Fashion Cheats to Expand your Winter Wardrobe
By Krystle Wright

Contrary to movies and television, women – or at least, most of us women – don’t own a separate pair of shoes to go with every outfit in our closets. I’d bet that most of us, in fact, don’t have either the money or the closet space for that extravagance. But if you feel like your wardrobe is wearing thin and you’re wearing the same ensembles day after day or week after week, here’s a way to expand your winter wardrobe without wasting that money and (equally valuable) closet space: cheat.

Go ahead, buy a pair of boots to go with every outfit!
The trick is, you’re only buying the actual boots once. Then you’re dressing them up. Those boot cuffs included with your Halloween costume are now making their way into mainstream fashion.

An Ohio-based company called Flirt by Diane began making boot cuffs out of leather and faux fur. True, the over-the-top snakeskin prints and fuzziest of faux-fur styles aren’t my personal taste, but if they’re yours, go for it! Personally, I like the brown fringe cuffs. The rhinestone-lined cuffs that leave a scalloped edge in the back of your boot have a sophisticated style, too – with the right outfit, of course.

A number of other companies and individuals are now selling other styles of boot cuffs. You can support small businesses and craftswomen by buying on Etsy, where there’s something for every style. One seller makes plaid boot cuffs, another dainty tulle cuffs and another Goth-chic leather fringe cuffs. (While you’re browsing, check out other boot accessories, like faux buckles in various styles, too.)

Or browse a larger selection on websites like Amazon, where companies like Steve Madden sell sweater-knit boot cuffs, some complete with pompoms, for that cozy look. You can even buy boot cuffs in the accessory department of local stores like Vineland’s Fashion Bug.

Boot cuffs work on tall and short boots for added versatility. Some of them just slide over your calf so you can fold them down over the top of the boot without adding bulk, while others are more like leg warmers. The price ranges from as high as $35 to as low as $10, so it’s a much cheaper alternative to buying many pairs of boots – and it’ll take up a lot less closet space.

Add versatility to any sweater.
I got a sweater for Christmas with a very cool cheat: it came with a matching “eternity scarf” that you could button into the back collar to change the V-neck to a cowl neck look. It’s great because as a V-neck sweater, it’s a cute top for everyday wear or for a nice casual evening. The cowl neck look created by the eternity scarf adds an extra flare. With the right skirt or pair of dress pants, it’s professional enough to wear to work but cute enough you won’t feel like you’re “stuck” in work clothes. The fashion lesson, I think, is one you could apply to the sweaters you already have in your wardrobe.

Eternity or infinity scarves are, simply, scarves knitted in a circular shape, so there are no ends like there are in traditional scarves. You put them on like you might slip on a very long necklace.  Longer eternity scarves can be worn in layered rings.

For this trick, you’ll want to get an eternity scarf, one that’s not very long but wider. Think about a foot and a half wide, because you’ll need the extra fabric to create that cowl neck look. Find a scarf that matches one sweater (or several) already in your wardrobe. It’s easier to match common colors like black, white or tans, but as long as the match is close, any color sweater will work as the base. Keep in mind that eternity scarves come in all kinds of fabric, so make sure you use a knit material that will compliment your base sweater. Just layer it so that the scarf falls in a flattering way, and it’ll look like a whole new sweater.

This trick is especially good for colder days, when you want a little more fabric to lock in the warmth on your neck and upper chest. You can easily find an eternity scarf that will work with your favorite sweater for under $20, so really, what do you have to lose?

Make your jewelry do double-duty.
Okay, so this one’s not winter as much as it is all-seasons, but it’s still one of my favorite fashion accessories. It’s called a magnetic wrap necklace (or bracelet), and it’s a stylish beaded chain that features magnetic beads to allow for design versatility. You can wrap it around your wrist for a layered beaded bracelet (about the width of a large bangle). You can wear it as a necklace close to your neck, by wrapping it tighter, or as a longer chain. If you’re creative, you can even make a design with it so that it’s like wearing a pendant necklace.

I’ve had one of these for years, and I love it. The magnets are as strong as ever. You never have to worry about a clasp breaking, and the beads are strung on a sturdy wire that won’t easily snap or break. I really like the versatility. If I’m wearing a scarf with my outfit, for example, it makes a great bracelet.

What’s really exciting about these is the variety. Mine is black and hematite, but you can find them in everything from red to turquoise and even bold rainbow. If your style is more classy than creative, you might choose a magnetic necklace with pearls.

The best part? You can buy them cheaply online – some under $10 (and many of them are eligible for free shipping if you buy from Amazon – score!).

We can’t spend all of our money on a new wardrobe, and we can’t magically add extra closet space, either. But with a little creativity, tricks like these will revive your tired wardrobe and make you look and feel like a fashion expert without the bulk or the price tag.

Krystle L. Wright graduated
from Rowan University in May 2011
with her M.A. in Writing
and her B.A. in Writing Arts.

Krystle just took on her first client as a freelance public relations writer. She loves all kinds of writing but especially fiction, and she’s working on her first novel. When she’s not writing (and even when she is), she’s probably listening to music or shopping.