How to Build Outfits Around the Clothes You Never Wear

The clothes you don’t wear can become your own free place to shop. Here’s how to incorporate the outcasts back into your plan.

Key Takeaways

• Start by sorting through unworn clothes and removing anything that doesn’t fit or is too uncomfortable to wear.
• Figure out why you don’t wear each piece. It may be the color, style, fit, or simply that you don’t know what to pair it with.
• Try layering clothes, adding accessories, or changing how you wear a garment to make it work with your personal style.
• Experiment with unexpected color combinations, such as burgundy and baby blue, hot pink and orange, or chocolate brown and lavender.
• Mix casual and dressy pieces to create outfits you may not have considered before.
• Search Pinterest or online outfit photos for inspiration on how to style clothes you already own.
• Spend some time trying on different combinations. You may discover outfits you love without buying anything new.

Weed Out the No-Gos

Gather up the clothes you don’t wear and sort through them. If the piece doesn’t fit or is too uncomfortable, put it in a pile away from the rest. Give these garments away or donate them. They don’t need to be taking up room in your closet and confusing your daily get-ready time. You want to be able to wear everything in your closet once you have a game plan going.

Find the Problems

Now look at everything else. As you go, try to figure out why you don’t wear the item. This can help you determine how it can be worked into new outfits. Once you know what the problem is, you can fix it.

Problem: You hate the color

Fix: Try downplaying the color. Throw a jacket, vest, or sweater over it so just a little of the color peeks out. 

Or, you could go nuclear and dye all of the clothes that have a color you don’t like. Dyeing clothes is pretty easy. All you need is a large pot, an all-purpose clothing dye (which can usually be found in the laundry section of the grocery store), vinegar, and a long spoon to get the job done. There are a bunch of tutorials online to walk you through it, but it’s a simple process, and the instructions will come with the dye.

Problem: You don’t have any clothes that “go” with it.

Fix: First, understand that something going with something else is kind of an antiquated idea. These days, fashionable folks are pairing items with the opposite of what you would think. For example:

• Silk skirts paired with team jerseys and low-profile trainers
• Button-ups paired with leggings and heels
• Cashmere paired with jeans and loafers
• Cowboy boots paired with a three-piece suit

If the color is the problem and you have nothing that matches, don’t worry. Matchy-matchy is also old news. The trick to not looking strange is to keep the colors in the same color family. Try some interesting color combinations like these.

Classic color combinations

• Black and white
• Navy blue and white
• Black and gray
• Camel and black
• Beige and cream
• Navy blue and camel
• Brown and cream
• Gray and white
• Olive green and black
• Chocolate brown and tan

Soft and muted color combinations

• Sage green and cream
• Dusty rose and gray
• Lavender and light gray
• Powder blue and beige
• Mauve and taupe
• Blush pink and ivory
• Dusty blue and chocolate brown
• Soft peach and cream
• Muted teal and camel
• Lilac and sage green

Bright and bold color combinations

• Hot pink and orange
• Cobalt blue and yellow
• Red and turquoise
• Purple and lime green
• Emerald green and hot pink
• Orange and royal blue
• Fuchsia and bright green
• Yellow and purple
• Coral and turquoise
• Red and cobalt blue

Earth-tone color combinations

• Olive green and rust
• Terracotta and cream
• Mustard yellow and brown
• Forest green and camel
• Burnt orange and navy blue
• Chocolate brown and sage green
• Burgundy and olive green
• Rust and dusty blue
• Khaki and dark brown
• Moss green and beige

Unexpected color combinations

• Burgundy and baby blue
• Chocolate brown and lavender
• Red and light pink
• Navy blue and lime green
• Mustard yellow and lavender
• Olive green and blush pink
• Orange and lilac
• Emerald green and pale blue
• Plum and mustard yellow
• Gray and bright orange

Three-color outfit combinations

• Navy blue, white, and red
• Camel, cream, and chocolate brown
• Olive green, rust, and beige
• Black, white, and hot pink
• Burgundy, blush pink, and cream
• Cobalt blue, orange, and white
• Sage green, lavender, and ivory
• Gray, yellow, and navy blue
• Chocolate brown, powder blue, and cream
• Emerald green, navy blue, and gold
• Terracotta, olive green, and cream
• Purple, turquoise, and coral

Outfit styling tip: If you’re unsure about combining colors, start with two colors and a neutral. For example, pair cobalt blue pants with a bright orange top and white shoes. You can also try wearing different shades of the same color, such as a lavender blouse with plum pants, for a monochromatic outfit.

Problem: The piece isn’t your style

Fix: Just about any piece can be warped into some other style with a few little tricks.

• Top too formal? Add some funky jewelry or a fun scarf.
• Is the print a little too loud? Pair it with something completely boring or neutral colored to tone it down.
• Top too long? Try tying it, give it a French tuck, or blouse it up over a belt.
• Top too low-cut? Try layering it over another top or under a higher-necked vest.
• Don’t like the sleeve length? Try using sleeve garters to roll up the sleeves neatly and keep them in place. 

Get Inspiration

If you have a piece that you like, but you just don’t know what to do with it, get some ideas from others. Search for the item online or on Pinterest and look at how other people styled it. If you find something you like, take a screenshot and save it as inspiration the next time you get dressed. 

Heck, if you feel like you’re really bad at fashion, forget inspiration. Copy the looks you find until you get a feel for new outfit combinations. Eventually, it will come more naturally to you.

Get in There and Play Around

Sometimes the best thing to do is just try stuff on with other stuff. Let yourself play around. You may come up with an outfit that looks really cool. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Layer a short-sleeved shirt over a long-sleeved shirt.
• Wear a tunic top as a dress with some fleece-lined leggings.
• Wear a short dress as a tunic over some pants.
• Use a brooch or pretty safety pin to hike up the hem of a dress or a skirt to make it shorter or asymmetrical.
• Wear shorts with leggings underneath. (It’s a thing; we did it in the 90s.)
• Pair a graphic tee with a floral skirt.
• Roll the cuffs of pants to give them a different look.
• Try “pinning” or pinrolling your jeans. (It was an 80s thing that is still a good idea.)
• Wear it backward. If your dress or shirt has a cool detail on the back, flip wear the piece backward and put it on full display. You may need to cut the tag out of the garment to pull this one off.

FAQ

How do you style clothes you never wear?

Start by figuring out why you don’t wear them. If you don’t like the color, try layering the piece with something that tones it down. If the style feels wrong, experiment with accessories, tucking, rolling sleeves, or pairing it with something unexpected. You can also look online for outfit inspiration.

How do I make new outfits with clothes I already own?

Pull out a few pieces you rarely wear and try pairing them with different clothes from your closet. Mix dressy items with casual ones, experiment with color combinations, and try layering. Take pictures of outfits you like so you can remember them later.

What should I do with clothes I like but never wear?

Try to figure out what’s keeping you from wearing them. Maybe you don’t know how to style them, or they need a small adjustment. Look for outfit inspiration online and experiment with different combinations. If you still love the clothes but don’t have a reason to wear them right now, you can keep them for another occasion.

How do you make clothes that aren’t your style work for you?

Try changing how you wear them. Add a scarf or statement jewelry to a formal top, pair a dressy skirt with a graphic tee, or layer a low-cut shirt over another top. Small changes can make a piece feel more like something you’d normally wear.

What colors can you wear together in an outfit?

You can combine classic colors like black and white, soft colors like sage green and cream, or bold combinations like cobalt blue and yellow. Unexpected pairings, such as burgundy and baby blue or orange and lilac, can work, too. If you’re unsure, start with two colors and a neutral.

How do you make an outfit look good when the pieces don’t match?

Try combining colors with similar undertones or using a neutral piece to tie everything together. You can also mix different textures, prints, and styles. For example, a silk skirt can look great with a casual jersey and sneakers, even though the pieces have very different styles.

Where can I find outfit ideas for clothes I already have?

Pinterest, fashion blogs, social media, and online clothing stores can all be useful sources of inspiration. Search for a specific item, such as “outfits with a purple cardigan” or “how to style a floral maxi skirt.” Save pictures of combinations you like and try recreating them with your own clothes.

Should I get rid of clothes I haven’t worn in a year?

Not necessarily. Some clothes are meant for special occasions, while others may just need a little creative styling. Before getting rid of something, try pairing it with different pieces or changing how you wear it. If it doesn’t fit, feels uncomfortable, or you no longer like it, donating or giving it away may make more sense.

How can I make my wardrobe feel new without buying clothes?

Shop your own closet. Pull out forgotten pieces, try new color combinations, experiment with layering, and use accessories in different ways. You can also change how garments fit or hang by tucking, tying, cuffing, or pinning them. Taking time to play around with your clothes can help you discover outfits you didn’t realize you had.