How to get FREE, quality items for your wardrobe

and no, you don't need to be an influencer

We’re officially at the halfway point of my no buy 365 wardrobe challenge, and while I’m still really enjoying it, my biggest takeaway has been to think outside the box, and commit to being resourceful. It wasn’t until my recent trip back to see family in England, that I realised some great ways to add to your wardrobe without spending a penny! Let’s get into it….

Wait for a credit offer when you sell preloved items

When it comes to selling designer items, my go to has always been The Real Real. (They’re by no means perfect but so far i’ve found them the easiest to use) However, I always wait until they have an offer to consign items. I saw recently they had an offer where if you consign ten items you get $100 site credit. Granted this one comes down to timing, and having designer items to sell, but it’s a great way to get a quality piece at a (hopefully) great price. I chose to get paid for the items I sold, rather than receive credit, so it was nice to have a $100 voucher to use (that had to be used within 7 days of receiving). And because I had items in my watch list, I was ready to go. I picked up this beautiful dark brown leather (something that has been on my wishlist for a long time) woven bag from Loeffler and Randall, for you guessed it… freeeeee using the voucher I had and some left over credit from before I started my no buy challenge.

I had been on the hunt for a dark brown leather woven bag to add to my collection and had this saved in my wishlist hoping no one would snap it up.

Outfit planning with my new free bag. The perfect size too! I don’t think they make it anymore sadly, but that kind of makes me love it even more.

Alter an existing piece in your wardrobe

I have two pairs of black jeans in my wardrobe, one of which I haven’t been wearing. During my no buy challenge, I noticed myself wishing I had a pair of black longer length shorts (I have some that are linen) but I wanted denim or a more rigid fabric. Knowing my mum had a sewing machine at home, I decided to take the black jeans back with me and turn them into the shorts I was longing for…et Voila! A brand new item in my wardrobe that didn’t cost me a penny, and i’m super excited to wear.

My Abercrombie curve love straight leg jeans, before and after

And the finished item: Styling my new shorts (converted from my old full length jeans). This will be a great warm weather fall outfit and I honestly think i’ll get so much wear out of these now.

Arrange a clothing swap

A friend who knew I was doing a 365 no buy was so excited to invite me to a clothes swap for charity. We will all be paying $20 entry, but you could totally do this with friends or within your community for free, or if like my friend you want to charge an entry fee you could do so for a cause you care about. Get everyone to bring a few pieces they no longer want/wear and then you can swap for an item from someone else in the group. Anything that isn’t swapped is then taken to charity by the host. Add wine and snacks and you’ve got a recipe for a great evening! Make sure you’re subscribed to my Substack to find out what I swapped and what (if anything) I came home with.

Make something from scratch

Naturally this depends on what materials are at your disposal, and can obviously include a trip to a craft store if you don’t have any supplies. Over the years i’ve collected beads, wool and off cuts of fabric. You could also check something like Offer Up, Craigs List, or Gumtree for anyone giving away unwanted off cuts/supplies for free that you can use. My mum’s knitting game is strong, and while I can’t claim that I made this (below), she made this incredible knitted vest as a test that she made from wool she already had and she kindly gifted it to me. In my bedroom at my parents house I found my old bead box under my bed, and spent a lovely afternoon making some beaded jewelry with my niece. It was fun to think about the color combinations I could try, working with what I already had. It goes without saying, you don’t have to take on a project like knitting, even making a simple beaded bracelet is a nice way to add something to your everyday uniforms.

When your mum knits you the coolest top ever! Technically this was something she did just to practice that she was originally going to unravel and start again. (If only my practice knitting looked this good.) The wool is also super soft and a really high quality, so I feel like i’ve won the jackpot with this one.

Necklace and bracelet I made using beads that I imagine are over 20 years old (if not older). I gave the remaining beads and my old bead box to my niece for her to enjoy.

Try your luck for a hand me down

My favorite place at my parents house is my mums wardrobe, shocker I know! Luckily for me, she had a huge clear out before I arrived and had set aside a few items she knew I might like, including some 90’s gems. (Thanks Mum, you’re the best!) Whether it’s a family member, or a friend, it’s always worth letting people know (especially if you love their style and it feels appropriate to do so) that you’d love first dibs on anything they may be getting rid of that they won’t be selling. Granted there’s a lot of stuff I politely decline when my mum does a clear out (because I know what will and won’t get worn), but there’s always at least one gem that offers up a new way to spice up my outfits. Plus, providing it’s something I genuinely love (and i’m not just saying yes to for the sake of it being free) it makes that piece particularly special within my wardrobe.

My mums Giorgio Armani sunglasses circa the 90’s she kindly gave me from her ‘clear out’

The new to me Armani sunnies, the knitted vest from Mum, and my new shorts and bag in action. Shoes old (maybe 7-8 years ago) from Zara

While I fully appreciate not every one of these options might be available to everyone, I just wanted to offer some suggestions that have helped me add in some new to me items that I can see myself loving for many years to come that didn’t cost me a penny. And of course if you have any other ideas, please share them in the comments below.

Thanks for reading and supporting my work.

Harry x