If there’s one thing I Love, it’s making our closets work harder without buying something new. That’s where the magic of “style clothing 3 ways” comes in. I think it’s all about seeing your pieces as flexible instead of fixed, and that changes everything.
Quote of the day: “Don’t let small minds convince you that your dreams are too big.” Unknown
Too many times, we categorize our clothing, whether that’s for a season, as a clothing item, or about how to layer it. Yet, with a change of mindset, most of our wardrobe can do double and many times, triple duty.
For my Ageless Style group, the prompt was “style clothing 3 ways”. And I figured we had started this project back when we wore old clothes in a new style. So we just expanded the options to give you loads of inspiration.
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Leopard pants can feel bold (okay, very bold), but they’re also surprisingly versatile when you stop thinking of them as just… full-length pants.
Look 1 (Original): I wore them with 5 different colorways
Worn full-length, these pants have a wide, flowy leg silhouette. When I first bought them, I was frightened they would be too bold for me. But since then, I have evolved into boldness.
Look 2: *unexpected. See all of the details in the article
Yes, I wore them as a top. Because why not? When you start experimenting, pieces become tools, not rules. And that’s when your closet really starts to expand.
Here’s the FB video of how I origami-ed it
Look 3:
For the idea to style them 3 ways, I cuffed them (and used a half dozen safety pins to hold them up) to create a cropped length. This small tweak changes the entire proportion.
Stylist tip: Don’t underestimate how much a simple tweak (like cuffing) or a mindset shift (like reimagining a piece entirely) can do.
My original idea was to pull these up so much they would be “shorts”. Long shorts, but shorts just the same.
However, it didn’t work. The drape and fabric didn’t cooperate.
But as I always say, “You never know unless you try.”
So instead, I cuffed them up to be a cropped length.
Stylist tip: Safety pins work great as a “temporary altering job”. Because the pants are a black print, I used black safety pins, and you don’t see them even though I didn’t hide them.
Details:
-This top is the one I bought off the TikTok shop (a tutorial if you’re interested).
-I recently found this HUGE hat at an Estate sale, and the yellow bow on it is a clip-on barrette. After the photos, I used the barrette in my hair (seen in the rear photo).
-I even wore 2 gold anklets.
-My purse strap wore out, so I used this chain strap instead. It was too long, so I used the lobster clasps that attach to the purse to shorten it.
A tunic is one of those pieces that can easily get stuck in a rut, usually worn the same way, over and over. But Lesley shows how to stretch it across seasons.
Look 1 (summer): Original look
Worn alone as a dress or with shorts, it’s an easy option.
Look 2 (winter): See all the details in the article
Add pants underneath (and in this case a blouse), and suddenly it’s a cozy, layered piece that still has personality.
Look 3 (spring):
For spring, Lesley layered the tunic over a skirt and added a lightweight topper. This creates dimension and movement while keeping things breathable and interesting.
Stylist tip: Before you pack something away for the season, ask yourself: How else could I style this? Your winter clothes may not work in summertime, but I bet you could layer your summer items for winter.
Want proof? We showcased this with tank tops.
Whether you want to call this blue tunic a dress OR tunic…the name does not matter. What matters is that you have fun wearing it for more than one season.
We tend to categorize many of our clothing items as summer or winter. In reality, you are doing your wardrobe a disservice by thinking that way.
Sure, many of your heavy winter clothing items can’t be worn in the hot summer months, but you can wear those lightweight, summer items when it gets cold.
AS WELL AS for the seasons in between.
Change out the layers that pair with this blue dress, and you have yourself a versatile clothing item.
Details:
-If you get my emails, you may remember a post I shared called “onion dressing.” Many of you commented about it to me, so I feel like it resonated. And this type of layering is basically the same. You are allowing the skirt, dress, and shrug to layer on top of each other, and it looks fabulous.
-Lesley will tell you that her body is “zucchini” shaped, meaning she doesn’t have a waist. But a belt can still look wonderful.
-I love how she added yellow accents with the shrug, purse, and bracelet.
Stylist tip: This skirt is really a maxi skirt, so Lesley hiked it up over the girls to shorten it. Notice you see a hint of it under the “v” of her dress. Remember, you are the boss of your clothes. You get to decide how to wear it.
Charlotte took her zebra tunic and basically said, “You don’t get to be boring.”
Look 1 (original): Original outfit with leggings
Worn traditionally with leggings as a tunic. Easy, classic, and still stylish thanks to the bold pattern.
Look 2: See all of the details in the article
Styled as a top with a skirt. This shifts the proportions entirely, which gives the illusion of a completely different piece.
Look 3:
Layered under a dress, which is such an underused trick. It is the perfect solution if you don’t embrace sleeveless dresses.
Stylist tip: Layering isn’t just about warmth, it’s about creativity. Remember the 2 important words when it comes to layering: OVER and UNDER. Most pieces can be layered both ways.
Sleeveless dresses are not the enemy. If you don’t like your upper arms exposed, there are a multitude of items you could layer the dress over.
And a tunic is one of those items.
By the way, this tunic is really a swim cover-up. Another great example of how we shouldn’t categorize our clothing.
Details:
-I like how the 2 necklines aren’t the same. The “V” of the tunic with the scoop of the dress. BUT if you didn’t like this detail, I bet you could turn the tunic around and wear it backwards to have a scoop in front.
-My mom added loads of other colors with the pink strap of her purse and her multi-colored sandals, which keep the look modern and fun.
Here’s the bigger picture…
When you start changing your mindset with the idea of how to style clothing 3 ways, you:
Because I bet you dollars to donuts that you don’t need more clothes.
You just need a different way to style what you have.
My crew has showcased not just 1 idea of how to style clothes in 3 ways.
We’ve given you 3 different options:
-Origami the clothing item
-Change it up for different seasons
-Layering in other ways
If you still struggle with this concept, then try one (or all) of our examples as your homework.
Pick something from your closet and give it a go.
Just as a 20-minute challenge, and you don’t have to wear the outfit the rest of the day if it’s a bust.
Make sure to take a selfie to evaluate (even if you consider it a failure…sometimes you learn more this way).
Once you start creating brain pathways to take you through the steps, you’ll remember to do this with other items.
Remember, everything in life gets easier with practice. And it also gets more fun that way.
Welcome to the Ageless Style group. We all have very different styles, so I hope you check out the other women for their ideas on how to style clothes 3 ways.
We don’t all post at the same time, so make sure to check back if their post isn’t up yet.
Next month, we will be styling scarves if anyone wants to join in.
Amy ~ Amy’s Creative Pursuits
Blog | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook |Bo ~ Bo’s Bodacious Blog Not joining this month
Blog / Instagram /Pinterest / Bloglovin’
Joanne ~ My Slice of Life
Blog
Jodie ~ Jodie’s Touch of Style
Blog | Instagram | Facebook |
Marsha~ Marsha in the Middle
Blog /Instagram
Mireille ~ Chez Mireille Fashion Travel Mom
Blog | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook |
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Jodie Filogomo is a retired cosmetic dentist and fashion blogger behind Jodie’s Touch of Style, where she has been helping women over 50 experiment with style in fun, creative ways for over 12 years.
Find out more about the crew, because we love to showcase all ages, body shapes and women who love different styles.
The post How to Style Clothing 3 Ways Without Buying Anything New appeared first on Jodie’s Touch of Style.
