them a bit more interesting than just simply a t-shirt… I have lots of simple tops in colours to match everything, but some of them have cut out shoulders, wrap details, cut out waist etc. I also really like multi-coloured tops so I can try them with different coloured bottoms etc to create different outfits with. Yeah, I’m pretty colourful ha!

2) If you drop on lucky on the ‘accumulating’ front like I have (Christmas, birthdays, general gifts, winning things etc.) make sure you pick out things that aren’t too basic (if that’s your style) – something that would usually be a treat – those special things in your wardrobe or trend pieces. I personally have a thing for accumulating trousers and midi skirts in all the colours and prints of the rainbow.

3) Don’t window shop. It’s a pretty obvious tip and as lovely as it is filling up your basket and pretend shopping, it’s just not going to happen and when you have to click the X at the top, you’ll only be disappointed – or worse – tempted!

4) Think about what your style is. If you are going to slip up or you do get the chance to sway Daddy into buying you a treat, make sure you’re going to like it for a long time and that it’s not a disposable piece, or something that’s going to make you feel frumpy in the near future. Well-fitting pieces can stay in your wardrobe til the end of their time!

5) Don’t over wear pieces. The more you wear something, the quicker you’ll be sick of the sight of it. I’ve had the disco pants in this post for over two years now. I wore the hell out of them in 2012 and after that I was just tired of seeing them on my legs, so they were banished to the back of the closet. Now, I’m in love with them all over again – it’s the Fashion-recycling process without spending a penny!

6) Make sure you’re following your favourite brands and stores on all of their social media platforms. Most of them run competitions quite regularly and after all, you’ve got to be in it to win it!

7) Choose your favourite pieces from your wardrobe, and style them and re-style them over and over in different ways – depending on the staple items and accessories you have, you could rinse over 10 outfits out of some pieces! (And there’s always your friend’s closets that you can cheekily raid…)

8) Sometimes, having that ‘classic’ wardrobe doesn’t always mean being right on trend all the time. Just looking good can do the trick. Putting the right pieces together is everything, and you don’t need to spend your money on trends, after all, they’re just a phase. Flattering shapes will always remain in style, and if you have your own personal style then even better. Accessorising and having versatile pieces can easily keep you up to date and refresh old outfits.

9) If you do really want to delve into a trend, take your hand at customisation if it’s something that could be easily done yourself. Learn some new things on Pinterest and YouTube, there are thousands of crafty so-and-so’s that can teach you a thing or two, and it will help keep that wallet heavy!  This is a pretty good tip if you have things in your wardrobe that you hate – if you can do something with them to make them cool then go for it – take ‘Mom jeans’ for example, who’d have known!

10) ALWAYS look after your clothes. My clothes are my babies and I look after everything I own, which is how I get the most use out of my wardrobe and why most of them are over 5 years old and still look new. Always read care labels and as easy as it is to do, don’t throw it all on the floor at the end of the day! I really hope I inspired some of you, or even helped to breathe a bit of life into your wardrobes! I used to be a complete addict and have a huge shopping spree every week back when I worked – so if I can do it, so can you!