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Save By Remixing Your Wardrobe This Spring

With spring fast approaching, now's the time to start thinking about changing up your wardrobe.

If you're concerned about shelling out lots of money -- fear not!

Lori Bergamotto, a People StyleWatch contributing editor, visited The Early Show Thursday to show how to be fashionable this season without spending a thing.

She suggests remixing your wardrobe to save money. Break free from rules that tell you when and how to wear your clothes, and open up a whole new world of outfits without having to buy a thing.

Along those lines, says Bergamotto: Don't limit your clothes with just one role in your wardrobe. Turn blazers into jackets, dresses into tops, and don't be afraid to mix and match unexpected pieces.

Here are the four easy ways Bergamotto says you could mix it up:

MIX UP TOPS AND DRESSES

The Key Piece: Bright Silky Dress -- performs double duty as a top and a dress

Before: Worn as a top, this is a great layering piece. It's a super-casual look with a neutral cardigan and a pair of jeans.

After: Worn as a dress, this is makes a chic statement. Use a belt it to transform it from the long top to a shapely dress. Pair it with chunky bangles and some heels and you have yourself a fabulous nighttime outfit that's very trendy for spring. It's appropriate for any age because the hemline hits just above the knee.

MIX DRESSY AND CASUAL

Key Pieces: Metallic Flats -- a neutral pair of flats pulls the whole look together. A sparkly clutch and a bejeweled cardigan up the style quotient of the whole ensemble.

Before: A timeless, never-goes-out-of-style, any shape, casual combination of a white, ribbed tank top with cropped jeans and metallic ballet flats. Perfect for a date night to the movies with your husband

After: You don't need to wear your special pieces for special occasions only. By pairing sparkly, fabulous pieces (like a colorful embellished cardigan and sparkly clutch), you glam up an otherwise basic outfit. Keeping the metallic flats on, the look exudes an easy elegance. Don't be shy about pulling out a clutch that you would wear to a black tie event. Now's the time to mix fancy with casual!

The metallic element of the sparkly clutch/cardigan and ballet flats unify the whole outfit.

MIX SEASONS

Key Piece: A top that defies seasons.

Before: Last summer's warm-weather top paired with Bermuda shorts and wedges.

After: Get more mileage out of a sleeveless top by pairing it with tights or leggings and topping it off with a cool-weather blazer, you can even pull it from one of you work suits -- and high boots. Be sure to wear leggings and a blazer/jacket that are darker or have a contrast with the warm weathered top; you don't want to wear a dark blazer with lighter leggings.

Contrast a flirty silhouette on top with a tailored form on bottom. A great look for women of all ages. Really comfortable and flattering for every body type, as well.

MIX COLORS

Key Piece: A colorful dress in a bright solid

Before: A chic, going-out frock with gold strappy, sandals.

After: Repurpose the simple look by adding one or two other colors into the mix. A soft pastel cardigan works beautifully over a strong jewel toned dress. Highlight those hues with a touch of a third shade in your belt or a pair of multi-colored shoes.

By adding in other colors, you get a very different aesthetic and more usage out of some wardrobe staples. Use the shoes to tie in the colors. This shouldn't be a rainbow of colors. The maximum amount you should have is three!



To see a People StyleWatch piece on this, click here>
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