Using Accessories to Breathe Life into Old Clothes #iwillwearwhatilike

Using Accessories to Breathe Life into Old Clothes: 9 Different Coloured Sweaters Accessorised in Different Ways | Not Dressed As Lamb, Style Over 40

Too good not to share here, I talked about rewearing your wardrobe on Instagram last week.

And just to prove how easy it is to breathe new life into your old clothes, I took nine of my sweaters (all between about 3 and 10 years old, most are on the older side) and styled them with different accessories I already owned. In fact I had quite a bit of fun with this challenge and discovered accessories I’d LONG since forgotten about, but should be wearing more.

And WILL be wearing more!

 

[Reading time: 2 mins]

Disclosure: These images were created as part of a paid Instagram campaign with Recycle Devon but I was not obligated to write this post. This blog uses affiliate links at no cost to you. Full disclosure

 

Using Accessories to Breathe Life into Old Clothes: 9 Different Coloured Sweaters Accessorised in Different Ways | Not Dressed As Lamb, Style Over 40

Shop similar sweaters:

 

The campaign (for Recycle Devon, my local online recycling resource) was about encouraging people to re-wear, recycle, upcycle, donate or repair items they already own. As someone who gets an awful lot of wear out of their existing wardrobe (though I will admit I still buy a few items each season), this was just the sort of thing I wanted to promote. So much of what we see on Instagram is made up of ‘hauls’ or changing room selfies – both are pet hates of mine – it was refreshing to be part of something that encouraged something more ethical and eco-friendly.

The hashtag #BuyLessWearMore just about sums it up.

So I’d like to encourage YOU to do the same: do what I did and pull 2-3 sweaters or tops out of your wardrobe (even better, ones that haven’t seen the light of day in ages). Or go the whole hog and pick nine like I did(!)

Then lay them on the bed and go through your scarves, jewellery, hair accessories, hats, sunglasses, collars – whatever accessories you have – and start matching them up with the sweaters. Keep in mind colours, textures and necklines when picking out your items. Here are a few of my favourite tips…

  • Long pendants and shorter earrings work with roll neck sweaters (so they’re not fighting each other)
  • Round necks are crying out for faux collars or choker necklaces
  • Don’t stop at one brooch, cover your sweater in them like a bib
  • Don’t stop at one necklace, layer up two or more
  • Go monochrome and match your earrings / necklace / hat / scarf / headband to your sweater
  • If your hair is short or you wear your hair tied back, go big on the earrings
  • Instead of just jewellery, think about adding faux collars or lace cuffs
  • Think of your hair as an accessory and switch up how you wear it

 

Have you been inspired to rewear your existing wardrobe? Any more accessorising tips to add to mine? Tell us in the comments…

 

Stay safe, XOXO

Catherine signature

P.S. Post is a day late, sorry had a busy week…

Using Accessories to Breathe Life into Old Clothes: 9 Different Coloured Sweaters Accessorised in Different Ways | Not Dressed As Lamb, Style Over 40
Using Accessories to Breathe Life into Old Clothes: 9 Different Coloured Sweaters Accessorised in Different Ways | Not Dressed As Lamb, Style Over 40
Using Accessories to Breathe Life into Old Clothes: 9 Different Coloured Sweaters Accessorised in Different Ways | Not Dressed As Lamb, Style Over 40
Using Accessories to Breathe Life into Old Clothes: 9 Different Coloured Sweaters Accessorised in Different Ways | Not Dressed As Lamb, Style Over 40
Using Accessories to Breathe Life into Old Clothes: 9 Different Coloured Sweaters Accessorised in Different Ways | Not Dressed As Lamb, Style Over 40
Using Accessories to Breathe Life into Old Clothes: 9 Different Coloured Sweaters Accessorised in Different Ways | Not Dressed As Lamb, Style Over 40
Using Accessories to Breathe Life into Old Clothes: 9 Different Coloured Sweaters Accessorised in Different Ways | Not Dressed As Lamb, Style Over 40
Using Accessories to Breathe Life into Old Clothes: 9 Different Coloured Sweaters Accessorised in Different Ways | Not Dressed As Lamb, Style Over 40

Other solid block-coloured sweaters you might like:


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9 ways to wear my coloured sweaters…

Here are nine outfits where each of the sweaters has appeared on the blog so you can see the different ways they’ve been styled:

RELATED  7 Great Reasons to Buy Secondhand and Preloved Clothes

Ways to Style Solid Colour Sweaters | Not Dressed As Lamb, Over 40 Style

Original posts:
~ Top left (lime) / Top middle (mustard) / Top right (blush)
~ Middle left (coral) / Middle (plum) / Middle right (tangerine)
~ Bottom left (tomato) / Bottom middle (yellow) / Bottom right (tobacco)

 

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38 Comments

  1. Kate Howie
    8 November 2020 / 11:30 am

    Inspiring, Catherine. Love all the warm colours. I do the same with my jumpers and cardigans. Big statement pieces including necklaces and brooches.

    • Catherine
      Author
      9 November 2020 / 5:07 pm

      Thank you Katie… I’ll never tire of brooches and big statement jewellery I don’t think! x

  2. 7 November 2020 / 3:45 am

    Looking so very nice. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.

    • Catherine
      Author
      9 November 2020 / 5:06 pm

      Thanks so much Patrick! Hope you have a great week too 😀

  3. 5 November 2020 / 11:13 pm

    Such fabulous styling of accessories! I love to play around with jewellery, hats, headbands and scarves, they really change the look of an outfit.

    Emma xxx

    • Catherine
      Author
      6 November 2020 / 12:02 pm

      Thanks Emma – and yes I totally agree, they really do! x

  4. 5 November 2020 / 7:33 pm

    You look great in all those colours and accessories.

    • Catherine
      Author
      6 November 2020 / 12:03 pm

      thank you so much Lorna!

  5. 5 November 2020 / 3:22 pm

    I see from the comments, your enthusiasm and monumental effort is contagious Catherine. Fashion influencers everywhere should take notes! Brava Bella

    • Catherine
      Author
      6 November 2020 / 12:03 pm

      Aww bless you MT – thanks my lovely!! I think the bright colours make people happy 😀

  6. Tina von Tinaspinkfriday
    5 November 2020 / 5:02 am

    Oh yes restyle old clothes is great. You dit it so well. I like every idea.
    XO Tina

    • Catherine
      Author
      6 November 2020 / 12:03 pm

      Fabulous, Tina! Thank you so much x

  7. 5 November 2020 / 3:05 am

    I Love what you did with the brooches. My accessories game is almost non-existent with the exception of earrings. Enjoy November. . ..

    • Catherine
      Author
      6 November 2020 / 12:04 pm

      Thank you Neti – my accessory game has been lacking lately, I’m glad I did this challenge as it made me rediscover all the gorgeous bits and pieces I have!! MUST be more adventurous and take my own advice from now on…!

  8. 5 November 2020 / 2:20 am

    Saving this post to reference later – thank you for sharing all of these great accessory ideas!

    I hope you are having a great week!

    Amber

    • Catherine
      Author
      6 November 2020 / 12:05 pm

      Thanks so much Amber, glad you liked it 🙂

  9. 5 November 2020 / 1:57 am

    I LOVE, LOVE this idea, Catherine, and will try it soon. We all know that “accessories make the look” but I know we don’t always take advantage of them!! Your pictures and looks are just adorable. Thanks for sharing.

    xx Darlene

    • Catherine
      Author
      6 November 2020 / 12:05 pm

      You’re right Darelene – must do it more myself!! Thank you my lovely x

  10. 4 November 2020 / 9:41 pm

    Love the way you accessorized each outfit! Such a fun and colorful post! Thanks for hosting and have a great week!

    -Katie
    =

    • Catherine
      Author
      6 November 2020 / 12:05 pm

      Thanks Katie, you too xx

  11. Pilar
    4 November 2020 / 9:19 pm

    Soooo this post gave me the urge to go buy brooches, collars and CUFFS!!??
    If I eventually do it, I will definitely try second hand stores first!!
    Shopping my closet has never been something I like because I end up finding A LOT of clothes that don’t fit anymore. And now that I am only shopping natural fibers I actually think I am going to freeze this winter
    I will try some of your tips for my current sweater selection.
    I am actually looking forward to the cooler temps, as tomorrow will be the HOTEST NOVEMBER DAY EVER RECORDED at 97F (around 36C!!)

    • Catherine
      Author
      6 November 2020 / 12:07 pm

      Hehe yep, Pilar – cuffs are where it’s at!!!!!!! 😉 Glad it gave you some inspo, though 36C in November?!! That’s LUNACY, we very rarely get that in August #ShockedFace

  12. 4 November 2020 / 8:55 pm

    What a fun post, packed with inspiration! Will be trying these at home tonight…

    • Catherine
      Author
      6 November 2020 / 12:08 pm

      Oh good, Mary Katherine!! Thank you, enjoy playing xoxo

  13. 4 November 2020 / 7:24 pm

    This post is so fun- and I’m gonna go checkout that hashtag- So something up my alley!! Love all your tips and especially your gorgeous photos. Beautiful!!

    • Catherine
      Author
      6 November 2020 / 12:08 pm

      Thanks so much Lucy, I had fun creating these photos 😀

  14. 4 November 2020 / 7:11 pm

    So fun, Catherine! I do love bold fun accessories! And I have been way more focused on shopping my closet or thrifting when I feel the urge for something new. I do sometimes indulge myself with something new-new, but I am being much more conscious about the environment and my own over indulgence as well! Great post!

    Shelbee
    =

    • Catherine
      Author
      6 November 2020 / 12:09 pm

      Shelbee thank you – these challenges can be great ways to look at your stuff in new ways, can’t they…?! 🙂

  15. 4 November 2020 / 7:03 pm

    I love this post, Catherine! So inspiring. I’ve been thinking I need to up my accessories game.

    Michelle

    • Catherine
      Author
      6 November 2020 / 12:09 pm

      Thank you Michelle, so glad you enjoyed it!! Have fun accessorising…

  16. 4 November 2020 / 6:42 pm

    Good idea! And what a colors! I’m starting to wear more accessories. Had to get used to it.

    • Catherine
      Author
      6 November 2020 / 12:10 pm

      Thanks Nancy – I’m always saying accessories make an outfit but don’t experiment as much as I should! Taking my own advice from now on 😉

  17. Bethanne
    4 November 2020 / 6:40 pm

    I love your style SO much – these are all great looks. And I love the emphasis on remixing and rewearing.

    • Catherine
      Author
      6 November 2020 / 12:10 pm

      Aww Bethanne thank you!! You’re a sweetheart <3

  18. 4 November 2020 / 6:24 pm

    This is SO perfect Catherine!! It goes to show how you create a focal point with the accessories and can transform almost anything.
    I just love brooches, and never thought to carry them across the sweater that way. Adorable.
    XOXO
    Jodie

    • Catherine
      Author
      6 November 2020 / 12:11 pm

      Thanks Jodie! I can’t take the credit for the brooches idea, I saw it somewhere a loooooooong time ago and always remembered it…!

  19. 4 November 2020 / 6:08 pm

    I really like this. It’s one of my “creeds”. An ecology thing; being innovative with one’s clothing. You have just taken away heaps of my own blogging angst – I didn’t realise that some fellow bloggers just tried on clothes and then took selfies. Which of course is quite naughty and dishonest. With my #buy less, wear more creed, there is no way whatsoever that I can display myself wearing lots of different clothing. I like your clothing posts though, partly because you do and have always done – reworn clothes. Good post, Catherine

    • Catherine
      Author
      6 November 2020 / 12:14 pm

      Oh the changing room selfies is a thing, Ratnamurti – just endless trying stuff on. Of course not styled with anything they already have as they’re in a shop. It breaks my heart not to be able to wear my own clothes (as you know) because of me banging on about not being able to fit into them for a long time! I’m currently enjoying going through my winter stuff that I can fit into again… like having a TON of new outfits at my disposal (who needs changing rooms, hideous things 😉 )

      Thank you hon xoxo

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