Do you have the best wardrobe you could have? In the past few years I’ve busted a few bad wardrobe habits: no more yellow or pastels! no impulse buying! kicking credit card debt to the curb!
And somewhere along the way, instead of building an awesome, top-notch wardrobe, I’ve got… a whole lot of nothing? How did THAT happen? Instead of a beautiful, well-curated, and all-coordinating closet, I’m scrambling to put things together.
For the remainder of 2012, and in to the next year, I want to build myself a better wardrobe. By 30, I want a wardrobe that is amazing, inspiring, and reminds me why I love clothes and shopping. Limiting myself to a wardrobe color palette, while a smart move for myself, was just part of what it takes to build a great wardrobe.
- Remembering to buy essentials: Did you know, I recently went about 5 years without owning a solid black t-shirt? And each winter, I’d put on a sweater and think, “Gee. Why did I stop buying Gap t-shirts? They fit so well, and I could get them in long & short sleeved… they’d be great under this sweater right now.” Or that, right this minute, I don’t own a perfect casual black skirt? Sometimes, in our quests to build beautiful, unique wardrobes… we forget to buy the basics that hold that wardrobe together.
- …but remembering not to live in ONLY essentials. Since stocking up on solid black tees? It’s hard to get me in anything else. Dressing myself has become routine, easy, and uninspiring. It takes nothing to throw on jeans, a black shirt, and pair of Converse. And it’s WAY HARD to get excited when you see that in the mirror every day.
- Knowing when to buy quality over quantity– or quantity over quality: A colorful Alexander McQueen scarf? A quality investment for my wardrobe: a beautiful, easy to care for accessory that I’ll wear a lifetime. My beloved black Gap essential t-shirts? Quantity reigns supreme, because I can never own enough of them! I prefer to buy quality when I know the lifespan will be more than a year: accessories, scarves, handbags, dress shoes. If it’s something that will require regular wear & tear (jeans, sneakers, flats, t-shirts), I try to shop the middle of the road and get more & longer wear buy owning multiples.
- Understand the quantities you ACTUALLY own & what you PERSONALLY need to feel comfortable: If you had to guess, how many dresses do you own? How many pairs of jeans or pants? My numbers are staggeringly low– 2 pairs of jeans. 2 pairs of pants. 5 sweaters (1 is a cardigan). With real numbers in mind, it becomes easier to figure out what sections you may need to bulk up. The fact I own 2 pairs of jeans may not be a big deal if I wore dresses and skirts every day, but I wear… jeans. Every day.
- Evaluating trends for longevity & compatibility. Mint & coral? Stunning colors, especially together. But not really my color scene. Florals? They seem so 90s and yet… the right floral print can find surprising range in my wardrobe of solids, stripes, and polka dots. Evaluating means really knowing and understanding my personal style and lifestyle; it’s allowing risk and intuition to work together.
- Building…with a changing body in mind. Since August, I’ve lost a solid 25 pounds. When building my better wardrobe, I have to think to myself– can I wear this down another dress size (or 2)? OR How can it be styled to flatter a loss or gain in weight? The last thing I want to do is build a better wardrobe–only to have to buy it all over again 25 more pounds from now!
With all of these things in mind, I’m constantly evaluating my closet to find gaps or areas to play. It gives me a better understanding of the actual ratios I should have in my closet, based on what I wear and how often I wear them, and provides more purpose to know that I’m filling up holes in my closet.
Do you feel you have built yourself an amazing wardrobe? What tips and tricks do you have to share with me?
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
Great post! I’m definitely some frustrations with my wardrobe as well :( I used to buy too much of the same thing and neon has definitely added some color but find myself still grabbing the same 5 outfits. I somehow ended up with a lot of dresses even though I rarely wear them. I wear mostly pants every day so I don’t know why that happened haha kind of want to challenge myself to wear them but also think “what if my personal style is just pants? Why try to be girlie when I’m not?” It definitely helps to clean it out spring and fall to see what I actually have in there.
Kimberlee´s last [type] ..Something About Red Makes A Woman So Sexy
“find myself still grabbing the same 5 outfits. I somehow ended up with a lot of dresses even though I rarely wear them. I wear mostly pants every day so I don’t know why that happened haha kind of want to challenge myself to wear them but also think “what if my personal style is just pants? Why try to be girlie when I’m not?”
OH MAN! I feel like I could have written that. It’s funny when girls say they love dresses because they’re so easy, because I feel that way about pants. It’s HARD to determine if it’s just laziness (or at least for me) and I DO need to challenge myself, or if I just need to accept who I am? But man, having those dresses in the summer when it’s too hot for pants DOES help…
haha I’m terrified of wearing them because they blow up so easily in the city :x I like maxi dresses because they are long :)
Kimberlee´s last [type] ..Hair Inspiration: Game of Thrones
Great post! Since I got off my shopping ban, I haven’t been shopping again (crazy, right?). But during my six month experiment I realized I wanted good quality items, and I was missing out on a lot of basics. My wardrobe is a fux mix of bright colors and interesting pieces, but sometimes I just want something simple. I’m working on editing down what I own and reinvesting in the basics that can make all of my colorful and interesting pieces stand out.
Suze´s last [type] ..Carpe diem
SUZE! I love hearing this from you. When I think of your wardrobe, I do think of bright colors and interesting pieces… basics do NOT come to mind. So it’s exciting to hear how you’re planning to incorporate basics in to your closet to help those fabulous pieces you do have stand out more.
The way i built my wardrobe is to just thrfit madly, buy far far too much and then slowly weed things out until only stuff that works was left. Constant outfit photo taking gave me a good idea of what looked good too. Probably not the most efficient way of getting there, and now that charity shops are more expensive, probably not the cheapest either, but worked for me.
Franca´s last [type] ..Antwerp, or Anvers or Antwerpen
I love hearing such a different way of approaching it! You do have a great wardrobe. I admit, I tend to avoid second-hand shops + thrifting just due to sizing! It’s hard enough to find what I want in my size 18/20, but to try and find it in the limited and irregular selections of a consignment or thrift shop… I just worry I’d be wasting my time. :/
I kicked yellow to the curb as well! When I finally discovered thanks to a stylist friend that it’s really not my colour. “Can’t figure out why this gorgeous yellow dress doesn’t really do much for me.”
For Those About To Shop´s last [type] ..Found on Facebook: Excellence vs. Perfectionism
It really is a hard color to wear! I know it’s also a phase for me, but right now I am jealous of those girls who CAN pull it off. Luckily for us, we can always use accessories or shoes to get that fix in and now have it impact us too much, yeah?
I think it’s really important to keep what you want in mind, so you find what you need. I am finally at a place where I feel like I don’t need anymore. I am actually wondering if it might be time to pare down again. My best advice for a shrinking body is to pick out what you can get altered. I have taken in a few investment pieces via a tailor and now am stoked to be able to wear them again. Of course, there is only so much a tailor can do but it’s a great way to save yourself from having to buy all new stuff.
Sarah/Destrehan’s Daughter´s last [type] ..What’ I’ve Been Up To
Alterations are a GREAT tip– and luckily I have a handful of costume designers, seamstresses, and drapers at my finger tips who can help with that. I also keep in mind shape– an oversized dress can be belted for a great look and can probably accommodate a 1-2 dress size change. Belting, or finding things that are cut in a way for easy alterations is something I definitely keep in mind. As well as staples like wrap dresses, which also work with a wide size range…
Thanks for the tips, Ashe! I was just thinking about this the other day, and how to build a wardrobe that portrays my “brand” the way I want it to. I was planning to ask you for some advice once I got around to it. This is helpful.
I currently have about six sizes of clothes in my closet. A couple of months ago, I took everything out and only put stuff that currently fits back in, gave a bunch of stuff away, and put the stuff that’s too small in two big bins. At least now I can see what I actually have instead of wondering why I always wear the same thing when my closet is so full. Once I lose some more weight and donate my bigger clothes, then I’ll take on a full wardrobe organization plan and fill in the gaps.
Lara Eichhorn´s last [type] ..Instagram and iPhoneography
I’m so glad this came at the right time, Lara! In your work, I can see how important it’d be to have a closet that reflects you, the style of your photography, and how you want your clients to feel. (And please feel free to email me for advice! I’d love to online window shop for you :D)
My closet has probably closet to that range too. I have 2 small carryons that keep the too small pieces in. The ones that I can’t possibly get rid of– that are too unique, a great basic, and I hope to fit in. And they’re tucked away in storage for that day I can get in them. But for everything else? What fits & what I can wear are what I see, and that helps a lot.
“Once I lose some more weight and donate my bigger clothes, then I’ll take on a full wardrobe organization plan and fill in the gaps.” Yes! You & me both.
Hi! Pretty new around here and a first time commenter. Just wanted you to know that I found this practical and a bit kick-in-the-pants-y. Just what I needed and I’ll be pinning it! Thanks.
Fantastic tips! This could not have come at a better time for me, as I’m trying to reevaluate my wardrobe a bit. I’m still struggling a bit to flesh things out in my own wardrobe. For years I neglected the essentials side of things (I only *ahem* own two black tshirts and two pairs of jeans! lol.), and am starting to realize how foolish that was. I have some really cool pieces, but need to focus on pieces that tie everything together, as well as those that are practical. My biggest problem is I get so easily distracted by fun and unique pieces–I have to remind myself constantly when I’m shopping (or sewing… not so good about that since making “fun” stuff is so much more, well, fun. lol.) that there is a balance that needs to be struck!
Casey´s last [type] ..summer sewing scheming
LADY! You have such a fabulous wardrobe. That being said, I can see how essentials can get skipped over, too! Cool pieces can go so far– but if you don’t have anything to balance them with, you get an outfit full of chaos. I totally feel you on the distracted by fun & unique pieces… who doesn’t want lots of pretty shiny unique things to look at? Looking at a drawer of black gap tees would honestly depress me. I hope you chat about the process too, because I’d love to see how you do with the amazing closet you have!
I’m hanging on to a lot of stuff that has sentimental value. I don’t, I’ll admit, actually need four purple long-sleeve shirts (in different hues, same-or-similar saturation) but my aunt bought me all of them. I have had to get ruthlessly practical with myself: do I need what I’m buying, or am I just buying it because it’s shiny? Can I wear it if I gain the desired ten pounds? Do I have room to store it if I can’t? (Because one good sickness and I’m back to needing the skeleton clothes.) So it’s been YES to the white tee, the white cami, and the white blouse, all of which I needed and all of which can cope with my extra weight, should I gain it.
Time to revisit my wardrobe basics list!
Cassie´s last [type] ..review: hope in a jar
OH GURL. Nostalgia and sentiment. It’s funny–because even though I got rid of them, I still know what shirt I wore when I lost the v-card, when the beau and I had our first date, etc. I hope to see you post a wardrobe basics list that fits your life, style, and changing bod! Be sure to poke at me when you do so I don’t miss it :D
Aw, heck, I’ve decided to blog the whole journey:
http://lovefromgirl.wordpress.com/2012/06/03/rmc01/
The real part 2 is on its way soonish. :)
Cassie´s last [type] ..…part 1.5, she said sheepishly.
I’m definitely trying to work on that too. I own no white or black t shirts , and no plain white singlets. None. Basics aren’t a thing for me. 2 years with only 1 pair of jeans…..
Do you feel you need those basics? Some people have different needs for basics and essentials. For me, I don’t need a closet of black tees, but I have a lot more versatility (especially in the cooler months) if I DO have some…
I recently did another closet purge where some questionable things I let stay from last time had to finally go.
Guess what my entire pile of purging was? Target clearance rack items!
The prices were just so enticing that I got a little too carefree on things I ended up wearing once if ever.
So, no more impulse clearance buys for me.
I’m also not buying things unless I NEED them. Like, if I try to put together an outfit and realize a key element is missing or if I just wrecked my fave white tee… I’m not going to just grab a bunch of stuff when I see it because it’s on sale.
Being honest about your lifestyle is so important. I keep buying heels and I hardly ever wear them.
I wonder what this deep-seated thing about finding comfort in just knowing it’s there comes from. Like I’ve been buying for my future life, not the one I’m currently living. Hmmm.
Lara´s last [type] ..new sofa
I relate to Lara’s comment about buying for a future life and not the current one. I purge on a very regular basis and recently did the most ruthless purge of all times and got rid of all the expensive fantasy life items that I never wore. I’m very particular about fabrics and how they feel on my body. I cannot stand anything tight expect for leggings underneath skirts during the winter months. Needless to say, skinny jeans are not my thing even though I love the way they look. My wardrobe is now very bare, 60 items including shoes but not bags and accessories. The low quantity took me some time to get use to but realistically I don’t really need more than what I have.
The problem I still have is figuring out the essentials that I need. I keep on buying pieces that I think I need but when it comes time to actually wear them, they’re somehow not the right cut or look odd with other pieces in my wardrobe. It’s strange that the foundation pieces that should be the easiest are the hardest part to decide.
Oh girl– isn’t Lara SO on the money about buying for the future life vs. current one? I’m really guilty of that, but have gotten much better. I enjoy purging regularly too, but still haven’t gotten rid of the fantasy items (mostly because they get SOME wear, but not as much as they should.
It’s funny you mention your closet being bare at 60 items– but if it’s 60 well loved, versatile pieces, you’ve really got a much richer and fuller wardrobe than the girl with 200 dresses and nothing to wear!
I’ve got to agree on the essentials. Personally? I think every woman’s essentials list varies. I wrote one a long time ago: http://www.mischiefmydear.com/dramatispersonae/2008/ashe-mischiefs-wardrobe-essentials/ and while I think I’d update a few things, overall it’s quite on the nose. Maybe I need to write a post about figuring out what your essentials are, and how to shop for them?? (Like cuts! I hate wearing things with round necklines. Give me crew, give me certain v, and definitely boat. But I do not feel good in a deep scoop neck.)
You know– recently, after buying jeans at Target, I wondered why I had stopped shopping at the mass retailers like Old Navy, Target, etc. I used to do it a lot, and had more clothes and enjoyed what I wore more often. But I think what you just said, is part of why. They more quickly end up in the donate pile than when I buy nicer from other brands. Part of what I need to do is find balance between what I can buy at big box retailers and what I should splurge for on (like ASOS).
“I’m not going to just grab a bunch of stuff when I see it because it’s on sale.” This reminds me so much of when I worked at UO. I’d buy so much crap because it was $4.99 and think, “I don’t like this for $29, but I like it for $4.99.” My closet ended up with DOZENS of $4.99 pieces I never wore, when I should have just bought something I loved full price.
“Like I’ve been buying for my future life, not the one I’m currently living. Hmmm.” This feeling is hard to break the attitude for. I KNOW it is. (See: my closet full of heels when I should have 40 pairs of great flats or low heels.) It’s definitely something that takes slow change. I’ve gotten a LOT more practical about my shoe buying, but I STILL get mournful some days and miss buying pretty and impractical shoes for that dream life.
Funny, much of my wardrobe improvement recently comes from MORE yellow :-)!
But we agree on the whole otherwise. Especially about the delicate balance between enough basics and enough fun stuff to liven them up.
I’m jealous yours means more yellow! Yellow looks so bad on me (unless it’s mustard)– I tried 3 times this year and it just didn’t work :( That balance is crazy hard to get going and be in the strive of…
Oh, so what if your yellow is mustard? Would you expect all blues to suit you? Would you buy a bad red, and then blame all reds? So why stop at a bad yellow? Granted it’s harder in the US, where yellow tends to be of the taxi variety, it takes more effort to get the right one for you. But there are many shades, and everyone has at least one that works for them. Butter is my favorite personally :-), but I can do mustard too.
Yellow is the only color that stays light in value even when it’s very intense. So it’s a great color to emphasize something, or conversely it can keep intensity lighter than other colors, a good thing in these bright color times.
Pretty interesting post! :) Well, I just have enough clothes in my closet but I think I would like to add more dress. I’ve been feeling a little bit girly this past few weeks. I mix and match my clothes so I wouldn’t have to really buy for new pairs of jeans and shirts. Oh well. :)
Patricia Smith´s last [type] ..Living Beautifully: Summer Sun Protection
Glad I found your post. It helped crystalize what I need to do with my wardrobe re-do. I’ve lost about 25 lbs in the past year and even though I’ve always had a stuffed closet and dresser, I often found myself with nothing to wear. A couple of weeks ago I went through all my clothes and did a massive purge which helped with the overcrowding problem, but left me feeling even more vulnerable clothing-wise. Now, I’m working hard at re-building without investing too much ca$h since I still have about 40 lbs to lose. Thank goodness for Pinterest, the thrift store and helpful blogs like yours.
As far as tips, I have found that after scouring Pinterest for outfit ideas, keeping a list on my phone of what I need to purchase helps me shop with purpose.
Cindy Fahrbach´s last [type] ..fabulous weekend
Cindy, I TOTALLY feel you! I was literally just texting my best friend, saying how my closet is spartan, yet I want to feel dressed and myself. I don’t want to buy too much, but I need to create cohesion– and all while hoping to lose that last 40 pounds myself.
It’s really tricky (and I’ll try to write a post soon about buying clothes for the body in transition!). I love your tip about creating a list on your phone. I always find myself shopping and without access to my shopping list… but that would be no problem if it were on my phone and NOT my desktop!