Updating your style doesn’t have to mean a big shopping spree. A handful of small, thoughtful changes can make your wardrobe feel new again, often using pieces you already own or spending very little at all.

• Make the Most of What You Already Own

Before buying anything new, it’s worth taking a proper look through your existing wardrobe. Pieces that feel tired on their own often come alive again when paired differently: a shirt worn under a dress, or trousers swapped in for a skirt, can turn a familiar outfit into something that feels fresh. Identifying your true staples, the pieces you reach for again and again, gives you a solid base to build new combinations around, rather than starting from scratch every time you want a change. Even something as simple as trying on a few forgotten pieces together can turn up combinations you’d never have thought to plan.

• Accessorise for Instant Impact

Accessories are one of the cheapest ways to change a look. High-street jewellery, scarves and belts can do a surprising amount of heavy lifting, and stylists at Who What Wear point to carefully edited finishing touches, from silver jewellery to textured belts, as exactly what turns a simple outfit from ordinary into something more considered. Playing with colour and texture is an easy way in: a bold scarf or a textured bag can lift the plainest base outfit without any real spend, and swapping accessories around is far cheaper than replacing whole outfits.

• The Little Black Dress: Your Secret Weapon

Few pieces work as hard as a little black dress. Layer it under a blazer for the office, add trainers and a denim jacket for daytime, or bring out statement jewellery and heels for evening, and it becomes an entirely different outfit each time. If you don’t already own one worth building around, a well-made little black dress is one of the most cost-effective additions you can make to a wardrobe, since a single piece can realistically cover half a dozen different occasions.

• Smart Shopping and DIY Style Hacks

Second-hand shopping has become one of the easiest ways to refresh a wardrobe affordably, and it’s booming: UK resale marketplace Vinted reported sales nearing £1 billion last year as second-hand shopping continues to grow in popularity. Besides buying second-hand, small DIY touches, like swapping buttons or adding a simple patch, can make an old piece feel new again for next to nothing. Charity shops and resale apps are also worth checking regularly, since new stock arrives constantly and prices are hard to beat, especially if you’re after something specific rather than shopping without a plan.

• Refresh Your Style, Refresh Your Confidence

Refreshing your look doesn’t have to cost much at all. A little creativity with what you already own, plus the occasional second-hand find, is often all it takes to feel excited about getting dressed again.