Looking fashionable and stylish while you are on holiday or in your leisure time doesn’t have to cost the earth. Make the most of the clothes you already have in your wardrobe and try mixing patterns for a creative look. Patterns such as gingham check and botanical florals epitomise summer and are always in style.

For a more classic style, Breton stripes worn with denim and a smart blazer style jacket is a simple chic look which never dates.

Summer dress styles are perpetually in vogue – choose a style that suits your body shape and style personality whether that is a sleeveless shift or a boho maxi. Looking through the latest fashion magazines for summer trends, I was struck by how many of the styles are timeless styles which you can recreate using sewing patterns, choosing the colours and fabrics that suit you best. If you are nifty with a needle or a sewing machine, a sarong style skirt or simple summer top is a wonderful way to show off a fabulous, printed fabric.

Have fun with your personal styling this summer. Here are some simple ideas on how to revamp your wardrobe on a budget.

Use fabric dyes to refresh the colour of faded T shirts or linen shirts.

Change the button styles on blouses and jackets to upgrade them.

Alter clothing so that it fits you and suits you better. Shorten sleeve or hem lengths or add a frill if you need to lengthen.

Have a clothes swap session with friends.

Support your local charity shop and give old clothes a new lease of life. See my Pinterest Board for one of my recent charity shop buys – a chambray shirt which I revamped using Dylon hand dye in Jeans Blue.

See my blog post summer holiday style for more tips on summer time styling.

Image by Arnel Hasanovic on Unsplash