Today I’m sharing 6 easy ways to remix your wardrobe and create new outfits with clothes already in your closet. These are strategies I recently taught inside my PMT Style Club, and they can help you get more use out of your clothes without buying anything new!

This post is LOADED with tips, so if you’re ready, let’s do it!

1. Swap Your Shoes

One of the EASIEST ways to create a new outfit is to change your shoes! In fact, there are 3 different ways you can use your shoes to change the look of an outfit.

a. Change the dressiness.

Shoes can dress an outfit up or down.

Here we have the same sweater and jeans. In the first outfit, I’m wearing flats to make this a polished, elevated casual outfit. In the second outfit, I’m wearing sneakers for a more casual vibe. (I wore the second outfit to Disneyland!)

This tip isn’t about totally changing the look of an outfit, but rather the functionality of your outfit. Style needs to be practical too, and changing your shoes in an outfit helps you wear the same clothes to more places.

Shop the Outfits:
Sweater (wearing size S)
Jeans (wearing size 6)
Flats (similar)
Sneakers
Earrings (wearing size 30mm)
Necklace

b. Change the style.

Shoes can also change the STYLE of an outfit, even when they’re the same level of dressiness.

Now this one IS about how the outfit looks (not purely for function). You can add a more classic twist to the outfit with white sneakers, add some edge with leopard print sneakers, or add a little glam with metallic sneakers.

All three are casual shoes, but they each give the outfit a different vibe. (And imagine how much more the outfits would change if we leaned into changing the accessories too! (See my blog post How to Make the Same Clothes Look Different by Changing Your Accessories.)

c. Change the color story.

Changing your shoes can also introduce a different COLOR into your outfit, which can add a fun twist and give a different flavor to your outfits.

For example, look at this blue and white striped blouse and jeans with neutral flats versus red flats. The neutral flats keep the color combination simple, while the red flats add a fun, bolder twist!

This is especially helpful if you tend to wear the same neutral shoes with everything. Try swapping them for a colorful pair and see what happens! You might discover a new color combination you love, using clothes you already own.

Shop the Outfits:
Top (wearing size S)
Jeans (wearing size 6)
Tan Flats (similar)
Red Flats
Earrings (wearing size 30mm)
Necklace

2. Change the Color Combinations

Another way to create new outfits with clothes you already own is to change up your COLOR combinations!

We tend to get into habits with color. Maybe you always wear a certain blouse with black pants, or you only pair your colorful sweaters with jeans. But there are likely other combinations in your closet that you haven’t tried!

Here are three tools to experiment with color:

a. Try different color pairings.

If you’re not sure which colors to put together, use complementary and triadic colors for a starting point!

Complementary colors (opposite each other on the color wheel) and triadic colors (three colors evenly spaced around the color wheel) are two great starting points for trying combinations you might not normally put together. You can easily Google these to see which combos work well together.

b. Try color pulling.

This is one of my FAVORITE tricks for figuring out what colors to pair together!

If you have a printed blouse, skirt, or other patterned piece, look at the colors in the print. Then pull out ONE of those colors from the print and repeat it somewhere else in your outfit.

For example, if your floral blouse has burgundy flowers in it, try pairing it with burgundy pants instead of your usual jeans.

This is an easy way to create a color combination that feels cohesive because the print is literally doing the work of tying the colors together for you!

c. Change the neutral.

This might be the EASIEST way to start changing your color combos!

If you always wear a certain top with black pants, try navy, cream, brown, or denim pants instead.

For example, in the first outfit I paired the blue-striped blouse with jeans. Easy pairing, right? Denim works with everything. In the second outfit, I used color pulling (hey, look at that!), pulled the cream out of the print, and echoed it with cream pants. It’s the same blouse, but changing the neutral creates a different look.

This is especially great if you’re someone who relies heavily on neutrals. You don’t have to suddenly start wearing bold color combinations to get more variety out of your wardrobe. Sometimes simply swapping one neutral for another is enough to make an outfit feel new!

The big idea: Before you assume you’ve run out of ways to wear something, look at the COLORS you’re pairing it with. You probably already have several new outfit combinations waiting in your closet!

3. Change the Silhouette

Another way to create new outfits with clothes you already own is to change the SILHOUETTE, or the overall shape of your outfit!

We can get used to wearing certain pieces together because we know the proportions work. But changing the shape of your tops or bottoms can create a completely different look.

Here are two ways to experiment with silhouettes:

a. Change the shape of your bottoms.

Let’s say you have a blouse you typically wear with wide-leg jeans. What happens when you pair that SAME blouse with flare jeans or barrel-leg jeans instead?

The same blouse takes on a different look depending on the shape of the jeans. So, instead of reaching for wide leg pants, try it with flares or barrel legs to change it up. I’m actually always surprised by how fresh my white tee feels by simply swapping my jeans or athleisure pants from a wide leg cut to a barrel leg cut instead. It’s quite remarkable how much that one swap can change things!

Shop the Outfits:
Top (wearing size S)
Wide Leg Jeans (wearing size 6)
Flare Leg Jeans (wearing size 6)
Barrel Leg Jeans (wearing size 6)
Tan Flats (similar)
Red Flats
Earrings (wearing size 30mm)
Necklace

b. Change the shape of your top.

You can do the same thing in reverse! For example, you might typically wear flare jeans with a fitted, tucked-in top. But what if you tried a shorter, boxier top instead?

Both combinations work, but they create slightly different proportions. The tucked-in top defines your waist, while the shorter, boxier top creates a different shape while still hitting high enough to keep the outfit balanced.

This difference isn’t huge, but in some cases it can be. And, it’s simply another thing to experiment with.

The next time you feel like you’re wearing the same outfit over and over, try changing the shape of ONE piece. You might find a whole new way to wear something you already love!

4. Play With Layering

Layering is another GREAT way to create new outfits with clothes you already own!

When we think about layering, we usually think about throwing a cardigan or jacket over an outfit. And that’s certainly one way to do it. But you can get even more creative by changing HOW you layer your clothes.

Here are a few things to try:

a. Swap your layers.

This is the most straightforward one, but I’ll name it just to be thorough. 😊 If you always reach for the same cardigan or jacket with an outfit, try changing it!

Here is the same top and pants with a utility jacket and then a denim jacket. The change isn’t drastic here, but it can be, if you use statement layers instead.

Shop the Outfits: (if most items are still generally well stocked)
Top (wearing size S)
Pants (wearing size 28)
Utility Jacket (wearing size S)
Denim Jacket (wearing size S)
Tan Flats (similar)
Earrings (wearing size 30mm)
Necklace

b. Layer something UNDER a piece.

Instead of always adding layers on top, try putting something underneath! For example, you can wear a white t-shirt under a sleeveless dress or layer a button-up shirt underneath a dress. (Also helpful for getting more use out of your dress — you can wear it in warmer AND cooler weather!)

This adds dimension, changes up your outfit, and in some cases, allows you to extend an item’s wear into other seasons.

c. Wear a piece OPEN as a layer.

Think about the button-up shirts or shirt dresses in your closet. Do you always wear them buttoned up? Try leaving them open and wearing them over another outfit instead!

A button-up shirt can double as a lightweight jacket, and even a dress can become a layering piece! You’re giving those clothes an entirely different function, which opens up more outfit possibilities.

The last picture is from Anita by Design. Check out her awesome creations, especially if you are interested in learning to sew your own garments!

5. Change Your Accessories

Accessories are another easy way to get more outfits out of the same clothes. You can use accessories to completely change how an outfit looks. You can also use accessories to dress items up and down so you can wear your clothes in more settings!

I’ve written a blog post on this, so instead of me rehashing it here, be sure to check out my post How to Make the Same Clothes Look Different by Changing Your Accessories.

6. Change the Dressiness

Another way to get more use out of your clothes is to change how DRESSY or CASUAL they are!

We often mentally assign our clothes to certain categories. These are my work pants. That’s my dressy skirt. This is my casual T-shirt. But those pieces don’t necessarily have to stay in those categories!

Instead, let’s focus on expanding the purpose of a piece: 

• If something is assumed to be casual, try to dress it up, like wearing a graphic tee with dressier pieces.
• If something is assumed to be dressier, like trousers, try to dress it down.
• Or, take something you associate with work and make it weekend.

Here’s a perfect example with a basic black t-shirt, which is traditionally seen as a casual item. In the first outfit, it’s styled in an athleisure look with casual track pants and sneakers. In the second, it’s still casual, but styled with comfy olive pants and sandals. In the third, I dressed it up with a printed silk skirt and heels.

Same basic tee, but now it works for three different occasions!

For more on this, check out my post How to Dress a T-Shirt Up and Down: Easy Styling Tips.

Shop the Outfits:
Tee (wearing size small, similar)
Black Pants (wearing size S, similar)
Olive Pants (wearing size S)
Skirt (similar)

Here’s another example with burgundy pants. These are meant to be dressed up a little, but we can dress them up and down easily. Styled with a white t-shirt and sneakers, they’re super casual. Add a printed elevated casual top, denim jacket, and flats, and you’ve got an elevated casual outfit. Swap those for a black top and heels, and you’re ready for work!

Instead of thinking of these as JUST work pants, you now have ways to wear them for different parts of your life.

For more on this, see my post What Colors Go With Burgundy Pants.

The big takeaway: Don’t limit a piece to the occasion you usually wear it for! When you start mixing casual and dressy pieces, you can get SO much more use out of your wardrobe.

Shop the Outfits:
Tee (wearing size S, similar)
Blouse (wearing size S)
Sweater (similar)
Pants (wearing size S, similar)
Denim Jacket (wearing size S)
White & Black Sneakers (wearing size 9)
Tan Flats (similar)
Black Heels (similar)
Earrings (wearing size 30mm)
Necklace

Your Turn: Remix Your Own Wardrobe!

Now it’s YOUR turn to try this with your own clothes!

As you looked through these examples, did any ideas pop into your head? Maybe you realized you could try a different silhouette with a favorite top, wear your work pants more casually, or experiment with a color combination you’ve never tried before.

Make a quick “Remix List” of ideas you want to try with your own clothes!

Then, pick just 2–3 ideas to actually try this week. Choose combinations where you already own the pieces, that feel a little different from your usual outfits, and that you’re curious to see on yourself.

And here’s the important part: Actually TRY THEM ON!

Sometimes an outfit sounds great in theory but doesn’t quite work when you put it on. Other times, you discover a combination you LOVE that you never would have thought to wear before!

The more you experiment, the easier it becomes to see new possibilities with the clothes you already own!

Want to Get Better at Mixing and Matching Your Clothes?

Would you love to look into your closet and see MORE outfit possibilities instead of reaching for the same combinations over and over?

That’s exactly the kind of thing we work on together inside PMT Style Club!

It’s one thing to read about new ways to wear your clothes. It’s another thing to actually get into your closet, try new combinations, and figure out what works for YOU.

Inside the Style Club, we have monthly week-long styling challenges that give you a fun reason to experiment with your clothes and put new styling ideas into practice!

Plus, you’ll get seasonal wardrobe and outfit guides packed with mix-and-match inspiration, live styling workshops, and Q&A + coaching sessions where you can get help with your own outfits and style questions.

And you’ll have a community of women to share ideas with, get feedback from, and cheer each other on!

The PMT Style Club opens for enrollment tomorrow! If you’d love more outfit ideas, opportunities to experiment, and help making the most of your wardrobe, I’d love to have you join us!

Join the waitlist and enroll when the Style Club opens!