How to Make a Frumpy Item Totally Cute

We all have one of those pieces in our closet…Whether it was a gift from a distant relative or a hand-me-down from your mom that you just couldn’t decline, it’s that one piece that sits there that you think is so not stylish. I’m here to tell you to stop neglecting those pieces! Even what you think is super frumpy can be styled in a way you actually want to wear, and I’m going to give you some tips to do just that.

I wore this outfit to school the other day and actually got a lot of compliments! This sweater is a hand-me-down from my mom (it shrunk in the wash and happened to fit me perfectly!). At first I never thought I would wear it. I don’t think it’s ugly at all, I just thought it wasn’t my style. But I tried the following tips and decided I actually like this sweater!

Pair it with something modern/trendy. Chances are, part of the reason you think that item is “frumpy” is because it’s really old. That doesn’t matter though! Especially when clothes are always coming back in style. The important thing is to pair the item with something modern/trendy so you don’t look like you just stepped out of the past. For me, the modern item was my layered necklaces. This look is so popular right now and added the perfect “cool girl” vibe to the outfit.

Pair with something classic. Whether it be a white tee like my outfit or a little black dress, pair your item with a timeless piece to keep the outfit from getting overwhelming. Make it so your hand-me-down is the star of the show—this shows that you actually want to wear the piece and aren’t just doing it because you feel sorry for it (I’ve totally been guilty of this…).

Pair with a killer piece that you love. For me, that was the booties, which make me feel totally BA. But you could also pick a favorite purse or piece of jewelry, or even your favorite black pants that hug you in all the right places. This step will make you feel better about your outfit as a whole and will help with the final tip, which is…

Wear with confidence! This is the most important tip. Rock that frumpy item like you love it and would buy it for yourself. Nobody will know that you don’t truly love the item if your strutting stuff. I rocked this sweater, and I ended up having that cool, perfectly casual-but-still-cute vibe. Like me, you may end up loving the piece! Fake it ’till you make it. 😉

Hope this post was helpful to you! Let me know in the comments what that not-so-loved piece is for you and if you have ever used any of these tips.

Miles of smiles,
Grace

T-Shirt: A.N.A. via JCPenney, $9, buy here // Sweater: hand-me-down, similar here // Pants: hand-me-down, last seen here // Boots: DSW, $35, last seen here, similar here // Purse: gift, cute here // Belt: last seen here