When winter hits, it often feels like a sartorial reawakening. You discover full-length pants again, dust your boots off and rekindle your love for layering. The trouble is, this tends to spiral. Before you know it, you’re eight pages deep in the Ssense sale conducting a full-scale personal-style overhaul.

But looking your best this winter doesn’t have to mean spunking your retirement fund. More often than not, a few small upgrades are all you need for a boost. We’re talking little tweaks with big visual payoffs – subtle improvements to your wardrobe rather than a total from-the-ground-up redesign.

So, before you talk yourself into buying that £1,500 balmacaan, look at the tips below and see if the itch you’re trying to scratch can be settled in a cheaper, less dramatic way.

A Better Base

A dog isn’t just for Christmas, and a T-shirt isn’t just for summer. Just because you can’t always see them doesn’t mean they stop existing. Menswear’s go-to base layer is still putting the work in when the coats come out of aestivation, and, as we should all know by now, every winning outfit starts with a solid foundation.

Cold or not, that raggedy, dull white T-shirt with the yellow pit stains you’ve been hiding under your jumper is no bueno. First off, even if it doesn’t have to see the light of day, you know you’re wearing it, and you owe yourself better. Second, fit and quality matter just as much when stacking garments.

Chances are the tee will be visible at some stage, whether peeking out from under a knit or partially obscured behind an open overshirt. Either way, make sure it’s a nice one.

Sunspel, Armor Lux and Merz b. Schwanen make some of our favourites.

Winter-Appropriate Fragrance

Fresh, citrusy summer scents are all well and good in summer, but they won’t last five minutes when deep-winter temperatures bite. Light and subtle, they get lost in the cold air, evaporating into nothingness within minutes of leaving the house.

What you want is something that can punch through the frozen air. Not overpowering, but assertive, rich and self-assured. Think leather, wood, smoke and oud – fragrances heavy enough to hang onto fabric without the cold sapping their sillage.

If you’re unsure, head to Fragrantica, where you can browse pretty much every fragrance on earth by notes, accords and seasonality.

Cashmere Accessories

Scarves, beanies and gloves are essential when the winter really takes hold, but don’t settle for the cheapest set you can find. This is a golden opportunity – a chance to elevate every outfit you wear this season using just one or two items that, in the grand scheme of things, aren’t actually that expensive.

Yes, a cashmere scarf is more expensive than its scratchy lambswool equivalent, but it looks and feels far superior. And when you consider that you can wear it every single day, no matter the outfit, it starts to make a lot more sense financially.

If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to bring a touch of luxury to your winter wardrobe, this is it.

Sunglasses That Work With You

Sunglasses are one of those accessories that can make or break an outfit. Get them right, and they become a signature part of your look. Get them wrong and the whole thing looks off. The trick is finding a pair that complements both your features and your personal style, rather than simply buying whatever happens to be fashionable at the time.

So, put the Oakleys down and pay attention to frame shape, size and proportion. Something too narrow or oversized can throw your whole face out of balance, while the right pair can tie an outfit together beautifully.

Also think about how they work with the clothes you actually wear. If your wardrobe consists largely of classic tailoring and understated staples, a pair of futuristic wraparounds probably isn’t the best fit. Equally, if you lean towards technical outerwear and sportswear, delicate wire frames might look a little out of place.

Find your sweet spot and stick with it.

Up Your Sock Game

Socks. Always the afterthought. They get bought in multipacks, worn until they’re more hole than fabric, and replaced with whatever pairs inevitably find themselves under the Christmas tree on the 25th. Which is a shame, because a good pair can do a surprising amount of graft in making an outfit look more rounded and whole.

Winter is the perfect time to experiment with thicker, textured options. Think chunky ribbed wool in oatmeal, charcoal or burgundy, worn with loafers, Derbies or boots. A flash of interesting fabric between your trouser hem and footwear can add depth and contrast to an otherwise straightforward outfit.

Plus, your feet will be warmer, which is never a bad thing when you’re standing on a freezing train platform in January.

Statement Scarf

If you want to bring a bit of drama to your outfit without going all-out, a statement scarf is the best tool for the job. Throw it on to add character, but unlike something more integral to the outfit, you can always remove it if needed. It’s a statement piece without the commitment.

Most people will automatically think of something bright or heavily patterned, but size can make a statement too. So, check out some oversized, punchy and/or patterned options to find something that resonates with your personal style.

Perfect The Trouser Break

The interplay between your shoes and your trouser leg can make or break an outfit, but it’s all too often overlooked. There are a few ways to play it, depending on your preference and the outfit, but the general rule is to avoid anything too extreme. You don’t want your ankles on constant display, but your footwear shouldn’t be swamped in excess fabric either.

If you struggle to figure this one out for yourself, your local alterations shop can help. Getting a few pairs of trousers hemmed is extremely cheap, but the difference can be huge.

Change Your Laces

It’s easy to forget that the laces in your shoes aren’t permanently attached. Because guess what? You can take them out, swap them for something different and completely change the character of your footwear for less than the price of a pint.

Granted, it won’t turn a pair of battered old trainers into something you’d wear to a wedding, but it’s a cheap, easy way to breathe new life into boots and shoes you’ve grown bored of.

Try swapping standard cotton laces for something with a bit more character. Thick, rounded hiking laces can give plain leather boots a more outdoorsy feel, while waxed cotton can smarten up a pair of Derbies.

You can experiment with colour too. A contrasting pair can add welcome visual interest, but don’t go overboard unless you want to look like a toddler.

Deploy Colour Unexpectedly

Don’t let winter shape your wardrobe into a sea of navy, grey, brown and black. Nothing wrong with any of those colours individually, of course, but when everyone on the street is wearing some combination of the four, things can start to look a bit monotonous.

Instead, try introducing small flashes of colour in unexpected places. These little accents can completely change a look’s mood without leaving you feeling like a kids’ TV presenter.

Stick to one or two at a time and let the rest of your outfit do the work.