Having the perfect wardrobe every morning you wake up is
impossible. You can have the most amazing closet, full of the most in-style
pieces and you will still wake up and think,
Then if you’re like me you will want to go shopping to find
new pieces that inspire you, only to come home and have to try and fit your new
finds in an already overflowing wardrobe.
I’ve been having this problem a lot recently. Especially
since starting the blog, I’ve felt like there always has to be something new in
my closet that I can post about. Even before the blog, there were times when I
saw something online and would decide my closet wouldn’t be complete without
it. Closet envy is a real thing and can really ruin your day.
I am here to tell you that none of this is a realistic way to maintain your ‘actual’ style needs or for the upkeep of your bank account! Plus, even Anna
Wintour rewears clothing. You bought the things that are hanging in your closet
right now because you loved them at one time (or they were a horrible gift, in which case see step three). All you have to do is find new
ways to wear them and bring that spark of joy back into getting dressed. It will be like a great shopping day and you'll never have to put on your pants. Yes, I know online shopping achieves the same thing, but now you aren't spending money!!
Here is how to shop your closet:
1. Make your bed
This is the best surface to
compile new outfits, not only will it put you in a productive mindset, a made
bed will make it easier to lay things flat and mix and match outfits.
2. Sale Shopping
Pretend you are at the sale section in Nordstrom
Rack or Marshall’s. There’s a little bit of everything and you are looking for
the hidden treasures.
3. Clean it out!
Use this as an opportunity to get rid of pieces
you don’t want anymore. Like in a store, if you pick up something and think,
“who would wear this?” — toss it. If it doesn’t fit — toss it. If you have a
bad memory wearing it — toss it. Have two or three things that are REALLY similar?
Pick one, toss the others. This is a great opportunity to multi-task: find new outfits and clean out your closet!
Tips:
- If clothes are too big for you then just give
them away. If they are too small then you can give them away, too, or like me
you can box them up and save them as a goal. After I had knee surgery I gained
a lot of weight, but I held onto a few pair of shorts and my favorite pair of
jeans as a goal to work towards. It was a great feeling when my hard work paid
off and I could zip them again! (Only keep a few items, not an entire wardrobe
of too small items.)
- Clothing has the ability to hold a lot of
sentimental value. If you have a memory in an outfit or piece that’s negative,
you will never feel good wearing it again because you’ll have all those bad
memories bringing you down. Toss these pieces out and let the sunlit-filled
memories shine through.
4. Save your Favs
Take out your favorite pieces and set them
aside. You already know you love them, you wear them all the time, we will come
back to them.
5. Basic Bitches
Separate your basics (white tees, black tank
tops, denim shorts) from your more interesting pieces (anything with a print,
bright colors, interesting cuts.)
6. Make a Selection
Pick up a piece you’ve never worn before or only
once (one with the tags still on…) I usually like to start with a statement
piece because it’s a little more fun. I picked a skirt I bought from Banana
Republic last year in the final sale section that I’ve never worn. Now look at
your other pieces and create three outfits. This is where your favs come in! Mix your "new" item with something you wear all the time! It will make you feel comfortable, show you a new way to wear that white pocket tee and keep you from the constant outfit repeat! Or get really adventurous and pair two pieces that you've never worn!
Tips:
- My mom has always said, “If you can’t wear a
piece at least three different ways, it doesn’t deserve to be in your closet.” When
you’re shopping make sure you can visualize three different ways you can wear
something before swiping your credit card. This advice has helped me sooo much!
7. Log it all!
 |
| All of these pieces have been worn before. Every piece except for the blue top and the white top are over a year old. Those two tops were bought earlier this year, but are no longer available online. I forced myself to not use any new pieces and created three outfits that I've never worn before! |
Now try it all on and take a picture of each
outfit you’ve created. Go for some bonus points and add in shoes, a bag and
jewelry. I like to store these using
Amazon Prime Photos so I can access them
from my phone as a reference when I am out shopping. No more duplicates and
smarter buying decisions!
8. Clean it all up
Lastly, put your closet back together in a way
that makes it easy to find everything. I like to sort by type and color. (The
color part doesn’t always last after a few laundry days…) Put dresses on one end,
then jackets, sweaters, long sleeves, short sleeves, etc. Then I sort by the
rainbow so getting dressed in the a.m. isn’t a struggle, but a stress-free start
to the day!
Happy shopping!
