Every few months I get the urge to buy a whole new wardrobe, and every few months I talk myself down with the same trick: I change the accessories instead. A big pair of vintage earrings, a silk scarf tied differently or a belt around a dress I have worn a hundred times, and suddenly my clothes look new to me again. It costs less, it takes up less space and it means I actually wear what I already own.

Clip-on earrings are where I start, because they are the quickest change and you don't need pierced ears. Vintage clip-ons from the 1980s are big and bold, and they often cost less than new statement earrings. The eight here run from a gold Napier pair under $100 to Christian Dior clip-ons from the 1980s with their original tags and a gold Chanel pair. The ruby red glass cabochon clip-ons would change a black sweater completely.

A silk scarf is the most useful accessory I own. Tied at the neck, it dresses up a T-shirt. Tied to a bag handle, it adds color. Folded into a headband, it hides a bad hair day. Vintage silk scarves are also some of the best made accessories you can buy secondhand, especially the big designer squares, which often have a level of print detail I rarely see in new scarves.

This grid includes Hermès carrés, one showing a royal galley and another of tropical fish from 2001, plus a Cartier panther print scarf and a Chanel logo scarf by Karl Lagerfeld. The Hermès Parade en Fanfare twilly is the narrow one, which is my favorite for tying around a ponytail. What I would skip: scarves with holes or heavy staining in the center, since that is the part that shows when you tie it. Small marks near the hem usually disappear into the knot. A square scarf folded into a triangle and tied loosely at the neck is the easiest knot to start with.

Belts are the accessory I underused for years. A good belt changes the shape of a loose dress, turns a long cardigan into something closer to a coat and makes an oversized blazer look intentional. Vintage belts are also more interesting than most new ones, because designers in the 1980s and 1990s treated them like jewelry. The Chanel gold coin chain belt from 1982 and the Christian Lacroix sculptural chain belt are both basically necklaces for your waist.

For everyday wear, the Chanel brown leather belt with gold hardware and the turquoise Yves Saint Laurent elastic belt from the 1980s are the practical picks. The crystal monkey stretch belt is here because it made me laugh, and I think a belt should occasionally make you laugh. Check the length in the listing before you buy, since older chain belts can run short, and look for a clear photo of the clasp.