With wallets tightening, less of us are inclined to buy a whole new wardrobe this season – which means it’s time to have fun with what we have! Become your own designer and employ simple embellishing techniques in order to have the wardrobe others only dream of. Unleash your creativity, making one-off wonders harnessing little more than a clever eye, some smart shopping and a needle and thread. You can extend the life of your own clothes, pick up things cheaply or second hand and update classic hand-me-downs from mum.

A key thing to make embellishment work is contrast. For example, a dark, structured top could probably do with a pretty, girly addition. In other words, you want your prettifications to stand out and make a statement. Here’s a list of super embellishing ideas to get you started:

Use bling and brooches:

Pin them in clusters on bags, jackets and dresses. Sewing pearls to a top is also beautiful for special occasions.

Trim, trim, trim:

Choose lace for the edges of dresses and necklines, add faux fur collars and cuffs to a plain cardigan or jacket, take advantage of the huge range of ribbons available or don’t forget the odd bow – you are never too old for subtle sash!

Play with buttons:

Buttons can become a design feature if you bend the conventions. The buttons don’t have to match exactly, as long as there is a common theme: colour, size, texture or style. Another idea is to bead your buttons. Just secure a button with a few passes of thread, add a few small beads or one large one on the front and return the needle to the back of the fabric.

Mix it up:

Contrast fine fabrics with soft leather and embellish with lace.

Print:

Iron on transfers for t-shirts.

No rules denim:

Tie-dye, bleach, fabric paint are all fun for old jeans. Adding studs, lacing and grommets are all effective in moderation.