Improving your Wardrobe
Let’s be real. The vast majority of us are looking to improve our wardrobe in SOME way. Whether that means simply finding the perfect pair of denim or giving your entire closet an overhaul, the question is how can improving our wardrobe be done without being susceptible to the overabundant amount of style options we have to choose from? Well, allow us to offer you a floatie in the vast sea of style options. We promise not to let you drown!
Step 1: Experiment
When inspiration strikes, experiment, experiment, experiment!
The best way to find what works for you– and makes you feel like your most authentic self– is to try different things. ANYTHING that you feel could be fun or might look good on you. We know we mentioned narrowing down the style options, but this is the opportunity to give yourself permission to play. Been stuck in an all-black rut? Try introducing some color. You don’t have to go full rainbow, but maybe start with a pop of red and see how that feels. Normally a dress girl? Try a pair of trousers. You don’t have to do a full 180 and wear something as casual as a pair of jeans, but trousers are a great way to keep living a little more in the formal world of dresses while still changing up the vibe.
Look at magazines and mark what you like. Make different style boards on Pinterest. Go people watching. Look up some street style blogs… Make note of anything and everything that makes you feel excited and try different versions of that on yourself. And don’t purchase anything until you know what works. Then, make a list and/or take pics of the outfits that TRULY make you feel your best. That’s when you’re ready to make your ideal purchases.
But, be wary: it can be easy to mistake influence for inspiration. Sometimes, spotting that 50% off promotion will make you consider clothing options you normally wouldn’t. Listen to your gut. Reserve your purchasing power ONLY for the things that make you say ‘WOW.’ Also, think about if you would be just as likely to consider that item if it weren’t on sale. If you’re not an active participant in what inspires you, you’re likely to be easily influenced by outside factors that won’t align with who you are. Ignore the fashion blogger that’s being paid to show off that super trendy item that you know, deep down, doesn’t suit you even though it looks so chic on her. After you do your research and make that list of the pieces you’re looking for STICK TO IT– unless you happen upon that rare piece you never thought you’d be into but still gives you that ‘WOW’ factor. There are exceptions, but be mindful.
Also, ALWAYS try it on. No matter how sure you think you are. Hanger appeal (or lack thereof) can be incredibly deceiving.
Step 2: Sell, Trade up, and Invest
When you run into a piece of clothing that feels truly you and you realize something you currently own no longer suits you (‘Wow! I really love dark, wide-leg denim and my light-wash skinny jeans aren’t doing it for me anymore’), sell those old skinny jeans, find a new quality pair of that dark wide-leg denim, and invest in something that will LAST.
The world of fast fashion is VERY tempting. It’s cute, it’s trendy, and it’s CHEAP. But what does that entail? Cute? Great. Trendy? Quick to go out of style. Cheap? Quick to fall apart. A good way to calculate how much you should spend on a piece is cost per wear. A $200 pair of jeans can feel expensive, but if the construction lasts and you end up wearing them 200 times over the course of a few years, that’s only $1 per wear. Low cost per wear equals great investment! When you choose to spend a little more and really think about investing in a certain item, you’ll be less likely to make a snap decision and buy something you regret. Plus, the better the quality of the item, the better you’ll feel. You’ll find yourself feeling special when the details of your items feel high-quality and special.
As for your old items, taking that extra time to sell those pieces, instead of throwing them away or donating them, will assist you in understanding the value of a garment, making you less likely to spend money on future pieces without really thinking about them first. When we spend on cheap items and throw them away as soon as they’re no longer on trend or falling apart prematurely, we’re contributing to a huge problem that’s harming our environment. Fashion is the #2 most wasteful industry next to oil! We recommend watching The True Cost, a highly informative documentary on the negative environmental impact the fast fashion industry has on our planet, for more info.
If you aren’t able to sell your old pieces, see if you’re able to repurpose them, give them to a friend, or find a charitable donation. ‘Throwing something away’ usually equals tons of clothing sitting in a landfill. Donations should be a last resort, if possible, since donation centers also end up throwing away a great deal of clothing for quality control purposes. Although, they’re still a better option than disposing of an item yourself, since there’s a possibility for charitable contribution if they end up keeping your items.
As for items made of synthetic fibers, take extra care since they don’t deteriorate, meaning ending up in a landfill will be extra environmentally UNfriendly. Anything poly = plastic, and we all know what that means for the earth. We’ll be sure to elaborate more on fabrics in another article, but in short, put some extra thought on how to get rid of your old pieces and what’s going to last in your future closet for your sake and the environment’s.
Step 3: Evolving slowing, but constantly
Evolving your style takes time. In a culture of social media and instant gratification, a lot of us want that makeover movie montage where we have one crazy intense try-on of a million things and we’re instantly changed forever! Unfortunately, life doesn’t work that way. We’re always growing and learning about who we are, along with learning new color combos and cuts that suit our own coloring, body type, and personality. Discovering all of those things takes time. Cue the experiment step here :)
Go slow when bringing those new pieces into your wardrobe. Take the time to gauge if those pieces you’re contemplating make you feel truly confident in your self representation. If you bring in all new pieces at once without proper consideration, it’s really easy to run into an identity crisis and revert back to your old ways of dress because the overwhelming amount of new styles feel too foreign. Think you want to invest in a slip dress? Maybe borrow one from a friend who’s a similar size and see how it makes you feel first. There are also fashion rental service options out there if you want to try a new style. Then, once you’ve discovered if an item feels just right (or not) you can confidently invest in your own slip dress and see how it fits with the rest of your wardrobe. You might even discover that something you originally considered getting rid of goes perfectly with one of your new pieces.
Go slow. Be sure you’re totally into that new piece or that there’s absolutely no way to incorporate that old piece into an outfit that feels like your best self before you get rid of it. We don’t want to run into any style regrets.
Final Thoughts
We hope that, by this point, our floatie has expanded into a full flotation device or that you’ve even learned how to swim. There are so many things to consider when it comes to purchasing new items. But with the proper preparation and exploration, we’re confident you’ll be able to navigate those rough style seas all on your own. Take your time, learn what you like, learn who you are, and don’t forget to have FUN! Because in the end, the decision of who you are is up to you. There are plenty of adventures in those open waters. Enjoy the discovery.
“Fashion you can buy, but style you possess. The key to style is learning who you are, which takes years. There’s no how-to road map to style. It’s about self expression and, above all, attitude.”